I can put up with many things but there are 3 things in this world that I cannot tolerate: 1. My internship with Moondog 2. People who are intollerate of other people's cultures 3. The Dutch
I am going to therapy for #1 and #'s 2 and 3 are just inserted for humor and, honestly, what blog would be complete without an Austin Power's "Goldmember" reference. But all the talk about LeBron, the Knicks and 2010 has really gotten to me. This story doesn't even mention LeBron, but just think of the difference in media coverage if it was.
With all of the talk about 2010 and what LeBron will do, people forget that Kobe has a player option for next year and is an UNRESTRICTED Free Agent after the 2010/2011 season...everyone except Spike Lee. NBA 2k10 (2k is without a doubt the best sports games ever) released the cover for their game with who else on the front, Kobe. However, Spike Lee, at a "top secret" commercial shoot for the game, jokingly has different covers with current...I'll repeat that because I think it is extremely important, CURRENT Knicks players to see what it would look like. At the end, he holds up an image of Kobe in a Knicks jersey (Click here to read the story).
Now all of this was in jest, or was it? What if that was LeBron on the cover in a Knicks jersey? Every paper from around the country would be covering this story if that was LeBron in the Knicks jersey. I don't know, it just makes me mad to see the difference between the way LeBron is scrutinized for everything he does and then when it is another high profile player inserted into the same type of circumstance, it is not a big deal. What do you think?
This isn't how it was supposed to happen. This isn't how it was supposed to end. It was supposed to be us celebrating on the court. It was supposed to be us talking about how we are going to defend the Lakers. It was supposed to be us with a parade and a championship.
A lot of things are supposed to happen that don't. It is difficult to understand why and even harder to accept it. But we do. Inevitably, we "gird up our loins" and keep on keeping on. We don't do it because we want to...we do it because we have to. Yesterday, M&M's father and I had a discussion and I told him that I can't believe it is over. Just like that (finger snap). His response to me was, "Get used to it. That's what being a Cleveland sports fan is about." But that is not what was supposed to happen this year. Look, you can blame on the refs, blame it on SI, blame it on the al-a-a-al-al-alcohol. The fact of the matter is that there is not joy in Loudville today for the mighty Cavaliers are out. We got beat by a better team. Just because we got beat, doesn't mean we give up hope and lose faith.
As a Cavaliers organization, we are already looking towards next year. Yes, we would rather be looking towards June 4th but sh...stuff happens. The goal is the same and to the more than 3,000+ CavFanatics who joined the following during this year's Playoffs, welcome. Don't get used to this feeling but also, don't forget it. It will make it that much sweeter next year when the season ends...the way it is supposed to.
Thanks for a great season and keep reading. All for one. One for all.
I thought about writing about Game 2. I thought about writing about THE shot. I thought about writing about waking up on Sunday morning to the sound of my next door neighbor's son re-creating THE shot in their driveway (I guess I actually did write about them). But I'm not (even though I did). You see, as memorable as that moment was, it is over. It is a memory. Throughout this entire season, Coach Brown and the team has preached "one practice, one shot, one pass, one game, one shoot around." To relive that moment right now, goes against what made us great this year. There were many moments of joy and awe, but we didn't settle for them. We expected them. Sunday was a rude awakening. Monday was even worse. Today was, unfortunately, rock bottom for me.
We are down 2-1 in a best of 7-game series but we are not out. In a recent poll on Cleveland.com, 57% (and counting) of pollers think that the Cavs will not beat the Magic in the series because, "The Magic are too tough for them." These 57% (and counting) were probably the same ones shouting that the Cavs were going to win the Championship at the end of the regular season. These were probably the same fans who said that LeBron James would not allow the Cavs to lose in the Playoffs after he won the MVP. These were probably the same fans cursing the team for not doing anything at the trade deadline and then praising Danny Ferry at the end of the season for being the best GM in the league. It is easy to be support your team when things are going well. It is harder to support your team when you are the one of the few doing it. But then again, nothing that is worth doing ever is easy. The true test of a man and a team is not witnessed when things are going well, it is during times of adversity when we find out what individuals are truly made of. The Cavs will show us this tonight. I can only hope that as a "true fan," you show what you are made of during this time as well. All of one. One for all...PERIOD
