Dear LeBron James,
Thank you. Thank you for what you have done for the city of Cleveland. We have spent years and years waiting for that moment you gave to us just a few days ago. You told our team you would carry them on your back to a championship, but the truth is, you carried the whole city on your back to a new era, and for that, I can't thank you enough.
Just a few weeks ago, the documentary, "Believeland" aired on ESPN. It pointed out all the hardships our city has been through. "The Catch, The Drive, The Fumble, The Decision" are just a few of the depressing events recalled. It was hard to watch our city get called out for all the "fails" throughout history, but it made me root a little harder and cheer a little louder for the Cavs as they entered into the NBA Finals. We started off being down 3-1 against Golden State, but we didn't lose hope. After more than 50 years of not winning a championship, the city of Cleveland has still never given hope on any of our teams, including the Browns. We're lucky we didn't because our Cavaliers made a complete comeback and took the series all the way to game seven. It was the nail biter the whole game, but the Cavs ended up with the W, winning 93-89. The celebration in the streets of Cleveland that Sunday night was something our city will never forget. Countless hugs and high-fives from strangers, people in tears and getting sprayed with the special edition LeBron James Sprite cans were just a few scenes from the night.
The celebration continued onto Wednesday with the biggest parade in U.S. sports history, with an estimate of 1.3 million people crowded downtown to celebrate. Even MGK, a Cleveland native, made an appearance and performed on the parade route.
So, thank you, LeBron. Thank you for keeping your promise to bring a championship to Cleveland. While Cleveland sought a championship, it was not necessarily so we could party in the streets and make the bars downtown run out of alcohol. It wasn't for public attention or so cities around the world would stop making fun of our city. It was for us. You kept your promise because you are one of us. LeBron, you understand what it is like to be hardworking, to be a diligent worker and never give up on something you want, just like the rest of us Clevelanders.
LeBron, thank you for the championship win and the parade, but thank you even more for restoring hope and happiness in Cleveland. You have helped us prosper and grow and realize that we are an up and coming city. This city is our city, and I love it, just as much as every other person from Cleveland, including you, LeBron.
We will forever be "All In," and we will always rep the 216, no matter where life takes us.
Love,
Cleveland
