Mon 5 May 2008
Will Cleveland Fans Be More Depressed After They Win It All?
Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA PLAYOFFS, SDC COMMENTARY
?Tuesday the Cleveland Cavaliers start their second round series in the NBA Eastern Conference as they travel to Boston to take on the Boston Celtics. And once again hope springs eternal in the hearts of Northeast Ohio sports fans as they set off on yet another quest to grab that elusive championship that has been at times just out of reach since 1964.
If you are a regular reader of mine, you are aware that I lived in the greater Cleveland area for 14 years, and covered the Cavaliers, Indians and Browns as a radio beat reporter for over 11 years. I consider Cleveland my adopted home town, and if not for family obligations would still be there. I know as well as anyone how much Cleveland fans hunger for that championship. They believe their lives would then become complete once one of their three teams win a League title. But actually how much would it change their lives?
Let’s play this scenario out, since we are writing on a basketball site and the Cavaliers conveniently enough are in the playoffs, they will be our example. Let’s say that Cleveland goes all the way, past the Celtics, past the Pistons or Magic, and back for the second year in a row in the NBA Finals. And this time instead of getting swept,?THEY WIN! Your Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Champions!
Now hopefully the fans of Cleveland handle winning better than other cities of recent years, and there are no riots, looting and burning the night they win. Hopefully it’s just a bunch of fans hugging and high fiving and screaming “We’re Number One!” We will assume that is the case. So now you have your Parade of Champions, your celebration party in front of the Rock Hall. You do your chest thumping, party some more. You call your obnoxious cousin Stan in Pittsburgh and give him grief. Also your old college roommate from Long Island. You hear the sports anchors at ESPN call your team the World Champions! It’s now mid July a month later, how has your life exactly changed?
Has Higbees re-opened in Downtown Cleveland? Sorry, No.
Is the Steel Industry all of a sudden rejuvenated? Sorry, No.
Has the Cleveland School System become the pride of the Nation? Sorry, No.
Has your Significant Other, all of a sudden turned into Beyonce/Brad Pitt? Sorry, No.
Are your teenagers any less exasperating? Sorry, No.
Is your Life basically the same as it was in May except the Cavaliers now have Championship Rings? Realistically, Yes.
What is the purpose of Sports in 2008 in the USA? For the athletes, it’s to win, for the fan, it is to be ENTERTAINED. Bottom line, LeBron James is not that much different from Jay-Z or Seth Rogen. All three men are ENTERTAINERS. Jay-Z does it with his thought provoking lyrics, Rogen does it by playing the lovable loser/stoner, LBJ does it with his feats of athleticism. If you shut off a game on TV or walk out of the Q Arena, 99 times out of a hundred you will talk about some incredible mind bending move LBJ pulled off during the contest.
We who are sports fans live vicariously through our teams, we all want to be identified as winners not also rans or losers. But that is just one aspect of our lives; my biggest fear for Clevelanders is what happens when you reach the peak. Do you really think your life will become better?
I would never tell you not to want to see your teams win, that’s contradictory to being a sports fan! I am an extremely competitive human being, just ask some of the reporters I stepped in front of over the years to get closer to Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter and, of course, LeBron. I want to be number one in all aspects of my life. But to think that my team winning is going to give me more than a short term buzz is foolish. As a now defunct bus company used to say in their commercials, “Enjoy the ride, getting there is half the fun!”
Cleveland Sports Fans - Enjoy the Ride!
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May 6th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
NOOOO WAY MAN. My life will, in fact, be complete. If the sole purpose of sports in 2008 is to be entertained, then why do I SULK in my home teams losses? Why am I in misery that but one Cleveland Indians starter is betting 300 or better? Why did I hate the world after getting swept by Los Spurs? And why was I crying happy tears hugging strangers in the streets of Downtown CLE after we beat the Pistons to go to our first ever Finals Series? Because winning is everything!!! Even if you are a fan. Yes, fans should still support their teams when they suck, but the reward for doing so when your team finally is victorious is the greatest feeling in the world.
May 6th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
This post is somewhat mind boggling. Talk about a depressing attitude towards sports. Winning a championship means much more than just a short term buzz. It would give the city of Cleveland a huge lift and provide great joy in the lives of all sports fans. I still remember 2006, the first time the Cavs have been in the playoffs since I was old enough to remember, having been born in 1988. The playoff run in 2006 was one of the best times of my life. So sure, you can throw out all these problems in the real world to try to somehow diminish the fact that the Cavaliers won the title. People always remember championships. So don’t try to somehow tell us Clevelanders would not bring joy to the city. Awful post.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
LIES! If the Cavs win, I can finally move back to Cleveland without feeling dirty and ashamed. Until then, Go Newport Beach KB24s!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:31 am
23 cent pizza on Thursday. Reserve yours online today!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
So, wait, you’re saying my significant other will NOT become more attractive if one group of large, tatooed gentlemen throws a leather ball through a metal hoop more often than another group of large, tatooed gentlemen?
You’re kidding!
Still, I’d like to try this whole winning-a-championship thing sometime in my lifetime (although, let’s be serious, it’s not going to happen). I promise I will be gracious and joyous and not at all like Boston fans in 2003 (when all they had to keep them warm was 3 Super Bowls and Larry Bird) and, well, Boston fans now.
I guess my point is, I don’t think a Cavs championship (or, even better, an Indians championship, or even still better, a Brow…man, my brain won’t even allow me to complete the thought) will make my life better in non-sports-related ways, but I’d still like to try it (although I know I never will). Also, I hate Boston fans.