Visiting the Q (from a land down under)

[Simmy]

Just wanted to share a page from the scrapbook my partner put together as well which highlights the photos from our trip in an extensive album:

I could hardly contain my excitement when she sent this to me! She found all these 3D Cavs-based scrapbooking paraphernalia on eBay and put those together with photos, our tickets and some cutouts from the in-game magazine. Pretty damn cool!

 

[Mr. Orange]

Looks good @CavsSimmy. I'm actually in oz now doing some backpacking. The people all know Drew Carey but aren't sure about LeBron and sure as hell don't know Delly. They know Jordan too.

These Tim Tams are legit...

 

[Cratylus]

Just got back into this post and noticed that Simmy had the chance to say, "Hello" to a few of the Cavs people (Allie, Ahmaad, et. al.) but didn't.

For your NEXT TRIP to Cleveland, remember this little tidbit... the people who work the media/public relations positions for the Cavs are friendly, down-to-earth people. Fred, AC, Allie, Ahmaad... don't let the fact that they are in the public eye intimidate you. Having personally met three of the four (and having heard nothing but good things about the fourth) I can tell you with absolute certainty that they are all genuinely GREAT human beings.

 

[gourimoko]

Just got back into this post and noticed that Simmy had the chance to say, "Hello" to a few of the Cavs people (Allie, Ahmaad, et. al.) but didn't.

For your NEXT TRIP to Cleveland, remember this little tidbit... the people who work the media/public relations positions for the Cavs are friendly, down-to-earth people. Fred, AC, Allie, Ahmaad... don't let the fact that they are in the public eye intimidate you. Having personally met three of the four (and having heard nothing but good things about the fourth) I can tell you with absolute certainty that they are all genuinely GREAT human beings.

Austin Carr is easily the one of the coolest people I've ever met. I talked with the guy, at length, while we waited on orders (Catfish dinner).

Guy was incredibly nice, and really loves the fans and the city.

You couldn't ask for a better Mr. Cavalier than Austin Carr.

p.s.
Big Z is super nice too... LeBron is an asshole though, at least, he used to be.

 

[Taiter]

Yep, AC is deservedly Mr. Cavalier... I met him years ago at a Miracle in Richfield event. All of the old players were polite - Campy, Bingo - but AC was just so friendly and classy.

I sort of met Fred. I was at an Indians game in the 1970s and he told me to 'get out of the way, kid' as he was going down to the field.

 

[Simmy]

Looks good @CavsSimmy. I'm actually in oz now doing some backpacking. The people all know Drew Carey but aren't sure about LeBron and sure as hell don't know Delly. They know Jordan too.

These Tim Tams are legit...

Thanks @Orange Julius. Oh really? Where abouts in Oz are you? Yeah, it mostly depends who you ask. Most people over the age of 30 (unless they're basketball fans) associate Jordan with basketball and don't know much else. I could just imagine how vague they'd be about Cleveland - didn't know so many people watched The Drew Carey Show though. I'd have figured they wanted know that he was a Clevelander either!

And Tim Tams are the greatest biscuits on the face of the planet. Hands down. Couldn't find anything that was on par in the States - bring some back with you!

Just got back into this post and noticed that Simmy had the chance to say, "Hello" to a few of the Cavs people (Allie, Ahmaad, et. al.) but didn't.

For your NEXT TRIP to Cleveland, remember this little tidbit... the people who work the media/public relations positions for the Cavs are friendly, down-to-earth people. Fred, AC, Allie, Ahmaad... don't let the fact that they are in the public eye intimidate you. Having personally met three of the four (and having heard nothing but good things about the fourth) I can tell you with absolute certainty that they are all genuinely GREAT human beings.

Thanks for the info @Cratylus. I guess a part of me kind of 'chickened out'! Was so overwhelmed by just being there that it was difficult to go ahead and say hello to some of the media folk as well. But I'll certainly do so next time out. Seems at least Ahmaad was aware that there was "a Cavs fan from Australia at the game" - if I had known so, I probably would've garnered the balls for an ol' fashioned "g'day!”.

LeBron is an asshole though, at least, he used to be.

Funny you mentioned this, Gouri. A little anecdote I forgot to mention:

On the way to Cleveland, I sat next to the son of Dave Close, the 500+ win high school coach at Stow (didn't know any of this - would love some more insight on those who know him/his record). He re-told a story that took us back to pre-season, where LeBron, Kyrie, Kevin and the guys were at a bar/club (I can't remember which?). Apparently LeBron was going berserk, racking up a ridiculously expensive bar tab. Upon exiting the venue, LeBron refused to pay the bill, claiming that his presence and the fact that he was back in Cleveland would bring more money to the city and would balance out his uncontrollable spending behavoir. Apparently Kevin Love was forced to pick up the cheque - something he wasn't too pleased with.

He also mention that in his first stint, LeBron was a pompous asshole - he said that he used to play against him in Akron and was one of the most obnoxious and unlikable people he and his peers had ever met. And while he wants nothing more than for LeBron the player to thrive in Cleveland, he didn't necessarily feel the same about LeBron the person.

But I'm sure others have more insight into this as well..

 

[Mr. Orange]

Thanks @Orange Julius. Oh really? Where abouts in Oz are you? Yeah, it mostly depends who you ask. Most people over the age of 30 (unless they're basketball fans) associate Jordan with basketball and don't know much else. I could just imagine how vague they'd be about Cleveland - didn't know so many people watched The Drew Carey Show though. I'd have figured they wanted know that he was a Clevelander either!

And Tim Tams are the greatest biscuits on the face of the planet. Hands down. Couldn't find anything that was on par in the States - bring some back with you!



Thanks for the info @Cratylus. I guess a part of me kind of 'chickened out'! Was so overwhelmed by just being there that it was difficult to go ahead and say hello to some of the media folk as well. But I'll certainly do so next time out. Seems at least Ahmaad was aware that there was "a Cavs fan from Australia at the game" - if I had known so, I probably would've garnered the balls for an ol' fashioned "g'day!”.




Funny you mentioned this, Gouri. A little anecdote I forgot to mention:

On the way to Cleveland, I sat next to the son of Dave Close, the 500+ win high school coach at Stow (didn't know any of this - would love some more insight on those who know him/his record). He re-told a story that took us back to pre-season, where LeBron, Kyrie, Kevin and the guys were at a bar/club (I can't remember which?). Apparently LeBron was going berserk, racking up a ridiculously expensive bar tab. Upon exiting the venue, LeBron refused to pay the bill, claiming that his presence and the fact that he was back in Cleveland would bring more money to the city and would balance out his uncontrollable spending behavoir. Apparently Kevin Love was forced to pick up the cheque - something he wasn't too pleased with.

He also mention that in his first stint, LeBron was a pompous asshole - he said that he used to play against him in Akron and was one of the most obnoxious and unlikable people he and his peers had ever met. And while he wants nothing more than for LeBron the player to thrive in Cleveland, he didn't necessarily feel the same about LeBron the person.

But I'm sure others have more insight into this as well..

Thanks @Orange Julius. Oh really? Where abouts in Oz are you? Yeah, it mostly depends who you ask. Most people over the age of 30 (unless they're basketball fans) associate Jordan with basketball and don't know much else. I could just imagine how vague they'd be about Cleveland - didn't know so many people watched The Drew Carey Show though. I'd have figured they wanted know that he was a Clevelander either!

And Tim Tams are the greatest biscuits on the face of the planet. Hands down. Couldn't find anything that was on par in the States - bring some back with you!



Thanks for the info @Cratylus. I guess a part of me kind of 'chickened out'! Was so overwhelmed by just being there that it was difficult to go ahead and say hello to some of the media folk as well. But I'll certainly do so next time out. Seems at least Ahmaad was aware that there was "a Cavs fan from Australia at the game" - if I had known so, I probably would've garnered the balls for an ol' fashioned "g'day!”.




Funny you mentioned this, Gouri. A little anecdote I forgot to mention:

On the way to Cleveland, I sat next to the son of Dave Close, the 500+ win high school coach at Stow (didn't know any of this - would love some more insight on those who know him/his record). He re-told a story that took us back to pre-season, where LeBron, Kyrie, Kevin and the guys were at a bar/club (I can't remember which?). Apparently LeBron was going berserk, racking up a ridiculously expensive bar tab. Upon exiting the venue, LeBron refused to pay the bill, claiming that his presence and the fact that he was back in Cleveland would bring more money to the city and would balance out his uncontrollable spending behavoir. Apparently Kevin Love was forced to pick up the cheque - something he wasn't too pleased with.

He also mention that in his first stint, LeBron was a pompous asshole - he said that he used to play against him in Akron and was one of the most obnoxious and unlikable people he and his peers had ever met. And while he wants nothing more than for LeBron the player to thrive in Cleveland, he didn't necessarily feel the same about LeBron the person.

But I'm sure others have more insight into this as well..

I'm in Cairns now and there is a damn cyclone. Hopefully it passes soon as I head back home Sunday. I've only been to Uluru/Alice and Sydney before coming to Cairns. I have only had just over two weeks here but it's been a blast. Queensland has been my favorite place. I wish I had more time. I was taught a Tim Tam Slam yesterday where you bite off each end and use like a straw to drink your coffee. Very nice country. I hope to be back someday.

I also think your LeBron story is hilarious. Who would do something like that??

 

[Cratylus]

Austin Carr is easily the one of the coolest people I've ever met. I talked with the guy, at length, while we waited on orders (Catfish dinner).

Guy was incredibly nice, and really loves the fans and the city.

You couldn't ask for a better Mr. Cavalier than Austin Carr.

In between my eighth and ninth grade years I went to one of those week-long Cavs summer basketball camps and he was one of the players who was there. Part of the way through the week while a bunch of us were casually shooting around during one of the break periods, A.C. approached me and said he was watching me shoot and noticed that I had small hands and asked if he could offer me some tips for better ball control/shooting form. I had already known that my small hands were somewhat of a hindrance to my game, but I didn't know what to do about it. Well, I was already in awe of A.C. before this, but for him to recognize that I had small hands and offer to show me how to overcome that weakness... well, I was like a kid in a candy store!

A.C. spent about 20 minutes working with me individually that day. Then on the last day of camp as we were all gathering our stuff to leave, he came up to me again, called me by my name, and told me to keep working on those little things and that I'd see a big difference in my game the next year. He was right too. Literally over the course of one summer I went from being an OK player to a very good player. I went from being a great defender, a good rebounder and an OK shooter to a very, very good all-around player. My ball-handling, which was a huge weakness, became much better, and my shooting became much more consistent, especially my free-throw shooting. I became a four year starter on my high school team, ended up being named 2nd Team All-Conference my senior year and I led our conference in free throw percentage my junior and senior years (my senior year I finished at better than 91%). Sounds trite, but I credit it to hard work, dedication, and practicing the things A.C. told me to work on.

Those 20 minutes had a huge impact on my life growing up. Someday I hope to meet him again to thank him personally for spending time with that young me so many years ago and tell him how much it meant to me.

 

[Simmy]

I'm in Cairns now and there is a damn cyclone. Hopefully it passes soon as I head back home Sunday. I've only been to Uluru/Alice and Sydney before coming to Cairns. I have only had just over two weeks here but it's been a blast. Queensland has been my favorite place. I wish I had more time. I was taught a Tim Tam Slam yesterday where you bite off each end and use like a straw to drink your coffee. Very nice country. I hope to be back someday.

I also think your LeBron story is hilarious. Who would do something like that??

Wow? Still? I thought it had passed? What were you doing in Alice Springs? That might be the most baron and meaningless place on the planet to be honest lol.

That's fantastic, glad to hear you've been enjoying it. If you had time I would've encouraged you to see Melbourne as well. I feel you'd like likely enjoy it down south here. But you're right, Queensland is a beautiful place.

Haha the old, classic Tim Tam Slam routine - an Australian favorite!

And hey, it isn't my LeBron story for all I know, I could have just been a victim of Chinese whispers. Admittedly though, it sounds totally within LBJ's narcissistic personality.

 

[Kypus]

Mmm...

 

[Mr. Orange]

Wow? Still? I thought it had passed? What were you doing in Alice Springs? That might be the most baron and meaningless place on the planet to be honest lol.

That's fantastic, glad to hear you've been enjoying it. If you had time I would've encouraged you to see Melbourne as well. I feel you'd like likely enjoy it down south here. But you're right, Queensland is a beautiful place.

Haha the old, classic Tim Tam Slam routine - an Australian favorite!

And hey, it isn't my LeBron story for all I know, I could have just been a victim of Chinese whispers. Admittedly though, it sounds totally within LBJ's narcissistic personality.

Yeah the damn cyclone is hitting tonight a bit north west of us...now I won't be able to see the reef. This gives me an excuse to come back.

I wouldn't go back to Alice. I had to kill some time before I went to Sydney. One day was enough there! I have heard great things about Melbourne from other travelers. I'll have to come back to see the reef, Melbourbe and Brisbane. It's a big place! Lots of fun.

 

[Maximus]

He re-told a story that took us back to pre-season, where LeBron, Kyrie, Kevin and the guys were at a bar/club (I can't remember which?). Apparently LeBron was going berserk, racking up a ridiculously expensive bar tab. Upon exiting the venue, LeBron refused to pay the bill, claiming that his presence and the fact that he was back in Cleveland would bring more money to the city and would balance out his uncontrollable spending behavoir. Apparently Kevin Love was forced to pick up the cheque - something he wasn't too pleased with.

I think you got fed a porky, Simmy.

During Lebron's first stint, his posse made some dumb mistakes, like not tipping well and acting like they were doing establishments favors by just being there. I witnessed it first hand and it was embarrassing because i knew a lot of the people who worked at, managed and owned the establishments. In Lebron's defense, i don't think he knew it was happening in many cases. Rich and Randy were always the one's responsible for picking up the tabs, etc.

That said, they've matured a lot. They are pretty smart cats and have learned from their many mistakes. Lebron hates bad PR. i can guarantee you this, that unless there was some incident or extraordinary set of circumstances - Lebron would NEVER refuse to pay a bill. That story sounds like a complete utter crock of shit. I'm also 99% certain that there hasn't been a single time in Cleveland where Lebron, Kevin and Kyrie have been in a bar/club together at the same time. Lebron is a homebody when he's home in Cleveland and avoids the bar/club scene like the plague. Those 3 just don't hang out together when they are in Cleveland. I could never see the 3 of them hanging at a club or bar here in town...not that they don't like each other, it's just not something i could ever see happening.

I can be one of Lebron's bigger critics and i could write a book of stories about him and his crew, but that one above sounds like pure fiction.

 

[Man Called X]

I think you got fed a porky, Simmy.

During Lebron's first stint, his posse made some dumb mistakes, like not tipping well and acting like they were doing establishments favors by just being there. I witnessed it first hand and it was embarrassing because i knew a lot of the people who worked at, managed and owned the establishments. In Lebron's defense, i don't think he knew it was happening in many cases. Rich and Randy were always the one's responsible for picking up the tabs, etc.

That said, they've matured a lot. They are pretty smart cats and have learned from their many mistakes. Lebron hates bad PR. i can guarantee you this, that unless there was some incident or extraordinary set of circumstances - Lebron would NEVER refuse to pay a bill. That story sounds like a complete utter crock of shit. I'm also 99% certain that there hasn't been a single time in Cleveland where Lebron, Kevin and Kyrie have been in a bar/club together at the same time. Lebron is a homebody when he's home in Cleveland and avoids the bar/club scene like the plague. Those 3 just don't hang out together when they are in Cleveland. I could never see the 3 of them hanging at a club or bar here in town...not that they don't like each other, it's just not something i could ever see happening.

I can be one of Lebron's bigger critics and i could write a book of stories about him and his crew, but that one above sounds like pure fiction.

Officially offering to ghost write it for you after LBJ is gone.

 

[Mr. Orange]

I think you got fed a porky, Simmy.

During Lebron's first stint, his posse made some dumb mistakes, like not tipping well and acting like they were doing establishments favors by just being there. I witnessed it first hand and it was embarrassing because i knew a lot of the people who worked at, managed and owned the establishments. In Lebron's defense, i don't think he knew it was happening in many cases. Rich and Randy were always the one's responsible for picking up the tabs, etc.

That said, they've matured a lot. They are pretty smart cats and have learned from their many mistakes. Lebron hates bad PR. i can guarantee you this, that unless there was some incident or extraordinary set of circumstances - Lebron would NEVER refuse to pay a bill. That story sounds like a complete utter crock of shit. I'm also 99% certain that there hasn't been a single time in Cleveland where Lebron, Kevin and Kyrie have been in a bar/club together at the same time. Lebron is a homebody when he's home in Cleveland and avoids the bar/club scene like the plague. Those 3 just don't hang out together when they are in Cleveland. I could never see the 3 of them hanging at a club or bar here in town...not that they don't like each other, it's just not something i could ever see happening.

I can be one of Lebron's bigger critics and i could write a book of stories about him and his crew, but that one above sounds like pure fiction.

Didn't LBJ used to hang out at Barley House? Why does he hate Cleveland so much? I bet he loves CBus which is a freaking cow town. Oh well, some of the NEO inferiority complex I guess.

 

[Simon]

Thanks @Orange Julius. Oh really? Where abouts in Oz are you? Yeah, it mostly depends who you ask. Most people over the age of 30 (unless they're basketball fans) associate Jordan with basketball and don't know much else. I could just imagine how vague they'd be about Cleveland - didn't know so many people watched The Drew Carey Show though. I'd have figured they wanted know that he was a Clevelander either!

And Tim Tams are the greatest biscuits on the face of the planet. Hands down. Couldn't find anything that was on par in the States - bring some back with you!



Thanks for the info @Cratylus. I guess a part of me kind of 'chickened out'! Was so overwhelmed by just being there that it was difficult to go ahead and say hello to some of the media folk as well. But I'll certainly do so next time out. Seems at least Ahmaad was aware that there was "a Cavs fan from Australia at the game" - if I had known so, I probably would've garnered the balls for an ol' fashioned "g'day!”.




Funny you mentioned this, Gouri. A little anecdote I forgot to mention:

On the way to Cleveland, I sat next to the son of Dave Close, the 500+ win high school coach at Stow (didn't know any of this - would love some more insight on those who know him/his record). He re-told a story that took us back to pre-season, where LeBron, Kyrie, Kevin and the guys were at a bar/club (I can't remember which?). Apparently LeBron was going berserk, racking up a ridiculously expensive bar tab. Upon exiting the venue, LeBron refused to pay the bill, claiming that his presence and the fact that he was back in Cleveland would bring more money to the city and would balance out his uncontrollable spending behavoir. Apparently Kevin Love was forced to pick up the cheque - something he wasn't too pleased with.

He also mention that in his first stint, LeBron was a pompous asshole - he said that he used to play against him in Akron and was one of the most obnoxious and unlikable people he and his peers had ever met. And while he wants nothing more than for LeBron the player to thrive in Cleveland, he didn't necessarily feel the same about LeBron the person.

But I'm sure others have more insight into this as well..

I went to Stow. Coach Close is a heck of a coach. His offensive style is meh, but his teams always played great defense. He's a pretty nice guy too.

He coached a kid that plays at Northeastern. No.4 David Walker who played really well against Notre Dame in the tourney.

Coach Close also has one of the top point guard prospects (I think he was ranked No.9 in the freshman class -- not sure) in Ohio on the team.