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30 years ago: Sam Wyche’s ‘You don’t live in Cleveland’ speech

(Photo: AP Photo/Rob Burns)

*Note to readers: For the 30th anniversary of Sam Wyche's "You don't live in Cleveland" speech, we present an editorial by Enquirer sports columnist Tim Sullivan published Dec. 11, 1989.

Sam Wyche wanted to head off disaster. Some snowballs had been launched from the stands and had landed in the vicinity of the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

So Good Neighbor Sam, the coach with a conscience, ran over to the referee for permission to intercede. Then he ran across the field, grabbed a microphone, and pleaded with the crowd cheering his Cincinnati Bengals.