CLEVELAND ROCKS!

In what could only be described as an "unlikely strategic pairing," the NFL’s Cleveland Browns have partnered with rock star David Bowie.

Bowie was, of course, a wide receiver with the Spiders of Mars in the early ‘70s.

UltraStar, the Internet company co-founded by Bowie, is adding a subscription-based fan community to the Browns’ site, www.clevelandbrowns.com. Similar to the service already provided on the sites for Bowie, the New York Yankees and Hanson, UltraStar will offer e-mail @clevelandbrowns.com, personal Web space for members, discounts on team merchandise and other members-only benefits.

The re-launch of clevelandbrowns.com will take place on Draft Day, April 15, with the subscription-based premium fan club activating in July.

"This milestone Web event for the Cleveland Browns is just the beginning of all that clevelandbrowns.com will offer our team’s loyal fans online," said Browns’ President/CEO Carmen Policy. "Our partnership with Bowie’s UltraStar will help connect the team directly to its many Browns’ followers be they ‘young Americans,’ ‘China girls’ or ‘rebel rebels.’"

There was no confirmation to the rumor that the Browns’ famous "Dawg Pound" fans would be renamed the "Diamond Dawg Pound."

"We couldn’t be more pleased to be working with the Cleveland Browns," said Bowie. "We hope to build the same sense of community as we did with BowieNet, utilizing proprietary content and cutting edge technology. But, more importantly, we hope to deal with one of the most timely questions of the season—who will be the first pick of the 2000 football draft? And will the Browns choose a striker or a goalie? It’s very exciting."