Are you a witness?
I'm a Cavs fan. I want to believe. I really do. This season has been amazing, LeBron has somehow lived up to the ridiculous expectations laid out for him, and the Cavs are 48 minutes of solid basketball away from slaying Goliath.
With that said, this is still Cleveland.
There has never been an NHL franchise here.
The Browns last won an NFL Championship in 1964, but they have never been to the Super Bowl. In the history of the NFL, there is exactly one drive known simply as "The Drive," and it came against Cleveland. In the history of the NFL, there is exactly one fumble known simply as "The Fumble," and it was by Ernest Byner of the Browns. Both came against the Broncos. Both cost the Browns a chance at going to the Super Bowl. Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore in 1995 essentially ripping the hearts out of Browns fans everywhere. The Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl less than a decade later. The Browns haven't won a playoff game since.
The Indians haven't won the World Series since 1948. In 1995, they won 100 games in a 144 game season. They were the best team in baseball and the best hitting team in MLB. Tom Glavine threw a 1 hitter against them and won 1-0 in Game 6 of the World Series to win it for Atlanta, the only time Atlanta was actually able to win the WS in the 90's. In 1997, the Indians were 2 outs away from winning the World Series against the Florida Marlins. They were up 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7, and coughed up the lead due to a blown save by Jose Mesa. The 11th inning saw a routine double play ball hit to Tony Fernandez which would have ended the inning. He booted it, and a few batters later Edgar Renteria hit the game winning single to break the hearts of the Indians again. In the history of MLB, there is only one play known as "The Catch," and it came against Cleveland in the 1954 World Series. That season saw the Indians win 111 games, still an AL record. They were swept in 4 games in the Series.
And then there's the Cavs. The franchise that started out with a 3-36 record when they woke up on December 25 of their first year in existence. The team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1998. The team that hasn't been to the conference finals since 1992. The team that hasn't been to the NBA Finals since...ever. In the history of the NBA, there is only one play known as "The Shot," and it came against Cleveland courtesy of Michael Jordan.
But now the Cavs have a Jordan-type player of their own. LeBron James has put this team on his back and led them to an improbable 3-2 lead over the mighty Pistons. No one gave the Cavs a shot. No one ever gives Cleveland a shot. I want to think that Cleveland is due. Long overdue. Oh what the hell...
I BELIEVE!
7:00 PM. ESPN. Cavs v. Pistons. Game 6. Eastern Conference Semifinals. Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland, Ohio.
Be a witness.
With that said, this is still Cleveland.
There has never been an NHL franchise here.
The Browns last won an NFL Championship in 1964, but they have never been to the Super Bowl. In the history of the NFL, there is exactly one drive known simply as "The Drive," and it came against Cleveland. In the history of the NFL, there is exactly one fumble known simply as "The Fumble," and it was by Ernest Byner of the Browns. Both came against the Broncos. Both cost the Browns a chance at going to the Super Bowl. Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore in 1995 essentially ripping the hearts out of Browns fans everywhere. The Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl less than a decade later. The Browns haven't won a playoff game since.
The Indians haven't won the World Series since 1948. In 1995, they won 100 games in a 144 game season. They were the best team in baseball and the best hitting team in MLB. Tom Glavine threw a 1 hitter against them and won 1-0 in Game 6 of the World Series to win it for Atlanta, the only time Atlanta was actually able to win the WS in the 90's. In 1997, the Indians were 2 outs away from winning the World Series against the Florida Marlins. They were up 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7, and coughed up the lead due to a blown save by Jose Mesa. The 11th inning saw a routine double play ball hit to Tony Fernandez which would have ended the inning. He booted it, and a few batters later Edgar Renteria hit the game winning single to break the hearts of the Indians again. In the history of MLB, there is only one play known as "The Catch," and it came against Cleveland in the 1954 World Series. That season saw the Indians win 111 games, still an AL record. They were swept in 4 games in the Series.
And then there's the Cavs. The franchise that started out with a 3-36 record when they woke up on December 25 of their first year in existence. The team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1998. The team that hasn't been to the conference finals since 1992. The team that hasn't been to the NBA Finals since...ever. In the history of the NBA, there is only one play known as "The Shot," and it came against Cleveland courtesy of Michael Jordan.
But now the Cavs have a Jordan-type player of their own. LeBron James has put this team on his back and led them to an improbable 3-2 lead over the mighty Pistons. No one gave the Cavs a shot. No one ever gives Cleveland a shot. I want to think that Cleveland is due. Long overdue. Oh what the hell...
I BELIEVE!
7:00 PM. ESPN. Cavs v. Pistons. Game 6. Eastern Conference Semifinals. Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland, Ohio.
Be a witness.