Hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets of Cleveland, Ohio at 11:30 p.m. on June 19th after the beloved Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Championship. Fans took to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr to proclaim their gratitude and joy over the end of Cleveland sport's 52-year championship drought. Millions of people around the country celebrated the historic game and the triumph of the underdogs. But Cleveland residents were not just celebrating a game. They were not celebrating a sport. They were celebrating for their city.
The "Mistake on the Lake"
Growing up in Cleveland is not easy. Growing up in Akron--Lebron James' hometown--is even less so. More than half of kids living in Cleveland live in poverty. Fifty-four percent of children--the second highest percentage of any major city in the country--are at higher risk of unemployment, mental illnesses, physically debilitating diseases, failure in school, and even death because of their poverty. These children grow up to be sick adults, and sick adults contribute to a sick city.
Despite a fairly decent tourism sector, due to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Playhouse Square, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland Museum of Art, Great Lakes Science Center, and other popular attractions, Cleveland has had an awful reputation throughout the country. Much of that reputation comes from isolated events throughout the 20th century, including the Hough Riots of 1966, and the burning of the Cuyahoga River Fire of 1969. Although there were riots and river fires across the country, Cleveland's downfalls became the most famous.
In 2010, Forbes ranked Cleveland Number One as the Most Miserable City in the Country, citing Cleveland's high unemployment, high taxes, terrible weather, corrupt public officials, and lack of decent sports teams. The city was thus dubbed the "Mistake on the Lake".
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However, despite such adversity, and despite literally being referred to as a mistake by the rest of the country, Cleveland residents have always remained loyal and strong. Cleveland sports games are some of the best attended in the entire nation. Clevelanders have, for decades, supported failing sports teams. Clevelanders have, for decades, believed that "there's always next year!" Clevelanders have, for decades, known that Cleveland has a bigger and brighter future.
Clevelanders now realize that the bigger and brighter future is now. There is no next year; this is the year. The Cleveland Cavaliers have brought home a championship for the unbelievably deserving people of Cleveland. Lebron James brought home a championship for the people of Akron, Ohio, living in poverty and shame.
No one who lives outside of Akron and Cleveland could know just how much this means. This championship is so far beyond sports. This championship is about redeeming our city--redeeming our people. This championship is about raising our people out of squalor. This championship is about giving our amazing city and the people within it the attention they deserve. This championship is for all of us.
You Can't Spell Miracle Without CLE
As Lebron James famously said:
"In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have."
We have worked for what we have. Akron has earned it. Cleveland has earned it. WE have earned it. And no one deserves it more.
