Time Warp: Former Browns Players on the Hardwood
Written By: Rick | Category: Cleveland Browns | Comments: 11Last week Scott brought to our attention Braylon Edwards’ basketball skills, and we wondered whether or not he was allowed to participate in these types of events. Well, we don’t have any more answers than we did last week, but it certainly got me thinking.
Years ago the Browns used to schedule basketball games against local organizations for charity and public relations. One such event was organized by the Akron Police Department, and my father was a participant. These events were awesome. Players were accessible, and it was fun to see these athletes doing something other than football. Some of them were really good. Some just seemed to be along for the ride, but that was okay because they signed autographs and let fans snap pictures at will.
Memories of these events came flooding back after finding some old Polaroids. (Hat tip to mom!) These pics were taken in the winter of 1981 I believe. Yeah, that’s Cleveland’s favorite ex-Steeler coach Bill Cowher. He sure looks good sporting the Orange and Brown…
More pics after the jump, better look at them before Mangini orders your screen painted over. Prepare yourself for plenty of moustache and short shorts…
Here’s Reggie Rucker. He was no doubt the best of the bunch at hoops according to my memory. (From the looks of the sweat stains he played the most too.)
Greg Pruitt was there. He and Mike Pruitt (no relation) were quite a one-two combination in the backfield. (Amazing how concepts recycle in the NFL…)
My favorite Brown of that era- Ricky Feacher.
So you might be tempted to think this was a coach with his intimidating physique. Actually this is Tom Delone, a two time Pro Bowler at center for the Browns, and a Buckeye All-American. Go figure.
And finally, Paul McDonald drew the biggest crowd. That’s probably because he hadn’t started a game yet. Big props go to “Squints” Palledorous for making an appearance 12 years prior to his existence. “It’s about time Benny, my clothes are goin’ outta style.”
Author: Rick
Rick is a co-founder and editor of WFNY. His love of Cleveland sports is surpassed only by his faith and love of his family. Follow him on Twitter- @rickwfny.Rick has written 743 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
I seem to remember the Browns playing a donkey basketball game against some local cops in my town. Could you imagine Braylon or K2 riding a donkey and playing basketball? Or would someone be riding them?
If anyone is interested, Brady Quinn is going to be a guest on the Dan Patrick show in a few minutes.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/?eref=fromSI
(click the ‘Listen Live’ button)
Saw the Browns team play the Parma City Firefighters team at the grade school on Pleasant Valley Road approx 1983. I was about 7 at the time. I got home and realized 70% of the autographes were completely illegible.
I believe Rucker, Dieken, MacDonald, Pruitt were among the recognizable names.
I remember the Browns played the North Canton Fire Dept in 1993 at Glen Oak HS. I was 8, and Michael Dean Perry was there. That man was the most intimidating individual I had seen in my short 8 years on this earth. But he was really nice and gave autographs and we were allowed to get our pics taken with him. I have no idea what happened to those pics.
Great post!
My uncle worked for Society Bank (Key Bank) and the Society Bank All Stars took on the Browns Basketball All Stars at Valley Forge High School around 1984 or so +/- a few years. Awesome event got to meet all the Browns that were playing (remember Golic, Dieken, Ozzie, and a bunch of other guys there).
It was no “celebrity” match either, the Society Bank folks really tried to win the game and it was pretty close, even got a little chippy as my Uncle, a pretty good b-ball player – about 6-5, all county HS and played some in college – D-3 – was kind of working them over in the paint and Golic started getting frustrated with my uncle and “boxing out” like a big ass football player who is not that great at basketball might – throwing hips, elbows, and some shoves… really entertaining stuff.
The Browns eventually pulled it out and won by about 10 but it was pretty close. Doubt these games are like that anymore, but the Browns were super competitive and really wanted to win, even though it was just a charity event. Maybe that competitive fire and desire to win at everything is what is missing with the Browns v.2008-09…
I also remember my dad talking about these games – they have been taking place for a while – and I think I remember him saying they used to play the local college teams (I grew up in Oberlin) and they had to stop doing that because it got to competitive and resulting in some fights. Maybe my memory is clouded, but I think I remember him telling me that.
Thanks for bringing back the memories!
I remember one of the Browns getting hurt in this game (rolling an ankle or something) but I don’t think it prohibited them from playing any football games.
I remember in 89 the Browns played the faculty of Bay High School. I got a Bernie Kosar poster with Reggie Langhorne and Mike Baab’s autographs. Don’t ask.
At the risk of dating myself, here’s what I saw as a kid: Early ’70’s, tackles Jerry Sherk and Walter Johnson playing one-on-one at a local J.C.C. Not for charity or publicity, just for themselves. They were huge, very athletic, and they were beating the crap out of each other. Me and my little buddy started watching under the basket, then got away when they almost fell on us.
Funny enough we had something similar in California and some Niners used to come up and play basketball against some of the high school coaches, one being my father. Now he was known to be a dirty basketball player, well he didn’t change the game for the Niners, oh no. That’s how he ended up having Charles Haley chasing him down the court…
Webster Slaughter and Brian Brennen were some of the Browns I remember coming to my school when I was a kid to play our staff. I was just a kid, but I remember it. I’ll see if I can find some pictures
[...] Waiting for Next Year has some photos of our a bygone age when football players could play basketball and not make headlines for trying to dunk blindfolded over a pool of angry barracuda. [...]