When I was born, I had my destiny established for me. No, I don’t mean career-wise. I also don’t mean that I was to have an arranged marriage. I was destined for feeling quite a bit of frustration, but also for learning and understanding the true meaning of loyalty.
My entire family is from Ohio, with Cleveland as their closest major city. This is great because Cleveland, Ohio is one of my favorite places in the world. This is not great because Cleveland, Ohio is notorious for terrible sports teams. Ever seen a Browns Super Bowl shirt? An Indians World Series pennant? A Cavaliers NBA championship sweatshirt? Unless you were around in 1964, you probably haven’t ever seen the words “Cleveland” and “Champions” within 100 feet of each other.
As the Cavaliers have torn their way through the NBA playoffs, I have had a renewed sense of hope. I’ve watched my family (particularly my father and uncle) be infinitely aged due to their undying support of every Cleveland team for my entire life. I’ve grown up being dressed in clothes with Cleveland logos splashed across the front: everything from onesies to toddler T-shirts to hats to clothes I (somewhat regretfully) still wear. Half the pictures of my cousins and me were taken at Indians baseball games. The love my family holds for Cleveland sports is more than just a proximity to the city. It’s our culture. Now that the loyalty and obsession might be paying off, the excitement cannot be contained in my household.
I’ve had many people ask me why I root for Cleveland. I often reply with “I wish I didn’t.” Honestly, though, this is a lie. People have taken quite a liking to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New York Yankees, and the Golden State Warriors over the years. I can see why. They are great teams, they win a lot, and their fan base is huge. It’s easy to like them. Steph Curry’s daughter, Riley, has also become quite popular. I acknowledge that she is significantly cuter than Matthew Dellavedova, but no matter. People make fun of Cleveland fans. We spend a lot of time with our heads in our hands, screaming at the TV and saying, “There’s always next year.” But, if I could pick any city to root for, I’d pick The Land every time. Why? Maybe I’m a masochist. Maybe I just don’t like being happy.
As strange as it sounds, being a Cleveland fan has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. It has taught me that you won’t always win. I’ve learned that you can get within arm’s length of a championship and be denied. I’ve learned that life won’t always go the way you want it to. I’ve also learned the importance of loyalty, and that there is nothing gained from being a fair-weather fan or a fair-weather friend. Things will get rough, and abandoning your people during tough times is the worst thing you can do. My heart was broken as our Lord and savior, Mr. LeBron James, abandoned us but put back together when he returned. Why did he come back? Because Cleveland is a special place. The fans are like no other, and the allegiance is undeniable. After being let down, again and again, we come back for more. This has shown me how I want to live my life. I will be there for my people, and never forget where I came from.
#ALLin216. Go Cavs.
