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Welcome to the 19th Anniversary Issue of Naked Sunfish. As we begin our 20th year, I want to thank all of our readers for their loyal and unfaltering support of the first electronic online magazine catalogued by The Ohio State University Libraries. I am extremely proud of that, our continued quality of writing and art, our remaining commercial free, as well as the perseverance and dedication of all the writers…artists…incredibly talented, creative persons who have contributed throughout the years. I do not have room to thank everyone here…unfortunately. But I can comment on Naked Sunfish’s current creative pool. Firstly, I need to thank my partner in crime Webmaster Dan Eley, without whom we would not exist. Dan has been onboard with me since Issue 1…launched January 2002. Naked Sunfish was a gift to me for my 50th birthday. (Good GAWD! I’ll be 70 in the fall! SHEESH! Double SHEESH!) Here is today’s Naked Sunfish Creative Roster in the order of arrival: Yvonne Brown (Music/Food/Editor/Proofer/Karmic Counselor) – active all issues since #1, January, 2002. Ted Kane (Poetry/Commentary/Music/Kindred Spirit) – Issue 2, February, 2002 You can see the dedication in the numbers. My apologies for not having the space to list all those who jump in when needed. You know who you are. Anyone who regularly reads Naked Sunfish knows you as well. Again…thank you to everyone. I have no idea how much longer this will go on. That’s true of everything in this fragile life. But I intend to keep on keepin’ on as long as I feel I have something to say…or can make people laugh…or cry. As my good friend John Bennett says…”ONWARD!” Please enjoy Issue 115!!!
http://leavesofcrass.blogspot.com/ Jimmy Mak's new book,
Gerald Greenburg's new book,
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Rick's Books:
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Stereo Lab Uncle Rick’s Legacy I wasn’t always a Cleveland Browns fan. As a boy I enjoyed baseball more than football. I still do. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I began following the Browns. And the major impetus was the fact that … or so it seemed … I found myself suddenly surrounded by Steelers fans. I found them incredibly annoying. The saving grace was … in the early 1970s … there was some equity. The Browns would win … then the Steelers … back and forth. So, the days my roommate and I weren’t speaking to each other gave each of us the opportunity to gloat. Unfortunately, this didn’t last long. Soon enough … the Browns were a good, winning team … and the Steelers were a SUPER BOWL level team. Let the frustration begin! After university graduation … one entire week after … I married Yvonne … my college sweetheart and Browns fan. We watched whatever games were on TV in Columbus, listened on the radio and went to probably a game a season. We both developed the somewhat misguided loyalty most Clevelanders share with their beloved Brownies. Yvonne and I sat behind the Raiders’ bench … in North Pole temperatures … and watched Brian Sipe’s pass … Red Right 88 … flitter into the Oakland defender’s arms. Browns lose. Go home. The anguish continued through the 1980s and 90s. Steelers won. Browns … almost won. We both put up with this … reveled in it really. Fans began dressing as DAWGS … sitting in a DAWG POUND! And I embraced this … sigh. Before one playoff game between Cleveland and John Elway’s Broncos (I can’t remember which heartbreak is was …the DRIVE or the FUMBLE … matters not.) I walked all over Ohio State’s campus handing out Milk Bone Dog Biscuits to other fans. I’m not ashamed of this. But I ain’t proud of it either. When Art Modell whisked the team off to Baltimore … after all the playoff loss depression sick days through the years … I’d had enough. Once the Browns returned in 1999 I promised myself I’d distance myself emotionally. And I did. I could watch and enjoy a little. And it worked. Until this year’s playoff game … against the PITTSBURGH STEELERS. My nephew Joel … Yvonne’s sister’s son … is as big a Browns fan as was I at my peak … maybe more. While I grew up outside of Cleveland, he never lived in Ohio. Joel sent an email to the entire family a few days before the game. In it he describes … in great detail … his love, devotion, and memories of his Browns. Late in the game Cleveland linebacker Clay Matthews intercepted a pass. And as he neared the goal line … possibly scoring a touchdown which would surely seal a Browns’ victory … he unwisely tried to lateral and gave the ball back to Houston. Apparently, I immediately leapt to my feet, declaring that if the Browns found a way to win, I would gladly LEAP off our back stoop into the 4-foot snow drift in the yard … HEAD FIRST!! So, of course, with time in the game running out … Kevin Mack bruised his way into the end zone giving Cleveland the win and a trip to the playoffs. Everyone in the living room was ecstatic … especially Joel. In his words the scene was “MAGICAL”. And I … dutifully … and GLADLY … dove into aforementioned snow drift. The details in this heartwarming tale are Joel’s. What I recall is drinking shots of mezcal with Joel’s father at “appropriate” times during the athletic contest. But for 8-year-old Joel it was … and remains … a “MAGICAL” moment in his Browns fandom history. And through the years I’ve come to realize this event has become a big part of … at least for Joel … Uncle Rick’s LEGACY … like it or not. I’m not ashamed of it. But I ain’t proud of it either. Well … maybe … a LITTLE!!! GO BROWNS!!! |
