Cleveland, Ohio. The only city in the world with an even higher number of sports tragedies than its actual population. Whether it was "The Drive," "Red Right 88," "The Fumble," “The Move,” "The Decision," "The Shot" "The Curse of Rocky Colavito," or Jose Mesa, we've been through it all.
For 52 years we suffered through heartbreaking loss after loss, always coming up short of our championship aspirations. We always seemed to be in it right until the very end. Last second shots, walk-off homers, and game-winning field goals were a staple in every Cleveland sports fans life. None of them being in our favor.
The image of Michael Jordan floating through the air as poor Craig Ehlo watched him bury "The Shot" right over the top of him still haunts me.
That pales in comparison to the way "The Decision" made me feel. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting in my living room watching ESPN with my friends and family. When LeBron said "I'm gonna take my talents to South Beach," my heart dropped into my stomach. I had been let down by Cleveland sports my entire life, more times than I could count, but none of it prepared me for this. LeBron James, Cleveland's prodigal son, spurned us on live television in front of the entire world.
It’s ironic that we watched it in the living room because afterward, it was dead silent. An overwhelming state of depression came over the entire city. Tears, anger, and in some cases jersey burnings followed.
Enough of that, though. Those days are over. 2016 has proven to be our year. LeBron is back, the Cavs are the World Champions, Stipe Miocic, one of Cleveland’s very own, is the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
2016 has been good to us but it’s not over. While writing this, the Cleveland Indians are up 2-0 in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. For some reason, a Cleveland team being up 2-0 in a division championship sounds familiar..Oh, that’s right! The Cavs were in the same exact spot against the Toronto Raptors and we all know how that ended. Sorry Canada, better luck next year.
Nothing is going to stop us this year. We’ve waited impatiently for 52 years. It’s our time, it’s our destiny. It’s our year and I’m looking forward to parade number three in the heart of the city.
