According to the Associated Press, Darth Vader has been named the new Offensive Coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. Vader comes to NFL after spending the last thirty three years as the central antagonist in the Star Wars trilogy. During that time, he was a dark, foreboding, and ruthless figure, and one of the pivotal rulers of the Galactic Empire. In 1977, he mercilessly attempted to destroy the Rebel Alliance, which had waged a long and desperate war to free the galaxy from his evil clutches. Although he has no direct experience coaching an NFL team, his brings instant credibility to Cleveland because of his expertise in full-scale, aggressive assaults – something the Browns’ offense has lacked since the late 1980’s. Before joining the dark side, Lord Vader spent much of his time as a Jedi Knight and was later a decorated hero in the Clone Wars. This is just the latest in front office changes for the Browns. Club President Mike Holmgren said that he is pleased to have Vader joining his staff and that he will be “very involved in our attempt to take over the AFC North Division”.

He doesn’t have a beard, he has a mustache. Instead of long brown hair, he has a short tuft that looks like the fur of a dead raccoon. And with his flowing linen robes and beatific smile he certainly does resemble a holy man. But to his believers from Brownie Nation, Mike Holmgren, a former history teacher, is the literal reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Holmgren, 61, is the spiritual leader of at least 5,000 devoted Dawg Pound members, among them intellectuals, artists and professionals who flock to worship the team on Sundays. He is just the latest example of Cleveland’s love of ‘personality cults’ – an obsession that leads back all the way to the days of the Kardiac Kids. Many fans claim something awoke inside them when Holmgren was announced as Cleveland’s new football Czar, a mere 2,000 years after he was first crucified. Holmgren says he realized that God had sent him to Earth to teach mankind about the evils of Pittsburgh and the havoc Lerner was wreaking on the team. His followers, who have given up their lives to follow him, are strict vegans and are banned from smoking and drinking or handling money. Whether or not he wins over the skeptics remains to be seen. His ability to turn Gatorade into bourbon is pretty cool though. Even if you’re a non-believer.