I'm Back Baby!

     I realize I haven’t written in a while, and I apologize. Not to make excuses, but I was in a bit of a funk but I am back. The sports juices are flowing through me again, and I am ready to write.  And I am going to start with basketball and ‘you know who’.  He whose name I despise to say, the former “King”.  But I will say, that I’m glad he lost his crown after he “took his talents to south beach Florida.” In that city, he is not the King.  He was only the King here in Cleveland because he was the only one.  In Miami Dwayne Wade is the King.  

     Anyway, so we’re down to the western and eastern conference finals.  It is the Thunder and Mavericks in the West, and the Bulls and the Heat in the East. I am very please to see the Mavericks, not just beat the Lakers but to see them sweep them. I do believe it is time for a changing of the guard, it’s a new era. Not only were the Lakers kicked out of the finals, but so were the Celtics.  As much as I hate the Celtics and wish to never see Paul Pierce win another championship, I had mixed feelings about that outcome.  I didn’t know who to root for.  Call me biased, but I think I wanted revenge on Lebron more than I wanted to see the better team win.  

     In that series, I think injury was a huge factor.  I think the Celtics are a more experienced team then the Heat.  But the Heat knew how to use the injuries to their advantage.  And in this game, all that matters is how many tallies are in the win column.  It doesn’t matter who the better team is, it matters who won.  And many times, that’s not the same thing. 

     The Chicago Bulls had the best record in the NBA during the regular season, have the MVP, have the Coach of The Year, and have beat the Heat every time they played each other in the regular season; yet they are still considered the underdog.  Why is that? Does experience beat out youth? I think the Heat is getting too cocky.    No, let me correct myself, I think Lebron is getting too cocky. He just finally beat his rival team, the one team the Cavs could never get past, and now he’s playing a young team. The good thing about the seven game series is, it usually brings out the best of the two teams.  Let’s just hope that’s what happens here... either way it’s going to be a gripping, and exciting series.  This is like watching the Steelers play the Ravens.  You know it’s going to be a close game, you know it’s going to become a personal game, and you know it’s going to be a very defensive game. Now I am going to go watch the game, but trust me, I’ll be back. Soon! 

And this is why I HATE sports...

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I pride myself on the fact that I will always stand by my team no matter what.  I am a fan of Cleveland sports, I have to stay positive or I'd always be disappointed by last minutes chokes.  BUT Lebron James is the best thing that has came to Cleveland sports in a very long time.  And he can't keep getting our hopes up just to shut us down.  What the Hell was that?? The last game of the Boston series was a disgrace.  Lebron just gave up.  He quite playing and let Rondo take the game.  How could he do that to us? I don't understand how you can dominate during the whole regular season and then just crumble when it counts.  Some people blamed it on drama with Delonte West and his mom, but c'mon!! Seriously!?! You are a professional, you get paid millions of dollars to not let that shit get to you. You have one job in life and that is to make the baskets when it counts.  Not fumble all over yourself like you're drunk or have never played a day in your life.  I seriously was embarrassed to be wearing my number 23 jersey, and I never thought that would happen.  The whole team was off for the whole series.  It was like they didn't want to win.  They all looked as if they gave up.  That just goes to show that if Lebron doesn't do all the work then nothing gets done.  That's sad.   I'm running out of words that can express my anger, disappointment, disgust...
And now the team fired coach Brown because "Lebron wanted them to." Really??? How egotistical and selfish can you be? I have always respected Lebron James.  When I say I'm a Cavs fan people automatically assume it's because of Lebron, but let me tell you... I am a Cavs fan, not a Lebron fan.  I won't follow him if he leaves! I will always think he is an amazing player and love what he has done for the city of Cleveland but if he leaves, I'll still be a Cavs fan.  And after these last two years of having such faith and coming so close I've lost a lot of respect for him.  He has been called the King yet hasn't acted like a king.  I do believe he deserved his MVP trophies because he is the most valuable player of the regular season but thats where it ends.  If he can't get the job done he doesn't deserve the crown.
AND if he does decide to leave Cleveland after all that the fans have been through with him and the team as well, firing Brown and bringing in Shaq, trying to do whatever they can to accommodate him to get that ring, especially after he was born and raised in Ohio, and the Cavs took him straight out of high school I will have no respect for him.  Cuz if he can't get the job done in Cleveland, he sure as hell wont be able to get it anywhere else.
My jersey will stay on it's hanger until further notice...

P.S. Bryan Leonard Covey, you were right, I was wrong.  The Celtics played a better series than the Cavaliers. Only for you!! ;-)

Anything is possible

Ya know one thing I really love about sports is no matter how messed up the world is or even how messed up my world is they never change.  They will always be there.  You can count on the fact that every Sunday you'll have a football game to watch.  No matter what, you didn't pay your rent today well football is still on, the world has tragedies, and football is still on.  Playing through everything and always playing in the honor of something makes them play better.  I love that a game can save someones hope and beliefs. I love that a game can make people smile again on the worst day of their lives.  That is all it takes to change someone mood or even bring people together whether it's a really good or even a really bad game.  It's something to bond over.  I love that they prove that no matter what, hard work and dedication will ALWAYS pay off.

You know what else I love... routing for the underdog.  And when they win.  When they beat the odds and win, when they beat the better team when it counts.  When they can prove everybody wrong and shut everybody up with one on-sides kick.
And that's why I love sports.

A new found zen

Today is the first day of a new class and the start of new semester. I
walked into a building I've never been in before, on a campus I only
visited once a week last semester. Today was probably about to be the
busiest day of this semester saying how my boss didn't know I had
class and scheduled me to work during the only time I had between
classes. Not even giving me enough time to drive to the next
destination. So anyway, I walk into this building for the first time.
I'm early so I look for a seat. I found a row of rather comfortable
looking chairs facing a dark window. I sit down and think to myself
"Why are these chairs facing this dark window, why are these windows
even here?" then from the dark gloomy glair of an open door across the
way I see what I am starring at. A dark, empty, peacful basketball
court. Now that my eyes have focused I can see the hoop hanging in
solidarity, the shiny wood floor starring back at me. It took my
breath away. I have never felt more calm. It was like it was a sign
from God for me to just take a breath cus' I was gonna get through the
day! :-)

What is going on?

My teams are failing me.  The Steelers play tonight.  They play the Browns which according to history is going to be a very good game.  However, Hines Ward is out, Troy Polamalu is still out, and Big Ben is still coming off on a concussion.  This is the first time I am actually scared to play the Browns.  My Steelers haven't been doing so well this season, I think losing to the Browns will not only jeopardize the playoff chances but also lower the teams self esteem and momentum.  Could you imagine the previous super bowl champs losing to their 1-11 rivals? Ugh... the thought alone disgusts me.  It's bad enough we lost to the Raiders.  That was pretty heart wrenching.  

Not only are my Steelers failing me, but so are my little Cavs. Now I didn't think they were doing so bad until I was online checking out the latest news in sports and on the the top of the sportscenter.com page was an article entitled "What's wrong with Cleveland?" Now that's my city, don't talk about my city that way.  But they are right... What is going on with the Cleveland Cavaliers? That article showed that the Cavs are currently 15-7.  Now that doesn't seem too bad, but when you see that at this time last year they were 19-3 it makes you (at least me) a little nervous.  I thought everybody said that Shaq was supposed to be our saving grace, and the answer to our championship prayers.  Then what is going on? Where is Shaq to save the day and save our reputation? I've been saying since day one I don't think we need Shaq. And I'll say it again... I DON'T THINK WE NEED SHAQ! Until he can prove himself as a valuable player and as a Cleveland Cavalier he doesn't deserve to get so much hype. Especially since he's obviously not doing what he came on to do.  That's just my opinion... as I promised! :-)

Go Steelers, beat the Browns tonight!! :-)

Day of Hot Topics

Ok I know this is so overdone, but I need to address the Tiger situation.  I have grown up watching and rooting for Tiger Woods.  He truly is an amazing talent.  He is part of the reason I love golf.  I watch it to see what crazy thing he'll pull out next.  After watching him, I had to learn how to play.  He is a huge role model to so many people.  BUT that does not mean that is life is any less private.  Unless what he was doing has anything to do with his golf game then it nobody's business. And since it didn't, everybody needs to mind their own business.  I do not condone, nor agree with adultery but if that is what he's doing then let him deal with it.  He will get his punishment, it is not up to us to see that he gets caught or gets justice.  Leave the poor man alone and let him deal with it himself.

Now that I got that off my chest.  Someone please tell me what is going on with my Steelers. Well, Big Ben is hurt AGAIN... so they bring in our third string QB, not our back up QB, Charlie Batch because he is injured as well.  So third string quarterback Dennis Dixon is brought in to play against one of our biggest rivals and the best defense yet he's only thrown one career pass ever!! But... in his defense, he did a very good job at running the offense and completing his plays.  He was very close to getting the win the team needed so badly.  He took us to overtime, but unfortunately couldn't finish the job! Maybe next week, eh?

GO NEW ORLEANS! I am very pleased to see them go 11-0.  However, I am very displeased to see that Indianapolis is doing that well as well.  But the Saints just beat the Patriots! HAHA good job Saints.

I saw that AI is planning on retiring! Even though I am a new fan to this sport, I am honestly a little sad.  He is such a great player.  But then I heard that he is planning on returning to the 76ers.  I think it's cool he wants to end with the team he started with. And I also thinks it's cool that he is taking time off to spend time with his family.  He is at the prime of his career, he could stay and play and make more money (that he probably doesn't need) but he decided to leave while he's ahead and take care of what matter most to him. I think that's awesome!! :-)

There is Nothing Like it

When your stomach is turning with anticipation, when your head is spinning with excitement, when you scream so loud you feel the team themselves can hear you, when you can't sit down because you want to see him hit that shot, or make that throw.  There is nothing like it.  That was how I felt last Sunday when my Steelers were beat by our biggest competition the Cincinnati Bengals.  That game was already won in my head.  And that was where I went wrong.  As a fan you should never assume a win. But I did... I really thought we had that game in the bag.  But our team did not come to play.  I'd like to know where the hell our offensive line went? 'Cuz they weren't at Hines field with the rest of the team.  But bad ending aside, that game is the reason I'm addicted to sports.  That rush that you get watching your team right on the verge of a win or lose, where the game could go either way.  Like when Phillip Rivers won the game for the Chargers in the last few seconds.  That game was so intense and so exciting! It is plays like that that keep the fans coming back. Also, the OSU game.  In overtime the Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes which is a huge rivalry also.  Games that keep us on the edges of our seats is what creates the addicts out there like myself. 

The NBA season is finally here!! :-) I think that this time of year basketball gets over-looked because baseball just ended and football is in full roar! To me this is the best time of year.  So far my Cavs haven't been living up to the standards of last years championship contenders.  But I know they'll come back and be the team we all know and love.  They played the Celtics and lost, but they played the Knicks and won.  Which to me was a good day, but a friend of mine reminded me that if Lebron gets good and comfortable at MSG then he may leave.  That controversy is still up in the air, I have faith he'll make the right choice. :-)