The Diary Of A Die-Hard Cleveland Sports Fan

Do you remember what it’s like to be a kid…? Most kids my age grew up watching shows like Spongebob, Hey Arnold, Rugrats, Jimmy Neutron, The Fairly Odd Parents, Johnny Bravo, (Beavis & Butt-Head and South Park while the parents weren’t around if you were sneaky enough) Well you see, I grew up watching just about none of those shows with the exception of Spongebob of course; I mean how could you grow up and NOT watch Spongebob if you were my age? I grew up watching Sports Center and ESPN non-stop. I grew up with such an obsession with sports and staying updated via Sports Center that it came to a point where I started missing my bus so much that my mom and dad would have to hide the remote in the morning to make sure I would get to school on time. While other kids my age growing up were worried about the girl or boy they had a crush on liking them back, I was worrying about my next baseball game, or making the travel baseball team, or fantasizing over my upcoming football game on the weekend. I developed such a fierce passion for sports at such a young age that although just playing was so thrilling it wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to WIN; I unfolded such a competitive edge that at times kids on my team were terrified of me and my competitiveness. I wanted to be the BEST. I played on teams where kids just did not simply like me because how determined I was at winning and what it took to win above all else factors. I guess you can say my competitive nature caused me to be rather cocky at times, but hey who’s keeping tabs?

My father bred me on Cleveland Sports. My first year ever following and watching sports was in 2002. I was 8 years old. My dad would take me out with his friends every Saturday and Sunday to watch the games with him, besides my own sporting events it’s what I would most look forward to every single week. The year of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the heartbreaking Browns Playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers…. Man oh man what a year! Is it just me or was that one of the best College football stories ever? (At least to me it was) 7 Games decided by a Touchdown or less! I can’t even begin to describe the National Championship game against Miami… Ohio State going up against the 34 Game win streak of Miami coming in as +12 point underdogs, everyone talking about how the Buckeyes didn’t stand a chance in hell! Not only was that the BEST night of my life being able to celebrate a National Championship with my father, which I can’t even describe that feeling to you all it’s beyond surreal, but that was also still to this day the most thrilling football game I have EVER witnessed.

To think that less than 48 hours later I got to witness my first ever Cleveland Browns post-season football game, you’re kidding right!? The Browns up 24-7 going into halftime had me on top of the world, thinking wow I could get used to this! Unfortunately, despite Kelly Holcomb throwing for 429 yards and 3 TDs the Cleveland Browns being the Cleveland Browns eventually blew it in a heartbreaking 36-33 defeat (Yes I cried) (I still dislike Tommy Maddox to this day for ruining my thunder that weekend). Luckily that heartbreaking loss mentally prepared me for the next 10 seasons of Browns football (Currently pulling my hair out) (Thank goodness I wasn’t old enough to take in “The Drive” or “The Fumble“). But hey, we’re going to the Super Bowl this year right!? (Of course we are!)

How about them Cleveland Indians!? Well 2007 was not only the year that every girl in Northeast Ohio was crushing on Grady Sizemore,  but it was the INDIANS year… I lived in Denver, Colorado at the time. Game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees: The game of the bugs. Do you guys remember the bugs!? (Thank You Baseball Gods)

It was a Friday night and I was at a friends’ Birthday party. However, I wasn’t doing much celebrating; I was glued to the nearest television I could find with the Tribe game turned on. People kept asking me; Chris what are you doing? (Um sorry guy’s but I kind of have a pretty big “thing” for my Cleveland Indians, don’t mind me) In one of the most thrilling and odd baseball games I’ve still seen to this day, the Tribe eventually went on to win that night 2-1 in 11 innings on a 2 out bases loaded single to right field courtesy of Travis Hafner. They went on to STUN the Yankees and win the series in four games.

And on came the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS….. Keep in mind here I’m living in Denver, Colorado at the time. My friends who were HUGE Colorado Rockies fans (The Rockies were also on their way to the NLCS, can you see where this is going?) As the Rockies went on to sweep the Diamondbacks very quickly in the NL the Indians after losing the first game of the series to the Red Sox went on to win the next 3 to take a 3-1 series lead… I and my father started thinking no way… No way is this going to happen… Not only are the Indians going to make it to the World Series but they’re going to play the Rockies and we’re going to get to witness a World Series game in Denver in the opposing teams stadium for all but half the price the tickets would be in Cleveland. Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Well…. of course it was; I mean we are talking CLEVELAND sports after all. The Indians would go on to blow the 3-1 series lead and eventually lose in a blowout Game 7 to the Sox. (Once again at 14 years old I couldn’t help but but bury my head and let tears stream out, while my dad screamed and blamed it on the whole world) My Denver friends had a field day with the Tribe blowing the series, I had to live that series loss down for a LONG time.

And last but certainly not least, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Well where to ever start with the Cavs? When I was young the
Cavaliers were nothing. They would give away free tickets at my school all the time for the read to achieve program. Plain and simple my most memorable moment as a Cavs fan until they drafted LeBron James was going on the court before the game and getting to shoot free throws. When the King came to town it all changed quickly. I never wanted to miss a Cavs game for the world, because every night was something special watching the young phenom LeBron James go to work. Do you Cleveland fans remember how exciting it was to watch the Cavs play in the post-season almost every year Lebron was here? I most definitely do. How about the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit  in Game 5 when LeBron scored 29 of the last 30 points including the game winning bucket with 2.2 left in DOUBLE OT, man oh man if that wasn’t the best solo performance I have ever witnessed in Professional sports I don’t know what is. OR how about in 2009 in the Eastern Conference Finals against Orlando in Game 2, where with 1.0 remaining on the clock LeBron hits a fade-away contested 3 as the buzzer sounds to tie the series at a game apiece, WOW!

And then there’s 2010 the Cavs favorites to win it all, go down in ugly fashion to the Celtics in 6 games, LeBron walks off the court into the tunnel and rips his Cleveland jersey off… Later that summer came the decision and words that no matter what I will NEVER forget. “This fall I’m proud to announce that I will be taking my talents to South Beach” I felt like a bull in a china shop. I took LeBrons decision rather personnel. The hometown hero I grew up modeling my-self after betrayed us, he betrayed the city with some of the best sports fans in the ENTIRE world and went on NATIONAL TELEVISION to do so.

Now here we are four years later. Throughout the four years I stuck to my hatred for LeBron James, rooting against him every chance I got, always hoping for the worst. I had in my head that I would NEVER welcome him back. I watched some of my peers in the span of those four years come around to forgiving him, not me though. As this years Free Agency broke and LeBron opted out of his contract I watched the city of Cleveland and all of the Cleveland media and my friend’s campaign and beg for a return. I followed the whole situation 24/7 that was the “Decision 2.0” I pleaded why the city of Cleveland should not welcome this man back. I told myself for me to EVER welcome this man back I want the truth to be admitted, I don’t want to just hear “I’m coming back”, I didn’t want to see just a picture of LeBron wearing a Cavs jersey on his website. I wanted an apology, I wanted LeBron to picture himself in every Cleveland fans shoes that praised him as the “King” of Cleveland, and imagine how he would have felt as a fan. When the news broke and I read the letter I almost wanted to cry, thinking… wow he’s grown up, he knows exactly what he did wrong. I read everything he wrote and I felt the honesty. I felt the passion for Cleveland. Most importantly I felt like a kid again.

LeBrons decision was SO much bigger than just about himself. He just single handily put the city of Cleveland back on the map. A basketball player from Akron, Ohio just increased the net worth of the city we live in and love! He has just opened up thousands of new jobs and opportunities. He has just opened the door and made this city so much more attractive to Free Agents in not just basketball, but in baseball and football also.

So, once again I would like to ask; do you remember what it feels like being a kid, growing up and following Cleveland Sports? It wasn’t easy was it? This city has gone through so many heart breaking sports stories, still searching for our first Championship since 1964. I guess you can say I have a pretty good feeling that this city and it’s sports and business is on the rise… I guess you can say that very soon all of this time we have ever put in watching our beloved Browns, Indians, and Cavaliers is all going to pay off. I guess you can say that soon enough (Die-Hard Sports Fan Or Not), we are ALL going to feel like what it’s like to be a kid again; while we celebrate the first Championship brought to this city full of endlessly great people since 1964!

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Why Cleveland Shouldn’t Be So Quick To Welcome LeBron James Back With Open Arms

As the “Decision” Part II has rapidly approached and LeBron James return to Cleveland is rumored to be all but certain; should Cleveland fans really be praising a comeback though….? If I remember correctly, this is the same guy who went on National Television and slapped the whole Cavaliers organization and the city of Cleveland where it really hurts… Granted LeBron James may have made the best business decision and the best decision to win Championships right away… BUT, does that really justify him making an event to announce only that he’s leaving to take his “Talents” to “South Beach?” I remember talking to a lot of people that night that were not currently burning LeBrons jersey quite yet. I don’t remember hearing many good things….. I don’t recall hearing “Oh in four years I will gladly welcome him back like tonight never even existed.”

When LeBron made his first “Decision” didn’t it hit the fans? Like wow “This guy really just doesn’t care about us” So after four years what’s changed about LeBron? I thought Cleveland was full of die-hard loyal fans… If that’s the case, then why is this city jumping back on the LeBron bandwagon doing everything they can to convince him to return…? It has the feeling of that girl or guy you fell in love with and were with for long-term and quite possibly thought you were going to marry… Until one day news breaks so suddenly that you’ve been cheated on by that person with an enemy. The person you thought you were so dearly in “Love” with then goes on and dates that “enemy” for 4 years….. Things go south and end up not working between your past lover and the enemy. That person who betrayed you now wants back in your life…  It seems like most Cavs fans at this point would have no problem accepting that person back!

So the city of Cleveland wants Championships huh…? “If LeBron comes back we’re going to win championships.” Maybe it’s just me, but wouldn’t it be more special if the first Championship brought to Cleveland since 1964 was formed through loyalty and dedication, and not through a selfish self-centered“King?” Not to mention is that not why LeBron ditched the city of Cleveland in the first place? To win “Championships?” LeBrons already won his Championship… And it wasn’t with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although LeBron is far from “selfish” on the court off the court is a whole new world. LeBron James met with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh on June 25th to discuss their future. Days later Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh opted out of their contracts with the Heat believed to make space for enticing free agents to pair with the “Big 3.” Keep in mind here Dwayne Wade turned down 40 MILLION DOLLARS over the next two seasons in the obvious hope that LeBron was returning…. With Wades major health issues, it’s almost certain that not only does it look like he will be losing one of his best friends in James, but he also just left an outrageous amount of money on the table that will not be coming in a new contract. So you’re telling me that LeBron James couldn’t give supposedly one of his “Best Friends” and more than likely one of the biggest factors he fled to Miami in the first place enough of a heads up that Wade could make the best decision for himself and his family…? But this is the guy Cleveland fans are so ready to welcome back with open arms right? Who says if things don’t workout in the first couple years and no championships are captured that LeBron won’t just flee again? I mean he’s had no problems leaving his home and “Fans” once…. He’s had no problem leaving his “Best Friend” to drown, and he damn sure has never had a problem breaking promise after promise to both Miami and Cleveland.

Mike Trout On His Way To Being All Time MLB Great?

With the 25th pick in the 2009 MLB Draft The Los Angeles Angels select: Mike Trout, Center Fielder, Millville High School (New Jersey) No that was not a typo…. In a draft class highlighted by Steven Strasburg 21 MLB teams passed on Mike Trout. I wonder what each of those 21 teams are thinking now….. In his first full season with the Angels in 2012, Mike Trout exploded onto the scene. In 139 games Trout hit .326 with 30 HR, 83 RBI, and 49 Stolen Bases. That year he led the Angels in: Batting Average, Hits, Runs Scored, Stolen Bases, Walks, On Base Percentage, Slugging Percentage etc…….. The bat was not the only thing Trout turned eyes with. On June 27th, 2012 Trout made one of the best catches in recent years flying over the wall in Baltimore to take a Home Run away from Orioles J.J Hardy

Trout went on to win the AL Rookie of the year award unanimously collecting all 28 1st place votes.

In 2013, it was not much of a different story for Trout and the Angels, in 157 games Trout finished the season batting: .323 with 27 HRs and 97 RBIs. Once again, he led the team in: Average, Hits, Runs, Walks, On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage. Trout also made his mark as an elite outfielder throughout the season with more countless defensive plays that one may not have known imaginable. Unfortunately, it was not enough for a playoff appearance with the Angels finishing the season 78-84.

So far in 2014, Trout is off to yet another hot start. Trout is batting .311 with 19 HRs and 62 RBIs already. He is leading the Angels in just about EVERY offensive category including: Home Runs, RBIs, Batting Average, Hits, Runs, On Base Percentage,  and Slugging Percentage. He has sparked the Angels to a 47-36 record through the first 83 games of the season, which is 2nd in the AL West 3.5 GB of Division leader Oakland, and good enough for the #1 Wild Card spot if the playoffs were to begin today.

So….. Enough stats. Are we possibly witnessing the beginning of maybe the best all around ball player to ever play the game? Could anyone remember a player that had the ability to climb walls like Spider-man and hit 490 foot bombs like Mark McGwire? Is it possible Mike Trout really may have spidey senses? How often does anyone see Mike Trout not hustling down the line no matter where the ball is hit? Is there really a tool that Mike Trout doesn’t bring to the table? Okay…. Okay…. I get it… I won’t get too far ahead here. Although, we will have to wait some time to see if the 22-year-old Phenom (Yeah that’s right only 22 years old!) can continue his brink to greatness it will almost certainly be a thrilling adventure to follow. Let’s take nothing away from young sensations like: Giancarlo Stanton, Troy Tulowitzki, and Bryce Harper. However, I think one thing we all can agree on is Mike Trout is the most exciting and dynamic player in all of baseball right now and has the desire and ability to go down as one of baseballs all time greats!

Is Kyrie Irving Really Worthy Of MAX Deal….?

As July 1st approached the Cleveland Cavaliers wasted no time in setting up a meeting with Kyrie Irving. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, GM David Griffin, new coach David Blatt and other team officials traveled to Irvings home in New Jersey and presented him with the offer just as free agency began at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday  to put a bow on their first and foremost off-season priority.  During the 2013-2014 season Irvings future in Cleveland was quite uncertain. However, as soon as the clock struck midnight Irving made it well known that he had no interest in testing the market and that he was ecstatic to sign the 5 yr. 90 million dollar max deal he was offered to remain a Cleveland Cavalier for the long-term.
https://twitter.com/KyrieIrving/status/483853152433999872

Kyries Issues In Cleveland

In his brief 3 year career Kyrie Irving is averaging 20.7 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.4 STL, he has shot 44% and 37% from beyond the arc (Per ESPN Player Stats) The Cavs have not made a playoff appearance since Kyries arrival and have not really even been close… Perhaps the highlight of Kyries career so far has been making two straight All Star appearances and capturing the All Star MVP award this past season in New Orleans.

The league has evolved and there is no question that Irving is part of a new era of ball dominant, score first mentality Point Guards. But, is Irving truly a leader who a team could be built around with the way he plays the game? Is his health an issue? If his first three years are any sign of his future, it would be very difficult to believe he will become a Phenom in this league…. This past year reports leaked out that Irving and teammate Dion Waiters weren’t exactly meshing well together. At one point Dion accused Kyrie and teammate Tristian Thompson of playing “Buddy Ball” and often refusing of passing the ball to him. Dion then eventually lost his spot in the starting lineup and began coming off the bench regularly, coincidence? Dion is not the only person in Cleveland that has butted heads with Kyrie. After the beef between Irving and Waiters came to light Cleveland Browns’ Josh Gordon, also a close friend of Waiters wasted no times making his feelings known. After some bickering back and forth and some quite surprising comments from Kyrie Irving: “Guys like Josh Gordon need to stay in his sport and mind his own business. Does he still play for the Browns? I’ll continue to root for the Browns, but in terms of this stuff here, what goes on in this locker room, he needs to stay out of it.”

Gordon would not shy down without having the last word and challenging Kyrie to a race to the playoffs via his instagram page.

With Irvings commitment coming so soon into free agency, the Cavs can now formulate a plan to bring in and make a strong pitch to other free agents on their radar with all the ridiculous money they have remaining. Some notable FAs the Cavs have shown interest in are: LeBron James, Chandler Parsons, Greg Monroe, also resigning Center Spencer Hawes. The Cavs have reportedly not shown any signs of interest in re-signing Forward Luol Deng. After all, Kyrie Irving and Andrew Wiggins does sound pretty attractive, right?

It’s likely that after the process of the way the Cavaliers lost LeBron James; that Cavs management were not willing to take any risks nor waste anymore time in locking up their best asset since King James. Although it may be in question if Kyrie Irving really deserved the “MAX” contract he received; from the Cavaliers management stand point it’s a no brainer; Create something stable, and lock up your best player long-term in hopes that with the available salary cap available you can build around him, and bring the necessary puzzle pieces to accompany his talents, and become a Championship Contender as soon as possible.

Could We Be Witnessing The End Of The “Big 3” In Miami…

With the 2014 NBA finals in full throttle and the San Antonio Spurs taking a 2-1 series lead in blowout fashion in Game 3 the question of what lies in the Miami Heats future is arising hotter and hotter by the day. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though, the Finals are not over by a long shot and anything is still possible when your team is led by LeBron James. I’m here to dip into the possible outcomes of the Heats future, and the impact the result of these Finals may very well have on it.

Let’s begin with the supporting cast of the Miami Heat and LeBron James. It’s no secret that the heat are not getting any younger and Dwayne Wades health is not getting any better. When you begin to look outside of the big three it becomes a blur. Shane Battier has already announced he will retire once the Finals conclude, and take on a role with ESPN. Ray Allen is in the final year of his 2 year contract with the Heat and turns 39 next month, it’s also doubtful to think he would return for another season. Rashard Lewis’ 2 year contract will also be up after the Finals Conclude. The Miami Heat besides the big three: James, Wade, and Chris Bosh who all have options to opt out of their contracts this off season, only have 4 players under guaranteed contracts for next season: Chris Anderson, Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton, and Udonis Haslem. Win or lose in the Finals the Heat will face major roster issues this summer.

Let’s dive into some scenarios…..  If the Heat prevail on to win the Finals, and defeat the San Antonio Spurs for the 2nd consecutive year….. This is the best case scenario for Miami Heat fans, as they will get to witness not only a three-peat but, the chances of the big three remaining in Miami will also greatly increase. However, even if the Miami Heat do not win the Finals this season there is no legitimate reason to believe LeBron will fold his cards ditch his best friend in Dwayne Wade and scurry back to a city such as Cleveland, or any other for that matter. BUT, if the Heat do lose, the chances of a departure only can increase. With LeBron being as ring hungry as he is anything can unfold, and he will most definitely keep all doors open. Talent wise it’s hard not to believe that Cleveland is the best fit……

An awfully intriguing story that could potentially develop is if both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony opt into their contracts for the 2014-2015 season with their current teams the Knicks and Heat. The Knicks are projected to have enough cap space to land two max free agents in summer 2015. Meaning LeBron may take his talents to New York, and team up with long time friend Carmelo Anthony for the 2015-16 season, or depending on if possibly Chris Bosh, more likely than Dwayne Wade were to exit Miami, Carmelo could join forces in South Beach and become a member of the Heat in 2015-16 or possibly even sooner. A huge reason to be a non believer in a Lebron James return to Cleveland, can be attributed to his rocky relationship with Cavalier owner Dan Gilbert, and the statements he made after LeBrons initial decision to take his talents elsewhere. Although it is particularly believable that LeBron James does have plans to return to Cleveland before the end of his career, and bring them that ring he once promised, I think it is ultimately way more possible LBJ will join forces with Carmelo in Miami or New York long before a return to Cleveland. If I were a Cleveland Cavalier fan I would not count on a LeBron return until the relationship with Gilbert has been mended.

What Will The Clevland Cavaliers Do With #1 Pick….

For the 3rd time in 4 years with the number #1 pick in the NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers will soon be on the clock. As of right now Cleveland has to be keeping all options open with the fact that they have still not found a new coach to replace Mike Brown. There are a lot of different directions the Cavs can choose to go in and plenty of scenarios that they have the chance to be apart of. The Cavaliers have an abundance of young talent that they hold the ability to brew up a deal for a veteran who can make an immediate impact if they really have the urge to start winning and become a playoff contender right away. However, with news coming out recently that Forward Kevin Love has no interest in playing for a team like Cleveland its quite uncertain that the Cavs will be able to find a willing trade partner to give them exactly what they desire. With the #1 pick, it is also very uncertain in which way Cleveland will lean in. They could take any one of these three players, Andrew Wiggins (Kansas), Joel Embiid (Kansas), Jabari Parker (Duke). It’s really quite a toss up.

With Andrew Wiggins, you get a very lengthy 6’8 197 lbs. Wing Forward who produces a 7’0 wingspan. Strengths: Wiggins is no doubt an elite athlete who can make an impact on both ends of the floor, with incredible quickness, explosiveness, and body body control. Off his feet, he has the ability to cover an immense amount of ground with ridiculously long strides. Wiggins has the ability to get from the 3 point line to the rim in just one dribble, which makes him a serious threat in transition opportunities.

Concerns: about Wiggins consist of him needing to mature and build his very lengthy frame. Teams are unsure if Wiggins produces the motor and aggressiveness to tap his full potential, at times, some would call Wiggins soft with the way he shy’s away from contact around the basket. To Wiggins credit, he has just turned 19 years old, and will have plenty of time to develop what some may consider the best talent in this draft.

Next we shift to Wiggins teammate at Kansas Joel Embiid. At 7’0 240 pounds with a 7’5 wingspan there’s not much question who the best big man in the 2014 draft is. Let’s begin with the Strengths: A 7 footer with a fierce ceiling to dominate at the next level. Even though Embiid did not pickup basketball until 2011 there’s no doubt that he has the ability and talent to control the post and make his presence felt at both ends of the floor. For a seven footer Embiid brings to the table exceptional body control and lateral movement. He is a very gifted rebounder and shot blocker also, with the ability to spread the floor and shoot the mid range jumper and even at times step back and take the 3.

Along with the positives will most certainly always come the negatives and  Concerns: The biggest question swirling around not just Embiid, but any 7 footer now a days is can they stay healthy? Embiid can be very slow going up vertically with the ball in the post at times and spends quite some time gathering his feet before jumping. He will most certainly like teammate Wiggins need to build his frame and get stronger, but otherwise most of Embiids weaknesses can be fixed with practice, coaching, and NBA game experience.

Last but certainly not least, Forward Jabari Parker, of Duke. Strengths: In what many scouts and even myself project is the most NBA ready player and best scorer in his class. Parker comes in at 6’8 241 lbs. Parker has the instincts to take over any game at any given point. He produces a very strong frame for a forward. He has the ability to score with the best of them, and create his own shot off the dribble. With his size and high release point he can generate points from just about anywhere on the floor with the ability to also fade away and create separation. Depending on the flow of the game Jabari also has shown signs that he can post up and play with his back to the basket. Parker has a very high basketball IQ, and knows how to make the extra pass when necessary. Parker may very well be the player with the best killer instincts and will to win out of anybody in this draft class.

Concerns: The biggest question concerning Parker is does he have a quick enough first step to play the 3 at the next level or will his thick frame force him to be a 4. Another huge concern is will Parker be able to consistently be able to play big minutes night in, and night out without getting fatigued. Will Parker be able to translate his killer instincts on the offensive end of the floor to the defensive end and become a better defender…? Much of Parkers upside has still yet to be determined.

Best Case Scenario For Cleveland: With news coming out that the Philadelphia 76ers are as high on Andrew Wiggins as they are and willing to move up to #1 to get him, and the Wiggins camp saying they prefer the 76ers. One would think the Cavaliers would take advantage of this and send the #1 pick to Philly in exchange for the #3 and #10 picks. If that were to be the case either Embiid or Parker, who seem would be better fits for Cleveland rather than Wiggins anyways, would still remain on the board at #3 if not both. Therefore, the Cavaliers can have their option of the two and pick up the #10 pick in the process in which they could then use to package a deal consisting of Dion Waiters and Tristian Thompson for a veteran big man who could make an immediate impact. Players to possibly keep in mind could be: Al Horford, Lamarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love (Although not likely as stated earlier), even Joakim Noah.

All in all, if the Cavs want to take a step in the right direction and become a contender it is very crucial that they start unloading and sacrificing some young talent (since they have so much) for some veterans that can help make them that contender right now. This Cavalier team has proven that at this point it needs leadership over all else. Come draft day it will be pretty surprising if the Cleveland Cavaliers do NOT end up trading the #1 overall selection.

Have The Cleveland Indians Finally Turned The Corner?

As the midway mark of the 2014 season rapidly approaches the time where teams figure out whether they are contenders or pretenders will be soon upon us. The Cleveland Indians are one of those teams trying to figure out their true identity as the season unfolds. After a not so hot start to the season the Indians Since May 1st are tied for the 4th best record in baseball at 21-14. The Tribe are currently 3 games back of AL Central leading Detroit, and 1.5 games back of a wildcard spot. A big reason for the Indians turnaround can be contributed to Micheal Brantley, better known as “Dr.Smooth” in Cleveland. Brantley is leading the Tribe in just about every offensive category, including, Home Runs, RBIs, Hits, On base percentage, and even runs scored. Lonnie Chisenhall is another Indian who has made a huge impact offensively. Chisenhall is currently leading the league with his .365 BA. Utility man Mike Aviles has also proved to be awfully clutch with some very timely hitting to assist the Indians in crucial moments, which has earned him more playing time and many more opportunities at the plate on an everyday basis.

Pitching wise the Indians have proved to only get stronger as the season has gone along, led by Righty Corey Kluber who since a 1-2 start and a 5.40 ERA, is now 6-3 with a 3.23 ERA, and currently 3rd in all of baseball with 99 strikeouts, Justin Masterson considered by many as the Indians ace is currently 11th in the league with 74 punch outs. Bullpen wise since making the change from John Axford to Cody Allen in the closers role Allen is 6/7 in save opportunities.

There are still many questions left to be answered for the Cleveland Indians. When Nick Swisher returns from the DL can they get the consistent production they’ve been waiting for since he inked that 4yr/56mill contract in January of 2013? Can and will highly touted prospect Danny Salazar return to the rotation this year and keep the ball in the strike zone, and make an impact on another magical run to the postseason? Will Cody Allen be able to sustain his spot as the Indians Closer? Will the Indians be buyers or sellers come the trade deadline? It is still obvious that if the Tribe want to compete with the likes of Detroit in their own division, and teams like Oakland and Toronto outside of their division they MUST add an offensive weapon with power to the middle of their lineup. But, for now, the Cleveland Indians are moving in the right direction, and have proved over the last month+ that the magic from last season’s playoff run is still lingering at Progressive field.

NBA Western Conference Finals Preview & Prediction

 Wow…. Well, how about these NBA playoffs so far? As the NBA Finals are quickly approaching only four teams remain on the quest to crown themselves NBA Champions. I’m here to give my views and predictions on the intriguing Western Conference Final between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.
In this matchup we’ve got the young and flashy Vs. the fundamental veterans. Let’s begin with how these teams got to this point. In the first round OKC had to battle against the physical Memphis Grizzlies where they had to overcome a 3-2 series deficit and a game 7 suspension to perhaps the Grizzlies best player Zach Randolph in order to move on to the next round. In the next round the Thunder met the Los Angeles Clippers. This series boiled down to some very controversial officiating at the end of game 5 that led Clippers coach Doc Rivers very distraught in feeling that the Officials had cost the team their season. The Thunder eventually cruised to a game 6 win and won the series 4-2. The spurs opened up their playoff run against the Dallas Mavericks who fought the Spurs all the way to a Game 7 where they were eventually blown out. The Spurs took the momentum of that game 7 blow out and carried it into their next Series against the Portland Trail Blazers, and easily handled the young Blazers squad in 5 games in which all four of the Spurs wins came by 15 or more points. So on to the main event we go!

The Thunder Will Win The Series IF:With the news of the Thunder losing Serge Ibaka for the remainder of the postseason it is a HUGE blow to the Thunder. Ibaka is the teams 3rd scoring option and arguably the teams most physical player and best rebounder. The good news for the Thunder is they do have a lot of depth in the front court with Nick Collison and Steven Adams that they should be able to plug-in and get some good production from. But at the end of the day we all know how the Thunder are really going to win this series, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Westbrook will need to outplay opposing Point Guard Tony Parker in what Is viewed is the biggest determining factor of this series. The Thunder will also need to get some solid minutes from reserve Forward Caron Butler. They will need to limit the pick and pop game that the Spurs do as effective as just about any team in the league, the thunder can not allow Tony Parker to penetrate the lane for easy buckets. Another thing the Thunder must do if they want to win this series is guarding the perimeter and not allow sharpshooters and 3 point veterans Marco Belinelli and Manu Ginobili uncontested 3s, they will have to do all they can to limit the great bench scoring of the Spurs. If the Thunder can do these things effectively, they will indeed be heading back to the NBA Finals.

The Spurs Will Win The Series IF: First and foremost Kevin Durant is going to get his, but the Spurs have to do the best they can to let someone else outside of Durant and Westbrook beat them, when it comes to game planning in the NBA there is few better than Gregg Poppovic himself. The Spurs will need to get physical early and often in this series and make Durant and Westbrook work hard for every single basket. The Spurs must shoot well from behind the arc and dominate that category. Much like their finals run last year Kawhi Leonard must shine on both ends of the floor. Danny Green must play a big part and make the most of his minutes. Manu Ginobilli will need to be consistent and shake any lingering rust off. We already know what to expect from long time great Tim Duncan, and of course, once again the determining factor in this series, Tony Parker will have to outduel Russel Westbrook. If the Spurs can execute how they are known to execute than they will advance to the NBA Finals for the 2nd straight year.

Final Prediction: Man oh man this is going to be a great series. NBA fans are truly in for a treat with this one. This series can so easily go either way it’s truly unpredictable. Let’s not forget here that in the regular the Thunder were 4-0 against the Spurs, unfortunately for the Thunder that means nothing now. When it’s all said and done the injury to Serge Ibaka, who was a big force in sweeping the Spurs in the regular season, is going to cause the Thunder just enough trouble to send them packing. This series has 7 games written all over it, The Spurs will take advantage of having home court and win this series in 7 games over the Oklahoma City Thunder and will make their 2nd straight NBA Finals appearance. Spurs in 7

Why Richard Sherman Is NOT The Best Corner In NFL

So…. It’s pretty obvious by now that CB Richard Sherman thinks he is the “BEST CB” in the NFL. Well is he? I don’t think so….. In 2013 Sherman was a part of arguably the very best defense in all the NFL including some of the very best defensive backs the league has to offer including, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Walter Thurmond. So wouldn’t it be pretty safe to say that Sherman mightily benefited from playing alongside so much talent?
Why don’t we ask T.Y Hilton if Sherman is indeed the best corner in the league? Hilton who burned the self proclaimed “Best Corner In The NFL” for 5 receptions , 140 yards and 2 tds in a Week 5 34-28 victory over the Seahawks.
In most cases last season, Sherman was not even covering teams #1 receivers. When you study the game logs who was the best receiver Sherman even had to check all year? Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald? No Julio Jones, or Dez Bryant, or A.J Green, or Brandon Marshall, or Calvin Johnson, etc… and yet he wants to proclaim himself the very best!?
Well lets look at another elite corner who faced much more fierce competition and covered opposite teams #1 week in and week out. Joe Haden. What did the best receiver in the game Calvin Johnson do against Joe Haden? 3 Receptions for 25 yards… How about Brandon Marshall? 5 Catches on 12 targets for 78 yards. How about A.J Green? In 2 games against the Browns in 2013 Green had a combined 9 Catches for 58 yards and NO tds…. In the 2nd game he had a lousy 2 catches for 7 yards!!
My point here is if Richard Sherman wants to proclaim himself the “Best Corner” in the NFL he better do more than just run his mouth in post game interviews and through Twitter. He  needs to prove it against the best before he will ever get the title of being “The Best”, and that is something that he has not yet done. Sherman can not seriously believe shutting down “Sorry ass receivers like Crabtree” gives him the credit to proclaim himself “The Best”. If Sherman were smart he would get on the phone right now with Joe Haden and ask him what the word humble means…..

Why Mark Jackson Would Be Perfect Fit For The Cleveland Cavaliers

Another off-season and yet another coach search begins for the Cleveland Cavaliers. I’m here to tell you why former Golden State coach Mark Jackson would be the perfect hire for Cleveland. In three seasons with the Warriors Jackson compiled a 121-109 record, including leading the Warriors to two consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since the Warriors made the playoffs consecutively in the 90′-91′ and 92′-93′ seasons. Jackson turned around a very dismal Golden State franchise and brought a winning formula to the city.

 Since LeBron left, Cleveland has struggled to pick up the pieces. Cleveland rehired coach Mike Brown after the firing of former coach Byron Scott, and well that did not last very long. Brown was fired this week by the Cavaliers for the 2nd time in the span of four seasons. Led by All Star MVP Kyrie Irving there is a lot of talent on the Cavaliers roster. However, it does not seem this squad has come anywhere near to reaching their full potential. A big cause for the struggles can be related to the relationship between Irving and guard Dion Waiters who seem to have a lot of tension between one another. If the Cavs choose to bring in Mark Jackson there is a great chance that tension could disappear. There is no question that the Cleveland Cavaliers lack character and a true identity. Jackson can teach this team more than how to just execute on the basketball court, Jackson can teach this team the discipline and character that it takes to be a winner in this league. Mark Jackson is the type of guy that when he walks in the room you’re anxious to listen, someone who is sure to grab everyone’s attention. We’ve all seen the impact he has had on developing Steph Curry & Klay Thompsons game by now, and there is no reason to believe he can’t make the same impact with Irving & Waiters. However, if Mark Jackson is not the hire two other names to keep in mind are Alvin Gentry, and George Karl. Reports have also been swirling around about the Cavs showing serious interest in University of Kentucky coach John Calipari, who may be the most vocal coach of all candidates. Calipari has also made it very known that he would love the opportunity to coach soon to be free agent LeBron James…..