“It’s Our Time”

Growing up in Cleveland as a child I had a hard time getting into Cleveland sports. Not because of the fans, they are the best our nation has to offer, sticking with their beloved Brownies and Cavs through the thick and the thin. Reason I had a tough time getting into Cleveland sports? Let’s face it Clevelanders, until recently, Cleveland wasn’ t known for it’s amazing sports teams. Actually we were somewhat more notorious for the lack of being able to grab championship gold, whether being the Cavs of today or the Indians in the mid to late 90′s, Cleveland just doesn’t seem to have what it takes to get the job done. Shifting back to the fans (who I know are going to demand my head on a platter after reading this), I know Cleveland has the best fans around. What else can you say about a teams fans that support their team whether they are looking at the playoffs or wrapping up their 2 W season, these fans know how to back their team NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

When Art Modell took the then-Browns and turned them into the Baltimore Ravens fans were pissed. Not pissed because Baltimore stole their championship winning team, but because Art was taking THEIR team, which in Cleveland is an offense many would like to be seen punishable with death. That’s the thing that makes Cleveland different than pretty much any other major city is that you don’t tend to look around and see many front-runner fans. Chances are that the drunken guy in his mid 30′s who painted himself half orange and half brown at the game was more than likely just as passionate about his brownies today as he was when he was younger. In recent memory I can only think of a couple times in the past 20 years that brought on the front-runners. Back in the mid-90′s when the Indians were making the play-offs possible again, and the recent hike in popularity of the so-close-to-a-championship-it-seriously-hurts-Cavs. The Cavs have re-ignited not only tourism in Cleveland but also numbers for the modern day front-runner fan. It’s hard not to get excited for the Cavs, whether your excited for Shaq coming to Cleveland or pumped for the new LeBron jersey, Cleveland is finally getting the mainstream noticing our city for basketball, a hard task to manage. I remember back when Mark Price was all the rage Cleveland had when it comes to basketball, now we have arguably the leagues greatest MVP, LeBron James and the leagues largest overall player, Shaq. Pretty much a modern day dream team in theirselves, in short it’s easy to see why Cleveland is finally getting the ball rolling (pardon my bad pun).

Will 2010 finally be the year that the Cavs (and Cleveland for that matter) get the ball rolling? It’s obvious that there’s no time like the present to be a Cavs fan, but what about the Indians? or The Browns? I’d like to hear more from you, the reader, e-mails can be sent to me at wookmike@gmail.com .  Is Cleveland finally ready for the bigtimes? Think I’m right/wrong about Cleveland”s surge of front-runner fans? Does Shaq have what it takes to help launch LeBron and team to their first NBA Championship? Sound off and let me hear what you got to say, there’s no time like the present.

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