Most Browns fans are aware that while our favorite team doesn't have a logo on its helmets, it once almost did. Or actually did. Or something.

In 1965 the Browns were, supposedly, set to wear a logo on their domes for the first time (though they had previously worn numbers on their helmets). It was a stylized "CB" emblem that David Boss, a photographer and artist who would later start the NFL Creative Services department, designed at the behest of Art Modell for the NFL. That's about where fact and knowledge end in this infamous tale.

I've been aware of the "CB" logo for years, but could never find a complete account. Rumors and misinformation ran deep — conflicting reports citing photos that may or may not exist, quotes people may or may not have said, speculation filling the information voids. Verdicts fell into one of two camps:

1) The Browns definitely wore the logo once during an exhibition game against the Packers in 1965.

2) The Browns never wore the logo because the players peeled them off in revolt, either during training camp or before a game.

Delonte West was the host of a party or something on Saturday night at LUX. I wish I could personally tell you how it went, but alas, I go to bed early most nights. And even if I was up, I'm a diminutive Polish guy, so the clubs scene is probably not where I'd be.

Regardless, I'd be remiss and abdicating my journalistic responsibilities if I didn't try to pass along some accounts from Saturday night. So, let's go to the Twittertape.

Consider yourself informed.

Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.

The New York Post, in its quest to cover all innuendo and opinion regarding LeBron, talked to CC Sabathia recently about what the Yankee pitcher thinks LeBron should do come July 2010. First, it should be noted that they've apparently run out of new people to talk to about LeBron, because they already did an article on CC's thoughts back in November. I guess when you're pumping out 2-3 stories a day on the King, it's hard to find fresh material sometimes. (May I suggest they call Joey from Friends?)

But that's not my problem right now. Check out what CC said (not that it's not anything he hasn't said before, but still)...

Sabathia has his New York world championship. He wants his buddy LeBron James to get a New York title of his own. Sabathia said that New York living could be as good for James as it has been for him. "That's what it'll be like," Sabathia said as the Knicks collapsed once again, a dreadful 114-107 loss to the Bucks at the Garden. "The Knicks have a little ways to go, but any time you add that guy with another guy, you definitely have a chance to win. [James] and [Amar'e] Stoudamire, whoever else, you've got to think your chances to win would be pretty good."

"He's seen both sides of the fence, being in Cleveland and now in New York," James said before the game.

And Sabathia would like to see James in his new town.

"No doubt. This is it. This is the stage he wants to play on," Sabathia said. "And I think he'll be great here."

Fuck you, CC. Seriously.

You like winning in New York? It's so different from Cleveland? Fuck you. How about this game, asshole? And that one is a freaking Cy Young-esque effort compared to your excremental Game 1 effort. How about the Indians in the World Series against the Rockies if you had pulled your head out of your ass and managed to pitch somewhat like the ace you thought you were. You remember that? Probably not. Probably too busy taking off your socks so you could figure out your ERA for that ALCS (10.45) or dreaming about wearing pinstripes. Fucker.

I don't care that what you say is pretty freaking meaningless when it comes to real-world repercussions. Yeah, you're LeBron's "friend," but no one gives a shit.

What really pisses me off is that not only did your batshit performance in the Boston series rob me of a chance to watch a Cleveland team win a championship, but it also set in motion some dominoes that have toppled to where the Indians currently reside — lowest payroll in the AL Central, with Brian Bixler and company promising a scrapdiddilydacious battle for .500 this year.

You couldn't just ruin one team. No — you're intent on ruining two of my teams. And for that, you're a douchebag.

Once again, to be clear, you have no sway in LeBron's decision, so this vitriol spewing from my Chief Wahoo and Cavalier-loving heart isn't born out of fear that somehow speaking out is going to convince LeBron one way or the other. No, it's that for some reason you seem intent on shitting upon an entire city that gave you nothing but love (except for those two games in the ALCS — for those we would never forgive you.)

I am too nice to wish death or serious injury upon anyone, even someone as clearly douchey as yourself. But what I do wish is for some My Name is Earl-style karmic justice to come down on your fat ass. Since you seem so intent on shitting on Cleveland, here's to hoping that the next time you pitch down at the Jake, one of our darling little seagulls that hang around the stadium drops a fat load on your head. Here's to hoping that this scarring incident induces some Rick Ankiel-level yips from which you never ever recover. Here's to hoping you have a freaking 10.45 ERA from now until you're dutifully served your walking papers from your beloved New York Yankees after being ripped by the same media to which you're now dolling out quotes about your friend LeBron James. Here's to hoping they ask LeBron his opinion about his dear friend CC, who is now almost 400 pounds and can be found, daily, using his old jersey as a napkin at the local Hometown Buffet. Here's to hoping LeBron says something like: "I don't know what happened. He can't even sit courtside when I come to Madison Square Garden twice a year anymore — he's too fat for the seats."

Fuck you, CC.

Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.

This ad for How I Met Your Mother during the Super Bowl last night prompted some people to actually call the number on Barney's sign. This is what you would have heard if you did as well:

That, Lebron, is how you shoot a free throw. Hey, Barney Stinson speaking. A recording? No, this is really me! Anyway, glad you called 'cause you sound really special. Let's get to know each other. What are your hobbies? Oh my god, I like that too! Wow, I'm really feeling a connection here. You know, I never do this but what the heck. Let's meet up at MacLaren's Bar at oh, say, 3:45 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, 2016. I can't wait to meet you. I love you.

Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.

The Cavs intricate handshake ritual gets the Nike puppet treatment. Biz Z!

Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.

CLEVELAND — While many thought the New York media had reached a new low in the LeBron media frenzy after asking the deposed and catastrophically inept Isaiah Thomas his thoughts on where LeBron James should play next year, it seems they had not reached their journalistic depths quite yet.

Today, the New York Daily News ran an exclusive interview with former Friends cast member Matt LeBlanc talking about the future of King James.

The paper quoted LeBlanc as saying, "Gee, I hadn't thought about it. I know I wore a Knicks jersey with No. 23 on the show once, but I don't know. Yeah, I guess it would be cool."

After the Knicks wrap up their game against the Cavs tonight, Mitch Lawrence's editor demands he get in touch with Lea Thompson to get her opinion. Stay tuned.

Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.

As you've surely read by now, Austin Briggs (A. Gully) is taking his campaign to keep LeBron in Cleveland to the Q tonight for the Cavs vs. Knicks affair. Briggs will be handing out masks bearing the logo from his PleaseDontLeave23.com site for all the fans. While I'm fully behind the effort to get the voices of the masses directly to the King, and while I'm certainly impressed by Briggs' consistent and well-orchestrated marketing attempts (see: Witness mobile), I'm a little bothered by the lackluster logo. A crying Ohio? Really?

I guess I should be careful when lobbing even the minor criticism in Briggs' direction — this is what happened the last time I dared to do that (skip to the 2:15 mark).

Either way, best of luck to Briggs, who, for the record, I have a tremendous amount of respect for with nearly everything he does. Just not his music. The video below, however, much respect. Funny idea.

Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.

Via Cool History of Cleveland (via Steven Tatar of Ohio Knitting Mills):

This was a Kenneth Bates mural created specifically for the lobby of the new Campus Sweater Company building at 3955 Euclid Avenue. Campus Sweater Company was launched in 1922 by entreprenuers Samuel Kaufmann and Loren Weber originally in the Warehouse District. The Company specialized in casual clothes, sportswear and sweaters. At one time it was the largest manufacturer of men’s clothing in the U.S. (Wasn’t everything in Cleveland once the “largest in the U.S.?) The Company was eventually acquired by Interco in 1968 and enjoyed good fortune in Cleveland until 1982 wehn the plant was closed ending any presence of Campus Sweater in Cleveland. The building became an office for the county. I cannot tell what happened to this mural.

Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.

Major League movie baseball cards? Yep. And if, for a moment, you think to yourself, Wow, that's cool, but there's probably oodles of sets of those out there, take a minute to read this account from Indians Baseball Cards and Random Wax (more photos at that link also). The author got a comment from a reader about the elusive set and it turns out he might have one of the very few, or only, sets in existence.

I have only seen the set listed in ONE baseball card pricing guide ever. I think I may even have it in one of the older guides I own. Heck, I might have even scanned it and posted it here before! I'll have to look and see. If I do have it, I'll be sure to send Ryan a copy of the pricing. THANK YOU so much, Ryan! In one comment, you said you may own the only set in existence at this point. I think you may be right! I even hired a company to look for the set and THEY couldn't find anyone with it!

Tell me you don't want the Roger Dorn card. Number one, baby.

As Tony Rizzo discussed with Brian Windhorst on ESPN 850 WKNR this morning, the Cavs are asking season ticket holders to renew or get off the pot by March — well before July, when we'll find out for sure whether LeBron is staying or fleeing. Windhorst said this isn't anything new; it's regular practice by the Cavs to do so at this time. The Cavs also know supply and demand is on their side. Plenty of optimistic fans will buy season tickets if the pessimistic fans pull out of their seats.

For fans, however, it's not an enviable situation to be in. If you're holding on to a prime seat location, you're gladly going to plunk down your cash if it involves watching the best player on the planet ply his trade for the next three or more years. If the future is Jawad Williams and JJ Hickson, probably not so much.

Renewal rate by March might be a good barometer of how many fans in Cleveland think the King is going to re-up with the Wine and Gold, but it's a gamble even if you think locking up your seat is a no-brainer if you get LeBron for the foreseeable future.

I'm not going to get into the Will He or Won't He game. Listing reasons why LeBron might resign with the Cavs or why he's destined to play somewhere else is one of the silliest pageview grabbing exercises out there, especially when even the most plugged-in guys around the NBA have no definitive answer on what LeBron will do or what he's factoring into his decision. For the record, however, I think he'll stay in Cleveland. Windhorst also said he thinks LeBron will stay, though also said he wouldn't bet his house on it — a safe move by Windy, I think.

We all know LeBron's decision is going to have a fairly significant impact on the fair Forest City. The famous "Our economy's based off LeBron James" line from the Cleveland tourism videos isn't that far off from the truth. From the roster to the front office, from the restaurants around the Q to those that make their living selling tickets in secondary markets, whatever LeBron decides to do in June is going to effect a ton of people in and around this city.

It was just about a month ago when the Cavs were recognized by the league as one of the most successful teams in season ticket sales. For the first time since the league started tracking the numbers, the Cavs had more than 10,000 season tickets sold for the season — they were one of eight teams to do so. A new benchmark was also set by the league this year: 2,000 new season ticket sales for the season, and the Cavs were one of the few teams to accomplish that goal as well. In addition to those rare successful numbers during a year for the league that has seen multitudes of teams suffer from lagging attendance and continuing economic woes, the Cavs were also one of three teams to have a 90% retention rate for season ticket holders.

They're currently second in the league in average home attendance with 20,562 (they're second in the league in average road attendance as well, with 19,023).

It goes without saying that a future sans LeBron would be devastating to the Cavs attendance. Cleveland was 29th out of 29 teams the year before the King's arrival. While that team was a season-tanking catastrophe, a LeBron-less Cavs is closer to a lottery team than a legitimate playoff team. Add in the crushing emotional blow of losing yet another superstar from the shores of the Cuyahoga and the Cavs might set a new record for non-renewal of season tickets in a few years.

Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.

(Via Kotaku)

(Via @NoYork)

I'm deep in the throes of researching some Browns history for a story that should be up next week (stay tuned, it's a doozy), and I have a long obsession with all things Brownie the Elf, so imagine my happiness when Paul Lukas pointed me towards the comment section of a recent post over at Uni Watch and these pictures. Yes, that is in fact a child dressed as Brownie the Elf scurrying out onto the field before a Browns game to deliver the ball for kickoff. I have no idea what year or game this was from, nor do I know if this was a regular thing that the team did, but I do know that it is singularly awesome.

Earlier this month, just as the new braintrust in Cleveland was being ushered into Berea, the agents for Josh Cribbs launched a media blitz to show just how unfairly they thought their client was being treated by the Browns. Before Mike Holmgren could even fill out his front office roster, Cribbs' and his camp demanded a new contract. The two sides engaged in long staring contest, and in the heat of the moment it seemed nothing would ever get done. Dawn Aponte, now with the Dolphins, made the infamous "final offer" comments. Cribbs cleaned out his locker and told everyone he doubted that he'd be back with the Browns next year. His agents said they would ask for a trade without a new deal. It was going to BE THE END OF THE WORLD?!

Of course, rational people figured that while Cribbs' negotiating strategy was probably ill-advised, things would calm down, Holmgren would get things settled in Berea, and the two would come back to the table later on with clearer heads and get a deal done.

That seems to be exactly what's happening. Holmgren has said in numerous media interviews that he wants Cribbs back next year.

From a National Football Post article:

“Holmgren came in and made a lot of changes; the offer that was made to me was made by people who are no longer there,” Cribbs said. “Holmgren reached out to my people and said he was going to right the ship and make it right. I’m going to give him a clean slate, give him the benefit of the doubt, until he gives me a reason not to.”

Now, flash back to earlier this month when everyone was in an uproar about the Browns' apparent refusal to do right by Josh Cribbs. It was then that Dawg Pound Mike launched a collection to fund a billboard to be placed somewhere around town, because, apparently, Holmgren's decision making is easily swayed by billboards.

Well, the billboard is finally going to become a reality, complete with the design posted above. Perfect timing, right? All sides seem happy and committed and confident in their ability to get something done soon. Cooler heads have prevailed. The manufactured craziness is in the rearview mirror. Billboard time!

Now, to be fair, using a billboard to tackle a time-sensitive news topic is probably not the best idea in the world — there's the fundraising, the design, the approval, getting the space, and the actual installation. You run the risk of it being completely irrelevant, as this one surely will be, by the time it's up. But what are you going to do? You begged fans for their cash and promised that this great travesty of not paying a millionaire athlete more millions of dollars would be addressed publicly with a billboard. You can't not put it up at that point.

Which reminds me, I finally raised enough money for my "Dear Mark, Please Keep CC in Cleveland" billboard. It should be installed across from the Jake very soon!

Following yesterday's news that Beacon Journal columnist Patrick McManamon is leaving the paper for a gig at AOL Fanhouse, here's a little explanation as to what you can expect from the ABJ in terms of replacing him, both short-term and long-term.

From the BJ Alums blog:

"We didn’t want him to go,” said one of his bosses a few notches above the sports editor. And he said further that in these tough economic times, the BJ editors are not permitted to find a replacement. Marla Ridenour thus will be called upon to take up much of the column writing chores. Some news side reporters (several are interested, the editor said) will be called in to lend a hand. Lending a hand does not mean they will be switching from news to sports. They will just be doing some sports along with their news.

Some BJ old timers also would like to see more from Sheldon Ocher — like the beautiful piece he did last week on Austin Carr.

I've also heard that while ABJ won't hire a replacement right now, they might consider it after the guild negotiations — a bloody, noxious affair so far, from what I've heard — finish up later this month with a new contract. In the meantime, I suppose look for Ridenour and in-house news writers to fill in.