I know it means a lot to Nance that he's coming back home to play for his hometown team, and the franchise for which is father played. That must be a wonderful feeling. But it is really special for long-time Cavs fans too. His dad was not only a great player, but a really great, nice man, and incredibly easy to root for.
And that goes to a larger point about what it means to be a sports fan. It is not just about winning a championship in a given year. It also is about just watching the sport played at a high level, by people who love the game, and for whom each of us can root as fans. Each game, each win, is a chance to cheer.
I think the Cavs had lost that almost completely this year. Games were often painful to watch, and the season was filled with dread because we all suspected that we just might not be good enough this year.
But I think adding young guys like Nance and all the rest, and getting rid of the bad attitudes, changed that overnight for many of us. I'm sure a lot more of us will be watching games, amd having fun doing so, even though this team probably still isn't good enough this year. These trades should bring a lot of the joy of watching basketball, including some youthful optimism and hope, back to the fans.
So regardless of how this all turns out, I sure as hell thank Koby and Dan for giving us that again.
