43
Heroes of ’64 note how times have changed
By MIKE McLAIN
Not all championships are the same.
That’s certainly the case when a city and its fans endure a 52-year wait between titles. You can count the number of elapsed days or list the U.S. Presidents that have come and gone, but the best perspective of how long the waiting period was for Cleveland sports fans is in the ages of those involved.
While 31-year-old LeBron James triumphantly carried the NBA championship trophy off an airplane Monday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Frank Ryan, sitting in his home in Grafton, Vt., quietly went about his day.
On Dec. 27, 1964, Ryan, who’s nearing his 80th birthday, threw three touchdown passes to Gary Collins, leading the Browns to a 27-0 win over the Baltimore Colts in the NFL championship game.
Comparing the youth of James to the elderly status of Ryan hits home the realization that two generations have passed since Cleveland has celebrated the ultimate sports thrill.
“He should be holding that trophy because he had such a great game,” said Ryan, who adopted the “All In” slogan the Cavaliers carried throughout the playoffs. “What an athlete. Just spectacular.
“I knew they hadn’t had a title in any sport since the ’64 team won,” Ryan said. “I was thinking that’s too bad because there have been lots of good teams. I’m glad they got that hump behind them, and I hope they all will work to do it themselves.”
Ryan’s hope that the Indians and Browns build off the momentum laid down by the Cavaliers’ 4-3 series win over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals is the wish of every Cleveland fan. They see the Indians sitting in first place in the American League Central Division and dream of another victory celebration taking place in late October.
The sporting landscape has changed dramatically since the Browns took care of the Colts nearly 52 years ago. Most noticeable is that virtually everyone wanting to see Game 7 of the NBA Finals was able to do so on screens from 18 inches-or-smaller to Jumbotrons larger than the locker room the ’64 Browns occupied.
A majority of Browns fans didn’t see the ’64 championship game because NFL blackout rules prohibited games from being televised within a 75-mile radius of the host city.
Another difference is the manner in which championships are celebrated today. The Cavs were greeted by several thousand fans upon their arrival at Hopkins, and probably a half million or more will line a parade route today. The Browns celebrated their title by having a quiet dinner at the Sheraton Hotel, with many of the players heading home the next day, including Ryan and his wife, Joan.
“We got in the car the next day and drove to Houston,” said Ryan, who was working on his PhD at the time. “They really didn’t pay us much money. We made $18,000 that year, and then they pumped it up to $22,000. It’s a different development in sports in America. I’m all for it. I’m happy. I don’t have any regrets with my time in Cleveland.”
Collins thought it might have been a good idea to give the ’64 team the parade it never had after the historic win over the heavily-favored Colts.
“At least they could have given us a damn parade,” Collins said of the Cleveland hierarchy in ’64. “I know it was cold. Maybe they could have brought us up there Wednesday and put us on a [parade] truck; the guys that are still alive.”
Many of the ’64 players have died, a sober reminder of how long it’s been. Collins, 77, is still active and proud of the fact he was selected the game’s Most Valuable Player for catching five passes for 150 yards, including scoring receptions covering 18, 42 and 51 yards.
Collins, who lives in Hershey, Pa., enjoyed some added monetary benefits for his MVP performance, but nothing like what players earn today. He was given a Corvette worth $3,800 in addition to receiving $8,200 as his portion of the winning team’s pool of money.
He received $10,000 for participating in two commercials, and he did a guest spot on the radio show of then up-and-coming broadcaster Howard Cosell.
For the most part, however, Collins’ performance has been lost in time. He was pleased to hear ex-teammate and Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown list his name among those that played on the ’64 team during a recent television interview. Brown also said that Collins should be in the Hall of Fame.
Like Ryan, Collins marveled at James’s performance, but he’s quick to emphasize the team concept that’s required to win a championship.
“LeBron needed the other guys,” Collins said. “Jim Brown needed Paul Warfield, Frank Ryan and me.”
James knows that as well as anyone. His quest to bring a title to Cleveland fell short a year ago when his immense talents alone weren’t enough to defeat the Warriors after injuries eliminated Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving from the puzzle.
Everyone was on board this year, and the result was something that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Ryan, who called Game Seven the best basketball game he ever witnessed, is on board with the idea of adding a few more titles to the city’s trophy case.
“It’s a first step,” Ryan said. “God knows, hopefully it doesn’t take another 52 years.”
With James leading the way, the window of opportunity for the Cavs remains wide open.
In winning the title, the Cavs have given their fans — along with a couple ex-Browns that did something magical 52 years ago — a reason to feel pride.