The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Kosar doesn’t hold back in new book
Fans lined up to meet the last great Browns quarterback, and one of the oldest in line was like a giddy school girl when it was her turn.
“I can’t wash my face now,” the woman said after Bernie Kosar gave her a kiss on the cheek.
That was the scene at Barnes & Noble in Woodmere during a Kosar signing Sept. 28 promoting his new book, “Bernie Kosar: Learning to Scramble.”
Whether it’s because Browns fans can’t get over the 1980s love affair between Kosar and Cleveland or because of the state of the current Browns, the Bernie love remains strong.
Those in the steady line that day waited for their chance to mingle with Kosar, pose for a photo and get their book signed. One of the first was Rachelle Metz of Brunswick, who was a pre-teen during Kosar’s ’80s heyday.
“Can you come back?” Metz asked Kosar with a big smile.
Metz also was wearing a “Bernie Kosar for President” T-shirt.
“When I was 13, I was marrying Bernie,” she said.
William Green, 47, lives in Olmsted Falls, but works on the east side. When he heard of the Kosar appearance, he knew it was a must-stop.
Green is originally from New Jersey and grew up a New York Giants fan. ExGiants quarterback Phil
Sims was his guy until his family moved to Cleveland in 1985 when he 15.
“Bernie was the reason I became a Browns fan,” Green said. “To meet him was so nostalgic. Brought back so many memories.”
Kosar and co-author Craig Stout, 68, of Shaker Heights met through a mutual friend, who asked Stout if he was interested in helping Kosar with the project.
“I was like, ‘Is this a trick question?’ ” Stout said. “Who wouldn’t be?”
From there, Kosar and Stout collaborated on the book for more than a year, meeting once a week for about three hours.
Stout said the 172-page book is not a story of Kosar’s life, but rather reflections on his football career and personal achievements and failures.
“That’s the thing about Bernie, his candor,” said Stout, whose work with Kosar marks his first published
book. “Sometimes that’s gotten him in trouble, but I think that’s what the fans love about him.”
The book’s title, “Learning to Scramble” is interesting because Kosar was never known to be fleet of foot during his playing days.
“I ran the 40-yard dash in 5.45 seconds,” writes Kosar.
In the book, he calls “Learning to Scramble” a motto for life. It’s fitting for Kosar, especially in post-retirement. It’s a time he describes as “no bed of roses.”
He doesn’t hold back about giving away a large amount of money to his family, an ugly divorce from his wife, dealing with concussions and rumors of substance abuse.
Kosar writes in the first chapter, “This book, in a large part, is a distillation of my own personal effort to scramble back.”
While Kosar is up front about his successes and
failures in life, there’s plenty for the football fan to absorb.
Chapter 4, titled “Preparation,” will surely be a blast for the football junkie. Seven pages break down one of Kosar’s favorite plays. It’s called, “92 Flex Flanker Zid Halfback Chip Check Through.” If that sounds complicated, it is, but Kosar uses simple terms so even the most casual fan can understand.
That’s likely not the reason most fans will check out Kosar’s book.
It’s probably because the love affair between him and Browns fans remains strong after more than 30 years.
They still line up to shake his hand and talk about those memorable seasons in the 1980s.
Bernie’s forever in their hearts.