"Things Like That Don't Happen Anymore In Cleveland"

[NarlCavs]

There's optimism, there's pessimism and then there's realism. I do believe that somehow someway the Cavs will become a championship contender again but I'm also realistic that's a ways off and it's going to take some tough years of building and suffering through some long seasons to get to that point.

I think that fans feed off teams more than teams feed off fans in developing a positive optimistic attitude.

 

[GreasySpread36]

Um, seriously?

Um, yeah, seriously.

Why does he have to say ANYTHING about Cleveland sports' fortunes?

Because he felt like it?

Maybe he should have run it by you first?

 

[Chris]

Um, yeah, seriously.



Because he felt like it?

Maybe he should have run it by you first?

You're the guy who acted like there were only two possibilities to what he could have said, genius.

 

[DougHeil]

So we should say fantastical and false things just for the sake of being positive...

Yes.

 

[Wine and Gold]

"Cleveland, Browns held on for you today...No chance Carolina was hitting FG at end. Things like that don't happen anymore in Cleveland" - Dan Gilbert, 11/28/2010


When "The Fumble" happened, we felt bad for ourselves. Same thing happened when "The Drive" occurred. Ditto for "The Shot", "The Mesa", and "The Skinner". Then came "The Decision".

Some, myself included, felt that LeBron titled it that because he was staying, and that it would be symbolic in that things would finally go Cleveland's way. LeBron then took his talents to South Beach, leaving us once again without a championship contender.

There is a silver lining, though, and his name is Dan Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert is a breath of fresh air to this city. In a city that used to getting pummeled and disrespected nationally, creating a general attitude of "woe is me", he has refused to join in. When we were watching the Browns yesterday and the Panthers got in field goal range, we all thought the same thing - here we go again...only in Cleveland. Gilbert thought the opposite...and the opposite happened.

A negative, pessimistic attitude is contagious, even to our team's players. It's why the Cavaliers lost in Orlando. It's why the Indians lost to Boston in 2007 when they had the Sox beat. This city wants BADLY to win...but doesn't expect to win.

I know it's tough to change, and it won't happen overnight. But we all need to adopt Gilbert's attitude and way of thinking. To become a championship team, a championship city, we must first truly believe we will do it. I don't mean going through the motions and holding "Believeland" signs...I mean really believing.

Let's focus on the positive with all of our teams.

The Indians have a ton of young talent, including Carlos Santana and Shin Soo Choo. They have a bunch of high upside arms in the minors that will start arriving in Cleveland this summer. They've also built a team good enough to win it before - things just didn't fall into place when they needed to (2007).

The Browns have finally found a quarterback that will lead this team for the next 10-15 years. They have a young running back that is playing as well as any other back in the league right now. They have two stud offensive linemen that will be here for the next 10 years. They've also found two top young DB's that will lead this defense for a long time. Most of all, they have a guy running the ship in Holmgren who knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl.

The Cavaliers have an owner who is passionate and wants nothing more than to be the guy who brings this city a title. They have assets (Draft Picks, TPE) and young talent (Hickson, Gibson), as well as some good veterans that can either help moving forward or bring even more assets to the team. They also have a coach who is a proven winner as both a player and coach.

I'm done with negative and pessimistic thinking. All three of our professional sports teams have things about them that give us hope and optimism going forward. One of them will win a world championship for Cleveland within the next five years...I guarantee it.

We're about to be a part of the Cleveland renaissance, both in terms of sports and the city in general. No more curses, no more bad luck.

Things like that don't happen anymore in Cleveland.

I've been a Cleveland sports fan my entire life, almost. I've described how my history in Cleveland sports came to be by listening to games on WWWE, and Pete Franklin's Sportsline growing up.
Listening through static to try and decipher what Joe Tait was describing "across my radio dial" during the Miracle at Richfield.

I've noticed one big difference between Cleveland Browns fans, and as an example Pittsburgh Steeler fans. Steeler fans have unbridled optimism at all times, whereas Browns fans will go into defeatist mode at the slightest sign of something negative happening on the field.

And you literally sense this mindset change in the stands at games ...when you actually feel a pall go over the entire venue.

This one trait is a part of the Cleveland sports experience that is unique, and I think this jinx is literally something the Cleveland FAN has stricken their teams with.

When that tide eventually turns it will turn in a big way, and I think when that first team cashes in, the floodgates will open. Much like they did in Pittsburgh in the early 70's when the Pirates and Steelers won championships.

 

[Wine and Gold]

There's optimism, there's pessimism and then there's realism. I do believe that somehow someway the Cavs will become a championship contender again but I'm also realistic that's a ways off and it's going to take some tough years of building and suffering through some long seasons to get to that point.

I think that fans feed off teams more than teams feed off fans in developing a positive optimistic attitude.

What it's going to take is a good coaching staff, which we have. Strong ownership, check. A strong front office that makes excellent decisions, which I believe we have in place.
And the time to achieve. With that, we can achieve everything we dream to achieve.

 

[Noonan]

What it's going to take is a good coaching staff, which we have. Strong ownership, check. A strong front office that makes excellent decisions, which I believe we have in place.
And the time to achieve. With that, we can achieve everything we dream to achieve.

Speaking of the front office, what's your take on how the Cavs should proceed? Are you in favor of blowing the roster up or should we make a play for a guy like Iggy?

 

[Wine and Gold]

Speaking of the front office, what's your take on how the Cavs should proceed? Are you in favor of blowing the roster up or should we make a play for a guy like Iggy?

I don't think anyone, or any option is off the table right now. We're in the business of maximizing the returns on every asset we've got, to get better. That will mean looking into trade alternatives, potential free agent signings, loading up on draft picks ...

For the immediate future it's getting the most out of the trade exemption money, and Jamison that we possibly can, so that we can turn them into future strong assets for when we look to contend.

In Jamison we're likely talking a future draft pick, in my opinion.

I have no inside info at all on the Cavs operation, these are just my thoughts now.

 

[Frank Stallone]

I've been a Cleveland sports fan my entire life, almost. I've described how my history in Cleveland sports came to be by listening to games on WWWE, and Pete Franklin's Sportsline growing up.
Listening through static to try and decipher what Joe Tait was describing "across my radio dial" during the Miracle at Richfield.

I've noticed one big difference between Cleveland Browns fans, and as an example Pittsburgh Steeler fans. Steeler fans have unbridled optimism at all times, whereas Browns fans will go into defeatist mode at the slightest sign of something negative happening on the field.

And you literally sense this mindset change in the stands at games ...when you actually feel a pall go over the entire venue.

This one trait is a part of the Cleveland sports experience that is unique, and I think this jinx is literally something the Cleveland FAN has stricken their teams with.

When that tide eventually turns it will turn in a big way, and I think when that first team cashes in, the floodgates will open. Much like they did in Pittsburgh in the early 70's when the Pirates and Steelers won championships.

I agree with that 100%. That is the best way to put it IMO. If the Browns win it all, the Cavaliers and Indians would be under a lot of pressure. The Cavaliers are one thing because Dan Gilbert will do whatever it takes. However, the Indians would be forced to change the whole "wait for the future, IT IS THE FUTURE, failure, dump every, restart cycle" scenario. It would no longer be acceptable to lose and just go "oh well, it was the curse!"

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

I've been a Cleveland sports fan my entire life, almost. I've described how my history in Cleveland sports came to be by listening to games on WWWE, and Pete Franklin's Sportsline growing up.
Listening through static to try and decipher what Joe Tait was describing "across my radio dial" during the Miracle at Richfield.

I've noticed one big difference between Cleveland Browns fans, and as an example Pittsburgh Steeler fans. Steeler fans have unbridled optimism at all times, whereas Browns fans will go into defeatist mode at the slightest sign of something negative happening on the field.

And you literally sense this mindset change in the stands at games ...when you actually feel a pall go over the entire venue.

This one trait is a part of the Cleveland sports experience that is unique, and I think this jinx is literally something the Cleveland FAN has stricken their teams with.

When that tide eventually turns it will turn in a big way, and I think when that first team cashes in, the floodgates will open. Much like they did in Pittsburgh in the early 70's when the Pirates and Steelers won championships.

I agree with you on certain points W&G, but one big difference between the Browns and Steelers is that they have a history of success. The Browns have a history of failing at the most inopportune moments. Pretty much the same thing can be said about all Cleveland sports. I get what you're saying about the pall falling over the stadium, because I have definitely experienced that a few times. I think it's almost a defense mechanism that Cleveland fans have. Basically a "here it comes" attitude to cut down the inevitable disappointment. Does that have an outcome on the game though? I sincerely doubt that. I don't think the fans are the people who boot a ground ball in the bottom of the ninth, or blow a save, or miss a shot, or drop a pass.

 

[abraxas]

I don't think anyone, or any option is off the table right now. We're in the business of maximizing the returns on every asset we've got, to get better. That will mean looking into trade alternatives, potential free agent signings, loading up on draft picks ...

For the immediate future it's getting the most out of the trade exemption money, and Jamison that we possibly can, so that we can turn them into future strong assets for when we look to contend.

In Jamison we're likely talking a future draft pick, in my opinion.

I have no inside info at all on the Cavs operation, these are just my thoughts now.

Great to have you back W&G and hope your wife has a healthy recovery. I wonder if you have an opinion on this debate that has persisted since July 8 - being the tanking/tearing-down vs retooling. Many folks on here are advocating clearing house to get into the top 3 but some, myself included, believe that just because you don't get a top 3 pick doesn't mean you become the Pacers or (pre-Wall) Wizards, spending years in mediocrity. I still believe we have good core pieces to build around, good trading assets and will have cap space for MLE-type players -- most importantly, I believe that the draft is too much of an unsure science to put all our eggs in that basket.

Any thoughts on this running debate?

 

[pl4tinum]

Just saw Lebron and Dora on a commercial together while my daughter watches TV and it made me want to puke

i have seen this ad and i considered writing to nick jr to tell them they will lose an entire city of viewers if they dont remove that commercial

 

[NarlCavs]

What it's going to take is a good coaching staff, which we have. Strong ownership, check. A strong front office that makes excellent decisions, which I believe we have in place.
And the time to achieve. With that, we can achieve everything we dream to achieve.

Completely agree. That's why I have optimism for the future. Also willing to go through some tough rebuilding years to get back to the point we want. Like you I also wished Byron Scott could have been here the last couple of years. I believe it would have made a huge difference in ultimate success and in getting our former SF to play and act the way he needs to.
I'm taking more of a long term view than a short term one. I do wonder if that's the feeling of the Cavs organization and especially Dan Gilbert. There are signs that is the mindset since the Cavs passed on chances to add some short term talent that would have left them with bad long term contracts and less flexibility. We've also added multiple draft picks and avoided those bad contracts.

 

[Wine and Gold]

Great to have you back W&G and hope your wife has a healthy recovery. I wonder if you have an opinion on this debate that has persisted since July 8 - being the tanking/tearing-down vs retooling. Many folks on here are advocating clearing house to get into the top 3 but some, myself included, believe that just because you don't get a top 3 pick doesn't mean you become the Pacers or (pre-Wall) Wizards, spending years in mediocrity. I still believe we have good core pieces to build around, good trading assets and will have cap space for MLE-type players -- most importantly, I believe that the draft is too much of an unsure science to put all our eggs in that basket.

Any thoughts on this running debate?

I don't think it's imperative to hit bottom in order to rise to the top. It's quicker to land a Lebron and ascend upward, but, the most key ingredient is coaching ...from there, you bring in talent that can be developed and fit into a winning system. Drafting smart, selecting the right free agents, and selective trades ...we aren't that far away right now, in all honesty. With what we have to work with in trade assets, and money ...we can turn this thing around fairly quickly.

 

[MoFlo]

To much fluff and not enough substance..

Last time I checked, The Browns are .364 in baseball that would be a 100+ losing season.. Basketball it would be 29 - 53 record AND they almost lost to the worst team in football and should have..

Indians have absolutely zero starting pitching and their defense is below average..

Cavs ,well they are also under .500 . Gilbert may be willing to spend money until he's green in the face but I don't see any big time talent coming here via FA

Haven't checked the rest of the thread yet, so it may have been said, but:

1.) Funny how you failed to mention that the Browns also DOMINATED 2 of the best teams in the NFL before almost losing to the worst in the NFL..

2.) Zero starting pitching is a ridiculous comment, not even going to go there.

3.) The Cavs just lost their superstar & Free Agency isn't the only way to get another one..