So, in case you were asleep in a cave, or deliberately blocked sports programming and sports feedback from entering your Facebook or Twitter universes this past week, you may not have realized that Cleveland's Public Enemy No. 2 got himself a championship.
Sorry, LeBron, but Art Modell will always -- even after he dies -- be Public Enemy No. 1. Then again, after the disgraceful way you left, "No. 2" just seems like a fitting description.
Joe Cleveland knew it was coming. I could see it in the way games in the NBA Finals were officiated, and I could see the way Oklahoma City was playing, that Game 5 was going to end with a Miami win. Fortunately, I had plans.
Myself, one of my best friends, and his girlfriend attended a fantastic concert in beautiful Downtown Cleveland. I deliberately did not check my phone, only focusing on the fantastic music I was watching being performed and on the awesome company I had.
I also took notice of the fact that the concert venue was right along the Cuyahoga River, a much-maligned symbol of Cleveland's national jokes. I could see the Terminal Tower all lit up, thought about the Horseshoe Casino opening up and the Medical Mart being constructed to the north of it and thought, "This is a fucking great town!"
Pardon my French, but it's true.
LeBron James may have decided he couldn't win one as a leader here, or never liked Cleveland to begin with, or the national media could add another punchline to a growing number of punchlines about Cleveland and its sports teams, but on this night, one that many in the outside media had believed would be a bleak one for the North Coast, I, Joe Cleveland, decided I was going to have a good time.
And, I did, all night long.
Finally, at about 1 a.m., I broke down and checked my phone for the score. There it was -- Heat 121, Thunder 106. It was over.
I took a deep breath, put my phone back in my pocket, and jumped behind the drum kit at a local establishment's jam night and played my heart out.
Who says music can't be theraputic?
Honestly, at the time, my feeling was indifference. It was as inevitable as a cliff-hanger ending in a soap opera, so I wasn't surprised. I had been bracing myself for the disappointment, so when it happened, I honestly didn't care.
I harckened back to watching the Baltimore Thieving Bastards win the Super Bowl in early 2001 (and we remember what a terrible year 2001 was, and it began with Judas hoisting up the Lombardi Trophy with that shit-eating sneer on his face). It broke my heart. But, the gods were kind to me that night. I won the jackpot in the "squares" at the Super Bowl party I was attending, and I promptly spent it all at the bar that night.
I had to get good and schnockered. I wanted the pain to go away -- and it did, for one night.
Sorry, LeBron, but your win was NOTHING compared to that.
Hell, even watching some of the Steelers' recent Super Bowl wins were harder to swallow than this. Bill Belichick's three Super Bowl wins in four years were worse.
There's been a few others that come close, like Manny Ramirez winning two World Series titles with the Red Sox, watching the Indians' back-to-back Cy Young Award winners Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia face off in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series, heck even seeing Jhonny Peralta have an All-Star season with Detroit after watching him stumble, bumble and sulk with the Indians for a few years. LeBron, your win was worse than those, so I'll give you that.
There's two things about the Cleveland sports fan base. On one hand, you have a bunch of die-hard, true-blood fans who bleed and sweat with their Browns, Indians and Cavs (and Ohio State Buckeyes). They may not be fans of all of them, but the ones they root for, they root for with a passion that just doesn't exist in many places.
On the other hand, you have a bunch of Cleveland self-haters. The guys who like to rub your nose in it at the office or at the factory or at the bar or on Facebook or Twitter when a Cleveland sports team fails, even though they themselves have lived in Cleveland (or Ohio) their entire lives. They are the people who don Steelers jersies because the Steelers are winning while the Browns are not. They are the closet Michigan fans who suddenly came roaring back after the Wolverines took advantage of Jim Tressel's demise this year and actually beat Ohio State at football for once. They are the ones with Yankees or Tigers hats.
And, they are the ones who suddenly, almost overnight, became LeBron James and Miami Heat fans.
My fear now is we'll suddenly see a lot more Miami "JAMES/6" jersies in public than we did two years ago or last year. Remember when that douchebag went to an Indians game wearing LeBron's jersey and got booed right out of Progressive Field? That will never happen again, I'm afraid.
The closet James fans could only recoil when their beloved turncoat failed to deliver on his promise of a championship last season, when he shrunk in the moment during the NBA Finals and the Dallas Mavericks slapped that snicker right off of his and Dwayne Wade's faces with a six-game beatdown that had everyone in Cleveland celebrating.
Folks want to say we're a bunch of "haters" -- which is funny, because those same people are Cleveland sports "haters" but don't see it that way. The ESPN's of the world, the same so-called Worldwide Leader of Sports, want to point their fingers down at you and me and say that it's time for us to "get over it."
I've been hearing that a lot from the clueless ones from Bristol, who are the very definition of frontrunners.
They didn't give two shits about the Miami Heat until LeBron went on their network and said that's where he was going (after they speculated for three straight years about LeBron joining the New York Knicks). Suddenly, they launched a Web page called the "Heat Index," complete with one of the Cavs' old beat writers, and had reporters stationed in Miami from the very first moment James, Wade and Chris Bosh reported to training camp all the way until the bitter end.
Sure, ESPN also kept the pressure on James with their scrutiny about "can he win the big one," or, "will he be the best player to never win a title?" Heck, even James' fans were starting to come up with excuses when the Heat fell behind, 3-2, to the aging Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Funny what six wins can do do those people.
James supposedly didn't have enough support around him to win a title last year or get to the Finals this year, just like he supposedly lacked with the Cavs. But, as soon as he won, those people forgot about those comments and could only fall down on their knees in front of their supposed, self-proclaimed "King" and worship to him to no end. They wanted to feel his "salvation" all over their faces.
These people make me sick.
Now, the national media feels that this win "validates" his decision to leave the Cavs and sign with Miami. Really? So his "Dream Team" could take two years to finally win won NBA Title, and have to win that NBA Title in a lockout-shortened season and after falling behind to both the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics (and even the Thunder) in this year's playoffs?
I thought LeBron was going to win "not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven" NBA titles. It took him two seasons with two other All-Stars to finally win ONE.
When Kevin Durant and Ray Allen signed with Boston to join Paul Pierce, the Celtics won the NBA title in their FIRST YEAR together. They haven't won one since, but you get the point. And these guys were all in the tail-ends of their respective careers.
LeBron, Wade and Bosh were all in the so-called "primes" of their careers. The fact is, it took falling behind 3-2 to the aging Celtics for some switch to go off in LeBron's head.
He stopped deferring to Wade, who did not play great in this postseason, and started carrying the team himself.
This is what LeBron did in 2007 with the Cavs. That performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals was one that still gives me chills, and I hate the bastard now!
Of course, he disappeared in Game 6 at home, but a rookie named Boobie Gibson caught fire from beyond the 3-point arc and gave the Cavs their first NBA Finals berth ever.
In Game 5 of this NBA Finals, LeBron had a triple-double, but it was the kind of empty triple-double that he had in Game 6 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Celtics, right before he ripped his Cavs jersey off and then ripped the hearts out of the fans who supported him through his seven-year career.
Like Gibson, it was Mike Miller who caught fire from beyond the 3-point arc and lifted the Heat to the win. Even in Game 4, when LeBron suddenly got "cramps" (perhaps they were menstral), it was Mario Chalmers who stepped up and capped a ferocious comeback to put the Thunder on the brink of elimination.
ESPN and all the national pundits of the world want you to "get over it" already. But Joe Cleveland lives here, is one of you, and I say, NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO SQUAT!
If you want to get over it, great. If you still have feelings of anger and resentment, so be it. LeBron James didn't leave ESPN in the lurch. He left CLEVELAND in the lurch.
He embarassed this town, his old team and, quite frankly, himself when he did his special in July of 2010. He didn't have to do that. He didn't have to rub our noses in it.
He didn't have to preen and shuck and jive with his buddies Wade and Bosh the following night in Miami, promising a slew of championships that he found out just aren't that easy to win, even if you've supposedly "beat the odds" in doing it.
He didn't have to comment that all the folks who rooted against him could go back to their pathetic lives after his team lost Game 6 to the Mavericks last year.
He didn't have to film that ridiculous "What should I do?" commercial for Nike, which didn't help his image in the slightest.
And, he didn't have to toy with Cleveland's emotions midway through this season when he said he'd be open to coming back and playing with the Cavs.
LeBron James showed just how self-absorbed he really is when he called winning the NBA Championship "the best day of his life." Glad to know LeBron Jr. and Bryce Maximus or their mother that you finally got engaged to, Savannah, really don't matter that much to you, "champ."
Funny that LeBron's old high school coaches Keith Dambrot and Dru Joyce celebrated that title. However, LeBron didn't throw the love back at them in his postgame comments.
Funny that LeBron didn't even have any comments directed at Cleveland, although he couldn't resist taking a shot at Cavs owner Dan Gilbert when he said, "I have never, in life, taken any shortcuts."
Did those jersies you received as a "gift" from the sporting goods store, which cost your high school team an undefeated season, count as a shortcut?
Did that Hummer your mom "purchased" for you in high school, which had you investigated by the OHSAA, count as a shortcut?
Did skipping college to go straight to the NBA count as a shortcut?
How about getting all of your cronies hired to the Cavs? Did that count as a shortcut?
That three-year contract you signed with a player-option for a fourth (that you were never going to exorcise) after 2007, did that not count as a shortcut?
Convincing the Cavs to abandon all long-term planning and go for short-term success, like signing Shaq and squandering draft picks, did that not count as a shortcut?
And, as you realized that you couldn't deliver a championship to Cleveland, as you promised, you decided to tuck tail and sign with another team with two other All-Stars in the hopes that it would make you a champion.
That, by any definition, is a shortcut.
Dan Gilbert was right in calling you out. Unfortunately, he made some dumb comments (guaranteeing the Cavs would win a title before LeBron would was ridiculous, and, I'm sure, had ESPN piling on after LeBron won) that has cost him.
In a way, I'm relieved he won. It was tiring rooting for someone to fail so hard and so strong. The albatross is gone.
Sometimes, the best way to make something go away is to ignore it. I'm ready to ignore LeBron James and focus my energies on the teams and athletes we have here in town.
Teams like the Browns, who drafted two exciting offensive playmakers in Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden, and have several players who are staying true to Cleveland, like Josh Cribbs and Joe Haden.
Teams like the Cavs, who drafted an exciting point guard in Kyrie Irving and are poised to add another exciting player with the fourth pick of Thursday's NBA Draft -- whether they move up or down or package picks or whatever.
Teams like the Indians, who, defying all logical belief, are still somehow in first place in the AL Central Division and are in position to be movers and shakers in a month at the trading deadline.
Teams like Ohio State, who brought in Urban Meyer to be the new head football coach and has immediately hit the ground running with a great recruiting class and some tough love (enjoy that one-game winning streak, Michigan). And their basketball team, that reached the Final Four again under Thad Matta and continually bring top hoops recruits to Columbus and succeed.
And, teams like Cleveland State, who are poised to become a mid-major breakout team after Butler left the Horizon League for the Atlantic-10. Gary Waters keeps bringing in talent that thrives in his system. The Butler roadblock to the NCAA Tournament has been lifted, and the Vikings are ready to kick down the door.
Let's not forget teams like Kent State baseball, that became the first team from the state of Ohio since Mike Schmidt's Ohio U. team in 1970 to reach the College World Series, and then sent No. 1-ranked Florida packing in a thrilling elimination game. Yes, a warm-weather sport like collegiate baseball can be successful in Northeast Ohio.
Congratulations, LeBron. You won a championship. So, when does Browns training camp open up?
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Showing posts with label Ohio State. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio State. Show all posts
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Bring on 2012
Well, it's safe to say that 2011 has turned out to be, by and large, a very miserable and forgettable sports year for Cleveland.
When your two best moments are LeQuit Shames and his Miami (C)Heats choking away the NBA Finals to Dallas and the Pittspuke Squeelers losing to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl, that's when you know you've had a pretty terrible year.
Even, by and large, the best thing to happen to area sports -- Ohio State hiring Urban Meyer as its new football coach -- occurred because of some terrible news. That is, Jim Tressel's ouster due to his attempted coverup of Tattoo-Gate, which paved the way for ringleader Terrelle Pryor leaving via the NFL's supplemental draft, the 6-6 season under interim coach Luke Fickell and the bowl ban for the 2012 season -- Meyer's first as a Buckeye.
The Indians teased us with a 30-15 start, which was good enough for first place in the American League Central Division. But, in typical Tribe fashion, they melted down over the course of the season, were lapped by Detroit and wound up 80-82. They gave up, arguably, their two best pitching prospects for Ubaldo Jimenez, who was inconsistant to say the least during his two months with the Wahoo Warriors, and -- while it certainly helped the gate during the month of September -- the reacquision of Jim Thome provided great feelings but not much else.
The Cavs, without LeQuitter, lost a sports-record 26 straight games, en route to a 19-63 season. They went from the best record in the NBA to a tie for the worst. At the very least, a shrewed trade by Chris Grant gave the Cavs the Los Angeles Clippers' first round pick, and the lottery turned that pick and the Cavs' own first rounder into the No. 1 and No. 4 picks overall. Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, come on down!
The Browns finally had a uniform philosophy from the top of the organizaiton all the way to the bottom with the triumverate of Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur. That gave fans a reason for some optimism heading into the season. But, like it has 10 out of the 12 years since the Browns returned from the abyss, that optimism was stomped on and turned into mush by another terrible season, a season where questions didn't get answered and more questions popped up. Shurmur has shown he's not quite ready to be an NFL head coach -- at the very least, not one ready to serve in the dual role of head coach and offensive coordinator -- and Colt McCoy hasn't given fans enough of a reason to believe he'll be the long-term answer at quarterback.
Let's just press down on the plunger now and blow 2011 to smithereens. Time to put it in the past and look forward.
What's in store for 2012? Unfortunately, it may be more rebuilding by all three teams. However, there are reasons to see the glass as being half-full on all of them (here Joe Cleveland goes again with his damn optimism).
I'll start with the Browns. What better way for a new year to begin by upsetting the hated Stillers (and sending those Black and Yellow frontrunners who will probably make up half of Cleveland Browns Stadium home angry). OK, that may not happen. But Consentlessberger's status is still uncertain thanks to that high ankle sprain he suffered against the Browns a few weeks ago, so that's a ray of hope. Also, the Browns were very competitive in their earlier game with the Stillers, and also nearly upset the Cardinals and the Thieving Bastards (the Ravens, for those not familar with the vernacular) on the road.
Even if they don't win (a distinct possibility), the Browns will end up with a top-five pick in the NFL draft and will have two first rounders. Heckert has promised to be more active in free agency (this is what happens when you have an offseason). And Holmgren may force Shurmur to hire an offensive coordinator to ease the stress. The Browns have had two very good drafts under Heckert thus far, but this one is a key. If the Browns fail to show any improvement (and 5-11 will not be improvement from 4-12), it's time to seriously look at the coach and also time to look at the Big Show in charge as well.
The Cavs will take their lumps this season with a rookie point guard in Irving running the show. However, they should be better than they were last year. They ended the season on an upswing (a lot of that is due to veteran Baron Davis, who was injured and released before the season began), which is positive momentum. They will likely be in the NBA lottery again, and this draft appears to be very deep, especially if Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones all declare for it. Plus, I firmly believe Dan Gilbert wants to win, and will do whatever it takes to win.
The Indians have a nice young nucleus in place. However, thus far, the Tribe has been relatively quiet during the "Hot Stove" season. A team that is sorely needing at least one big bat shouldn't be quiet during the offseason, and minor league signings of guys like Felix Pie does not guarantee a parade down Euclid Ave. Once again, the Tribe brass appears to be all talk but little action. Remember when Chris Antonetti and Mark Shapiro said that the Dolans were prepared to spend more this offseason, and then recall that the big acquisions have been an over-the-hill Derek Lowe and the damaged goods that is Grady Sizemore. Antonetti exclaimed to beat reporters during the Winter Meetings that he was getting "phenomenal" trade offers, but then never pulled the trigger on those offers (in which he's never revealed what names were being bandied about). The window of opportunity is about to slam in the Indians' faces once again, which is a shame.
Of the three, the Indians are probably the closest to winning "right now." However, they seem content to see if they can get lightning in a bottle like last season and hope for an 82-82 season. Shame on them!
Ohio State fans have every reason to be optimistic about their future. Meyer has already beefed up the recruiting class and run out a lot of Tressel's cronies that were dragging the playcalling down. The bowl ban hurts. However, that should give Meyer a "grace year" where there will be little pressure on him to win and win now. A win over Michigan will probably as good as a bowl berth, especially after losing to them this season, and Meyer should have the Buckeyes in contention for both Big Ten and national title conversations by 2013.
The 47th anniversary of Cleveland's last major professional sports championship (the Browns beating the Baltmore Colts, 27-0, in the 1964 NFL Championship Game) came and went the other day. I would hope that that drought doesn't go to 48 years. From 1920-1964, the Indians won twoWorld Series titles, the Cleveland Panthers won one NFL title, the Cleveland Rams won one NFL title and the Cleveland Browns won eight football titles (four AAFC, four NFL) for a grand total of 12 major championships during that span.
Perhaps 2012 will be the year we finally land No. 13. Or, at the very least, 2012 will give fans of all three teams hope that No. 13 isn't too far around the corner, and that drought gets snuffed out before it reaches 50 and beyond.
Joe Cleveland certainly hopes so.
I'll be at the Browns game New Year's Day, ready to see if a new year can bring some new positive energy to our three professional franchises. And, hopefully, not getting any fights with front-running Stiller fans. We shall see.
Thanks for reading Joe Cleveland all throughout 2011. I hope it was as entertaining to read as it was to write. Here's wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year and Go Browns, Go Cavs and Go Tribe!
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
When your two best moments are LeQuit Shames and his Miami (C)Heats choking away the NBA Finals to Dallas and the Pittspuke Squeelers losing to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl, that's when you know you've had a pretty terrible year.
Even, by and large, the best thing to happen to area sports -- Ohio State hiring Urban Meyer as its new football coach -- occurred because of some terrible news. That is, Jim Tressel's ouster due to his attempted coverup of Tattoo-Gate, which paved the way for ringleader Terrelle Pryor leaving via the NFL's supplemental draft, the 6-6 season under interim coach Luke Fickell and the bowl ban for the 2012 season -- Meyer's first as a Buckeye.
The Indians teased us with a 30-15 start, which was good enough for first place in the American League Central Division. But, in typical Tribe fashion, they melted down over the course of the season, were lapped by Detroit and wound up 80-82. They gave up, arguably, their two best pitching prospects for Ubaldo Jimenez, who was inconsistant to say the least during his two months with the Wahoo Warriors, and -- while it certainly helped the gate during the month of September -- the reacquision of Jim Thome provided great feelings but not much else.
The Cavs, without LeQuitter, lost a sports-record 26 straight games, en route to a 19-63 season. They went from the best record in the NBA to a tie for the worst. At the very least, a shrewed trade by Chris Grant gave the Cavs the Los Angeles Clippers' first round pick, and the lottery turned that pick and the Cavs' own first rounder into the No. 1 and No. 4 picks overall. Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, come on down!
The Browns finally had a uniform philosophy from the top of the organizaiton all the way to the bottom with the triumverate of Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur. That gave fans a reason for some optimism heading into the season. But, like it has 10 out of the 12 years since the Browns returned from the abyss, that optimism was stomped on and turned into mush by another terrible season, a season where questions didn't get answered and more questions popped up. Shurmur has shown he's not quite ready to be an NFL head coach -- at the very least, not one ready to serve in the dual role of head coach and offensive coordinator -- and Colt McCoy hasn't given fans enough of a reason to believe he'll be the long-term answer at quarterback.
Let's just press down on the plunger now and blow 2011 to smithereens. Time to put it in the past and look forward.
What's in store for 2012? Unfortunately, it may be more rebuilding by all three teams. However, there are reasons to see the glass as being half-full on all of them (here Joe Cleveland goes again with his damn optimism).
I'll start with the Browns. What better way for a new year to begin by upsetting the hated Stillers (and sending those Black and Yellow frontrunners who will probably make up half of Cleveland Browns Stadium home angry). OK, that may not happen. But Consentlessberger's status is still uncertain thanks to that high ankle sprain he suffered against the Browns a few weeks ago, so that's a ray of hope. Also, the Browns were very competitive in their earlier game with the Stillers, and also nearly upset the Cardinals and the Thieving Bastards (the Ravens, for those not familar with the vernacular) on the road.
Even if they don't win (a distinct possibility), the Browns will end up with a top-five pick in the NFL draft and will have two first rounders. Heckert has promised to be more active in free agency (this is what happens when you have an offseason). And Holmgren may force Shurmur to hire an offensive coordinator to ease the stress. The Browns have had two very good drafts under Heckert thus far, but this one is a key. If the Browns fail to show any improvement (and 5-11 will not be improvement from 4-12), it's time to seriously look at the coach and also time to look at the Big Show in charge as well.
The Cavs will take their lumps this season with a rookie point guard in Irving running the show. However, they should be better than they were last year. They ended the season on an upswing (a lot of that is due to veteran Baron Davis, who was injured and released before the season began), which is positive momentum. They will likely be in the NBA lottery again, and this draft appears to be very deep, especially if Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones all declare for it. Plus, I firmly believe Dan Gilbert wants to win, and will do whatever it takes to win.
The Indians have a nice young nucleus in place. However, thus far, the Tribe has been relatively quiet during the "Hot Stove" season. A team that is sorely needing at least one big bat shouldn't be quiet during the offseason, and minor league signings of guys like Felix Pie does not guarantee a parade down Euclid Ave. Once again, the Tribe brass appears to be all talk but little action. Remember when Chris Antonetti and Mark Shapiro said that the Dolans were prepared to spend more this offseason, and then recall that the big acquisions have been an over-the-hill Derek Lowe and the damaged goods that is Grady Sizemore. Antonetti exclaimed to beat reporters during the Winter Meetings that he was getting "phenomenal" trade offers, but then never pulled the trigger on those offers (in which he's never revealed what names were being bandied about). The window of opportunity is about to slam in the Indians' faces once again, which is a shame.
Of the three, the Indians are probably the closest to winning "right now." However, they seem content to see if they can get lightning in a bottle like last season and hope for an 82-82 season. Shame on them!
Ohio State fans have every reason to be optimistic about their future. Meyer has already beefed up the recruiting class and run out a lot of Tressel's cronies that were dragging the playcalling down. The bowl ban hurts. However, that should give Meyer a "grace year" where there will be little pressure on him to win and win now. A win over Michigan will probably as good as a bowl berth, especially after losing to them this season, and Meyer should have the Buckeyes in contention for both Big Ten and national title conversations by 2013.
The 47th anniversary of Cleveland's last major professional sports championship (the Browns beating the Baltmore Colts, 27-0, in the 1964 NFL Championship Game) came and went the other day. I would hope that that drought doesn't go to 48 years. From 1920-1964, the Indians won twoWorld Series titles, the Cleveland Panthers won one NFL title, the Cleveland Rams won one NFL title and the Cleveland Browns won eight football titles (four AAFC, four NFL) for a grand total of 12 major championships during that span.
Perhaps 2012 will be the year we finally land No. 13. Or, at the very least, 2012 will give fans of all three teams hope that No. 13 isn't too far around the corner, and that drought gets snuffed out before it reaches 50 and beyond.
Joe Cleveland certainly hopes so.
I'll be at the Browns game New Year's Day, ready to see if a new year can bring some new positive energy to our three professional franchises. And, hopefully, not getting any fights with front-running Stiller fans. We shall see.
Thanks for reading Joe Cleveland all throughout 2011. I hope it was as entertaining to read as it was to write. Here's wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year and Go Browns, Go Cavs and Go Tribe!
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Nevermind the bullocks, here comes Joe Cleveland
Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We're so glad you could attend. Come inside, come inside ...
It's been a while since I've dusted off Joe Cleveland ... a little over two months, in fact. Things were pretty busy for me in the "real" journalism world these past few months. So, I've found a little bit of time to dig out my Joe Cleveland hat, put it on and dish out some takes on the world of Cleveland sports.
A lot has happened since the last time Joe Cleveland updated this blog. The Indians were the rare buyers, not sellers, at the trade deadline and acquired pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez in a controversial deal. They also picked up the great Jim Thome in a waiver-wire deal in late August and had their all-time leader in home runs return for the final month of the season. In the end, it didn't much matter, and the Indians squandered a 30-15 start to finish 80-82. It was still good enough for second in the weak AL Central Division, but their inability to beat Detroit over the final month and a half proved to be a huge factor in the fall from the pennant race.
The NBA lockout has lingered on and has threatened to cancel the entire season. Preseason games have already been shelved, and the NBA is expected to make an annoucement on the status of regular season games within the next week or so. There are a lot of winners if the NBA cancels their season. The NHL and college basketball, for starters, will be huge winners, since they will rule the winter sports landscape. Fans tired of seeing the Lakers, Heat, Celtics and Knicks every Sunday and holiday from October through April will be extremely happy. Cavs fans will be winners because they avoid another rebuilding season and another year without LeQuitter (and, they won't have to see LeQuitter strut around in his Heat garb as they try to win that elusive NBA title). Fans of the Lake Erie Monsters and the Cleveland State Vikings will be happy, as their teams will get more ink in the papers and more asses in their seats as fans seek another entertainment distraction for the winter months. And, it will put more onus what the Indians do this offseason will probably only add anticipation for their 2012 opener.
The Browns have begun their season at 2-2. I think, if you asked most people before the season, 2-2 would be a record they'd be happy with. However, it's come with some inconsistant performances. They lost to Cincinnati on a huge breakdown where they failed to break a huddle and left A.J. Green wide open for an easy touchdown. They beat a reeling Colts team without Peyton Manning and a winless Miami team with a last-minute touchdown from Colt McCoy to Mohammed Massaquoi, then were humiliated by Tennessee, despite dominating the time of possession, yardage and completing 40-of-61 passes on a windy day. Pat Shurmer has looked shaky as he sorts out what he has to work with, and there has been some early drama concerning Peyton Hillis and how he's been used. The 4-3 defense has looked tremendous until Matt Hasselbeck shreaded it with two big plays last Sunday. The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Browns.
And, of course, Ohio State's drama with the NCAA continues to get cloudy. The Buckeyes lost three more players to improper benefits for the first two games of the season, and three of the Tattoo Five have to sit out Saturday's game with Nebraska for getting overpaid for a summer job. The NCAA still hasn't announced their final punishment on Ohio State, whether it will be longer probation or more loss of scholarships or a longer bowl ban. This comes on the heels of one of the worst offensive performances in Ohio State history as they deal with a quarterback controversy with the raw freshman Braxton Miller or the fifth-year baseball playing senior Joe Bauserman. It's a mess that could result in a one-and-done for interim coach Luke Fickell and the loss of AD Gene Smith's job.
All in all, the Cleveland sports scene continues to look cloudy.
The Indians have a key offseason at hand with several questions to be answered. Will they pick up the contract options on the oft-injured Grady Sizemore and the more bad-than-good Fausto Carmona? Will they try to bring back Jim Thome if Thome decides to play one more year? Will they get Ubaldo straightened out? Who will be the new hitting and pitching coaches, and will Sandy Alomar not get offered a managerial job? How much will Larry Dolan allow Chris Antonetti to spend to get this team back into contention? Will they upgrade first base, third base, the outfield and the starting rotation? Will they build off the positive groundswell of fan support gained from their hot start, their proactivity at the trade deadline and the return of Thome? Will Mark Shapiro give up his cushy president gig and become the GM of the Cubs or the Orioles (please God, make this happen)?
The honeymoon for Pat Shurmer is wearing down. How much did the lack of a true offseason hurt the Browns? Can the 4-3 continue to make positive strides? Will Peyton Hillis get his contract extension, and will he continue to be a focal point of the offense? How does Colt McCoy hold up in his first full season as the starting quarterback? Will any wide receiver emerge? Will Shurmer have to give up play-calling duties if the Browns have a losing season? Can they gain ground on an obviously aging Steelers team and an inconsistant Ravens team in the suddenly less-than-stellar AFC North? Can they continue to beat the teams they're supposed to beat? Will D'Qwell Jackson stay healthy and continue his torrid season at middle linebacker?
Will Ohio State win another game this year, let alone the Michigan game? Will Luke Fickell come back next season, or will someone like Urban Meyer ride in on their white steed? How bad will the NCAA drop the hammer on the Buckeyes, and will other heads roll? And, will the offense ever find a rhythm with the not-quite-ready-for-primetime Miller or the never-will-be-ready-for-primetime Bauserman?
Will you care more about the Cleveland State Vikings and the Lake Erie Monsters with the Cavs (presumably) on the shelf? And, will a lockout hurt the development of Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson?
Hopefully, some of these questions will be answered in the near future, and with favorable answers. Cleveland fans are living vicariously through the disappointments of other teams (see Steelers, Heat, Red Sox) instead of rejoicing in their own teams exploits. Perhaps that's just a sad fact of being a Cleveland sports fan -- we've come to the realization that none of our teams will ever be good enough to win a championship, so we treat the fall of our bitter rivals like a championship of our own. Perhaps the disappointment of our rivals will lead to positive things for our own teams. We can only hope so.
Until next time (hopefully not another two months from now), remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Follow Joe Cleveland on Twitter @JoeCleveBlog.
It's been a while since I've dusted off Joe Cleveland ... a little over two months, in fact. Things were pretty busy for me in the "real" journalism world these past few months. So, I've found a little bit of time to dig out my Joe Cleveland hat, put it on and dish out some takes on the world of Cleveland sports.
A lot has happened since the last time Joe Cleveland updated this blog. The Indians were the rare buyers, not sellers, at the trade deadline and acquired pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez in a controversial deal. They also picked up the great Jim Thome in a waiver-wire deal in late August and had their all-time leader in home runs return for the final month of the season. In the end, it didn't much matter, and the Indians squandered a 30-15 start to finish 80-82. It was still good enough for second in the weak AL Central Division, but their inability to beat Detroit over the final month and a half proved to be a huge factor in the fall from the pennant race.
The NBA lockout has lingered on and has threatened to cancel the entire season. Preseason games have already been shelved, and the NBA is expected to make an annoucement on the status of regular season games within the next week or so. There are a lot of winners if the NBA cancels their season. The NHL and college basketball, for starters, will be huge winners, since they will rule the winter sports landscape. Fans tired of seeing the Lakers, Heat, Celtics and Knicks every Sunday and holiday from October through April will be extremely happy. Cavs fans will be winners because they avoid another rebuilding season and another year without LeQuitter (and, they won't have to see LeQuitter strut around in his Heat garb as they try to win that elusive NBA title). Fans of the Lake Erie Monsters and the Cleveland State Vikings will be happy, as their teams will get more ink in the papers and more asses in their seats as fans seek another entertainment distraction for the winter months. And, it will put more onus what the Indians do this offseason will probably only add anticipation for their 2012 opener.
The Browns have begun their season at 2-2. I think, if you asked most people before the season, 2-2 would be a record they'd be happy with. However, it's come with some inconsistant performances. They lost to Cincinnati on a huge breakdown where they failed to break a huddle and left A.J. Green wide open for an easy touchdown. They beat a reeling Colts team without Peyton Manning and a winless Miami team with a last-minute touchdown from Colt McCoy to Mohammed Massaquoi, then were humiliated by Tennessee, despite dominating the time of possession, yardage and completing 40-of-61 passes on a windy day. Pat Shurmer has looked shaky as he sorts out what he has to work with, and there has been some early drama concerning Peyton Hillis and how he's been used. The 4-3 defense has looked tremendous until Matt Hasselbeck shreaded it with two big plays last Sunday. The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Browns.
And, of course, Ohio State's drama with the NCAA continues to get cloudy. The Buckeyes lost three more players to improper benefits for the first two games of the season, and three of the Tattoo Five have to sit out Saturday's game with Nebraska for getting overpaid for a summer job. The NCAA still hasn't announced their final punishment on Ohio State, whether it will be longer probation or more loss of scholarships or a longer bowl ban. This comes on the heels of one of the worst offensive performances in Ohio State history as they deal with a quarterback controversy with the raw freshman Braxton Miller or the fifth-year baseball playing senior Joe Bauserman. It's a mess that could result in a one-and-done for interim coach Luke Fickell and the loss of AD Gene Smith's job.
All in all, the Cleveland sports scene continues to look cloudy.
The Indians have a key offseason at hand with several questions to be answered. Will they pick up the contract options on the oft-injured Grady Sizemore and the more bad-than-good Fausto Carmona? Will they try to bring back Jim Thome if Thome decides to play one more year? Will they get Ubaldo straightened out? Who will be the new hitting and pitching coaches, and will Sandy Alomar not get offered a managerial job? How much will Larry Dolan allow Chris Antonetti to spend to get this team back into contention? Will they upgrade first base, third base, the outfield and the starting rotation? Will they build off the positive groundswell of fan support gained from their hot start, their proactivity at the trade deadline and the return of Thome? Will Mark Shapiro give up his cushy president gig and become the GM of the Cubs or the Orioles (please God, make this happen)?
The honeymoon for Pat Shurmer is wearing down. How much did the lack of a true offseason hurt the Browns? Can the 4-3 continue to make positive strides? Will Peyton Hillis get his contract extension, and will he continue to be a focal point of the offense? How does Colt McCoy hold up in his first full season as the starting quarterback? Will any wide receiver emerge? Will Shurmer have to give up play-calling duties if the Browns have a losing season? Can they gain ground on an obviously aging Steelers team and an inconsistant Ravens team in the suddenly less-than-stellar AFC North? Can they continue to beat the teams they're supposed to beat? Will D'Qwell Jackson stay healthy and continue his torrid season at middle linebacker?
Will Ohio State win another game this year, let alone the Michigan game? Will Luke Fickell come back next season, or will someone like Urban Meyer ride in on their white steed? How bad will the NCAA drop the hammer on the Buckeyes, and will other heads roll? And, will the offense ever find a rhythm with the not-quite-ready-for-primetime Miller or the never-will-be-ready-for-primetime Bauserman?
Will you care more about the Cleveland State Vikings and the Lake Erie Monsters with the Cavs (presumably) on the shelf? And, will a lockout hurt the development of Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson?
Hopefully, some of these questions will be answered in the near future, and with favorable answers. Cleveland fans are living vicariously through the disappointments of other teams (see Steelers, Heat, Red Sox) instead of rejoicing in their own teams exploits. Perhaps that's just a sad fact of being a Cleveland sports fan -- we've come to the realization that none of our teams will ever be good enough to win a championship, so we treat the fall of our bitter rivals like a championship of our own. Perhaps the disappointment of our rivals will lead to positive things for our own teams. We can only hope so.
Until next time (hopefully not another two months from now), remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Follow Joe Cleveland on Twitter @JoeCleveBlog.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Tressel's replacements?
Before Joe Cleveland speaks on the world of sports, I'd like to take a moment and reflect on a great thing that happened in the "real world" -- the death of Osama (or Usama) bin Laden.
Bin Laden's death should come as a joy and relief to not just Americans, but for others who live in the Free World. A despicable man who masterminded numerous terrorist attacks on many countries, including the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001, has been snuffed out thanks to a very brave mission by American special forces units.
Putting aside personal politics and biases and all the other things that Americans fight among themselves, I believe all Americans can unite with pride that Public Enemy No. 1 was finally found, captured and (when he wouldn't go quietly) killed. Hell has a new resident, and his name is Osama bin Laden.
Moving on ...
The more Joe Cleveland hears about the Jim Tressel saga at Ohio State, the more he realizes that Ohio State better start making a list of coaching candidates, because chances are great that the Sweater Vest won't be around much longer.
Essentially, the NCAA might force OSU's hand on this one. If they want lighter sanctions, you might want to send your coach packing. The NCAA doesn't look to kindly on being lied to or deceived, especially by coaches.
If I'm Tressel, I'm reaching out to my new good friend Mike Holmgren and asking if there would be a spot for him with the Browns somewhere. They do need an offensive coordinator. How about an additional college scout? Tressel always said the one place he'd leave Columbus for was a job with his beloved Browns. He might have to do it now.
Or, maybe the Bengals try to cash in on Buckeye fans locally by hiring Tressel as their new head coach when Marvin Lewis' contract expires. Mike Brown has some ties to Ohio State, since his dad was one of their great head coaches, and Cincy has always had a history of drafting players from OSU. I don't think Tressel is cut out to be an NFL coach, but at this point, any job might be a good job.
After the John Cooper debacle, Ohio State has made it known that they will only be interested in head coaches with Ohio State or Ohio ties -- coaches who understand the traditions of Ohio State football; coaches who embrace the rich Michigan rivalry and rivalries with other schools in the Big Ten; coaches who will continue to recruit the top athletes in the state of Ohio. Tressel did that (even though he lied). Whoever takes his place will have to do it as well.
Also, when Tressel took it over, OSU was still a prominant name, but nowhere near the national powerhouse that it is. The BCS is partly responsible for that. But when you win a national championship and reach the title game in two other seasons, your school is mentioned in the same breath as the Floridas, Alabamas, USCs and Notre Dames of the world.
So, with that in mind, here's a list of candidates Gene Smith and Gordon Gee might want to consider:
1. Urban Meyer -- The No. 1 candidate on this list, mostly because he's currently unemployed. Meyer is from Ashtabula and spent time coaching at Ohio State before getting his first head coaching gig at Bowling Green. Meyer has been a winner everywhere he's gone, even at Florida, where he had big shoes to fill from Steve Spurrier and still on a national title and coached a Heisman Trophy winner in Tim Tebow. Some feel Ohio State would be a "step backward" for Meyer. Really? Ohio State has more tradition than Florida ever had. That, and OSU doesn't have to compete with Miami, Florida State, South Florida and Central Florida for in-state recruits.
2. Bob Stoops -- Stoops was believed to be Ohio State's top choice when Cooper was fired before he decided to stay at Oklahoma, where he's been ever since. Stoops is from Youngstown and also coached at Ohio State before leaving for other jobs. He took the Sooners to a national title just before the OSU job opened, and he's continued to keep them in the national spotlight. A tradition-rich program with an insane fan base, it would probably take a phenomenal offer for Stoops to leave for Columbus, especially if the program is hamstrung by NCAA sanctions (such as reduction in scholarships, bowl game restrictions, etc.)
3. Les Miles -- Miles is a "Michigan Man," but grew up in Ohio (Elyria) and still has family here. Miles turned down the opportunity to coach at his alma mater this past year, so I can't see him leaving LSU for Ohio State. However, he'd be worth an overture. Miles has made a living out of bolting job after job, so even though he turned down Michigan, maybe he felt the program wasn't in the best shape. And, besides, Bo Schembechler was an "Ohio Man" before he took the Michigan job. Maybe the historical factor would weigh in on Miles.
4. Jon Gruden -- Gruden might be higher on this list because he's currently out of a coaching job and serving as a popular football analyst on ESPN. When OSU was seeking Tressel's replacement, Gruden was one of the candidates. Another Ohio guy (Sandusky) with ties to Ohio State, Gruden was contacted when it appeared his relationship with the Raiders was fracturing. He turned it down, and wound up going to Tampa Bay one year later (leading them to a Super Bowl over his former Raider team). He's been a winner everywhere in the NFL and has a terrific knowledge of football. He's shown some great knowledge for the college game during his "QB school" run thorugh ESPN and his draft analysis. He turned down the chance to coach the Browns this season, so the college game may be up his alley. He probably woundn't be too daunted about NCAA sanctions, either.
5. Bo Pellini -- Pellini is also a Youngstown guy with ties to Ohio State. The main thing holding him back is that he's the head coach at Nebraska, which will be a conference rival of Ohio State beginning this year. I don't think he would leave Nebraska to join an in-house rival, especially when he essentially just started there and is starting to get the program back on its feet. Worth an overture, though.
6. Mike Stoops -- Bob's younger brother is currently the head coach at Arizona. The younger Stoops isn't as successful as his older brother, but he does bring with him head coaching experience at a major level and has shown an ability to field a competitive team. He'd probably be more apt to move from Arizona to Ohio State considering his situation.
7. Larry Kehres -- If Gene Smith wants to travel down the road his predecessor did with Tressel, he might want to explore Kehres. All Kehres has done has turned little Mount Union into a Division III dynasty. They rarely lose games and routinely have a date in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (the D-III title game). I don't know if Kehres would leave Alliance, and a jump from D-III to D-I is more severe than a jump from D-IAA to D-IA like Tressel did. I do believe the hiring would be popular in-state.
8. Frank Solich -- Solich had the misfortune of following the legendary Tom Osborne at Nebraska. All he did was win more than he lost, but it wasn't enough for the school's AD, who replaced him with ex-Raiders coach Bill Callahan. That turned out to be a disaster. Solich, who has also been arrested for a DUI, has resurfaced at Ohio University, doing decently at a smaller D-I school not known for its football prowess. Solich is also an Ohio guy (Cleveland), and a move up the road might not be out of the realm of possibility.
9. Chris Spielman -- Every time an Ohio State coaching position opens, Spielman's name is dangled. He may be the most popular ex-Buckeye ever (Archie Griffin has a legitimate case, too). Buckeye fans and alumni would be thrilled if Spielman took the job. However, he's never had very much coaching experience, let alone head coaching experience. The thing about Spielman is that he "gets it," which you can never underestimate among Buckeye fans. I'm sure he'd be considered a candidate, even it it is kind of an "honorary candidate."
10. Luke Fickell -- Why wouldn't Ohio State look for an in-house candidate like Fickell, who is currently the acting coach during Tressel's suspension? Perhaps the Buckeyes do well under Fickell while Tressel is doing his time. Would it make sense to give him the job full-time and see what happens? He's not a flashy name like some of the other guys above him, and maybe Ohio State is to the point where they would need a proven commodity to take the reins. I wouldn't discount it, though.
Darkhorses: Mark Dantonio (former top assistant at OSU has gone on to good coaching stints at Cincinnati and Michigan State); Don Treadwell (Oberlin native, filled in for Dantonio well at MSU and is now coaching at Miami OH); Butch Davis (has Ohio ties with his stint with the Browns and has shown he can build winning programs and can recruit as well as the best of them); Eric Mangini (Ohio ties from his Browns stint; might be more suited to college coaching because of his emphasis on character and was a big fan of coaching in this area); Chuck Kyle (one of the most successful Ohio high school coaches ever at St. Ignatius); Ted Ginn (has a tie-in to Ohio State with all of the kids he's sent there from Glenville and has proven to be a successful high school coach).
Any names I forgot about? Feel free to comment and include them under this post.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Bin Laden's death should come as a joy and relief to not just Americans, but for others who live in the Free World. A despicable man who masterminded numerous terrorist attacks on many countries, including the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001, has been snuffed out thanks to a very brave mission by American special forces units.
Putting aside personal politics and biases and all the other things that Americans fight among themselves, I believe all Americans can unite with pride that Public Enemy No. 1 was finally found, captured and (when he wouldn't go quietly) killed. Hell has a new resident, and his name is Osama bin Laden.
Moving on ...
The more Joe Cleveland hears about the Jim Tressel saga at Ohio State, the more he realizes that Ohio State better start making a list of coaching candidates, because chances are great that the Sweater Vest won't be around much longer.
Essentially, the NCAA might force OSU's hand on this one. If they want lighter sanctions, you might want to send your coach packing. The NCAA doesn't look to kindly on being lied to or deceived, especially by coaches.
If I'm Tressel, I'm reaching out to my new good friend Mike Holmgren and asking if there would be a spot for him with the Browns somewhere. They do need an offensive coordinator. How about an additional college scout? Tressel always said the one place he'd leave Columbus for was a job with his beloved Browns. He might have to do it now.
Or, maybe the Bengals try to cash in on Buckeye fans locally by hiring Tressel as their new head coach when Marvin Lewis' contract expires. Mike Brown has some ties to Ohio State, since his dad was one of their great head coaches, and Cincy has always had a history of drafting players from OSU. I don't think Tressel is cut out to be an NFL coach, but at this point, any job might be a good job.
After the John Cooper debacle, Ohio State has made it known that they will only be interested in head coaches with Ohio State or Ohio ties -- coaches who understand the traditions of Ohio State football; coaches who embrace the rich Michigan rivalry and rivalries with other schools in the Big Ten; coaches who will continue to recruit the top athletes in the state of Ohio. Tressel did that (even though he lied). Whoever takes his place will have to do it as well.
Also, when Tressel took it over, OSU was still a prominant name, but nowhere near the national powerhouse that it is. The BCS is partly responsible for that. But when you win a national championship and reach the title game in two other seasons, your school is mentioned in the same breath as the Floridas, Alabamas, USCs and Notre Dames of the world.
So, with that in mind, here's a list of candidates Gene Smith and Gordon Gee might want to consider:
1. Urban Meyer -- The No. 1 candidate on this list, mostly because he's currently unemployed. Meyer is from Ashtabula and spent time coaching at Ohio State before getting his first head coaching gig at Bowling Green. Meyer has been a winner everywhere he's gone, even at Florida, where he had big shoes to fill from Steve Spurrier and still on a national title and coached a Heisman Trophy winner in Tim Tebow. Some feel Ohio State would be a "step backward" for Meyer. Really? Ohio State has more tradition than Florida ever had. That, and OSU doesn't have to compete with Miami, Florida State, South Florida and Central Florida for in-state recruits.
2. Bob Stoops -- Stoops was believed to be Ohio State's top choice when Cooper was fired before he decided to stay at Oklahoma, where he's been ever since. Stoops is from Youngstown and also coached at Ohio State before leaving for other jobs. He took the Sooners to a national title just before the OSU job opened, and he's continued to keep them in the national spotlight. A tradition-rich program with an insane fan base, it would probably take a phenomenal offer for Stoops to leave for Columbus, especially if the program is hamstrung by NCAA sanctions (such as reduction in scholarships, bowl game restrictions, etc.)
3. Les Miles -- Miles is a "Michigan Man," but grew up in Ohio (Elyria) and still has family here. Miles turned down the opportunity to coach at his alma mater this past year, so I can't see him leaving LSU for Ohio State. However, he'd be worth an overture. Miles has made a living out of bolting job after job, so even though he turned down Michigan, maybe he felt the program wasn't in the best shape. And, besides, Bo Schembechler was an "Ohio Man" before he took the Michigan job. Maybe the historical factor would weigh in on Miles.
4. Jon Gruden -- Gruden might be higher on this list because he's currently out of a coaching job and serving as a popular football analyst on ESPN. When OSU was seeking Tressel's replacement, Gruden was one of the candidates. Another Ohio guy (Sandusky) with ties to Ohio State, Gruden was contacted when it appeared his relationship with the Raiders was fracturing. He turned it down, and wound up going to Tampa Bay one year later (leading them to a Super Bowl over his former Raider team). He's been a winner everywhere in the NFL and has a terrific knowledge of football. He's shown some great knowledge for the college game during his "QB school" run thorugh ESPN and his draft analysis. He turned down the chance to coach the Browns this season, so the college game may be up his alley. He probably woundn't be too daunted about NCAA sanctions, either.
5. Bo Pellini -- Pellini is also a Youngstown guy with ties to Ohio State. The main thing holding him back is that he's the head coach at Nebraska, which will be a conference rival of Ohio State beginning this year. I don't think he would leave Nebraska to join an in-house rival, especially when he essentially just started there and is starting to get the program back on its feet. Worth an overture, though.
6. Mike Stoops -- Bob's younger brother is currently the head coach at Arizona. The younger Stoops isn't as successful as his older brother, but he does bring with him head coaching experience at a major level and has shown an ability to field a competitive team. He'd probably be more apt to move from Arizona to Ohio State considering his situation.
7. Larry Kehres -- If Gene Smith wants to travel down the road his predecessor did with Tressel, he might want to explore Kehres. All Kehres has done has turned little Mount Union into a Division III dynasty. They rarely lose games and routinely have a date in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (the D-III title game). I don't know if Kehres would leave Alliance, and a jump from D-III to D-I is more severe than a jump from D-IAA to D-IA like Tressel did. I do believe the hiring would be popular in-state.
8. Frank Solich -- Solich had the misfortune of following the legendary Tom Osborne at Nebraska. All he did was win more than he lost, but it wasn't enough for the school's AD, who replaced him with ex-Raiders coach Bill Callahan. That turned out to be a disaster. Solich, who has also been arrested for a DUI, has resurfaced at Ohio University, doing decently at a smaller D-I school not known for its football prowess. Solich is also an Ohio guy (Cleveland), and a move up the road might not be out of the realm of possibility.
9. Chris Spielman -- Every time an Ohio State coaching position opens, Spielman's name is dangled. He may be the most popular ex-Buckeye ever (Archie Griffin has a legitimate case, too). Buckeye fans and alumni would be thrilled if Spielman took the job. However, he's never had very much coaching experience, let alone head coaching experience. The thing about Spielman is that he "gets it," which you can never underestimate among Buckeye fans. I'm sure he'd be considered a candidate, even it it is kind of an "honorary candidate."
10. Luke Fickell -- Why wouldn't Ohio State look for an in-house candidate like Fickell, who is currently the acting coach during Tressel's suspension? Perhaps the Buckeyes do well under Fickell while Tressel is doing his time. Would it make sense to give him the job full-time and see what happens? He's not a flashy name like some of the other guys above him, and maybe Ohio State is to the point where they would need a proven commodity to take the reins. I wouldn't discount it, though.
Darkhorses: Mark Dantonio (former top assistant at OSU has gone on to good coaching stints at Cincinnati and Michigan State); Don Treadwell (Oberlin native, filled in for Dantonio well at MSU and is now coaching at Miami OH); Butch Davis (has Ohio ties with his stint with the Browns and has shown he can build winning programs and can recruit as well as the best of them); Eric Mangini (Ohio ties from his Browns stint; might be more suited to college coaching because of his emphasis on character and was a big fan of coaching in this area); Chuck Kyle (one of the most successful Ohio high school coaches ever at St. Ignatius); Ted Ginn (has a tie-in to Ohio State with all of the kids he's sent there from Glenville and has proven to be a successful high school coach).
Any names I forgot about? Feel free to comment and include them under this post.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Back with a vengeance
No, I'm not talking about LeQuitter, who comes back to The Q tonight for the second time as a member of the visiting team. I'm talking about Joe Cleveland and his blog coming back after a few weeks of silence. I apologize for that.
There's been an awful lot to talk about in the world of local sports. The last thing I sounded off on was the fall from grace of legendary Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel and his lies that may wind up costing his program a lot more than five games without a few star players and their head coach. And, I have more thoughts about this, which I will share a little bit later.
But first, I wanted to give a plug to an old friend and co-worker of mine, Pete, who writes his own blog about the Browns, The Blawg Pound (http://www.blawgpound.com/). Pete decided to interview people he knew who were Browns fans and ask them just what it is about the Browns that is so-damn loveable for us. One of the people he chose was me. My interview will probably be published in the next week or so.
Speaking of the Browns, a lot of people I know have been asking for my opinions on the NFL lockout. Well, as an NFL fan, it sucks because of the real threat of there being no football this fall on Sundays (and random other days). Now what am I going to do on Sundays without watching the Browns or running my fantasy football teams? I'm not looking forward to that prospect.
To be honest, though, I'm not too worried about a lockout at this point. Right now, it seems to be a lot of posturing between the players and owners. No games have been cancelled at this point. The only thing on hold is offseason training sessions and free agency. If the lockout drags into the summer, then I think we as fans can start being worried.
Now, teams that have made coaching changes appear to be the most behind the 8-ball when it comes to the lockout, because the new staff is not allowed to have any contact with the players and vice-versa. They can't learn the playbook or workout or just be around the new personnel. That, and it delays the addition of new players as free agents who may be more knowledgable about the new schemes and philosophies being brought in by the new coaching staff.
With the Browns, they are doing new offensive (West Coast) and defensive (4-3) schemes. I am very happy about both of these changes after watching the team allow opposing offenses to run roughshod through their weak 3-4 and that clunker of an offfense they were trotting out under Crennel and Mangini. However, other than Par Shurmer slipping Colt McCoy his new playbook just before the lockout occurred (which apparently got the Browns fined for illegal contact with a player, whatever that means), the team can't start learning the new philosophies yet.
Actually, these players have probably seen it all at this point, from college and the pros. It's the terminology that is different and unique, and something that the players say is the biggest thing that needs learned and worked on.
I still hold out optimism that an agreement will be reached by May or June and the NFL will back up and running shortly after and no games will be postponed. With all the litigation going on, though, we'll see what happens.
***
Speaking of Tressel, he was probably the biggest OSU hoops fan this March, and not just because he wanted the school's team to succeed. The hoops team was serving as a nice distraction from Tressel's own trevails. The more the team won, the less OSU fans could think about their disgraced football coach and the mess he is bringing onto their beloved team.
But, the Buckeyes got stunned by Kentucky in the Sweet 16 round, ending their season and their title hopes (which I believe were legitimate this year, especially with the way this tournament has played out with all of the upsets). And, just like that, a so-called Buckeye Nation turns its lonely eyes to you, Mr. Tressel and your moronic bosses Gene Smith and Gordon Gee.
On the very day Thad Matta's team was a William Buford bricked 3-pointer away from staying alive in the NCAA Tournament, word came out that Tressel wasn't being completely honest when he said he kept the e-miails about Tattoo-Gate to himself. He also told one of the closest confidants and advisors of Terrrelle Pryor.
Smith claims that Tressel told them about it, but it just continues to look worse and worse for the Sweater Vest. Even his attempt to make his suspension match his players' suspensions (which, no surprise, were upheld by the NCAA) and sit out the first five games next season seem like a weak attempt at gaining leniency from the NCAA.
As I said before, I love Ohio State football, and I am a big fan of Tressel because of his ability to win football games (at least most of them), especially games over Michigan. However, I can't say I'm surprised about these allegations, and it just gets more and more disappointing.
Something tells me the rumor that Urban Meyer will take over the Ohio State football program in 2012 will continue to grow legs as more and more comes out about this Tressel ordeal. And, I have a feeling the 2010 season will be forfeited (except the Sugar Bowl win, since the NCAA cleared the players to play) because Tressel knowingly played a QB and a WR who broke NCAA rules in every game without telling anyone.
And, I can't be the only one who hopes Pryor never takes another snap for Ohio State again. Now, we can only hope Braxton Miller is the real deal.
***
I caught Cleveland State's two NIT games at the Wolstein Center last week. I have to say, I was not only disappointed by the play of the Vikings in both games, Joe Cleveland was also disappointed about the crowds.
Both games (which were played around NCAA Tourney games being held at The Q that also featured Ohio State) drew barely 2,500 people or less. Of course, CSU was on spring break, which limited any type of student section. And, it surprised me that more basketball fans wouldn't pony up the $10 just to see tournament basketball, even if it is the NIT.
With NBA scouts on hand, Norris Cole had a good game against Vermont without much help, and an average game against the College of Charleston despite a little more help. Center Aaron Pogue was being his usual stiff self against Vermont, almost single-handedly costing them the game against the underdog Catamounts. However, he played much better against Charleston, so I give him credit.
What cost CSU wasn't their defense, which held heralded point guard Andrew Goudelock to well under his season average of 22 points and, without a bunch of late free throws, would have held him to under double-digits. It was sudden inability to hit a 3-pointer. Tim Kamczyc connected on a trey early in the game, and then the Vikings proceeded to miss the remaining 24 shots behind the arc. They make even half of those attempts, and CSU is hosting a quarterfinal game against Wichita State with a berth in the NIT Final Four at Madison Square Garden on the line.
Despite the loss to Charleston, you can't deny what a great season it was for CSU basketball. And, with only Cole being lost to graduation and a good incoming freshman class, Gary Waters' bunch should continue to challenge for the top spot in the Horizon League.
Speaking of the Horizon League, did anyone see Butler making another run at the Final Four prior to this NCAA Tournament? I certainly didn't. You got to give the Bulldogs credit. And, if they can beat VCU (which could happen), a second-straight title game will be in the cards against a much easier opponent than Duke last year (Kentucky and UConn are both beatable teams).
***
Spring Training is about to wrap up for the Indians, and the season opens up at the end of this week. Meanwhile, we still are having 30-degree days (at least it isn't snowing, knock on wood).
Judging by the lack of talent on the Indians, it wouldn't surprise me if the team opened up as cold as the weather, like they have normally done since John Hart left as GM and Mark Shapiro fired eventual World Series-winning manager Charlie Manuel.
A story came out that the Indians payroll is at its lowest in many years. Congratulations, Dolans, on that feat. I'm sure you're proud.
Another cost-cutting decision may bite the Indians, as projected third baseman Jason Donald will miss the start of the season with an injury. Instead of promoting rookie Lonnie Chisenhall, who had a red-hot spring, the Indians will go with journeyman Jack Hanahann at third to start the year.
They claim that they want to give Chisenhall some seasoning at Triple-A Columbus, but the real reason is they don't want to kick start his major league service time, which would kick up his arbitration date. It's the same thing that happened last year with Carlos Santana, and they are doing it again with Chisenhall.
It's about time Paul and Larry started not to worry about the bottom line and started to worry about putting a winning team on the field that Cleveland fans (like Joe Cleveland) can care about and root for. That starts by giving one of the prospects fans have been hearing about for years (like Chisenhall) a major league job and seeing what he can do. Certainly, he's an upgrade of Jack Hanahann.
But, as long as they worry more about the bottom line and about things like Snow Days and the Indians Country Music Fest (or whatever it is they're calling it), they will continue to see empty green seats in their Progressive Field. And, I hate to say it, but that's what they deserve.
But hey, Go Tribe!
***
Lastly, I'm hoping the Cavs can at least show up and punch LeBron and his two other teammates in the mouth (not litterally ... oh, who's Joe Cleveland kidding. Of course, I mean literally) and give the fans something to be proud of this season.
A win over LeQuitter would probably placate every single member of the Cavs remaining fan base and keep the interest going through the offseason and into next year. Popular trades like the Baron Davis and a lottery pick for Mo "Oh my aching ankle" Williams and Jamario Moon deal got some fans back on the Cavs side, and a great showing against the Heat (in front of a rabid fan base who would love nothing more than for LeQuitter to get his after what he did to the fan base this offseason) would really go a long way.
Maybe having Joe Tait in the house would do the trick. I am happy he made it back for these final home games this year. He didn't deserve to go out like that. He deserved to go out behind the mic, and he'll get the chance to this year.
***
Thanks for your patience in Joe Cleveland and the infrequency of his blogs. Glad you still come back and give it a read when you can, and thanks for spreading the word.
You can follow Joe Cleveland on Twitter @JoeCleveBlog, and I link to all the blogs through the Twitter page. And, my true identity posts them to the Facebook page everytime the blog is updated, as well.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
There's been an awful lot to talk about in the world of local sports. The last thing I sounded off on was the fall from grace of legendary Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel and his lies that may wind up costing his program a lot more than five games without a few star players and their head coach. And, I have more thoughts about this, which I will share a little bit later.
But first, I wanted to give a plug to an old friend and co-worker of mine, Pete, who writes his own blog about the Browns, The Blawg Pound (http://www.blawgpound.com/). Pete decided to interview people he knew who were Browns fans and ask them just what it is about the Browns that is so-damn loveable for us. One of the people he chose was me. My interview will probably be published in the next week or so.
Speaking of the Browns, a lot of people I know have been asking for my opinions on the NFL lockout. Well, as an NFL fan, it sucks because of the real threat of there being no football this fall on Sundays (and random other days). Now what am I going to do on Sundays without watching the Browns or running my fantasy football teams? I'm not looking forward to that prospect.
To be honest, though, I'm not too worried about a lockout at this point. Right now, it seems to be a lot of posturing between the players and owners. No games have been cancelled at this point. The only thing on hold is offseason training sessions and free agency. If the lockout drags into the summer, then I think we as fans can start being worried.
Now, teams that have made coaching changes appear to be the most behind the 8-ball when it comes to the lockout, because the new staff is not allowed to have any contact with the players and vice-versa. They can't learn the playbook or workout or just be around the new personnel. That, and it delays the addition of new players as free agents who may be more knowledgable about the new schemes and philosophies being brought in by the new coaching staff.
With the Browns, they are doing new offensive (West Coast) and defensive (4-3) schemes. I am very happy about both of these changes after watching the team allow opposing offenses to run roughshod through their weak 3-4 and that clunker of an offfense they were trotting out under Crennel and Mangini. However, other than Par Shurmer slipping Colt McCoy his new playbook just before the lockout occurred (which apparently got the Browns fined for illegal contact with a player, whatever that means), the team can't start learning the new philosophies yet.
Actually, these players have probably seen it all at this point, from college and the pros. It's the terminology that is different and unique, and something that the players say is the biggest thing that needs learned and worked on.
I still hold out optimism that an agreement will be reached by May or June and the NFL will back up and running shortly after and no games will be postponed. With all the litigation going on, though, we'll see what happens.
***
Speaking of Tressel, he was probably the biggest OSU hoops fan this March, and not just because he wanted the school's team to succeed. The hoops team was serving as a nice distraction from Tressel's own trevails. The more the team won, the less OSU fans could think about their disgraced football coach and the mess he is bringing onto their beloved team.
But, the Buckeyes got stunned by Kentucky in the Sweet 16 round, ending their season and their title hopes (which I believe were legitimate this year, especially with the way this tournament has played out with all of the upsets). And, just like that, a so-called Buckeye Nation turns its lonely eyes to you, Mr. Tressel and your moronic bosses Gene Smith and Gordon Gee.
On the very day Thad Matta's team was a William Buford bricked 3-pointer away from staying alive in the NCAA Tournament, word came out that Tressel wasn't being completely honest when he said he kept the e-miails about Tattoo-Gate to himself. He also told one of the closest confidants and advisors of Terrrelle Pryor.
Smith claims that Tressel told them about it, but it just continues to look worse and worse for the Sweater Vest. Even his attempt to make his suspension match his players' suspensions (which, no surprise, were upheld by the NCAA) and sit out the first five games next season seem like a weak attempt at gaining leniency from the NCAA.
As I said before, I love Ohio State football, and I am a big fan of Tressel because of his ability to win football games (at least most of them), especially games over Michigan. However, I can't say I'm surprised about these allegations, and it just gets more and more disappointing.
Something tells me the rumor that Urban Meyer will take over the Ohio State football program in 2012 will continue to grow legs as more and more comes out about this Tressel ordeal. And, I have a feeling the 2010 season will be forfeited (except the Sugar Bowl win, since the NCAA cleared the players to play) because Tressel knowingly played a QB and a WR who broke NCAA rules in every game without telling anyone.
And, I can't be the only one who hopes Pryor never takes another snap for Ohio State again. Now, we can only hope Braxton Miller is the real deal.
***
I caught Cleveland State's two NIT games at the Wolstein Center last week. I have to say, I was not only disappointed by the play of the Vikings in both games, Joe Cleveland was also disappointed about the crowds.
Both games (which were played around NCAA Tourney games being held at The Q that also featured Ohio State) drew barely 2,500 people or less. Of course, CSU was on spring break, which limited any type of student section. And, it surprised me that more basketball fans wouldn't pony up the $10 just to see tournament basketball, even if it is the NIT.
With NBA scouts on hand, Norris Cole had a good game against Vermont without much help, and an average game against the College of Charleston despite a little more help. Center Aaron Pogue was being his usual stiff self against Vermont, almost single-handedly costing them the game against the underdog Catamounts. However, he played much better against Charleston, so I give him credit.
What cost CSU wasn't their defense, which held heralded point guard Andrew Goudelock to well under his season average of 22 points and, without a bunch of late free throws, would have held him to under double-digits. It was sudden inability to hit a 3-pointer. Tim Kamczyc connected on a trey early in the game, and then the Vikings proceeded to miss the remaining 24 shots behind the arc. They make even half of those attempts, and CSU is hosting a quarterfinal game against Wichita State with a berth in the NIT Final Four at Madison Square Garden on the line.
Despite the loss to Charleston, you can't deny what a great season it was for CSU basketball. And, with only Cole being lost to graduation and a good incoming freshman class, Gary Waters' bunch should continue to challenge for the top spot in the Horizon League.
Speaking of the Horizon League, did anyone see Butler making another run at the Final Four prior to this NCAA Tournament? I certainly didn't. You got to give the Bulldogs credit. And, if they can beat VCU (which could happen), a second-straight title game will be in the cards against a much easier opponent than Duke last year (Kentucky and UConn are both beatable teams).
***
Spring Training is about to wrap up for the Indians, and the season opens up at the end of this week. Meanwhile, we still are having 30-degree days (at least it isn't snowing, knock on wood).
Judging by the lack of talent on the Indians, it wouldn't surprise me if the team opened up as cold as the weather, like they have normally done since John Hart left as GM and Mark Shapiro fired eventual World Series-winning manager Charlie Manuel.
A story came out that the Indians payroll is at its lowest in many years. Congratulations, Dolans, on that feat. I'm sure you're proud.
Another cost-cutting decision may bite the Indians, as projected third baseman Jason Donald will miss the start of the season with an injury. Instead of promoting rookie Lonnie Chisenhall, who had a red-hot spring, the Indians will go with journeyman Jack Hanahann at third to start the year.
They claim that they want to give Chisenhall some seasoning at Triple-A Columbus, but the real reason is they don't want to kick start his major league service time, which would kick up his arbitration date. It's the same thing that happened last year with Carlos Santana, and they are doing it again with Chisenhall.
It's about time Paul and Larry started not to worry about the bottom line and started to worry about putting a winning team on the field that Cleveland fans (like Joe Cleveland) can care about and root for. That starts by giving one of the prospects fans have been hearing about for years (like Chisenhall) a major league job and seeing what he can do. Certainly, he's an upgrade of Jack Hanahann.
But, as long as they worry more about the bottom line and about things like Snow Days and the Indians Country Music Fest (or whatever it is they're calling it), they will continue to see empty green seats in their Progressive Field. And, I hate to say it, but that's what they deserve.
But hey, Go Tribe!
***
Lastly, I'm hoping the Cavs can at least show up and punch LeBron and his two other teammates in the mouth (not litterally ... oh, who's Joe Cleveland kidding. Of course, I mean literally) and give the fans something to be proud of this season.
A win over LeQuitter would probably placate every single member of the Cavs remaining fan base and keep the interest going through the offseason and into next year. Popular trades like the Baron Davis and a lottery pick for Mo "Oh my aching ankle" Williams and Jamario Moon deal got some fans back on the Cavs side, and a great showing against the Heat (in front of a rabid fan base who would love nothing more than for LeQuitter to get his after what he did to the fan base this offseason) would really go a long way.
Maybe having Joe Tait in the house would do the trick. I am happy he made it back for these final home games this year. He didn't deserve to go out like that. He deserved to go out behind the mic, and he'll get the chance to this year.
***
Thanks for your patience in Joe Cleveland and the infrequency of his blogs. Glad you still come back and give it a read when you can, and thanks for spreading the word.
You can follow Joe Cleveland on Twitter @JoeCleveBlog, and I link to all the blogs through the Twitter page. And, my true identity posts them to the Facebook page everytime the blog is updated, as well.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
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