Frownie Fotos: Packers at Browns 10/25/09

It's worth remembering that the vast majority of us have more fingers than there are days each year (EIGHT) on which the magnificent structure on the Lake is employed for its intended use.  Each of those days is different like and a lot more interesting than a snowflake. Each its own story, each matchup with its own unique chemistry.

And it's a damn fine start when the opposing fans are clear up front that not only are they Cleveland Frowns readers, but they know and endorse the one rule of the Cleveland Browns tailgate. 

It's important to remember that sometimes people just look like they're breaking the rule, but aren't really.

Then there's this guy.  

We weren't around to see what he did to attract law enforcement's attention, but we did see him say here, "you think you're tough?  You ain't tough."  Which might have been true, but seemed irrelevant at the time.

And the cops were looking tougher by the second.

We have no opinion as to whether the force employed here was excessive, but two things are worth noting.  1) Never touch a police officer unless you are truly fending for your life.  Not even a tap on the shoulder to get his attention.  Just say, "excuse me officer, Sir."  2) The Cleveland Browns tailgate is something special.  We appreciate that the City of Cleveland allows us to experience the lumpier kinds of gray on these special days, and understand that certain rules have to be strictly enforced to make this happen.

Some rules, of course, become less important on game days.  Or maybe there's a special exception for containers with nine openings.

On a more serious note, you just can't show us enough pictures of dogs at the tailgate, so keep trying.  You remember Baxter on the lower right from last time, right?  Dude does not miss a game.  He's like, "only eight days a year, Frowner, EIGHT."

Even these folks understand that no fan is an island.  The sign is funny because the tent is posted on a little flower bed island inside the Muni Lot.  It's profound because there is no such thing as a "misfit" at the Cleveland Browns tailgate.  Everything fits.

Here's our space.  Note the Frownmobile cooling to the right.  Yeah, Buddy.

This is Ashlie.  She pulled together the whole tailgate like someone said to Clark Kent, "tailgate," so he goes into a phone booth and comes out as Superman, except with a tent, table, grill, lounge chairs, cornhole boards, Old No. 7, Tanqueray, Miller Lite, Ashlie's special jello shots, Ashlie's special bean dip, Ashlie's special hot corned beef sandwiches, Uncle Ed's homemade mustard, Uncle Ed's canned peppers, and brats on the grill.  Exchange of the day, "I'll just have a Coke, or something non-alcoholic."  "Sorry bud, tonic water?"  "That'll be fine."  This photo is like two of those old Foster's "Australian for Beer" commercials in one:  "Abstract Art," and "Keeper." 

Before we get to the Frownie Fashions for the week, let's run down the week's most resourceful fans.  It's one thing to bring your awesome Browns mini-bike to the game.

But you're a real bro when you're not afraid to put some tough miles on the thing for your people.  Note, that's a cooler on top of a skateboard.

No tough miles here.  I'm lazy cause I ball.

And look, the hood ornament is outfitted with a squirt gun.  Pissah!

You little whippersnappers!  That better not be real dog pee!

What you missed here was the most massive Jenga sh*t-talk from an eleven year old that you could have ever hoped to see.  Kid on the right was literally screaming at the bricks while his pal was pulling one out. 

Now time for the Frownie Fashions.  You'd think this guy might be a decent wide receiver.  (Har, har.)

Browns fan would love nothing more than to give the past a slip.

These are some of the Browns Billies, from Chardon.

We happen to know for a fact that the Orange Chinchillas used to make this coat all died of natural causes.  But PROTIP:  Think twice, vegetarians, before you try the "special bean dip" at this lady's tailgate.

This could be a comment on the current state of the Cleveland Browns, or it could be that these guys just had an excellently timed release date.  Either is OK with us, so we didn't bother asking which it was.

This lady was like, "the only way you're getting more bean dip is if you come up off the digital Zubaz."  This guy wisely was not biting.

Others were more susceptible.

Lucky for Captain No Pants up there though, it was probably the last game day of the season to comfortably wear Zubaz-lite.

Here's this week's runner up.  What some people might not know is that Tom Tupa went to high school some 20 minutes from Cleveland Browns Stadium, at Brecksville/Broadview Heights High, where he played QB and presumably handled punting duties.

And this week's winner, in a landslide.

Time to head to the Stadium.  Back to the phone booth.  Yeah buddy.

We saw some old friends on our way in.  A new friend though to Jerod Morris of Midwest Sports Fans, who was in town from Texas for Glenn Moore's SM360 Conference and his first Browns game.  His trip is chronicled via a five-minute video journal that's worth a look.

This was an ominous sign.  They'd already taken our rooftops.

Truly surreal.  Lambs laying with lions.  Seals with polar bears.  (That's Sarah Spain, in town from Chicago for the convention and her first Browns game as well.  She made a video journal too that's worth a look.)

Perhaps the result was all too predictable. 

Lucky for Bethany, who came down all the way from Green Bay.

And with whom we're not inclined to argue, despite what happened on the field.  Note, there's no score in that equation.  We'll be putting in some miles ourselves this weekend and will have Browns/Bears covered live from Chicago.  Let us know if you'll be there too.

*All of the above photos were taken by us in Cleveland last Sunday.