Cleveland -- we finally did it! What more can I say?
Well, I guess I can put the fan base into perspective for those who just don't get it. Now, I'm no expert when it comes to sports, but that doesn't mean I won't always cheer for my hometown. Not to mention, it isn't "just a sport" to anyone who gets into it. Like anything else in this world, adding pure passion makes things worth so much more than face-value, and that's exactly what makes Cleveland so special.
For 52 years, Cleveland has faced mostly disappointment in terms of earning titles, yet people all over the world know who we are. Even with the LeBron James fiasco in 2010, Cleveland never stopped backing the Cavs. Sure, you'll have outsiders and even dedicated fans who will jump the throats of anyone who was a "jersey-burner" when he left, but became a fan again when he returned. Personally, having seen the way other players have carried themselves, I do believe he could have left in a more respectable manner, and like any other Cleveland fan, I was hurt by his choice. We all had every right to be upset. However, not to get into the whole "what was best for his career" debate, I'm sure there were a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiations that the public was unaware of; so, while we had the right to be hurt, we didn't have the right to hold a grudge. Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cavaliers and several other franchises, showed the entire city of Cleveland a sign of empathy when he released a letter out of pure emotion criticizing the way James left shortly after the incident. Prior to the infamous "return of The King," Gilbert met with James after four years of little to no communication where they both expressed their regrets -- James for leaving, and Gilbert for the way he reacted -- and made it clear that they both had a deep concern for Cleveland and the dedicated fans, many of whom agreed with and shared the emotion behind Gilbert's letter. And to be fair, James did keep the promise he made to bring a ring to our city. It's not much different from moving away from your hometown to pursue a personal goal. Sometimes, you just have to experience something new even though people will miss you or not want you to leave. You may find it to be everything you wanted, or in this case, it will help you realize where you belong. Either way, it's the past, and we've come a long way.
What really grinds my gears is that, although James is one hell of a player ("best in the league" if you're a Cleveland fan, "decent" if you're not; everyone has a bias), some people tend to forget that it's a team effort. He's done a lot, don't get me wrong, but without a dedicated team and city behind him, what good could any player do? This goes for any team in any sport - each one has their "all-star." But the thing about Cleveland is that our fan base is what completes our city. Forget the trophy. Forget the ring. We're still "Believeland." Our city gets ragged on for just about every sport we have in a major league because of how often we lose and are accused of not standing a chance, yet we still have one of the most dedicated sports fan bases in the entire country. We never stop having faith no matter how much we may curse and yell with every expected loss, and a once-in-a-lifetime win like this means more to Cleveland than a dedicated fan of a team who wins annually will ever know. Despite not being used to first place (or any place, really), you'll still see people wearing Cleveland Cavaliers, Indians, and yes, even Browns merchandise all over the damn place on any given day.
An estimated 1.3 million people showed up for the victory parade. That's 1.3 million people who spent the last several decades cheering on their team, selling out games, watching them every week from home, bonding with family, friends, and even strangers at bars and events, and throwing parties of their own. 1.3 million people adorned with wine and gold, whooping and hollering, high-fiving and hugging, even crying tears of joy because the wait is finally over. 1.3 million people united. Any city will get hyped up over a championship, but for a city whose fans have settled for "maybe next year" nearly every year and never broken loyalty, that says a lot about our dedication. You don't have to be from Cleveland to understand what it means to win a title, but Gilbert himself, a Michigan native, knows first-hand that Cleveland is one for the books. "The people of Cleveland deserve this more than any other people I've ever seen or met or felt," he said. "No group deserves this more. No fan base deserves this more. I'm speechless and proud of everybody."
Well, there you have it, folks. Whether you're a Cleveland fan or not, our passion, love, and loyalty toward our teams are simply undeniable. Our boys worked hard, broke NBA records left and right, and against all odds, came back from a 3-1 deficit to earn that moment for themselves and for us. It's more than a trophy. It's more than a ring. It's history, and we made it. As for the Browns, well, there's always next year. Go Cavs!
