The fall of 1999 will mark the triumphant return of the colors that were sadly stolen away from Cleveland and the world: brown and orange.

The wait is over.

Browns fans can now return to their role as some of the most loyal fans in sports (as if they ever left). The brand new Cleveland Browns Stadium is the stage in this new and exciting era and what better opponents to christen the stage than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Even the Steelers can't rob the spotlight from this amazing rebirth. Sorry Steelers fans. Second place (or worse) isn't so bad, I guess.

Now of course, I'm not talking about the standings yet, but give it a few years. I am speaking of just about everything else. The new Browns, the Indians, the new stadiums, the city itself, and even the Cavs. The only thing Cleveland is missing is the NHL.

Okay, I'll admit it wasn't always like this. I cannot forget the past when Cleveland was the butt of every joke in Pittsburgh and the country. Now with perfect irony, Pittsburgh needs Cleveland. They need the rivalry to fuel a sputtering franchise. Since the departure of Art Modell's team from the shores of Lake Erie, the Steelers have dropped off the top of the AFC to finish even lower than that other expansion team in the Central Division. It's a good thing for Pittsburgh the Bengals are in the division.

It is almost sad that the Steelers organization must rely on the popularity of the Browns to kick-start their team. The last excitement for the Steelers was some quarterback nicknamed "Slash" and an offensive lineman-sized running back. Now the only thing slashing is the figure in the win column every year.

The backbone of the team is, yes, a Cleveland-bred head coach in Bill Cower. It's a shame he passed at the opportunity to come back.

Steelers fans I know, some of which are my best friends, continue to try to dampen the hearts of Brown's fans by constant reminders of the "Cleveland Clowns" of the early nineties. Sorry to break it to you, but that team is in Baltimore.

I love to hate the Steelers. I must admit I am happy to see them back in Cleveland, as long as it's only one weekend a year.

For now, this rekindled rivalry is about pride and the return to tradition. But before Pittsburgh can clean the orange and brown from their jerseys, the Browns will stand atop the heap of the Central Division wiping their cleats on black and gold.

Whether you bleed orange and brown or black and gold, send comments to Arra at ja507098.