ekansekans's blog: "df"

AVON, Ohio -- Two years after a messy breakup with the team he led to its last NFL championship, the team he gave everything he to for nine seasons and the team he left at the peak of his playing career, Jim Brown wanted to make one thing perfectly clear. "I am forever a Cleveland Brown," he said. And the Browns are forever him. The Hall of Fame running back, who had been estranged from the Browns organization after he was relieved of his duties as a senior adviser, attended an alumni golf outing Friday with some of his former teammates. Before teeing off, Brown spoke for nearly 30 minutes with his usual candour and directness. Walking better than he has in years and finally pain free following two hip replacements, the legendary 76-year-old opened up on a number of topics. As always, Brown had plenty to say and he didnt hold back. Brown hopes to work again for the Browns and said hell meet Saturday with incoming owner Jimmy Haslam III, who recently purchased the Browns for $1 billion from Randy Lerner. Brown wants to have an impact on some of Clevelands young players and feels he can help the Browns accelerate their turnaround. "I would love to have a role with the Browns," said Brown, who was accompanied by his wife, Monique. "I think thats what every ex-player would like to do most of all, to be a contributor to the success of an organization. Im stuck with being No. 32 of the Cleveland Browns and I cant do anything about it. I dont want to do anything about it. "If you didnt like the ball, thats one thing. Youre not going to always like my politics, but we are married because of that history. If I can be a part of the development of a new winning attitude and help get some victories, man that would be fantastic. Imagine us having a championship team here again?" Brown is looking forward to meeting with Haslam, the truck-stop magnate whose purchase is expected to be approved next month at the owners meetings. "What an opportunity to be able to sit down with him," said Brown, whose main reason for coming back to Cleveland was to help induct former teammate Ernie Green into the Browns legends club. "He can express himself and I can express myself. Its a beautiful thing." Browns departure from the Browns was anything but beautiful. Two years ago, Brown was informed by team president Mike Holmgren -- at the urging of Lerner -- that his role with the team was being diminished. What followed was a nasty spat that included angry letters, public posturing and Brown boycotting a halftime ceremony in 2010 when the Browns unveiled a ring of honour at their stadium. This week, Holmgren reached out to Brown with the hope that they could meet and talk through any differences. Brown said he appreciated Holmgrens gesture and was anxious to sit down with Holmgren. "We didnt have a much of a confrontation," Brown said. "Its that respect is always important among all of us." Holmgren is eager to meet with Brown. "Hes one of my longtime idols," Holmgren said before watching practice Friday in Berea. "Hes a very, very important part of this organization and Im really very happy hes coming in for the weekend and I hope to get a chance to visit with him." Brown explained that his exit from the team was because a contract was broken. "Im going to be very honest with you, tell you the real deal," Brown said. "I had an agreement with the Browns and a part of the agreement was that I answer to no one but the owner. So Randy and I never had a talk. Holmgren and I had a talk that Randy and I should have had. But I didnt pull a check on it because if a man doesnt sit down with you and he sends another man to sit down with you, you know thats not going to be a good conversation. "It was a difficult situation for him (Holmgren). And what he proposed was not something that I thought was very respectful. Being an old man, old people like to be respected." Brown also yearned to be wanted, and his separation from the Browns was painful. "I do miss being around," he said. While he and the Browns were at odds, Brown caused another stir when he called rookie running back Trent Richardson "ordinary" before Cleveland selected him in the draft. But after watching Richardson the past two weeks, Brown has been impressed with the 22-year-old. Last week, Richardson rushed for 109 yards and scored two touchdowns at Cincinnati. Brown said he made the comments -- "it was like a firestorm coming out of the mountains" -- to try and motivate Richardson. "There is no disrespect in waiting to see a person prove himself," Brown said. "If you pick out a future Hall of Famer you want to truly believe 100 per cent that this guy has that kind of talent. The great thing is that I saw a flash of the talent and I loved it. Why wouldnt you love to see a running back make two, three, four or five moves and shed those tacklers? "I was happy to see him show that kind of talent. And if it showed it on two or three plays, you know he has it. If he works hard enough and dedicates himself and has the good fortune not to get injured than he can have a real fine career." Brown ended his career at its pinnacle, leaving the Browns after the 1965 season to pursue an acting career. There may be decisions he regrets, but thats not one of them. "I always wanted to retire on top," he said. "I feel that I left a legacy that nobody can mess with. Want to know that it is? 64 championship. 65 most valuable player. 29 years old. Raquel Welch my leading lady." Brown laughed. It was as if he never left. OTTAWA -- Hes never won a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs and Daniel Alfredsson thinks his Ottawa Senators are long overdue. Alfredsson and the Sens are looking to extend their season Thursday as they take on the New York Rangers in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series. Ottawa has an 0-for-4 franchise record in Game 7s and Alfredsson, who has never played for another NHL team, is ready to put an end to that losing streak. "Theres no better time than (Thursday)," said Alfredsson. "Every year is different, every group is different. Theres so many stats you can pay attention to, but Ive said this group has been resilient all year long and were looking for one more effort here from everybody and if we get that well keep playing." The game could be notable for more than who advances to the next round. Alfredsson has hinted in the past that he might be playing in his final playoffs, making his appearance at Madison Square Garden possibly the last time the 39-year-old captain suits up for the Senators. But Alfredsson and the Senators will have plenty of confidence heading into New York, having already won two out of three games on the Rangers home ice. After squandering the opportunity to win the series Monday night, goaltender Craig Anderson believes his teammates will give it all they have Thursday. "We have to lay everything out there because there is no tomorrow," said Anderson. "We have an opportunity to do something great and keep pushing forward. ... if we have everyone working together and we lay it all out there we can look at ourselves in the mirror at the end and say we gave it our all regardless of the result. "But obviously wed like to win." For most teams playing on thhe road wouldnt likely be the first choice, but this season the Senators played some of their best hockey away from Scotiabank Place with a 21-14-6 away record.dddddddddddd "Weve had some success in New York and played some good hockey there," said centre Zack Smith. "Weve faltered a bit at home and I dont know if its nerves or being a little bit anxious, but weve usually been solid on the road. "One of the sayings is you play a simple road game, which is basically nothing pretty. Get pucks deep to the net and score some greasy goals, not pretty ones, and I think thats the style weve played on the road its worked for us so far." A better power play will be one of the keys to Ottawa playing in the next round. The Senators went 1-for-5 in Game 6 and are 3-for-24 overall. The man advantage has been at its best when players have gone to the net creating traffic in front of Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Forward Colin Greening spent time in front of the net at practice Wednesday and could see time on the first unit. Ottawa has made a number of roster changes throughout the series with Mark Stone and Jakob Silfverberg both making their NHL debuts, and Wednesdays practice saw defenceman Mark Borowiecki on the ice. Senators coach Paul MacLean wouldnt tip his hand as to who might find themselves in Thursdays lineup with players continuing to be evaluated. "Ultimately Ill have to make the final decision as to who gives us the best chance to win the game (Thursday) and thats what its based on every day for every game," said MacLean. Notes: Neither defenceman Matt Carkner nor centre Zenon Konopka took part in practice, but MacLean said both were given maintenance days. ' ' '