Published Monday, November 4, 2002
Herald Staff Writer
The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns runs deeper than the green of artificial turf. It's the longest and greatest rivalry in AFC history.
Fans of both teams say the rivalry causes families to argue and friends to stop speaking to one another.
At Billy's Black and Gold bar on Sharpsville Avenue in Sharon, a massive group of Steelers fans crowded the bar for merrymaking Sunday for the team's second matchup of the season. Cheering, hooting and fist pounding could be heard every five seconds as fans kept a watchful eye on one of 30 televisions scattered throughout the place.
Steeler fan and bar owner Bill Novosel said his bar always turns out a huge crowd when the Steelers play the Browns. Sunday was no exception, with about 300 Steelers fans crowding the inside bar and a back room.
Novosel, adorned with a Steelers tattoo, said the bar was filled with 100 percent Pittsburgh fans. A sign on the front door warns anyone wearing Browns memorabilia to turn away and go elsewhere.
"Don't try to come in wearing anything Browns or you might get knocked out," Novosel laughed.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler offensive lineman Steve Courson was also hanging out at the Black and Gold Sunday and rooting for his old team. He said he was there to watch the game and to have fun.
Courson said the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns has been going on nearly forever.
"It's a heated rivalry," he said. "It's known as the turnpike rivalry because the cities are so close. Back in the day, both were blue-collar cities and there has always been physically heated games between the two teams," he said. "But it's a good rivalry."
When asked who he thought would win the game, Courson responded, "Oh, the Steelers of course."
Many out-of-state Steelers fans came out to watch the game at Billy's, some perhaps seeking asylum from rival Browns fans.
Bob Jackson, 62, of Liberty, Ohio, said he wanted to be in an atmosphere to root with other Steelers fans. He brought along his friend, Joe Campana of Youngstown, who was once a border-line Browns fan and converted to Pittsburgh.
"If there are any Browns fans here, they won't admit it," Jackson said. "There was a Cowboys fan here earlier, but he was gone by half-time,"
Joan Butala of San Luis, Calif. sat watching the game with friends George M. Vargo and Tina Alcaro.
Ms. Butala, sister of Tony Butala from the Lettermen, said everyone in her family is a die-hard Pittsburgh fan.
"There's something about (the Steelers) that inspires a person to be who they are," she said.
Smooth Harris, 51, and Buck Hickman, 54, both of Cleveland, sat wearing Steelers jerseys, holding beers and cheering loudly for the Steelers. The two drive to Sharon every weekend to watch the Steelers play, they said.
"If the Steelers are playing, we're here," Harris said.
A group of 10 Steelers fans from Warren, Ohio, gathered at a table, pounding and hooting at every play.
Jonathan "Noj" Stehnach, 37, who sat at the head of the table, said: "If you're not at the stadium, you might as well come here. This is Steelers country. On the eighth day God created the Pittsburgh Steelers."
Early in the game, at BW3's in downtown Youngstown, fans watched the Browns take an early lead.
Carlos Johnson, 21, of Youngstown, said he had to get out of the house and away from his children in order to enjoy the game.
"My kids won't let me watch the game for nothing. They run in front of the television...," he said. His friend Ted Davis, 30, of Youngstown, said coming from a family full of Browns fans prompted him to come out and be around other Steelers fans.
"When we were little my brother and I were Steelers fans, but the rest of the family liked the Browns. My family used to make my brother and I stand outside in the cold and watch through the windows," he laughed. "I wanted to be amongst my (Steelers) people today. I've been a fan since I was 4 years old. The black and gold colors are what attracted me."
Jodi Austin, 33, of Youngstown, a Browns fan, sat with her boyfriend Aundra Brown, a Steelers fan, and other Steelers friends as the Browns led the game.
Ms. Austin said being the odd one out didn't bother her.
"I like being the only one who is different. They all jumped on the bandwagon when the Steelers had that winning streak, but I've always been a Browns fan."
Her boyfriend said he's tried to convert her to Pittsburgh, but it hasn't worked.
"She can't stand me," he joked. "But I tell you one thing. I won't buy a ring for her finger until she becomes a Steelers fan," he laughed.
In the end, the Steelers won Sunday's game, 23-20. The game was an important one, with the Steelers now in sole possession of the AFC North title with a 5-3 ranking. The Browns are 4-5.
Over at the Golden Bear Tavern in West Middlesex, owners Cathy and Ron Dubrasky said the place was crowded from the moment they opened at noon Sunday.
"It was so packed, people were standing," Cathy Dubrasky said.
Browns fan Gary Spohn, 50, of Masury, seemed disappointed after the game.
"(Quarterback) Tim Couch had too many sacks," he reasoned. "He didn't move around enough and I believe that's what cost them the game. He does good when he does good and really bad when he does bad."
Eric Tuck, 26, of Warren, Ohio, another Browns fan, said the game was a close one and Couch deserves more praise.
"I think every Browns fan should stand behind Tim Couch because he's our quarterback. We paid money for him and he does good. No one in the division is doing too good because all of the teams are tough," he said, adding he came to watch the game with his father-in-law, who is a Steelers fan.