I've been a Cleveland sports fan as long as I can remember, and probably even before that. There are home videos of me at the age of two dressed in Indians apparel, complete with Chief Wahoo and all. After watching LeBron James play basketball, I went out in my grandparents' driveway and taught myself to play. I was born during the era where the Browns didn't even exist (thanks, Art Modell), but most of the Sundays of my youth were spent watching them. I grew up about an hour away from Cleveland, so going into the city for any reason was magical. I could write you a book on the way Cleveland makes me feel, but I'll just use these quotes instead.
1. "Cleveland people are crazy; that's why I live here." - Stipe Miocic
Clevelanders are a special kind of crazy. We root for teams that are the underdogs or have 0-16 records. We organize parades to celebrate our lack of a win all season, just so we can revel in the companionship of our fellow fans. If you promise to bring us a championship and then "take your talents to South Beach," we burn your jersey in street fires across the city; yet we welcome you with joyful arms when you decide to come back. Cleveland fans are scorned woman of any professional sports league, but we own it with pride and that's all that matters.
2. "You feel like you need to deal with a lot if you're from Cleveland, so you learn to let things roll off your back, and you learn that humor is the best way to deal with it." - Vanessa Bayer
Until the 2016 NBA Finals, Cleveland teams hadn't brought home a championship in 52 years. My dad, who taught me to be a Cleveland fan, had seen them win a championship in his lifetime but was not old enough to remember it. This was the case for quite a number of fans, so we're no stranger to loss. We deal with it in the best way we know how: humor. Hence the Perfect Season parade, and all other less-than-normal celebrations that Cleveland fans have planned.
3. "If I go anywhere else and win a championship, it's not going to be the same. I want to win a championship in Cleveland. That's where I want to stay. I love Cleveland." - Anderson Varejao
Anderson Varejao played for the Cavaliers for all of my youth and into my teen years before being traded to the Golden State Warriors. This quote resonates with me so much. In my 20 years of life, I have never lived outside of Northeast Ohio and I can't imagine being anywhere else. All of my successes and defeats have been here, but I know that even the most bitter defeat means nothing when my successes happen here. We call it "Believeland" for a reason. Cleveland is the city of dreams for me, as I'm sure it is for many others.
4. "All in." - 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers Playoff Slogan
"All in" encompasses everything that I love about Cleveland. What we do, we do together. There is no stronger camaraderie in the world than that between Cleveland fans. The team mentality stretches off the court and field to every single fan in Northeast Ohio and across the world.
5. "I like criticism. It makes you strong." - LeBron James
No city has been more criticized for its shortcomings in professional sports. Known as "the Mistake on the Lake," Cleveland has had to fight its way back into relevance on the national stage. Other than the Browns, every Cleveland team has fought its way up to the top of its league. Since a very young age, I've looked up to LeBron James more than every man other than my dad. This quote from him has motivated me since the first time I heard it; it's the simplest way to state my own personal philosophy.
6. "In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned." - LeBron James
Perhaps the most important quote on this list, this one reflects the spirit of the region. We are resilient, hardworking, and strong. We are everything that your city wishes it could be and more. We are Cleveland. Enough said.
There are hundreds of quotes I could have included in this list. Cleveland is a city that is growing once again. There is nowhere to go but up and I can't wait to watch it happen. Keep your eyes on Cleveland; we're coming for you.
