Bengals Fan Auctions Off Fandom & Is Now A Part Of Steeler Nation.
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The Bengal Fan Who Sold His Fandom & is Now a Part of Steeler Nation
OK so many of us heard about this story - the longtime, ticket holding Bengals fan (Brett Kostoff) who got fed up with Paul Brown and the Bungles and sold his fandom on eBay for $500+. Well, a member of Steeler Nation somewhere won the auction. The Bengals fan used the money to buy a bunch of Steelers memorabilia, and plans to be in the Burgh for a couple games this year.
He's been given a lot of attention on James Walker's AFC North Blog on ESPN. The first article below was met with tons of scorn from Bungles fans. There is a follow-up by Walker, 2nd article below.
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Former Bengals fan joins Steeler Nation
Earlier this yearBrett Kostoff, a Cincinnati native and longtime Bengals fan, contacted the AFC North blog and said he was so fed up with the team's losing that he is auctioning off his fandom on eBay.
This week we caught up with Kostoff to get an update on which team he's supporting this season and how that transition is going. Here was his response:
"As far as the auction went, it sold for $510 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. I couldn't be happier, honestly. I know that might sound crazy coming from a former Bengals fan, but it's like going from the basement to the penthouse as far as football operations. I never disliked Pittsburgh like the rest of the city of Cincinnati. I always RESPECTED it. I've been 100 percent following everything Steelers since the auction ended, including watching the interviews and reading up on Cam Heyward, Marcus Gilbert and hoping that if Ike Taylor doesn't re-sign (hopefully he does) that Cortez Allen or Curtis Brown can step up! I'm not like the other die-hards that will write you and say how they should sign Nnamdi Asomugha. That will never happen in Pittsburgh. When is the last time they dropped that kind of money on a free agent? After reading your blog [Monday] about Mike Brown not trading Carson Palmer it only makes me that much happier about my decision! Everyone in this city will still bash Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, T.O., Corey Dillon and myself and call us quitters. But as Einstein once said "Insanity -- doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I think we all might be just ahead of the game. I've never been more excited about a season. Hopefully we actually have a season. I thought it would take me longer to make the transition than it did, but I actually dislike the Bengals as a whole and it may just be the 20 years of torment as a fan they put me through. Haha. Thanks for checking in."
Wow. Kostoff is very serious about his new fandom and happy to be a card-carrying member of Steeler Nation. He also sent the AFC North blog the picture of his new Steelers merchandise that you see above and provided a list of items he purchased with the auction money.
Here was Kostoff's complete list:
One signed 16x20 autograph picture of Troy Polamalu
One white-stitched NFL official Polamalu jersey
Two Terrible Towels
Two hooded sweatshirts (one of the black NFL equipment)
One black NFL equipment hat
One glass license plate with a Steelers logo
One black mini helmet in a Steelers display case
One yellow mini helmet in a Steelers display case
Was Kostoff wise to leave "Bengaldom" and switch allegiances to the Steelers? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Bengals-turned-Steelers fan responds
Last week former Cincinnati Bengals fan Brett Kostoff caused a tizzy in the AFC North blog after we updated his story on changing allegiances to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fed up with the Bengals' losing ways, Kostoff sold his fandom on eBay for $510 and is now a card-carrying member of Steeler Nation.
Kostoff received a lot of criticism from our community. So, in fairness, we asked Kostoff if he wanted to respond to the heat he's received. Here was his message:
"For all the people who thought I CHOSE the Steelers, it was an AUCTION. The auction was open to all NFL teams and luckily a great organization had a fan that won the highest bid. The Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions had just as much of a chance as the Steelers. People act like the only teams I listed was Steelers, Ravens, Patriots, Packers and Eagles as the teams I would like to be a fan of. The "bandwagon" fan is far from the truth, if that was the case I would have choose my new team on my own, not left it at the hands of the public. The bidding started at $19.95 and I had no clue if anyone would even look at the auction much less it get into the media. I guess people wanted me to not allow the Steelers to be in the bidding? If I was unhappy with how poorly an organization (Bengals) was being ran for 20 years, why would I leave a team off which has been a model for how an organization (Steelers) should be ran? That's not very smart. Bengals fans please realize Cincinnati is not a rival to Pittsburgh fans. The Ravens are the rival. Cincinnati's rival is Cleveland (comparable organizations).
"As far as never being a fan? I find it comical. Honestly, if you are/were a true fan for the past 20 seasons of the Bengals and haven't contemplated "What am I doing?" or "Why don't I just don't cheer for another team?" then you must not have been a true fan. I owned season tickets since Paul Brown Stadium opened in the first row of the stadium/ I guess all the "fair-weather" fans own those. I was still watching games in December between 1998-2002 when they had a combined 19-61 record. I was at games in December in 15 degree weather when they were finishing up those 4-12 seasons, while all these "so-called" true fans were at home. I cared so much, that when you feel like the owner doesn't care as much as you, something has to give. Cincinnati is full of fair-weather fans. The two playoff teams in 2005 and 2009 there was more Bengals fans all of sudden in Cincinnati then ever before. People screaming "I've always loved the Bengals." Right! Fool somebody else. I was at last season's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Carson Palmer went over 25,000 passing yards for his career and the entire stadium booed a QB who is the only one to lead them to those two playoff games in the last 20 seasons. I'm not the "true fans" who threw garbage in his yard after a loss. I'm not the true fan who called radio stations non-stop after every game yelling that Carson has to go. When Carson does say he wants out, which is what all fans around here wanted, everyone calls him a "quitter" and throws him under the bus. I don't blame Bengals fans for sticking with them and not doing what I have done. I invest a lot of time and money into the organization that I cheer for and 20 years of never seeing a playoff win was enough for me to take my money and loyalty elsewhere. If you paid your cable bill for 20 years and it only worked two (winning seasons) out of those 20 years, yet all your neighbors were getting eight out of 20 years, you wouldn’t inquire any more details since you've been loyal? What reward have Bengals fans gotten from ownership to remain loyal?
"As far as Pittsburgh fans go - I hope they can/will accept me. If they don't I understand. I will be up there for a few games and the majority of Pittsburgh fans have been great to me so far. I will put in my time, study and cheer them on as good going forward as any fan in Pittsburgh."
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welcome aboard buddy!
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mikeyP72 said:
So someone dumber than you, if that's possible Gafreleets, make's a statement about the Browns being comparable to the Bengals shitty franchise and it's like Christmas morning for you. So sad.
Right- the difference between the Browns and the Bengals is the ownership. Randy Lerner at least is willing to spend money on his team and tries to win. Mike Brown doesn't spend $$ (only cold weather team without an indoor facility), and has an inbred front office. As long as that stays the same, I agree with the defector the Bengals are never going to be a consistent winner Cincinnati. In fact, I thought it was going to be the Bengals, not the Browns who were going to move to Baltimore- due to their stellar non-support of the team when they're in the dumper yet again. Yup- it's a known fact the Bengal fans are the biggest bunch of fairweather bandwaggoners in the NFL.
At least with Holmgren and Heckert in charge, there's a chance things may turn around in Cleveland.
And sorry pal- if your loyalty to a team is for sale- we don't want you as a fan. True "fandom" can't be bought.
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Just the thing a Stooler fan would be proud of. Is this supposed to impress us? Proud that someone paid this guy to become a fan? Which is the exact opposite by definition of a fan.
It's like saying you listen to ABBA because they have 20 top 10 hits.
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Just the thing a Stooler fan would be proud of. Is this supposed to impress us? Proud that someone paid this guy to become a fan? Which is the exact opposite by definition of a fan.
It's like saying you listen to ABBA because they have 20 top 10 hits.
Just the thing a Stooler fan would be proud of. Is this supposed to impress us? Proud that someone paid this guy to become a fan? Which is the exact opposite by definition of a fan.
It's like saying you listen to ABBA because they have 20 top 10 hits.
I thought they only listen to banjo music in pittsburgh? or do they get fm reception in the trailer parks?
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I guess the only thing that can be said about this guy is that he had the sense to get cash for selling his loyalty to the Steelers...though it is typical that it would be a Steeler fan that would actually be dumb enough to pay someone.
Usually, the FRAKs (FrontRunnerAssKissers) will sell their soul and loyalty for a few wins, not cash.
And who wants to bet that this putz will not jump right back onto the Bengal bandwagon of they come through with a decent season?
After all, for the $510.00 he got for "selling" his fandom, as far as I could tell from reading it, his fandom didn't come with any warranties.
Tell you what: any Steeler fan that wants to send me $500.00 for switching my allegiance, I will be glad to take your money, and I will guarantee to be a Steeler fan during the entire duration of the NFL Exhibition season.
(When the games are played for real though my loyalty warranty runs out).
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Is anyone really surprised by this fair weather bungle fan selling his fandom to the stoolers?
We all know fair weather fans are the best bandwagon fans and the stoolers have a bloated overfilled wagon and many fans that will begin falling off at the first signs of back to back losing seasons..
Bengal fans are a disgrace to fans everywhere.
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Is anyone really surprised by this fair weather bungle fan selling his fandom to the stoolers?
We all know fair weather fans are the best bandwagon fans and the stoolers have a bloated overfilled wagon and many fans that will begin falling off at the first signs of back to back losing seasons..
Bengal fans are a disgrace to fans everywhere.
Is anyone really surprised by this fair weather bungle fan selling his fandom to the stoolers?
We all know fair weather fans are the best bandwagon fans and the stoolers have a bloated overfilled wagon and many fans that will begin falling off at the first signs of back to back losing seasons..
Bengal fans are a disgrace to fans everywhere.
Again, the question is: why would anyone be so dumb as to want to pay a farthing for this POS's "loyalty".
Can any of our Steeler fans on this board explain this?
I mean, it is not like the Steeler's are so hard up for FRAKs that they have to start paying them.
Astounding.
Where's my check?
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True Bengals fan.
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So having a fairweather fan is something to brag about in Pittsburgh? Sweet Christ.
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Is anyone really surprised by this fair weather bungle fan selling his fandom to the stoolers?
We all know fair weather fans are the best bandwagon fans and the stoolers have a bloated overfilled wagon and many fans that will begin falling off at the first signs of back to back losing seasons..
Bengal fans are a disgrace to fans everywhere.
Is anyone really surprised by this fair weather bungle fan selling his fandom to the stoolers?
We all know fair weather fans are the best bandwagon fans and the stoolers have a bloated overfilled wagon and many fans that will begin falling off at the first signs of back to back losing seasons..
Bengal fans are a disgrace to fans everywhere.
Could not agree with you more. Down here in the Dayton area a hour away from Cincy you are hard pressed to see hardy any Who-diz colors. Oh, if they are winning they pull out the jerseys that smell like moth balls or they all run to get new gear with the price tags still on them. As soon as they start losing as normal their colors are hid back away in the closet again. Who-daz: "Always have been fair weather fans and alway will be".
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My guess is that this whole article was a publicity stunt to drum up something to talk about during the lock-out. However, (being a Steelers fan) I'm willing to up the Gipper's bet, in that I will agree to be a Browns fan for $500 cash for the entire 2011 NFL season, which will include...your choice of a Browns Avatar for my account, my "word" that I'll watch every Browns game televised in the Pittsburgh market and that I'll wear a Browns Jersey (despite how wretched ugly they are) every Sunday the Browns play.
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My guess is that this whole article was a publicity stunt to drum up something to talk about during the lock-out. However, (being a Steelers fan) I'm willing to up the Gipper's bet, in that I will agree to be a Browns fan for $500 cash for the entire 2011 NFL season, which will include...your choice of a Browns Avatar for my account, my "word" that I'll watch every Browns game televised in the Pittsburgh market and that I'll wear a Browns Jersey (despite how wretched ugly they are) every Sunday the Browns play.
Endymion said:
My guess is that this whole article was a publicity stunt to drum up something to talk about during the lock-out. However, (being a Steelers fan) I'm willing to up the Gipper's bet, in that I will agree to be a Browns fan for $500 cash for the entire 2011 NFL season, which will include...your choice of a Browns Avatar for my account, my "word" that I'll watch every Browns game televised in the Pittsburgh market and that I'll wear a Browns Jersey (despite how wretched ugly they are) every Sunday the Browns play.
Go and put that offer on eBay or whatever, just like this guy did. But to get your $$, you may not want to limit it to the Browns. Yes, there is a sucker born every minute, but I doubt that anyone in Browns town is that big of a sucker.
(I will note this: you probably watch every Browns game shown in Pee-town anyway just to check out the competition. And though you might wear a Browns jersey every Sunday, that doesn't guarantee that you won't cover it with 3 layers of Steeler gear. The only thing you would have to do is to put up a Browns avatar on this board, on which you are a rare participant anyway....and I see you don't even have an avatar. Also, I note that you didn't say you would actually root for the Browns to win.
Nice Try though. We'll give you B+ for effort.
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Mr. Gipper, assuming someone was "stupid" enough to take me up on that deal, I would be willing to discuss terms and conditions based upon the spirit of my offer.
Actually, I thought of another deal that would be far more interesting. Since there is more "personal" risk involved the cost to a Browns fan would be substantially higher. Anyways, for $1,000.00, a brand new browns jersey, a brand new browns jacket (and any other "tasteful" brand new browns gear of your choosing) plus two tickets to Hienz field for the Browns/Steelers game on 12/08/11, I will go to that game dressed only in Browns gear provided by you (i.e. no Steelers gear period) plus my own pants/underwear/shoes/etc. and yell any chants of your choosing (no foul language) at the top of my lungs for every Browns touchdown and/or field goal. I will also sign a waiver releasing you from any liability for physical damages incurred to my person as a result.
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Mr. Gipper, assuming someone was "stupid" enough to take me up on that deal, I would be willing to discuss terms and conditions based upon the spirit of my offer.
Actually, I thought of another deal that would be far more interesting. Since there is more "personal" risk involved the cost to a Browns fan would be substantially higher. Anyways, for $1,000.00, a brand new browns jersey, a brand new browns jacket (and any other "tasteful" brand new browns gear of your choosing) plus two tickets to Hienz field for the Browns/Steelers game on 12/08/11, I will go to that game dressed only in Browns gear provided by you (i.e. no Steelers gear period) plus my own pants/underwear/shoes/etc. and yell any chants of your choosing (no foul language) at the top of my lungs for every Browns touchdown and/or field goal. I will also sign a waiver releasing you from any liability for physical damages incurred to my person as a result.
Endymion said:
Mr. Gipper, assuming someone was "stupid" enough to take me up on that deal, I would be willing to discuss terms and conditions based upon the spirit of my offer.
Actually, I thought of another deal that would be far more interesting. Since there is more "personal" risk involved the cost to a Browns fan would be substantially higher. Anyways, for $1,000.00, a brand new browns jersey, a brand new browns jacket (and any other "tasteful" brand new browns gear of your choosing) plus two tickets to Hienz field for the Browns/Steelers game on 12/08/11, I will go to that game dressed only in Browns gear provided by you (i.e. no Steelers gear period) plus my own pants/underwear/shoes/etc. and yell any chants of your choosing (no foul language) at the top of my lungs for every Browns touchdown and/or field goal. I will also sign a waiver releasing you from any liability for physical damages incurred to my person as a result.
For $1000.00 bucks ill run onto the field and kick any Browns player of your choosing in the nuts as hard as I can.
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Mr. Gipper, assuming someone was "stupid" enough to take me up on that deal, I would be willing to discuss terms and conditions based upon the spirit of my offer.
Actually, I thought of another deal that would be far more interesting. Since there is more "personal" risk involved the cost to a Browns fan would be substantially higher. Anyways, for $1,000.00, a brand new browns jersey, a brand new browns jacket (and any other "tasteful" brand new browns gear of your choosing) plus two tickets to Hienz field for the Browns/Steelers game on 12/08/11, I will go to that game dressed only in Browns gear provided by you (i.e. no Steelers gear period) plus my own pants/underwear/shoes/etc. and yell any chants of your choosing (no foul language) at the top of my lungs for every Browns touchdown and/or field goal. I will also sign a waiver releasing you from any liability for physical damages incurred to my person as a result.
Endymion said:
Mr. Gipper, assuming someone was "stupid" enough to take me up on that deal, I would be willing to discuss terms and conditions based upon the spirit of my offer.
Actually, I thought of another deal that would be far more interesting. Since there is more "personal" risk involved the cost to a Browns fan would be substantially higher. Anyways, for $1,000.00, a brand new browns jersey, a brand new browns jacket (and any other "tasteful" brand new browns gear of your choosing) plus two tickets to Hienz field for the Browns/Steelers game on 12/08/11, I will go to that game dressed only in Browns gear provided by you (i.e. no Steelers gear period) plus my own pants/underwear/shoes/etc. and yell any chants of your choosing (no foul language) at the top of my lungs for every Browns touchdown and/or field goal. I will also sign a waiver releasing you from any liability for physical damages incurred to my person as a result.
Good luck with that.
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Is anyone really surprised by this fair weather bungle fan selling his fandom to the stoolers?
We all know fair weather fans are the best bandwagon fans and the stoolers have a bloated overfilled wagon and many fans that will begin falling off at the first signs of back to back losing seasons..
Bengal fans are a disgrace to fans everywhere.
Again, the question is: why would anyone be so dumb as to want to pay a farthing for this POS's "loyalty".
Can any of our Steeler fans on this board explain this?
I mean, it is not like the Steeler's are so hard up for FRAKs that they have to start paying them.
Astounding.
Where's my check?
lol, it sounds like i hit a nerve. got all the puppies in the place going "grrrrrrr". easy there, it's was just a funny story i thought might bring a small laugh at cinci's expense.
Again, the question is: why would anyone be so dumb as to want to pay a farthing for this POS's "loyalty".
Can any of our Steeler fans on this board explain this?
I mean, it is not like the Steeler's are so hard up for FRAKs that they have to start paying them.
Astounding.
Where's my check?
hey, some people just have more money than they know what to do with.
So having a fairweather fan is something to brag about in Pittsburgh? Sweet Christ.
did i ever brag? i must have missed it. easy there pup.
c-dawg said:
I didn't read a word of Steelerfag's BS post nor of any of the replies.
Cuz I don't feed the trolls.
anyone think this sounds a little foghorn leghorn'ish? "i say, i say, when i'm told to be quiet that's it, i just be quiet.......you ain't gotta tell me twice to shut my trap....no sir-ee bob, just tell me to shut it and that's all.......etc"
if you're not "feeding the trolls" than why even post? (i say, i say.....)
Go and put that offer on eBay or whatever, just like this guy did. But to get your $$, you may not want to limit it to the Browns. Yes, there is a sucker born every minute, but I doubt that anyone in Browns town is that big of a sucker.
(I will note this: you probably watch every Browns game shown in Pee-town anyway just to check out the competition. And though you might wear a Browns jersey every Sunday, that doesn't guarantee that you won't cover it with 3 layers of Steeler gear. The only thing you would have to do is to put up a Browns avatar on this board, on which you are a rare participant anyway....and I see you don't even have an avatar. Also, I note that you didn't say you would actually root for the Browns to win.
Nice Try though. We'll give you B+ for effort.
using the word competition in a free and loose way aren't you? at least when comparing the browns to the Steelers? you might be our opponents........but competition?
not so much.
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lol, it sounds like i hit a nerve. got all the puppies in the place going "grrrrrrr". easy there, it's was just a funny story i thought might bring a small laugh at cinci's expense.
Again, the question is: why would anyone be so dumb as to want to pay a farthing for this POS's "loyalty".
Can any of our Steeler fans on this board explain this?
I mean, it is not like the Steeler's are so hard up for FRAKs that they have to start paying them.
Astounding.
Where's my check?
hey, some people just have more money than they know what to do with.
So having a fairweather fan is something to brag about in Pittsburgh? Sweet Christ.
did i ever brag? i must have missed it. easy there pup.
c-dawg said:
I didn't read a word of Steelerfag's BS post nor of any of the replies.
Cuz I don't feed the trolls.
anyone think this sounds a little foghorn leghorn'ish? "i say, i say, when i'm told to be quiet that's it, i just be quiet.......you ain't gotta tell me twice to shut my trap....no sir-ee bob, just tell me to shut it and that's all.......etc"
if you're not "feeding the trolls" than why even post? (i say, i say.....)
Go and put that offer on eBay or whatever, just like this guy did. But to get your $$, you may not want to limit it to the Browns. Yes, there is a sucker born every minute, but I doubt that anyone in Browns town is that big of a sucker.
(I will note this: you probably watch every Browns game shown in Pee-town anyway just to check out the competition. And though you might wear a Browns jersey every Sunday, that doesn't guarantee that you won't cover it with 3 layers of Steeler gear. The only thing you would have to do is to put up a Browns avatar on this board, on which you are a rare participant anyway....and I see you don't even have an avatar. Also, I note that you didn't say you would actually root for the Browns to win.
Nice Try though. We'll give you B+ for effort.
using the word competition in a free and loose way aren't you? at least when comparing the browns to the Steelers? you might be our opponents........but competition?
not so much.
lol, it sounds like i hit a nerve. got all the puppies in the place going "grrrrrrr". easy there, it's was just a funny story i thought might bring a small laugh at cinci's expense.
hey, some people just have more money than they know what to do with.
did i ever brag? i must have missed it. easy there pup.
anyone think this sounds a little foghorn leghorn'ish? "i say, i say, when i'm told to be quiet that's it, i just be quiet.......you ain't gotta tell me twice to shut my trap....no sir-ee bob, just tell me to shut it and that's all.......etc"
if you're not "feeding the trolls" than why even post? (i say, i say.....)
using the word competition in a free and loose way aren't you? at least when comparing the browns to the Steelers? you might be our opponents........but competition?
not so much.
Cleveland sweeps Pittsburgh this year!
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lol, it sounds like i hit a nerve. got all the puppies in the place going "grrrrrrr". easy there, it's was just a funny story i thought might bring a small laugh at cinci's expense.
Again, the question is: why would anyone be so dumb as to want to pay a farthing for this POS's "loyalty".
Can any of our Steeler fans on this board explain this?
I mean, it is not like the Steeler's are so hard up for FRAKs that they have to start paying them.
Astounding.
Where's my check?
hey, some people just have more money than they know what to do with.
So having a fairweather fan is something to brag about in Pittsburgh? Sweet Christ.
did i ever brag? i must have missed it. easy there pup.
c-dawg said:
I didn't read a word of Steelerfag's BS post nor of any of the replies.
Cuz I don't feed the trolls.
anyone think this sounds a little foghorn leghorn'ish? "i say, i say, when i'm told to be quiet that's it, i just be quiet.......you ain't gotta tell me twice to shut my trap....no sir-ee bob, just tell me to shut it and that's all.......etc"
if you're not "feeding the trolls" than why even post? (i say, i say.....)
Go and put that offer on eBay or whatever, just like this guy did. But to get your $$, you may not want to limit it to the Browns. Yes, there is a sucker born every minute, but I doubt that anyone in Browns town is that big of a sucker.
(I will note this: you probably watch every Browns game shown in Pee-town anyway just to check out the competition. And though you might wear a Browns jersey every Sunday, that doesn't guarantee that you won't cover it with 3 layers of Steeler gear. The only thing you would have to do is to put up a Browns avatar on this board, on which you are a rare participant anyway....and I see you don't even have an avatar. Also, I note that you didn't say you would actually root for the Browns to win.
Nice Try though. We'll give you B+ for effort.
using the word competition in a free and loose way aren't you? at least when comparing the browns to the Steelers? you might be our opponents........but competition?
not so much.
easy there, it's was just a funny story i thought might bring a small laugh at cinci's expense.
Coward, back off much? Stand your ground if you can.
Also, I said I don't feed the trolls, didn't say I don't bitch slap them, troll.
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