The Browns are a big deal here in Cleveland. Winning the Superbowl, which they have never done, or going winless throughout an entire season (much more likely to happen), Cleveland area fans love the Browns. Today Jeff and I got into the act, supporting the Browns at a backyard cookout.
The highlight was eating fish Jeff and a few other guys caught out on the sparkling clean waters of Lake Erie. We had no concern of the toxic material we may be ingesting, just feeling good about the pride of creating a dinner caught Native American style. My father and brother both being pretty boys, has never allowed me to experience such a thing.
With any outdoor cookout, there were some games going on. Of course the Browns game, but beyond that, a few simple backyard games transpired. It helped that there were some children there, ranging in age from 9-2. Some simple shooting hoops and throwing the football came into play early. Then, things got more interesting when challenges were made to throw the football through the tire swing. I was very proud to hit the tire swing on my first try, feeling it was good for my first throw. As Jeff took a turn, my feelings of goodness were overshadowed as he threw the ball perfectly through the tire swing, not grazing any part of it. In basketball terms, a swish. While my pride in myself diminished, I felt some pride for Jeff's through. I mean he fished out dinner and threw the ball through the tire swing on the first try. He's a man's man!
Next the game elaborated into throwing it through the tire swing as it swung back and forth, and then as it spun it around. None of were terribly successful at this. However, one of the little boys, age 6, wanted to make it even more challenging. He wanted to sit on top of the tire swing and have us try to throw it through. Of course, by my standards of luck, every else had quit at the tire swing games. I was all that was left to fulfill this six year olds football dreams. Who was I to let him down?
Amazing myself, my first throw breezing right through the tire swing. I was concentrating hard to move my throws down, as most of my misses were high. Anything high would hit the boy. I was so excited to make it through on the first try, I continued throwing. Still concentrating on low throws, I began hitting the bottom of the tire and even the ground. I needed to raise it up a bit. So I did. The ball sailed toward the tire swing, rising slightly at the end, nailing the boy square in the stomach. With the force of the throw he grabbed onto the chain holding up the swing to prevent him from falling backwards. Thank God he did that!
While Jeff questioned my sanity of throwing at the tire swing with a little boy sitting on it, the boy's father described his son as tough and able to take it. Funny that minutes later the boy had enticed Jeff to throw at the swing too. Jeff, being careful not to have a repeat incident, threw wide and low on purpose.
"Booo, you suck!" was the six-year olds taunting response. With that, we decided everyone was better for me having hit him.