A little bit of that and a little bit of this ... (yes, that is a slight twist on how Hal Lebovitz opened up his weekly Sunday column)
Joe Cleveland finds himself completely apathetic when it comes to the plight of the Cavs. They've lost like 23 games or something and have only won once since LeBron and his Heat came to Cleveland and completely shamed them in front of a packed house rabid for some overdue payback.
The Cavs hugged their former teammate, joked with him, let him drive the lane at will and lethargically lost by 25 or something ridiculous. At that point, in my opinion, Cavs Basketball as we know it died.
It doesn't seem coincidental that the team has fallen into the toilet since that beating, very rarely playing competitively. Even when they have, they have continued to lose. Some on last-second shots (I was at one of those games, against the TimberWolves), others by as many as 55 points.
This team is coming dangerously close to setting the all-time NBA record for the longest losing streak. Players are routinely getting hurt and not playing, meaning a lot of rookies that no one has ever heard of (Manny Harris? Christian Eyenga? Samardo Samuels? Anyone?) The team is actively trying to trade away proven commodities such as Antawn Jamison or Mo Williams (unfortunately, their contracts are pretty ridiculous and large). Byron Scott looks like someone who didn't think he was signing up for this back in June, when he took the coaching job.
Of course, at the time Scott got the job, LeBron James was still a Cavalier. Two weeks later, he wasn't.
To be honest, I thought the Cavs would be more competitive than this. I thought they would win enough games to sneak into the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed. I thought LeBron's supporting cast, guided by a proven head coach like Scott, would be good enough. Their 7-9 start to the season kind of reaffirmed that optimism, too.
Now, this team is on the fast track to a high NBA Draft lottery selection. A lot of locals wanted this to happen. My question is, WHY???
Is there a "can't miss" prospect in this year's draft class? Quick, name me someone who is the bonafide No. 1 pick. I can't. The only name that pops into my head is Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, and that's only because he plays for Ohio State. So, why tank the season?
Sad part is, I don't think they are doing this on purpose. Not like the year before LeBron came out, when Jim Paxson cut costs and trotted out a team that probably couldn't beat a rec league team in a regular basis.
This is probably the worst the Cavs have looked as a franchise since Ted Stepien owned the team in the early 1980s and nearly ran the club into the ground with his boneheaded decisions both on (and off) the court. I was too young to remember Stepien, only hearing many stories and reading many articles and books about it ever since.
Dan Gilbert, once lauded as the "best owner in Cleveland sports," is now a pariah on the national scope because of his open letter to the fans just hours after LeBron's self-proclaimed, self-centered "Decision." The Cavs' value as a franchise is falling. There's even speculation (questionable speculation, at that, but speculation nonetheless) that if the NBA decides to contract teams, the Cavs may be on that list.
Unfortunately, the Cavs and their losing ways have the pro stage all to themselves until the Indians open Spring Training. That's another story all in itself.
***
Hope is not lost on the local basketball fan, though, if he or she wants to watch the sport. It just has to be on the collegiate level, but so be it. The college game may be more entertaining than the superstar-driven NBA is, anyway. Why do you think the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is one of the most watched (and most wagered-upon) sporting events of the year, pro or college?
Joe Cleveland has always followed the Cleveland State men's basketball team ever since the Vikings made their miracle run to the Sweet 16 in 1986 (even spending a few years covering them while attending that same university in the 1990s). Needless to say, I'm enjoying this 20-win bunch. Joe Cleveland will get a chance to see them in person for the first time on Thursday's game vs. Valparaiso, so I'm looking forward to that. In recent years, the Vikings have won every time I've seen them at the Wolstein Center, so hopefully, that string continues.
Joe Cleveland has also started paying more attention to the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Thad Matta has done a tremendous job turning the Buckeyes into a top-notch basketball program to coincide with their usual football excellence. He's reached the National Championship game once and has churned out top recruting classes year after year after year. I don't know if they can stay undefeated (right now, they are the only one left in Division I), but this team should be a force in this year's NCAA Tournament.
Basketball fans can enjoy Ohio State and Cleveland State for what they are. Leave the Cavs in the dust and focus your energies on the college guys. You won't be sorry.
***
Joe Cleveland likes to point out that the City of Cleveland has nine pro football championships overall compared to Pittsburghs's seven. Well, make that 10. The Cleveland Bulldogs won the 1926 NFL Championship, I just recently discovered. So, 10 total, and 8 with the Browns. You've got to be proud of something, don't you?
***
If you're tired of the "I'm rooting for the Packers because they're playing the Steelers" arguement, how about rooting for the Packers because of some of their players?
Matt Wilhelm is a Lorain County product and resident who was a co-captain on Ohio State's 2002 National Champions. He's a special teamer and backup linebacker for the Packers. I covered Matt while he was in high school at Elyria Catholic. Root for Matt.
Charles Woodson is from Fremont who became the only defensive player to win a Heisman Trophy while at Michigan. Woodson is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL today. Root for Charles.
Clay Matthews is the son of former Browns standout linebacker Clay Matthews. Many Browns fans wished that the team drafted Matthews when they had the chance (and, they had several, thanks to all the trades Eric Mangini made in that draft). He's the front-runner for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year who is just like his dad, both in ability and personality. Root for Clay.
A.J. Hawk and Ryan Pickett are other ex-Ohio State players who dominated on the defensive side for the Buckeyes during their tenures and were fan favorites. Root for A.J. and Ryan.
And, how can you not root for Green Bay, one of the last bastions of purity in the NFL. The only team in the league that is community owned, playing in the NFL's equivilant of Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. Lambeau Field is a football cathedral, famous for the "frozen tundra" and tough players. Lombardi, Staff, Hornung, Taylor, Gregg, Kramer, Nitchke, Adderley ... do I have to go on? Their history would make a Steeler fan blush (and it should). And, besides, Brett Favre doesn't play for them anymore. He left them in a selfish huff and embarassed himself out of the league. The Packers are in the Super Bowl playing for the trophy named after their famous former coach.
Those enough reasons for you? They're more than enough for Joe Cleveland.
***
Why all the doom and gloom about the possibility of a 4-3 defense for the Browns? Did you not pay attention to the way this team played defense the last six years?
Yes, occasionally, they did well. But that was occasionally. Not even Rob Ryan's self-proclaimed genius could make the Browns a consistant force on the defense end. And, remember, all those teams played in a 3-4 base.
The Browns are actually better suited for a 4-3 defensive alignment. Don't think so? How about this:
DE-Matt Roth; DT-Shaun Rogers; DT-Athyba Rubin; DE-Kenyon Coleman (or someone else); OLB-Scott Fujita; MLB-D'Qwell Jackson; OLB-Chris Gocong. D-Lineman Jayme Mitchell was acquired in a trade, and he's supposedly better suited to play end in a 4-3 (Heckert made that trade; Mangini never played him).
I think this defense would be a lot better than what we've seen, and no moves had to be made. Of course, is Jackson completely healthy, and will Roth and Jackson re-sign, and will Rogers come back (without Mangini around, he might be rejuvenated), and how will the draft, free agency and trades impact things? There are still questions, but I think there are more answers than you'd expect.
***
Cleveland Indians GM Chris Antonetti (wow, didn't realize he was still alive, considering how quiet the team was during the offseason) says he expects the team to be contenders this season.
Manny Acta is talking a lot of sunshine and rainbows and is hard-selling a disenchanted fan base on his optimism.
Meanwhile, the Indians did not make any significant offseason moves, still having a major hole at third base, second base, the outfield and the bench. Let's not forget first base, either, where Matt LaPorta hasn't exactly been as promised when he was acquired for CC Sabathia.
I'm sorry, but if Joe Cleveland wants to watch minor league baseball, I'll go to Columbus, or Akron, or Eastlake, or Avon. They actually charge minor league prices and make no bones about what they're trying to do. And, it's more entertaining.
This Indians fan isn't ready to drink your Kool-Aid yet, Chris and Manny. You have poor ownership who cut corners all the time who keep saying they'll "spend when the time is right," but then let a team that was one game away from a World Series just three years ago fall apart because (wait for it) THEY DIDN'T SPEND!!!
I love the Indians, but Joe Cleveland will be busy paying attention to how CSU and OSU are doing in the NCAA Tournament and how the Browns draft to care about your annual 8-16 April.
I admire your optimism, and for Cleveland's sake, I hope your right. I just don't see it. Convince Larry Dolan to sell the team, and maybe I'll start believing.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
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