The Cavaliers are good even when they win ugly: While We’re Waiting…
May 20, 2016ESPN covers the friendship of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade
May 20, 2016Joe Haden is a huge Cavs fan. Though he never attended an NBA game before coming to Cleveland, he’s one of the court-side mainstays, even while wearing his walking boot. While the Cavaliers just beat the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals series Thursday night, tHaden said he believes a championship football team in Cleveland would trump anything, including the wine and gold winning the championship.
“That’s not even a question. I talk to [Cavaliers forward] Tristan [Thompson] all the time. He knows if the Browns were winning like the Cavs are, it’d be a whole different vibe. Not to knock it at all, but it just is what it is. So just being able to know how much love they show the Cavs and how much the fans are still supporting the Browns, even though we haven’t really gave them anything to be proud of, it just shows that when we do flip it around, it’s going to be special. We know that. We honestly seriously do.”
Haden may be right. The city of Cleveland is a football town. But at this rate, it’s hard to imagine the Browns becoming competitive at any point soon, let alone a Super Bowl contender. Since their return to the shores of Lake Erie in 1999, they have just one playoff appearance and two winning seasons. They may have head coach Hue Jackson now leading the way, but the disappointing Browns franchise doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon, at least on paper.
Either way, the cornerback, while he would be ecstatic if LeBron James and company brought a professional sports title to Cleveland for the first time since 1964 — as documented in 30 for 30’s “Believeland” — knows the importance of having a good Browns team in The Land. With the additions the team has made during the offseason, Haden feels as though the new-look version of the Browns has the chance to be something special, it will just take time.
“Seeing how the fans are, seeing how much they really, really love and support the team and they just want a winner and they stay behind the Browns, even though we keep taking all these [losses]. I feel with the team we have now, with the coaching staff we have now, everybody has an opportunity to change that, to make this thing special.”
Haden knows a championship Browns team would trump everything else, but he also realizes how important any championship would be to the city of Cleveland which is one of the many reasons why he is a big Cavs supporter. A football town, sure, but everything has seemed to turn into a wine and gold, especially come June.
64 Comments
Well, the Cavs have to trump Stipe, first.
This is all just a building process. First, the prophet Stipe prepares the way in the wilderness. The Cavs follow (this year). The Tribe is next (in 1-3 years), with the Browns following (I make no predictions). The Browns will undoubtedly be the biggest, but they’ll also be the last – which is a fitting capstone to the story.
I’m happy that he won, but it wasn’t a “Cleveland” victory, anymore than Desmond Howard or Troy Smith winning the Heisman was a “Cleveland” victory. It’s a local hero story, but it doesn’t belong to us.
as some one that lived through the browns in the 80s and the indians in the 90s, id say a world series would have an edge. those were insane times down at the jake although as it has been beaten to death, unique circumstances helped create that vibe around the team of which we will probably never see again.
that being said, i dont care – just win. please, someone just win.
Those two did it on teams not affiliated with Cleveland.
Stipe is the team.
Sports pundits refer to them as Michigan Wolverine Desmond Howard, and OSU Buckeye Troy Smith.
They refer to Stipe as a Cleveland native.
I would say his accomplishment is more “for Cleveland” than those two.
If his first name was “Cleveland,” or if “Cleveland” was tattooed on his chest (maybe it is, I don’t know), I’d be there with you. Still doesn’t do it for me. Seems like a huge reach.
As Craig and I noted yesterday in the longer post, I put it above the Buckeyes but below the main 3. He has Stipe’s about equal with the Buckeyes championships.
Neither Desmond, nor Troy looked into the cameras and said “Cleveland, we got a Championship, baby!”
He won a championship, in an individual sport. His only affiliation is with Cleveland.
They won awards in a team sport. They are affiliated with Michigan, OSU, Green Bay, Baltimore…
I think the individual vs team aspect is what makes his accomplishment more Cleveland-centric than theirs.
I can’t go that far. Far more NE Ohioans care about the Buckeyes than they do UFC, let alone Stipe (not to even discuss the degree of care involved). That’s not to take anything away from him and his victory; it was great. I just can’t give it too much.
I think that’s what makes it less Cleveland-centric. It’s Stipe-centric, as it should be. That he identifies with Cleveland is really cool, but it doesn’t make it something that the city can own. It’s his, and only his (and his training team’s). It was his time, his blood, his sweat, his money that went into that victory.
which is fair and I touched upon. I just personally feel differently because I have followed his career a bit more than you probably have and have seen the devotion he has towards the Northcoast.
When you refer to Desmond and Troy, do refer to them as non-Cleveland-centric Wolverines and Buckeyes, or as Cleveland St. Joseph Vikings and Cleveland Glenville Tarblooders?
Those two are not identified with Cleveland by the majority of the (Non NEO) sporting community. Stipe is.
Stipe made it clear that his championship was for his circle and Cleveland. I side with him.
If you disagree, take it up with him.
Setting aside the brutality and inhumanity of MMA…it is such a niche sport that any argument his victory represents the hopes and dreams of a whole city/region is farcical. It’s almost as funny/desperate as trying to justify the Cleveland Crunch as the last Cleveland championship team. #OttoOrfForever
I loved the Mark Price era Cavs greatly but I would reluctantly agree with 3-year old Joe Haden if it were 1992. It’s 2016 however and I’m not sure where the Browns sit in my heart. I don’t feel anything anymore really (not pride, not embarrassment, not anger, not optimism). This Cavs team is special to me and I would prize their championship above all others.
A ring for Lebron in Cleveland also cements him as a top 3 player all-time, and probably clearly elevates him over Jim Brown as Cleveland’s greatest sports hero. This is kinda a 2:1 deal 🙂
Agree. Were Muhammed Ali’s victories considered “championships” for Louisville? Mike Tyson’s wins “championships” for New York City?
Fighters fight for themselves, and develop national fan bases that aren’t particularly limited to, or linked with, discreet regions.
Sure, but again, devotion for him to us (the city) is not the same as devotion from us (the city) to him. It might be for you, and a whole bunch of other people (including members of my family that know him personally), but it’s not city-wide. In fact, I just don’t think that the athlete’s devotion means much at all, when we’re talking about a city owning a championship. The city will go nuts if the Indians, Browns, and Cavs win a championship, and most of those dudes don’t really give a lick of spit about us, whereas Stipe does!
My only point about Howard and Smith is that they won individual awards. As did Stipe.
The Browns sure do talk a lot for a 3-13 team.
Tyson even lived in NE Ohio for a long time, and was promoted by Don King. Not a Cleveland victory.
LeBron is great and all but top 3 all time? Sorry, not yet. Perhaps once its all said and done, but not before its all said and done. MJ, Russell, Kareem are my top 3. Hes not above them yet. Hes in the top 10, knocking on the door of top 5 (already ahead of Kobe, not quite sure if hes ahead of Duncan)
What really kills me about the “all time” lists is the love Dwayne Wade gets. What has he ever done without Shaq or LeBron, besides be hurt, or lead 4 seeds or worse in the East?
They passion of Indians fans in the 90’s is long gone. The passion of Browns fans is simply dormant. Super Bowl trumps World Series by a mile.
If the Browns win the Super Bowl, there will be record wave heights on Lake Erie because the entire North Coast will be vibrating
lol, you’re right. My grade school bus route dropped kids off at the Oliver House apartment complex at the Shaker/Warrensville border, and the rumor was always that Tyson rented out the whole top floor there.
He had a huge mansion in the Geauga/Summit county area (don’t know the exact location anymore, though I used to drive by it all the time). It’s still there, dormant, as far as I know.
Don King was also from Cleveland (even though we may not want the credit since he murdered someone here, but hey he had fun, funky hair and such).
I think we can settle this dispute by re-named the fight team, the Cleveland Stipes. Hopefully we won’t offend other Stipes with our logo (such as Michael Stipe for one)
We then re-purpose the Thome statue in Stipe’s likeness. Sound like a compromise?
I think people forget how insane the region was from ’86 to ’88 over the Browns. Whatever it was like in the summers of ’95 and ’97, or in the spring of ’07 or ’15, multiply that by 2 or 3 if the Browns ever get to a Super Bowl. And then just imagine if they win the sucker.
Orwell Ohio represent, yo. My family had a cottage out at Pymatuning and a few months before the DOuglas fight, we saw Tyson (and a whole gaggle of his trainers) out jogging alongside Rt. 45 near “downtown” Orwell (one stoplight, intersection of 45 & 322). Don King even used to own a sporting good store out there off of 322.
That’s it! Thank you.
protip: NEVER EVER speed thru Orwell. I know people who have gotten tickets for doing 29 in a 25
He may well have had a mansion in Geauga/Summit county, but I prefer the middle school rumor that he rented out the top floor of a seedy apartment complex on the near east side 🙂
Evidentially it’s very Orwellian there.
he also tried to buy Roundwood Manor in Daisy Hill allegedly. Also rumored was all the old rich white folks from hunting Valley and Daisy Hill had an emergency town council meeting to block it. Supposedly Tyson didnt buy the 60 room mansion because it was not “modern” enough
Unless you’re reading “Keep the Aspidistra Flying”…uggh, not Orwell’s best work
Tysons mansion was in Southington. Kings farm and training center was outside Orwell.
http://illicitohio.com/blog/mike-tyson-mansion/
Totally agree on Wade. His peak was great and he’s been consistently good and been on several stacked teams. But he gets an awful lot of mileage over the lack of 2-guards on the greatest list.
The Lebron comment is obviously a larger debate that will happen eventually. If he wins this year that’s 3 championships on 7 finals trips (and 6 in a row!). He’s taken 3 different teams to the Finals (Old Cavs, Heat and New Cavs). He’s already nearing the top on many statistical categories, and he’s still only 31. His game can age well in the post and he’s setup with young stars in the making to keep the team relevant for several more years. Russell played on stacked teams in a smaller league and Kareem never carried teams this same way, or for as long. Not saying there aren’t valid arguments there either way but it’s not a stretch.
I will be trekking back to NEO should any Cleveland team be on the brink of winning it all.
I’ll see you there
As will I, for the Tribe or Browns.
I’m thinking The Harbor Inn would be a good place to watch.
Does that place still exist? It used to be such an awesome dive.
Ok, but tell us where you’re going to be buried, so we can exhume you for the pilgrimage.
Okay, the Cavs will do.
I started college in ’87. All my new friends were Bengals fans. Those were a fun few years. lol
preach. That late-’80s thing was what strangers talked about in stores and gas pumps. Omar in his prime was maybe half as popular as Bernie in his. LeBron is loved as this otherworldly once-a-generation athlete who was, incredibly, spawned in these soils. But Bernie was like the accessible brother, son who was normal until he started leading the team downfield.
Joe Haden is absolutely correct. But that wouldn’t stop me from absolutely losing my mind if the Cavs pull it off first next month.
I’m pretty sure it’s in Geauga near Middlefield (by the cheese factory!)
What about Jason Dufner? Cleveland-raised pro golfer won the PGA Championship in 2013. To me, that’s just as much as “Cleveland Championship” as Stipe’s is.
If the Cavs were to ever win the ‘ship someday (knock on wood), I hope it firmly realigns Cleveland fandom. These teams should know that whoever can claim that title first will most definitely take the crown of “town favorite.” I honestly can’t understand how people aren’t “Cavs first” and somehow still place the lowly Browns over the other two franchises. As Browns glory fades further and further from memory, people like myself, who grew up in Tribe, Wine & Gold and Buckeye heydays will become the majority. My Dad is still Browns first, but it will take a significant upswing to change their trajectory and really capture the imaginations of younger generations.
The drought ended in 2013??
http://www.sharegif.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1-02Dumb-and-Dumber-quotes.gif
The Browns still have the largest and most devout following in town, (however tortured) despite the most distant memories of success. Also, I think the fact that it feels the least attainable makes it that much more likely to be the biggest deal. For the Cavs and Indians, the memories of endless futility are what are starting to fade a bit.
Charles Woodson winning the Heisman was very much a “Fremont Ross” victory, though.