Does The “Cleveland Curse” Actually Exist?

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Analysis, SDC COMMENTARY

I have always considered myself a very logical person. I do believe that dinosaurs once walked the earth and I also have no doubts that man has walked on the moon. Up until Tuesday night I also believed that there was no such thing as a curse or a jinx. By the time the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Orlando Magic in game four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals had ended however my faith in logic had slipped.

Could the professional sports teams of Cleveland actually be cursed? It defies logic; it goes against every rational thought that exists in my head. I have derided the so-called “Curse” for over a decade and a half in print, on the radio and in private conversations. However I can not really come up with a truly logical explanation of why the Cavaliers have taken such a swan dive during this series so far. Has it been just a lack of mental toughness on the part of the team from Cleveland? Or is there a more insidious reason; does a “Curse” really exist that will never allow Cleveland teams to grab that brass ring?

I have written over the last couple of weeks about an old buddy of mine a die-hard Cleveland sports fan who has the nick-name “Just Once.“ That nick-name was given to him years ago because his mantra has always been “Just Once do I want experience a Cleveland Sports Championship before the call comes for last round.”

I got an e-mail from my friend Wednesday afternoon telling me he has a new nick-name! He wants to be called “Save Me A Seat” because he will not join another Cleveland bandwagon until it has pulled safely into its parking spot with Championship Trophy inside. My friend is heart-broken right now but he will come around; he has threatened before to withhold his loyalties from Cleveland teams. However he like many of us is just an addict allowing our sports teams to break our hearts when they fall short.

The Cleveland Cavaliers a week ago looked like they were right on the precipice of winning their first NBA Title. They had the best record in the regular season at 66-16 and swept through the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks in the first two rounds of the Playoffs. But that team by and large has not played in the sries against the Magic. They have played out of their comfort zone allowing Orlando to dictate the flow of the games not setting the tone themselves.

It appeared for a while Tuesday night that the Cavaliers team that had ravaged the Association all season long. They played strong defensively for most of the night and they dominated the low post game offensively. But instead of bracing themselves when Orlando made their inevitable run they instead panicked and went back to bad habits. They started taking ill advised low percentage outside shots. They also kept turning the rock over even the “Chosen One” Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James had 8 turnovers.

This was supposed to be the year; there would be a parade in Cleveland this June. You saw those words right on these very pages. I have the uncomfortable feeling that in the not too distant future I am going to have to write the three toughest words for a man; I Was Wrong!

So what is the cause for the collapse so far of the Cleveland Cavaliers so far in the Eastern Conference Finals? Is it just a matter of bad match-ups for the Cavaliers and allowing the moment to master them? Or does that “Curse” that so may fans in Northeast Ohio believe in really exist. I am not ready to admit that this “Curse” does actually exist. However after Tuesday night’s loss I can no longer just totally dismiss it either!

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One Response to “Does The “Cleveland Curse” Actually Exist?”

Do The Cavaliers Have The “Right Stuff”? We Will Soon Find Out! | Slam Dunking on May 29th, 2009 10:25 pm

[...] posed the question earlier this week Does The “Cleveland Curse” Actually Exist? is that what has been the reason that the Cavaliers are now in the position that they are in? No, [...]

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