Midwest Movie Maker

Real Browns fans and players are as hopeful for the draft as their 'Draft Day' counterparts. Is it just me or does this NFL draft day feel a little like Draft Day for Browns fans? Forgo the GM who fired his father (who promptly passed away), just found out his girlfriend/co-worker is pregnant, and whose job is on the line if he doesn’t make a big splash in the draft, and we’re looking at a lot of the same plot points. On the board for Ray Farmer , general manager of the Browns and real-life counterpart to Draft Day ’s Sonny Weaver (a Ray of Sonnyshine?), is a hot shot quarterback and star wide receiver. Every fan in Cleveland wants a hot shot quarterback - somewhere between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, and hopefully named Bernie. The front office, if you believe local and national media, has their eyes on a wide receiver with a little trouble in his past. Sonny faced the same battle. He was enamored with the skills of defensive back Vontae Mack, who others felt ...

Kevin Costner's Sonny Weaver, GM of the Cleveland Browns, has one hell of a 'Draft Day.' Review by  Scott Dodson Being a Cleveland sports fan is unlike any other fan in the country.  We've seen the Fumble.  We've seen The Shot.  We've watched our closer blow a lead in the seventh game of the World Series.  We've seen some very good teams, and we've seen some very bad teams.  Boston fans would claim strict allegiance to Red Sox nation while hoisting the Lombardi Trophy high above their heads.  Those "lovable losers" of Chicago weren't complaining when Michael Jordan filled his hand with rings. Cleveland sports fans have now watched over 140 consecutive seasons without winning a championship. Yet, hope springs eternal here.  We hold out hope that, this year, our pitching holds up while ignoring a glaring lack of power hitting.  We pray that we catch lightning in a bottle as we sign injury prone point guards.  And draft ...

Kevin Costner joins the Cleveland Browns in 'Draft Day' There is little doubt Cleveland Browns fans are eagerly awaiting May 8th. That’s the first day of the 2014 NFL Draft . The first opportunity the long-suffering franchise will get a chance to bestow hope on its legion of fans. A little less than a month before, a fictional version of the Cleveland Browns’ draft will play out in the aptly named   Draft Day . The film stars Kevin Costner as the Browns’ general manager, desperately working the system to give the Browns the No. 1 pick. Knowing that, here’s a question.  Can Draft Day influence Draft Day? In other words, can excitement from a feel-good film about a sports team impact the decisions of the Browns’ real front office? Can it inspire coaches and players to deliver a winning season? Can it have an effect on anything? Just a bit outside the realm of possibility We’re not new to this sports movie phenomenon. Twenty-five years ago, the modestly budget...