I created this blog after the first preseason game last season. This is the first content I have ever posted here. And ironically enough it may be the last...
Oh no I'm not stopping now, but I am considering changing to a more ambiguous Cleveland Sports Memes site very soon. But that is not why I am posting this today.
Yesterday I received news that Bernie Kosar had been relieved of his duties as color commentator for Browns preseason broadcasts. Bernie had become a staple of the preseason. To be honest who better to be there for fans when hope is still high, than the last QB to have any real success in Cleveland?
The thing about Bernie that made him unique was his tremendous insight into the game. Nearly every play, Bernie would give his reads on the defenses that were shown. It was nice to see the game through the eyes of someone who knew what the players should be looking for. And when it was done, as a fan you felt like you had a better understanding of the strategies being employed by both sides.
Bernie also had a knack for letting you know his exact feelings on a particular player. His main focus was ususally on QBs and WRs. Good ones would earn Bernie's praise, but if you weren't so good Bernie usually had a few zingers for you. And Bernie hadn't had much reason to be very complimentary of the Browns for his career as broadcaster. But that is what made Bernie great, his honesty.
He also added a fair share of humor to his calls as well. One of his best gags was countering his harsh criticism by being over complimentary to any Miami Hurricanes that would be in the game, which was always funny. It didn't matter where Ken Dorsey threw a ball, he WAS the future.
Overall, he usually made a meaningless game quite fun. And looking back on some of our bleaker seasons, Bernie in the preseason was really the highlight of the whole year. With Bernie there you learned and you laughed. What more could you ask for?
Then came the 2013 preseason opener vs. the St.Louis Rams. This was a bizarre game because the Browns came out hot, and looked like a well oiled unit versus the Rams that game. And the Rams countered with some particularly embarrassing Wide Receiver play. Bernie recognized the struggles and gave the unit a fairly good tongue lashing throughout the game. Then at the end of the game when the Rams put QB Kellen Clemens into the game, Bernie saved his biggest zingers yet. Bernie had remembered Clemens from his time as a Jets backup and wasn't impressed. Even quipping after a Jim Donovan story that Clemens had met the pope saying, "Bless me father for I have sinned, I have to watch him the whole 4th quarter."
While Bernie was in rare form that game, most fans saw it as a successful opener. While under most circumstances this would have been another forgettable preseason game, this one created some buzz. The NFL Network will replay all preseason games over the following week. They generally use the home team's local broadcast, which in this case was the WKYC broadcast with Jim and Bernie. The game caught the attention of national sports writer Peter King.
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| Peter King didn't stop with Bernie bashing last year, he was a leading figure in the "Trade Josh Gordon to New England for a 4th round pick", that went on before the trade deadline |
Bernie commented on the incident repeatedly over the other three games. He stayed away from his usual harsh analysis, and finished out the preseason giving his usual good insights without incident.
Then came the news that Bernie was fired form his position. Many people began blasting Bernie's personal life as a reason for the reason for his termination. I refuse to comment on Bernie's personal life because I don't know Bernie personally, and have no idea. But I do know that regardless of the reason for the termination, it all began with Peter King's comments.
And while I will agree Bernie isn't exactly a "professional quality" broadcaster, he was unique and original. However in the end, the Peter King clones of the media demand cookie cutter, positive reporting. Hell even ESPN has Jon Gruden loving EVERYBODY right now. And in the end those people won, and it is ridiculous and sad.
So sadly the Browns have given in and hired former Cincinnatti Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers DB, Solomon Wilcots. I don't recall Solomon being a huge friend of the Dawg Pound in his broadcast career as well. And that just sucks.
So Jimmy bad move, why don't you put Solomon in the box with Jim Donovan , and let Bernie read defenses. I hope that maybe as the season draws closer we can start a #FreeBernie movement. I really hope that the right people complain and maybe we can get Bernie back on the air.
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