CPD
GIB SHANLEY 1931-2008 Shanley
Colorful sportscaster was voice of Browns
Monday, April 07, 2008Bob Dolgan
Special to The Plain Dealer
Gib Shanley, the radio voice of the Browns for a generation of fans and the face of sports at WEWS Channel 5 for 20 years, died Sunday. He was 76. The cause of death was not immediately released.
The colorful sportscaster called the most recent world championship won by any Cleveland team, the Browns' 27-0 vic- tory over Balti more in the 1964 NFL title game. But he also called his share of heart breaking de feats, notably the playoff loss to Oakland in January 1981, when Brian Sipe was intercepted in the end zone late in the game.
He also called the first 15 games of the Browns' "Three Rivers jinx" losses in Pittsburgh. The Browns did not win a game in Pittsburgh from the opening of Three Rivers Stadium in 1970 until 1986.
A native of Bellaire, Ohio, Shanley was merely a successful Cleveland sportscaster until Nov. 8, 1979.
That night he burned an Iranian flag on television and became a folk hero.
The incident took place while Iran was holding a group of Americans hostage in Tehran.
Cont...