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~2010 Training
Camp~
Anthony and I dreamed and planned for an entire off season
on how “this year” was going to be our year. This year we
were going to be the first fans into training camp. Our
plan was flawless, we worked out every detail…we planned for
every event. Finally the stage was set for our “early”
morning arrival and our rightful place of being first in
line, first at the gate….the first fans of 2010.
We left Amy’s
house around 0500 for our planned arrival of 0545…a clear
2hr and 15 minutes before the gates would open….this would
be our year for sure. When we arrived at Cleveland Browns
Headquarters ….Anthony and I were stunned, shocked, surprise
and flabbergasted to see three guys already at the gate…our
dream busted again. And the cruelest blow of all….it was
the same three guys from last year.
But who would
get the last laugh?
When the gates
opened we enter right behind “the other three” and the race
was on….these three middle aged guys were no match for a
high school soccer player and his marathon running dad.
Let’s just say we were first to the best part of camp (other
then seeing the team). And while we were in line a Browns
beat reporter
Matt Florjancic, Contributor to
ClevelandBrowns.com interviewed Anthony. And
although Anthony clearly told him we were third into the
complex….some how Matt…….made us the “First Fans of 2010” A
dream come true!
“Anthony Burke and his father
Brian celebrated being the first fans through the gates in
Berea. They left home in Virginia Beach, Virginia on
Thursday and got to the Browns’ training facility at 5:15 am
Saturday morning.
While the Burkes settled into their
favorite spots to watch the team practice, they experienced
a lot of firsts that they shared with all of the fans decked
out in their Browns best.”
http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/The-Firsts-of-Camp/7cb6ed44-2c6e-4be3-ab2e-66c7dbef0b07
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Okay one of us is chubby....
and it is not the little guy |
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Jessica and I
at Cleveland Browns Stadium |
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~ Draft
Party 2010~ Draft Day
Party
AT&T City View Lounge @ Cleveland
Browns Stadium Thur., April 22, 2010 @ 5:00PM
~Side-Line
Passes ~ 27 Dec 2009
-- Browns vs Raiders, Anthony and I won
side-line passes,
for pre-game warm-ups from the World Wide Browns Backers."
~2009 Training
Camp~ With
the opening of training camp comes the fresh expectations of
a new start, a new beginning where every team is undefeated,
and every fan hopes for that special season. Anthony and I
attended the first day of training camp, arriving at the
gate an hour and a half before the gates opened….hoping to
be first in line for what we thought was going to be “the
year”……only to find ourselves beaten to the punch….we would
be third in line. Next year we vowed to be first. Right
before the gates opened Michele and my niece Amy showed up
and spent some time with us taking in practice; it sure was
fun to share this experience with them.
One of the
high-lights of the trip was trying to find parking….can’t
tell all of the details because the statue of limitations
does not run out until 2016. Let’s just say parking may
have been a bit more confusing after we left. We stayed for
both sessions, watching DA and Brady Quinn battle it out for
the starting QB position. After the final session of the
day we again were able to score a few autographs including
Anthony getting a jersey autographed by Brady Quinn.
~Monday
Night Football ~ 13 Oct 2008
-- Browns vs Giants "My Air
Force
Retirement Game,
Guests of the Cleveland Browns"
~2008
Training Camp~
During a week long
Daddy/Son trip, Anthony and I went to the MOPAR Nationals,
Visited Family, went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (the
day Donte Stallworth stepped on Braylon Edwards heel in
practice) and spent a day at the Browns Training Camp in
Berea, Ohio. The day spent with Anthony watching our Browns
was a blast; we stayed for both the morning and afternoon
practices scoring a few autographs including one from QB
Brady Quinn. Seeing Anthony enjoy the experience and chase
down players was more fun for me then getting the autographs
myself. Ask Anthony about how he ran down LB, Andre Davis
in the parking lot….
~2006 Birthday Game~
When the 2006 NFL schedule came out and I noticed that my
Browns would be playing the Falcons on my birthday...in
Atlanta, home town of our good friends Kendra and
Jeff.......we just had to go. Jeff was able to land 7
tickets so we were able to enjoy the game with Kendra,
Jeff's and their kids Kyler and Kenna. Now understand that Jeff
is a Cowboys fan but for the day his family was part of the
Browns Backers Nation. No matter how the team plays
the Browns travel well and we were surrounded by Browns
fans....I had the best birthday party ever...especially when
the Browns delivered the best gift of all. A BROWNS
VICTORY on my birthday! The Browns were triumphant 17-13
on a Kellen Winslow reception late in the game to set up a
Phil Dawson Field Goal. But the defenses
came up big on the day. "This was a special win," said
Browns safety Brian Russell. "We're pretty proud of our defensive effort
and that we could win this one for Brian on his birthday."
(okay maybe that is not a direct quote)
~2000 Training Camp~
Before my Air Force remote tour to Thule Greenland, I had a
few hours before my flight out of Hopkins International
Airport. I was not sure what I was going to do with this
time until I heard on the radio that the Browns were
conducting training camp at there HQ just down the road from
the airport. A few miles on the highway, a couple
intersection stop lights and one car park later I was
walking behind the Browns HQ building and right into
training camp which was running in high gear. I was
completely amazed at how close you could get to the players
as they worked their way thru the drills. It was also
amazing at what ease these professional athletes were able
to move, run and hit with such speed and force. If I ever
had a thought of how just maybe with everything right, I
could play in the NFL…this took it right out of the realm of
possibilities.
~Browns Games
I've attended~
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2011 11 Sept
Bengals L 17-27
25 Sept
Dolphins W 17-16
23 Oct
Seahawks W 6-3
20 Nov Jaguars W
14-10
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2010 19 Sept
Chiefs L 14-16
10 Oct
Falcons L 10-20
14 Nov NY
Jets L 20-26 OT
28 Nov
Panthers W 24-23
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2009
13 Sept
Vikings L 20-34
25 Oct
Packers L 3-31
16 Nov Ravens
MNF L 0-16
6 Dec
Chargers L 23-30
27 Dec
Raiders W 27-9
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2008
13 Oct vs NY
Giants MNF W 35-14
19 Oct at
Redskins L 11-14
21 Dec vs
Bengals L 0-14
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2007
Deployed
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2006
12 Nov at
Atlanta W 17-13
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1999
5 Dec at
Chargers L 10-23
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1993
13 Sept 49ers
MNF W 23-13
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1992
14 Sept
Dolphins MNF L 23-27
22 Nov at
Vikings L 13-17
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1987
15 Nov Bills
W 27-21
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1977
30 Oct Chiefs
W 44-7
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1976
31 Oct
Bengals L
28 Nov
Dolphins W 17-13
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1975
5 Oct
Steelers L 6-42
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Years Unknown
Oilers
NY Jets
Broncos
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