Browns Film Room: What can we expect from LB Jamie Collins?
November 3, 2016Indians pick up $12 million option for Carlos Santana
November 3, 2016Well, Cleveland, after a wild, passionate, spilling-into-the-streets, neighbors-shut-their-windows-it’s-so-loud love affair, we awoke to “We need to talk” on the box score.
Losing is so unfamiliar I almost have trouble remembering the concept.
We lost.
My mouth can barely form the words. I’m trying my best, but it’s just not coming out quite right. Sort of like when you’re chugging champagne straight out of a bottle and trying to sing “We Are The Champions” at the same time.
Maybe I should back up and make sure we all understand the details.
You know how we’re always winning stuff, right? Those watch parties and parades? Hugging all those strangers? How all of our shirts have trophies on them, now? Well, this is the opposite of that.
Yeah, I know, it isn’t NEARLY as much fun. But, hopefully, relating it back to something we are so intimately familiar with, like winning, will help you absorb what happened.
We lost.
Sort of hard to deal with after all that winning, right? We got so used to the winning it’s a weird feeling when a sports season ends without a parade. I wonder if they make a patch or something we can wear to hold us over till we start winning stuff again? I mean, the NBA playoffs are still six months away. Can you imagine? Six months without winning a championship? The horror. I don’t know how people put up with this.
Since we’re all experiencing something new and different and hard and I thought I’d give some quick pointers on how to handle all of this. Here are four quick tips on how to cope:
1 – Getting to the World Series is pretty close to winning.
I GUESS losing in the World Series is still pretty great. It’s not quite winning a championship, but dominating everyone in MLB for seven months during a beautiful summer was OK, and we can enjoy that. I mean, we beat Detroit 14 times! It started to feel like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown, except Charlie Brown is lovable and the Tigers are the Tigers.
Can you IMAGINE how it felt to be a Cubs fan and go so long without winning? As a Cleveland sports fan, it’s a bit hard to relate. We should let Chicago enjoy this rare championship since we’re so used to them. Chicago is often referred to as “Little Cleveland” so we can even take a big brother approach. We didn’t win it all, but we helped make it happen for people who weren’t blessed with all the winning we’ve experienced.
3 – Watch the Cavs
It’s hard to believe, but due to all that winning, the Cavs’ offseason was pretty short. In fact, they’re already playing again! I realize that regular season wins are a poor substitute for winning championships, but LeBron’s MVP season and Kyrie’s quest for the scoring title should be a nice appetizer. And just to add to the comfort, we’ll probably beat Detroit a whole bunch in basketball, too.
4 – Have fun with it
Prior to Game 7, Terry Francona dreamt someone broke his ribs, only to wake up and find he was sleeping on the remote. Before Game 5 he ordered $44 worth of ice cream. If there’s one consistent theme to Tito’s reign as manager, it’s that he never takes the game too seriously. That may have been hard for fans to appreciate when the weight of a championship still weighed so heavily, but with the Cavs providing some breathing room, Tito’s attitude is some much needed fresh air.
So…We lost.
There’s going to be disappointment. There’s going to be trolls. There’s going to be unoriginal 3-1 lead jokes. Enjoy it. Winning championships is wonderful. Parades are amazing. So was this season. A championship would’ve made it infinitely better, but can you honestly name three more enjoyable seasons in your lifetime? For any sport?
This team was fun. It was fun for reasons more than just winning. It was fun because of the manager. It was fun because of the roster. It was fun to watch the Party At Napoli’s shirts blow up, and the team invest in the city. It was fun to see the Cavaliers players at the park, looking just like the rest of us nervous weirdos.
It’s disappointing to end this way. But to sulk and pout would be to disrespect this team. These guys are coming back full strength and are going to do it again. They’re going to be fun. This loss may have felt like a punch in the ribs, but wake up and realize this team is a big bowl of ice cream. And don’t let that get lost.
35 Comments
I’m not coping with this one very well at all. Something about this one really hurt. I think it was the way the media and certain other sports fans really seemed to take pleasure in ignoring or sometimes punching downward on Cleveland (both the team and the city). It felt like the Cavs won, and everyone’s reaction was “that’s enough success for you, Cleveland.” Cleveland wasn’t even cast as a villain in this drama. Rather, they were more like the irrelevant, nameless generic “other” team you’d find in a B-level sports flick…the kind that doesn’t use actual pro team names because they don’t have the rights secured.
Combine this with the fact that the stadium was SO full of Cubs fans. I’d like to know how tickets were made available for original sale. Even if they were sold by Cleveland fans that are free to do so, the fact that they did in such great numbers created it’s own sad narrative. Chicago (particularly Cubs fans) just have more money. Thousands of them were willing to drop $5,000 to $10,000 or more to watch that game. Meanwhile, many Cleveland fans made the personal financial decision that selling tickets and having possibly 4 to 6 mortgage payments covered was worth more than witnessing history in-person.
Last night felt like a battle between the “haves” and “have-nots” that was worse than Tribe-Yankee/Red Sox playoff games that I’ve attended in the past. Watching Hendricks get a STANDING OVATION as he left the game was more than I could take. When just the Cubs fans stood up around the dugouts, and you realized that it was possible that half of the most expensive seats were filled with Chicagoans…it filled me with emotion, and not in a good way.
I’ve embraced “Cleveland Vs. The World” but last night crossed a line. It felt like a metaphor for something much larger. And I’m not sure I can easily cope with this feeling.
Deadspin got in on the act, calling the Cubs win the best story in a year of great sports stories. Farther down the article, as I looked to see where “Cleveland Cavs Break Curse” ranked, instead, all I found was “Golden State’s 3-1 Collapse.” Cleveland wasn’t even mentioned by name.
Pick me up folks. Like many of you, I’m having a rough time with this one.
While I don’t disagree with your observations and I was terribly angry at times over the amount of Chicagoans taking over our ballpark and city. I will attempt to make you feel better – Mike Polk Jr. wrote this after Believeland first aired. :
ESPN would have you believe that the only way we will ever find validation and happiness in our desolate lives is if a group of rich athletes from our city outperforms rich athletes from every other city in one of the three major sports.
This is utter nonsense.
I love sports. They’re a fun distraction. They have the potential to be an economic lift and a source of civic pride. But to suggest that they play the dominant role in our identity as a city is ludicrous.
If one of our teams wins a championship, that would be great. If not, it’s not the end of the world. There’s plenty to do around here beyond spectator sports.
I might roll over to Blossom to hear our ridiculously-good orchestra, or head down to Playhouse square to catch an awesome production. Or wander through the Metroparks, or hang out with friends at my home, where the mortgage payment is about what a Chicagoan pays to park a car for a month.
There are so many great things about this city, and I prefer that the outside world remains ignorant of them.
Cleveland is like a really good dive bar with cheap drinks, great music and cool people. The fastest way to ruin a good dive bar is to tell everyone about how cool it is. The next thing you know, they jack up the drink prices, fill the Jukebox with Top 40, and deny you a seat because the place is packed with hipsters.
So thanks, ESPN. Keep playing that sad music. Please don’t let on that we’re happy here.
I needed a pick me up…and even though it wasn’t directed at me, thanks for that perspective. I had this moment last night, post gut punch loss–where I thought how silly the whole thing is…all over sports. The angst, the stress, the heartbreak…all for what? For the first time ever for me and a lot of us on here, in June we got to taste victory. It’s effing awesome…but does that ever make up for everything we put in it? I’m really not sure, but it ain’t worth getting as upset as I was yesterday—and a lot of others were and are today.
Maybe this is all third wall stuff or Debbie downer stuff that shouldn’t be discussed on a sports blog. But it’s good to retain perspective. I’ll still root and all, but getting sucked in to the extent that it’s that upsetting isn’t healthy. I see stories of Chicagoans beating their breasts and crying over graves. Dear lord. Congrats sincerely, but it’s just a game, people. Sports should be fun and shouldn’t overtake emotions to the extent it affects real life.
“We didn’t win it all, but we helped make it happen for people who weren’t blessed with all the winning we’ve experienced.
Those same fans have also enjoyed a Super Bowl win, 3 Stanley Cups, and 6 NBA Championships, so no, they get no empathy from me.
You are only a have-not if you haven’t tried, for it’s the journey that gives the greatest gifts.
http://i.giphy.com/NGRNY6VLMAgqQ.gif
I kinda suspect a lot of the Cubs fans are a lot like me. Basically, they really only care about one team. Yeah, the others’ titles are nice, but they really only want one for the Cubs. That’s how it is with me and the Browns. Yeah, the Cavs winning was nice. Yeah, the Indians winning would have been nice. But I really only *care* about the Browns.
“I’d like to know how tickets were made available for original sale. Even if they were sold by Cleveland fans that are free to do so, the fact that they did in such great numbers created it’s own sad narrative. Chicago (particularly Cubs fans) just have more money. Thousands of them were willing to drop $5,000 to $10,000 or more to watch that game. Meanwhile, many Cleveland fans made the personal financial decision that selling tickets and having possibly 4 to 6 mortgage payments covered was worth more than witnessing history in-person.”
Season ticket holders were given the opportunity to buy up to eight extra tickets per night. I’m sure they sold their extras while still attending the game. The sad narrative is that so few Indians fans will pay $15 a seat during the regular season that they don’t have a big enough season ticket base that they then have plenty of extra tickets to give away during the playoffs.
I also assumed much of what was written in the piece was tongue-in-cheek.
This, this, this x a million. 2017 ticket holders were given the same opportunity. I read speculation that number was over 750 before they made the playoffs.
I was here yesterday morning.
Should’ve gotten a live chicken… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6ca4f3a535bf8a87a3ec0cd6d58173b7db43f916b14961bfe31ea7b13d56b9ba.jpg
It’s more than just a game, CB. You know that – in fact, your presence here confirms that.
These games are the memories, the lives lived, and journeys embarked on; these are the wins and losses, the good and the bad; these are the stories to tell, the dreams to dream, the obstacles to conquer. These are the chocolate chips in our cookies.
It’s more than just sports. It’s more than just a game.
I think this fact reinforces that narrative – there are people unwilling to part with their hard-earned cash, but who, when presented the opportunity, will buy and sell extras so that they can make their lives, and the lives of their families, a little easier.
It may be more indicative of the times than of loyalty.
Rest in Peace to the second greatest shirt of all time… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/85ab7985327f5f4095dca9d8aefa264c902d931bf6ecaf8dec459a38437e96ee.jpg
I’m not in the mood.
I’m not pretending to be above rooting for Cleveland teams or being into sports. I suppose that it is more than “just a game”–that’s fair. Ok fine. It’s about all of the things you mentioned that get us excited.
BUT the bigger point was that there’s a limit that I think we all cross–and look it’s to each his own–that when the “passion” for the sport overtakes us and hinders real life–that ain’t good. I’ll speak for myself–if it’s affecting my work during a game day or post game day, or pleasantness, or hell, generally enjoyment of life after the game is over…it needs to be checked. It ain’t worth getting that upset about is the point.
Sorry, no one should be crying in the streets. Perspective needs re-calibration.
I agree. But where there is nothing ventured, nothing is gained. If you haven’t given yourself over to rooting for a specific team, you’ll never have the highs that are so much higher than the lows.
I cried when the Cavs won – I couldn’t help it. I just turned off the tv when the Tribe lost. You’ve got to be invested for it to mean something. I get not wanting it to take over your life – but isn’t it ok if it takes over a small part of it? After all, you spent 3 – er 5 – hours watching the game so it would seem to make sense to grieve for a few minutes after.
But I agree with your bigger point that we shouldn’t let that passion get in the way of everything else there is to do. I just feel that it’s this passion that puts a little extra color on my canvas.
I completely agree with this. I woke up today expecting to be sad, but I wasn’t. We played the heck out of that game. This season has been as much fun if not more so than the great seasons of 1995 and 1997. I love this team. I love watching the Cavs watch the team. I love Lindor’s smile and Kipnis’ unwavering faith in his teammates. I love Tito’s constantly eating everything in sight. I love watching the game with my daughter who knows the name of every player on the team, their positions and who works best doing what. This has been so much fun and I look forward to doing it all again next year. It’s just been the best kind of amazing distraction at a time that we dearly needed some joy. Thank you Tribe. See you next year.
Thanks for the good words dude. I’m just griping…was a rough one…and was looking for perspective. Like you said though–nothing ventured, nothing gained. We all have to put a little skin in the game. Ah well, another day…
If you need true perspective, Mary Kay Cabot has a nice story about Kessler and his little brother.
What?
“Getting to the World Series is pretty close to winning.” This sentence made me drink. Like I legitamately reached for a bottle and chugged after reading that.
The media narrative in this series definitely made it much worse. The way they made it out You’d think the Cubs have gotten close and had their heart ripped out multiple times before, but that’s not the case. The Cubs have generally been a pretty mediocre team for a lot of the 100+ years, they certainly haven’t came close to suffering the crushing blows the Indians have in the last 20 or so years alone, so in that aspect I have absolutely zero happiness for the Cubs. The Indians “fans” selling their tickets to Cubs fans and turning our stadium into Wrigley Field JR disappoints me alone almost as much as blowing the 3-1 series lead. This one hurts most because the Indians have always been by far my favorite pro sports team, and there is always that lingering feeling that they are never going to get back here again, it took 19 years from 1997 which leaves me with very little optimism for the future, I hope they prove me wrong but i’m not holding my breath, I had high optimism after 05, 07 and 13 and that turned out to be a mistake. I guess this isnt much of a pick me up, probably the opposite, but I don’t really know what else to say right now. We probably hinge too much on a game, but it is what it is. This is the life of the Cleveland sports fan.
I have no happiness for the Cubs simply because for the most part of the 100+ years they were mediocre to bad, never even really got close to winning. The Bartman stuff was in the NLCS, and they still could have won that game and the series but didn’t deliver. They’ve suffered nowhere near the kicks in the balls the Indians have given us over just the past 20 years alone. The Tribe have lost 3 world series now, 2 in game 7, in extra innings. They blew a 3-1 lead in the ALCS in 2007 when they conceivably probably would have beaten the Rockies in the world series. Cubs fans have had to witness nowhere near the heartbreak as the Indians have, this is why I have zero happiness for them.
I applaud Mike Polk’s rebuttal of Believeland. Believeland was a truly pathetic “woe is me” version of Cleveland. And as he said, it mentioned nothing about the real civic pride people in have in the city.
I hope it was taken out of context, but Brian Windhorst’s remark that “Cleveland doesn’t have much to hang its hat on” should have been left on the cutting room floor. That is the one line in the whole egregious ESPN-Employee-Jerk-Off (an EEEJO, for 30 for 30 fans.) that made me so angry. I respect him, but my reaction was “hey fatboy, maybe when you need a heart bypass, you’ll skip the World Champions of cardiac surgery for a more hat-friendly city.”
Losing hurts. There’s no way around it. To be so close and be so far. It hurts bad. Twice in 20 years I have gone through this. However! I will say that the Cavs coming back from 1-3 is in no way comparable to the Indians losing from 3-1.
For one thing the sports are too different. Baseball pitchers only pitch 1-2 games per series (if all goes well!). So each game has it’s unique factors. Basketball is the same dudes. For all seven games.
Second, the Indians went so far without 4 of their top players. There is no getting around that. Losing 2 starting pitchers, when the pitching is your strength. Sorry, Cubs didn’t have that problem and they still got taken to the wall.
And, let’s not forget Payroll. The Indians have a modest $96 million payroll, the Cubs have $170 million!! And in the end, the teams with the biggest payrolls usually end up winning more games. If this were golf, we’d tell the cubs to handicap us 4 runs a game!
Losing sucks and hurts. It feels awful. But baseball is not football or basketball. The Tribe outperformed anyone’s expectations and shocked the world. It just sucks. But the Tribe will be back next year, with more support, more motivation, and more ambition.
A few notes:
The presale was available nationally. So it wasn’t just locals getting tickets for the secondary market.
The average income in this area is $65-70k household, so for people below that, a profit of $3k for some people is 5% of their annual salary, which is Christmas, new school clothes and a summer vacation.
Since when did every ticket need to be local? It would have been a morgue when we were losing 5-1.
I’m not threatened by yuppie scum.
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Wife and I sat talked about coping yesterday. It helps to remember the cool stuff this season.
Here are a few we came up with in like five minutes:
1) Trevor shutting down the Jays in Toronto in a relief appearance to extend the 14 game win streak
2) The 14 game win streak
3) Trevor’s beanball game of rage against Detroit after they broke our Cookie. (Bonus points: Remembering Trevor hitting them in their soft-spots with pinpoint accuracy)
4) Tyler’s in the park walk-off against Toronto
5) Turning Big Papi’s Farewell Tour into Big Poopy’s Final Flushing
6) Party At Napoli’s
Yeah seriously. What a waste of time for this guy, huh? It’s like, your dad is DEAD dude!! Get over it! LOL
https://sports.vice.com/en_us/highlight/cubs-fan-in-cemetery-makes-good-on-pact-with-late-father-to-listen-to-world-series-together
Or get a load of THIS clown!! So you’re 108, BFD! CB says it’s just a game, lady! LOL
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9ea0af9a08b095abe9ad34bada256b12d9d5c2ac5e506b704f2ef3b6f8434a4c.jpg
Charming story. Doesn’t prove or disprove anything.
Charming story. Doesn’t prove or disprove anything…
I don’t know if she’s an 84 lady from Bay Village who just got trolled by her Chicago sister. But ok, let’s assume she was an 108 year old Cubs fan. Really happy for her and never said I wasn’t. So not sure what you’re going for here? You’ve successfully done nothing.
Look, reading comprehension does not appear to be your strong suit and you missed the point. Or you’re going way out of your way to pick a fight due to issues you’re dealing with. Either way, hope you get the help you need.
11 Walk-Off wins by 9 different players is my favorite memory of the 2016 season
I was thinking about it from another angle. For all of the happy stories (and I’m honest to God happy for the Cubs fans), there’s still Bartman floating out there as a cautionary tale. That poor poor guy’s life was seriously affected by a baseball game (or a mere play therein, to be specific). I doubt any joy or relief he has now would make up for the suffering he got from the folks who lacked the proper perspective. I hope he’s at least in some peace now.
Ok, that’s all I got on this subject. I promise to step in line soon.