1993 Retrospective
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THE PLAIN DEALER . SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1999 5-G OURCENTURY 1993 ATA GLANCE Demjanjuk home, Browns bombshell:A hero is fired and somewhat free By Fred McGunagle John Demjanjuk was free — up to a point. It was the most shocking Cleve- Wearing a bulletproof vest and accompanied land story since — well, nobody could by bodyguards, he was ushered aboard a plane remember. in Jerusalem and his handcuffs were removed. The Browns released Bernie Kosar, After 61⁄2 years in solitary confinement in Is- the town’s football, civic and personal rael, he had been released. hero, in the middle of the season. While protesters and reporters waited at They didn’t even trade him for some- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, his body else. They just fired him. plane landed at Medina Municipal Airport and he was whisked off to an undisclosed location. “I have a tremendous amount of re- Evidence made public after the breakup of spect for Bernie as a person and as a the Soviet Union had shown that “Ivan the competitor. But my reasons are his Terrible,” who tortured Jews before leading lack of production and loss of physi- them to the gas chamber, was a man named cal skills,” said Coach Bill Belichick. Ivan Marczenko, not — as concentration camp It had been less than two weeks survivors had testified — Demjanjuk. The Is- since owner Art Modell signed Kosar raeli Supreme Court ruled he could not be to a contract that guaranteed him $5.3 prosecuted on evidence he had been a guard at million for 1993 and promised him other Nazi camps. $23 million over the next six years. Outside the Seven Hills home of the retired Modell had said he looked on Kosar autoworker, police stood by while Jews, as almost a son, but now he backed Ukrainians and at one point the Ku Klux Klan his coach. took turns demonstrating for and against Clevelanders could talk about noth- Demjanjuk. He would never again be able to ing else. The Plain Dealer carried 17 live a normal life. Kosar stories the next day, Nov. 9. At year’s end, the Justice Department once Many Browns players spoke up in more moved to deport Demjanjuk, who had Kosar’s defense. Opposing coaches been stripped of his citizenship.His legal bat- were incredulous. tles would continue. Call-in polls by television stations ran about 50-50 on the firing, but die- • hard Browns fans were livid. “Unbe- The baseball season began with a tragedy lievable” and “unforgivable” were that cost two lives and ended another career among the reactions of those calling but knit the Indians into a family. It ended in The Plain Dealer. Some said the 29- nostalgia as an era came to a close. year-old Kosar was over the hill, but On the quiet night of March 22, a motorboat a more typical comment was “I think crashed into an unlit dock on Little Lake Nel- Belichick should be run out of town lie, near the Indians’ training site in Florida. on a rail.” Two Indians pitchers were killed — Steve Another caller hit a deeper note: Olin, the promising young reliever, and Tim “Our kids are devastated.” Crews, a veteran the Tribe had signed as a Kosar was the most popular athlete free agent. Bob Ojeda, projected to be the No. Cleveland had ever known. Over the 2 starter, was critically injured. years, others had been admired and a Manager Mike Hargrove, his wife, Sharon, few had been loved, but Clevelanders and Andre Thornton, the former slugger who knew them only through newspapers. became a church elder, were pillars of Kosar, as accommodating with the strength, and the stunned players knotted media as with fans, had been on tele- tightly around them. Baseball’s top officials vision often. gathered for a memorial service. Clevelanders knew him. He was Patti Olin continued to attend games with their buddy Bernie. He had grown up Indians wives, though with an aching heart. in Boardman as a Browns fan. When She spoke of how much she appreciated the he was 6, he trick-or-treated wearing fans’ support. “I’d like to give them all a hug,” a Browns uniform. He had announced she said. “And if you see me at a game, don’t he would leave the University of Mi- be afraid to give me a hug.I can always use a ami with a year of eligibility left only hug.” if he could play for the Browns. He Said Sharon Hargrove: “This is a major- wanted to come to Cleveland when league wife.” not many people did, and Cleveland- The grieving team finished 76-86, in sixth ers appreciated it. place, though Kenny Lofton led the league On the field, Kosar was slow-footed with 70 stolen bases and Albert Belle had a but quick-witted. His passes were league-leading 129 runs batted in. awkward, but time after time he com- With Jacobs Field under construction, nos- pleted them in the clutch. Fans sang talgia for Municipal Stadium brought nearly “Bernie, Bernie” to the tune of 2.2 million fans to see the old place. On Oct. 4, “Louie, Louie,” ending “Super Bowl!” the Indians lost, 4-0, to the Chicago White Sox. Off the field, Kosar gave himself to Afterward, 72,000 fans watched Mel Harder, the city, sponsoring charity golf tour- who had thrown the first pitch in the Stadium naments and visiting children in hos- in 1932, throw a ceremonial last pitch. The pitals. “He wants no publicity. That’s ground crew, in tuxedoes, dug up home plate. the only way he’ll do it,” said Joseph Bob Hope sang “Thanks for the Memories.” Smith, treasurer of the Cleveland • Catholic Diocese. “People need heroes,” said Donald take the bait.” Mayor Michael R. White’s first four years Freedheim, psychiatry professor at The Dallas Cowboys showed what had gone so smoothly that only David Lee Case Western Reserve University. they thought of Kosar’s “diminished Rock, an unknown, unemployed 47-year-old, “And he was sort of the identity of the skills” the next day. They signed him filed to run against him. White spent his time Browns, a symbol of Cleveland. When to a million-dollar contract for the campaigning for the “Vision 21” school board you lose the big symbol of the town, rest of the season to fill in for injured slate, named after Superintendent Sammie quarterback Troy Aikman. Campbell Parrish’s plan for the next century. there’s a loss of identity and a sense of unrest.” The following Sunday, with a list of All four won, meaning White’s people now plays taped to his wrist, Kosar led the held all seven board seats. White defeated In contrast, Belichick had alienated fans since his arrival in 1991. Modell Cowboys to a 20-15 win over the Rock 76,000 to 14,000. His percentage of the Phoenix Cardinals. He completed 13 vote — 87.8 — was a record for a contested described him as “painfully shy,” but on television that came across as of 21 passes for 199 yards and a mayoral election. For the first time in mem- touchdown with no interceptions. ory, every council member was re-elected. surly and arrogant. He would look down to the right and left rather than “They let me fire it around out there,” • look the camera in the eye. He made he beamed after the game. plain his disdain for the opinions of The Browns, meanwhile, com- A boat docked outside Shooter’s restaurant mitted seven turnovers while losing, in the Flats exploded in a fireball, killing sportswriters and fans. He traded away fan favorites like Brian Bren- 22-5, to the Seahawks in Seattle. They Charles and Marla Hoffman. Brothers Dan, had cut Kosar while their second Dave and Vince Viancourt, all off-duty fire- nan and Webster Slaughter. But Belichick had reason to want quarterback, Vinny Testaverde, was fighters, rescued 9-month-old Chuckie Hoff- out with a separated shoulder. Third- Kosar out. The quarterback had been man from the flames and pulled an uncon- stringer Todd Philcox completed only openly critical of his conservative scious man from the river. nine of 20 passes for 85 yards, no The brothers were awarded the Carnegie play-calling, which featured scatback touchdowns and two interceptions. Medal for heroism. After a bitter court fight, a Eric Metcalf. It appeared many of The Dallas game drew almost as relative from Colorado won custody of Kosar’s teammates agreed with him. large a Cleveland TV audience as the Chuckie. The fans certainly did. They booed Cleveland game. WJW Channel 8 said Belichick’s frequent calls of “Metcalf it would carry Cowboys games the • up the middle.” Belichick was in dan- rest of the season. The death of 23-year-old Michael Pipkins ger of losing control of his team. Browns ticket-holders showed their outraged blacks. The coroner ruled he had The day he was released, Kosar, opinion in the Stadium the following died as a result of a headlock applied by two after visiting a cancer patient in a Sunday as the Browns lost, 27-20, to The Plain Dealer front page Nov. 9 was just about all Bernie policemen who arrested him, but city prose- hospital, kept a promise to appear at the Houston Oilers. Many wore “Ko- Kosar. In a Plain Dealer photo from the say day, Brown owner cutors declined to bring criminal charges the Hilton Inn South. Police helped sar 19” jerseys. The Plain Dealer re- Art Modell appears to wipe a tear from his eye at the press against them.