The 5-Hole, CBJ News and Notes – 12/23/08
December 23, 2008Wally For Brad Miller? Another Bizarre Trade Rumor
December 23, 2008
Here it is! The final day of WFNY’s Christmas giveaway. Congratulations to Kevin, who was the randomly selected winner of yesterday’s giveaway- his choice of WFNY Cavalier inspired t-shirts! (I’d go with the Wild Thing Varejao one myself!)
Today is a little different- we’ll be picking two winners from today’s entries. The first winner selected will be sporting a new Grady Sizemore Tribe Jersey! The second big winner will score a pair of tickets to the Indians home opener Friday, April 10th against the Toronto Blue Jays! (As Jeff Probst might say, “Worth playing for?”)
Remember, if you’ve already won a prize during our giveaway you aren’t eligible to win. (You can still answer the question if you want!) Good luck to all, and here again are the ‘rules’-
Each day of the contest, we will ask a question for you to answer. Respond to the giveaway post with a comment formatted like this- restate the question, then answer it in EXACTLY 64 words. (Last year of a major Cleveland championship.)
– You may only enter once each day. You are free to comment on each other’s answers, however.
– The winner will be chosen at random from the qualifying entries. Winners will be notified the following day by email (make sure the email address you registered to comment with is a real one!) You must be at least 18 years old to win, and only one winner per household during this giveaway please.
The prizes range from tickets to the Tribe home opener, to books, to jerseys, and even a few WFNY items thrown in there too. (Yes, shameless self-promotion!) No complaining about which prize you win, those have been randomly selected for specific days of the contest. Sound good? Hey it’s free stuff, how picky can you get?! All answers have to be submitted by midnight, Cleveland time. Don’t worry about having the same answer as someone else, just put it in your own words. It isn’t a contest to see who is a better writer. Remember though…EXACTLY 64 words!
With that said…Here’s today’s question to respond to:
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
35 Comments
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
The Cavs are the closest to winning a title in my opinion, and so with that said, If I were Santa I would give them an extra boost. Since I believe Chris Bosh would look great paired with Lebron in Cleveland after 2010, I would just go ahead and give him to the Cavs early and get Lebron and Bosh to sign long extensions.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would resurrect the careers of:
Joe Montana
Jim Brown
Jerry Rice
Michael Irvin
Paul Warfield
Lawrence Taylor
Dick Butkus
Lou Groza
DeMarcus Ware
Sean Jones
Deion Sanders
Ed Reed
Herb Adderly
Then I would fire Romeo and replace him with Paul Brown himself. If THAT team can’t win a few Super Bowls in Cleveland, we are far more doomed than we ever thought.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
It has to be a coach that is feared by the players. We don’t need a coach that’s well liked by the players, because that means that he is more of a friend than a coach. The players should respect the coach, not be best buds. Obviously RAC is a friend, as demonstrated by the poor play, and the horse play behind the scenes.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
The Tribe could use another solid starter, the Browns could use another team/coach/general manager/take your pick entirely. But I’ll settle on the Cavs getting Chris Bosh for Wally and Sasha which is, of course, as realistic as Santa Claus in the first place. Wally would have to come back to the Cavs after 30 days though; I’ll miss his high fives and too much.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Browns a new owner, willing to spend ANY amount of money to win a Super Bowl. Not that Randy Lerner is really that bad; he’s been trying. But it seems he doesn’t have the “win at any cost” mentality. He may surprise us all by firing Romeo AND Savage, and hiring Cowher. But it definitely starts from the top down.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
First off, how do you know I’m not Santa? Secondly, if I were him (not saying I am or am not), I’d give the Cavaliers home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Boston couldn’t win on the road in the playoffs last year and have yet to be truly tested on the road this year. The Cavaliers plus home court advantage equals an NBA title.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
Despite the Cavs being closer, Santa Lars is an Indians fan first and foremost. The gift that puts the Indians over the top is a three team trade netting Albert Pujols and Tim Lincecum in exchange for Jeremy Sowers and Michael Aubrey. Oh, and I’d probably kick in a few billion dollars to the Dolan family that’s only to be spent on the Indians.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Indians a significantly larger budget so they can make moves during the offseason. The Tribe doesn’t really do anything when it comes to the free agent market, but I think it’s important that they do start making high profile signings. Maybe it’s just because I’m bitter that they didn’t pick up Casey Blake, but doesn’t Manny sound great right now?
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Browns the entire coaching staff, personnel and ownership group that the Steelers have. As much as I hate to say it, the Steelers are run like a well-oiled machine. I envy them. I would also give the Indians a few million more so we could sign a power hitting outfielder and the flexibility to sign an experienced starting pitcher.
I would give the Browns Jim Tressel, the Cavs Michael Jordan, and the Indians A-Rod.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
The cavs are on the brink, so if I were santa I would give every member on the team full health and invulnerability to injury. This team is clicking on all cylinders and I can see us taking a big blow to the team chemistry because we lose a player for an extended period of time. Unless its Szczerbiak, he doesn’t seem to matter.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Cavs Dwight Howard. Yes, I know Big Z is playing inspired basketball right now, but no one, and I mean no one, plays the 5 better night in and night out than the new Superman. I would give Howard to the Cavs (who would then have a pretty strong case to make for Bosh in 2010) and rings would follow.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I’m with scott. I believe santa is a cleveland fan and has secretly been brewing that mess in phoenix in order to allow an amare to cleveland deal. With amare as a cav we would win for the next 10 years. Mo, boobie, delonte, lebron, hickson and amare are the future of the cavs. Please santa, cleveland is long overdue for a championship gift.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the city of Cleveland back the original Browns, the ones who knew how to play tough defense, the ones that could make playing the Steelers mean something, the Browns team that gave us a competitive game week in and week out. The teams of Kosar and Brown and Minnifield and Dixon , Sipe and Warfield. The Browns team we grew up loving.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
While the Browns could use a coach and the Cavs could use another elite scorer, I’d give the Indians a mid-nineties Albert Belle. The bullpen seems to be in order and there is potential in the rotation, but Shapiro has not yet addressed the need for a heavy-hitting corner outfielder–the type of guy who can slug 50 homers and 50 doubles.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I like Scott’s idea of Amare Stoudemire, but would that work? I mean, if Amare really wants to be the man, it might not be feasible with LBJ- even if LeBron is a world-class facilitator. I would give the Cavs a Boris Diaw type of big man that can give depth behind Varejao, Z, and Ben, play great defense, and knock down open shots.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I believe so much in the Cavaliers right now that I would leave them alone. I would help the Indians by giving them a time machine and bring back the 1995 Indians to finish what rightfully should have been theirs. I watch Wahoo What a Finish! every April to start off my season, and I still hate the Braves and David f’ing Justice.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
Due to the recession, Santa is in an especially giving mood this year;
one thing to each team is what we want to hear.
The Indians get an outfielder who is a big bopper.
The Browns get a pass rusher who can double as a run stopper.
The Cavaliers are closest to a championship run,
so they get an extension with LeBron James done.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
Inspired by mgbode, I reply in verse.
What Santa must bring is an end to the curse!
I refer to that of Rocky Colavito.
The effects have been felt from here to Toledo!
Santa, remember two Octobers past,
Fausto was invincible and Grady was fast!
Bring midges, Santa, and let them fly all about.
The Tribe will be champs, while the opponents will pout!
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I swear I typed this before reading Brian’s answer. I would bring back the 1995 Indians to play the 2009 season. It was a fluke that team didn’t win it all. They were WITHOUT QUESTION the best team to ever play Major League Baseball. Look at what those players have become – you could almost field an All Star team with just the ‘95 Indians.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Browns the “Big Tuna” himself. If Bill Parcells can turn a 1-15 into a team one freaking win away from a division crown, just imagine what he could do for the Brownies. Bill would give us the right coach, right players, and right personell in the front office as well. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give all the Cleveland sports teams a time machine so they could travel back to their most recent glory years and alter the course of history by approaching games and plays differently. Imagine what would have happened if the Browns had foresight to see The Drive or if, in advance, the Indians could have seen Jose Mesa get destroyed in game seven.
Arthur Blank. A guy who I once thought was a skeez ball the way he stood up for Mike Vick now has my respect on a professional level. The man had a goal (many thought unreachable) of remaking the image of the Atlanta Falcons and he did just that. The Cleveland Browns could use a remake right about now. Like Extreme Home Makeover style.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Indians what is rightly theirs, that is MANNY RAMIREZ. His fielding off of the Jake’s green monster would be enough amusement to bring him back alone. Top that off with him being arguably the best hitter in baseball, combine him with Grady and Choo and we will be back playing October baseball in no time. Bring back Manny, please Santa!
I like JJs idea actually, i could see it working. also superman Dwight Howard to the cavs would be cool…
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
Ho Ho Ho! Romeo almost put Cleveland on my naughty list but I think I should give the Browns players some tenacity. I have seen flashes of grit from some but not enough! Seriously though, I want to see a Cleveland team that really does leave everything on the field. I want a hardworking team to compete in a blue collar division like ours.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Tribe a source to generate an additional $30 million for player salaries. I believe the Indians braintrust will spend wisely, either to keep the CCs or the Gradys, or play in the top tier market. They’ve always been just one or two players away from winning it all. This would free them to make the decisions they want to make.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Cavs a LeBron James extension, Al Jefferson and a Wally Z buyout and return to the Cavs. This would by far put the Cavs over the top and give us a front court that NO ONE could even begin to contend with. And, obviously the extension just picks the whole city and team up. 2009 Finals here we come baby!!!
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
The Cavs a sharp shooting big man. The equivalent to a Dirk, Okur, or even Kufos. It would kill two birds with one stone as far as Cavalier needs and make them SERIOUS title contenders. I agree that if we do get a big man, more of the Amare or Bosh type would be appreciated for the D. But chicks dig the three ball!
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
Cleveland’s sports teams need something that always evades us…a lucky break. It seems when everything is on the line, things that make a difference never go our way. The Drive, The Fumble, game 7 of the 1997 Series, The Shot…the list goes on. If we got some of the same breaks other teams seem to get, would we still be waiting for next year?
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I also like JJs idea, Tuna has built winners everywhere he’s been. Bill Cower to coach up the studs that Tuna brings in would be nice. A true lead-off batter for the tribe so we could put Grady in the two or three hole where he belongs. The Cavs just need a shutdown defender & the ship is in Cleveland where it belongs…
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the Indians a resurrection of the 1997 Indians. Although this just may be rose colored glasses, there are no teams in the current era that could match up to the shear strength we had then. I would also give that team 1 more solid starting pitcher just to make sure it was a shoe in. I would also replace Jose Mesa.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
I would give the city of Cleveland a wizard so he could reverse the curse that is over the city of Cleveland. There are numerous examples of this curse that everyone knows about, so I do not need to give examples. The worldwide leader in sports does that every chance they get. The curse would be reversed and the Cavs would become World Champions.
If you were Santa and could give one thing to a Cleveland area sports team to help them win a title, what would it be?
If I were Santa, I would give the Tribe and Larry Dolan the Steinbrenner’s bank account number. This would allow then to go sign a starting pitcher, a closer, and power hitting outfielder and someone that can play third base and hit. Plus this would keep money from the evil empire that they could not use to sign their team of allstars. Merry Christmas!!