Think home court isn't an advantage? Think again. The Q is one of the most difficult places for opposing teams to play...just ask the other GM's in the league.
NBA.com recently surveyed the league's 30 general managers on a variety of subjects. 11 of 29 general managers (37.9 percent) picked the Cavaliers #1 as having the best homecourt advantage in the NBA.
All 20,562 fans in The Q and the 15,000+ of you Fanatics make this possible. Keep it coming because we're going to need every one of you this year.
"Welcome back, Your dreams were your ticket out. Welcome back, To that same old place that you laughed about. Well the names have all changed since you hung around, But those dreams have remained and they're turned around."
As I planned how to welcome in the 40th season of Cavaliers basketball, I felt the pressure of doing something BIG. I would even say something XL (shameless marketing plug). But for some reason I kept coming back to the theme song from "Welcome Back, Kotter." Not the real one because, honestly, I wasn't born when it was on air. No, I'm referring to the one JD sang on Scrubs when Dr. Cox came back to the hospital. I thought about the lyrics and you know what? It fits for this season. The dreams we have for a title is our ticket out of this drought in Cleveland. We're back in that same old place that we laughed at and had so many great memories last season. The names have changed, obviously with our moves this off season, but that dream of a championship is now turning around into a reality for all of us. See how I tied that altogether?
It has been 4 long months that we have been without Cavaliers basketball and I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that that's too long. The off season was good to us. So as practice begins and the Wine & Gold Scrimmage grows near, let's give some "Welcome back" shout outs.
Welcome back, basketball...I love this game! (Sounds like this should be an advertising slogan for a pro-basketball league)
Welcome back, Shaq...now it's time to VS the 29 other teams in the NBA.
Welcome back, Delonte...'nuff said.
Welcome back, Vanilla Ice...yeah, he's still touring.
Welcome back, Backstreet Boys...yeah, they are releasing another album. You know what...I take this one back.
Welcome back, Derrick Anderson...as a Steelers fan, trust me, I am happy to see him at the helm rather than Brady.
Welcome back, CavFanatics...not all 15,000+ have been on the site since the end of the season so for all of you returning from your hiatus...good day to you!
Welcome back, Fall...this is my second favorite season, behind Spring of course.
Welcome back, Brett Favre...I don't really mean this. I just thought that since I am writing about something sports related, I am obligated to mention his name and that he is playing football...AGAIN.
Welcome back, Cavaliers Basketball...for the 40th season. We have missed you.
Welcome back to you, the CavFanatic reading my blog...thank you.
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 05:39 PM EST
[General]
The say life begins at 40. If that's the case, then I guess I should look at turning 30 this coming January with a little more optimism. As you age, you start to find limitations that you never had. You can't run as fast as you once could, a "late night" now means that you were able to stay up and see the 11:00pm episode of Family Guy on Adult Swim and the sneakers you rocked on your high school basketball team are now being re-released as "retro." Take for example his "Airness," Michael Jordan. As he evolved in his own greatness, even he showed that age brings limitations . The transition from the Bulls Jordan to the Wizards era of MJ saw a much different type of style of play. The sheer speed and raw talent that he once used was now replaced with methodical execution and strategic moves. But after watching the greatest professional basketball player of all time give his acceptance speech in the Basketball Hall of Fame, it appears that MJ has now become a middle-aged man who is not only bitter about not being able to play the game the way he once could but also about grievances experienced long ago. Limitations are not illusions. They are realities that are there to help us but most importantly to humble us. It is the reason his greatness watches games from suite in a suit and not on the sidelines in his shorts.
But there are exceptions to this aging rule. Look no further than your Cleveland Cavaliers. As the Wine & Gold Scrimmage grows near and the home opener creeps closer and closer, this year marks the 40th season of Cavaliers basketball. Unlike the aforementioned effects of aging described above, the Cavs seem to be more like wine or whiskey when it comes to aging...we just get better with age. Our roster has the most talented group of players to ever wear the wine and gold, our fan base is the largest it has ever been (with a special thanks to the almost 15,000 Fanatics) and the expectations for this season are set at nothing short of an NBA championship. Too much for a 40 year old to accomplish? Some may think so. But if life does begin at 40, I'm looking forward to what the future holds for our Cavaliers. The great thing is, we don't have to wait long to find out.
It didn't have the viral video that Mo had for the new Hyperize shoes, but LeBron's launch of the 7th chapter of his shoe arsenal is the best yet. Although not on sale, you can see from the pictures below that these are, without a doubt, the best LeBron's yet! Click here to watch the story behind the shoe from the words of LeBron and designer Jason Petrie. Stay tuned for more details as more colorways become available...there a pair of all white with navy trim in the video that I WILL have (sorry M&M)!
The summer is winding down and that can only mean one thing: 2010 Nike Basketball Shoe Releases! Yes, after a month long hiatus, I am back at the most important time for the most important time (IMO) of the off season. It's not off season acquisitions and Free Agency, although we got ourselves some players that are "noice and toight...like a toyger" (Goldmember voice). It's not summer ball. It's not the schedule being released. No, my fellow Fanatics, it's time to see the latest kicks for next season.
Yes, LeBron is launching his new Zoom VII's today, however, we must pay homage to Mo for his starring role in Nike's latest video promoting their Hyperize shoe. It is a compilation video of Mo (aka Fog Raw), Kevin Durant (aka Velvet Hoop), Andre Iguodala (aka Chief Blocka) and Rashard Lewis (aka HGH....just kidding...Ice-O) rapping about Nike's team shoe for this season, Hyperize. The shoe came out at the end of the Playoffs last season but players will be sporting them this season. There are a bunch of new styles out already like the "White Men Can't Jump" edition for Sydney Dean and Billy Hoyle, GI Joe edition for Destro, special ones for the Philipines, London and Paris and many more. However, the video below does more to promote them than any picture could ever do. Enjoy and make sure to share with friends. NIKE has done it again! It is priceless.
