Just like the prodigal son, I've returned.  Thanks to Moondog, who's heart is bigger than his brain sometimes, he dedicated a blog to me about my recovery from shoulder surgery.  Not to get into details, but I had a torn labrum in my left shoulder.  Regardless of what you think about Chad Johnson/Ocho Cinco, that dude IS playing hurt and I respect for him for playing through the pain.  Trust me, he's in pain.  Anyway, thanks to Dr. Schickendantz (yes, that's his name) and the good people at the Cleveland Clinic, they cut me open, put me back together and in roughly 8 months, I will be back on the court taking on MovieFish and The Source.  I am officially going on record to protest their victories at our United Way 3-Point Shoot Out and Skills Competition because I was on the "physically unable to perform" list.  I am aiming to be back by January...I want to be back when Agent Zero is back so Moondog will have both of his starting fantasy guards back all at once.  (All kidding aside, thanks Dog.) 

Does anybody know what "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc" means?  It's a rhetorical question, kids.  It is Latin for: "After this, therefore because of this."  It is a coincidental correlation...like say, the Browns lost to the Steelers because of the terrible weather.  The Browns lost to the Steelers because the Steelers are just a better team in every facet of the game...PERIOD.  Now I know that may ruffle some of your feathers but 10 in a row and 16 or the last 17 is not a coincidence...it is inevitability.

I titled this edition of "Ryz Knows Best" with this phrase because of the ongoing speculation of TheBron's^TM (I don't know if The Optimist has trademarked this or not so I will give him the credit he deserves and error on the side of caution) departure from the Land of Cleve that the media perpetuates.  I don't want to write anything that will make Admin Witness deny me of my First Amendment right and not publish my blog nor do I want TC to come down from the 6th floor and give me a good lecturing.  All I am going to say is, in my opinion, he can root for whatever team he wants.  He can hang out with whomever he wants.  His preferences in baseball teams or boroughs in New York or football teams or "the hip-hop" does not automatically mean he is off to NY or Brooklyn in 2010.  It is a fallacy and conjecture that is intended to turn an extra ordinary day in sports to...well, extraordinary.  Could some of these things be a coincidence?  Yes, but it is not a cause for him leaving.  It is flat out superstitious.  It is no different than thinking that carrying an acorn brings you good luck or that breaking a mirror brings you 7 years bad luck or that a dog eating grass means it is going to rain. 

The ancient Greek philospher, Phyrrho, believed that everything can be doubted except appearences.  So when it comes to the speculation of TheBron^TM leaving, I guess I'll believe it when I see it.  Until then, there is one thing that I will continue to hold on to and believe in and that is: "One for All.  All for One."

Gotta run.  I can't find my rabbit's foot...

The flux capacitor really "fluxes" things up if you're not careful.  I mean, just last week: I was in a walking boot from a nasty ankle sprain (don't ask how it happened), the Cavs organization was enjoying a loooong weekend of cold beverages, warm weather, great food at the Taste of Cleveland and bone shaking fly-by's from the Cleveland Air Show.  Mark Podolak had hair, La Resistance was still resisting, no one knew who Sarah Palin was and CavFanatic.com only had a mere 1,900 members.  And now look how things are: I'm out of the boot, Podes went all Ed Norton in "American History X" on us, men across America (regardless of Party affiliation) are secretly hoping to see Palin for four more years, La Resistance has surrendered and CavFanatic.com is now over 2,300 Fanatics.  If this trend continues, "The Fanatic" better get an assistant and Admin Witness might have to see a chiropractor to realign his back from all the slaps he'll be getting for taking an idea and turning it into the wildfire that is starting to spread...all well deserved I might add.

But what about the Cavaliers?  Did we have a hangover from the Labor Day weekend?  Did we eat too much at The Taste?  Well, Moondog might have.  Did we go to alternate 2008?  It's a rhetorical question but I'll answer it...NO!  It was back to business as usual for us in "Rome."  And starting Monday, its time to "Get Pumped" CavFanatics.  How's that for a teaser? 

                                                                                                    "Great Scott!"

For nowm I'm off to enjoy the weekend.  We're hopping in the Delorean, hitting 88 mph so we can generate the 1.21 Jigga-watts and head "back to the future" to see Mega 80's at the House of Blues tonight.  The ladies will be wearing their slap bracelets, have their hair crimped and rocking their jelly shoes while guys will have their shoe laces out of those Adidas sneakers and some might even have their pants pegged while wearing a tank top.  For one night, we go back and get a chance to have a night out with the music we grew up on.  There will be pictures...don't worry.  As Ahmaad would say,  "Oh boy!"

Have a great weekend and talk to you on Monday.

First and foremost, congratulations are in order to not only the Redeem Team for bringing home the Gold and putting the United States back on top of the basketball universe, but to each and every Olympian that draped themselves in the red, white and blue at the Olympic games.  Whether you came home with a medal around your neck or not, you represented yourselves and our country with dignity, honor and respect.  (Moondog, cue up Lee Greenwood.)

I want to take a minute from the normal sarcastic and humorous tone of my blogs that you have become accustomed to and shift gears for a minute.  For the past 2 weeks, the entire Cavaliers organization has been holding various fundraising events in cooperation with the United Way.  These "fun-raising" events were comprised of things like a silent auction, the opportunity to drop our President, Len Komoroski, in a dunk tank, an all you can eat breakfast buffet, a hot dog luncheon buffet and even a 3-point shooting competition and skills challenge.  Unfortuntately, yours truly will be unable to participate in the challenge because of an upcoming shoulder surgery that will repair a torn labrum and ligaments I suffered during on of our morning runs with "the clique" before work.  My money is on Brew or The Source (Admin6).  But I digress...

The United Way provides programs for more than 400,000 of us each year through nearly 180 programs.  In 2008 alone, the United Way will spend over $53 MILLION in health and humanity services in our community.  They are responsible for programs that help people of all ages and capacities.  The money's collected go to support the basic needs of children such as child care for low-income families, mental services, adoption services or just overall youth development.  They help adults overcome substance abuse, disabilities, assets with training and services for displaced workers and literacy programs.  The United Way also makes a conscious effort to help the elderly in our community as well with hospice care, senior centers and transportation services.  They are like LeBron, they do it all.  But just like LeBron, they can't do it without help. 

I commend not only all who have donated these past two weeks in our company but, more importantly, the people here at the Cavaliers who put these past two weeks together.  They have made all of us aware of the need and importance of the United Way in our community and that we all have a responsibility to help our community and those who are unable to help themselves.

Whether it is the United Way or another organization in your area that you can assist with, there are ways that you can help make the place you call home a better place for everyone who shares it with you.  Regardless of whether you're on the court, at home, at work or in the community, remember that it is, has been and forever will be: All for One.  One for All. 

There have been so many impressive "wins" or "victories" over the past few days in the world of sport/entertainment that I wanted to take a minute to recognize some of the more impressive ones.

...Team USA, again, for an impressive victory over the Aussie Kangaroos.  Congrats on your victory! Now you get to take on the team that bounced you from the Games in Athens.  Scola, Oberto, Nocioni, Delfino, Manu and Argentina.  That's a pretty...pretty....pretty good team. 

...Michael Phelps.  Due to his fear of flying, he decided to swim back to the states and actually made it in record time.

...Kyle Busch, who won his third race in the Craftsman Truck Series last night.  Busch extended his record for combined victories in NASCAR's three top series to 17.  I don't know if that's good or not but it's a record and he won something so I decided to put it in here.  I don't get NASCAR.  Here's all I know: you drive in circles for an extended period of time, you have a lot sponsors, your wife/girlfriend has to be hot, there is a weird point scoring system and it's one way Jeff Foxworthy says you can tell if you're a redneck.  Is that right, MTM?

...Pittsburgh Steelers.  They signed James Farrior to a 5-year deal securing their linebacker core of the steel curtain.  Yes, I'm a Steelers fan.  Wanna fight about it?  Just for the record, I have made no secrets about it that I think the Browns will win one game this year against the Steelers ending the 9 game winning streak by the Black and Gold (that should tell you what game I think they will lose), but I hope I am wrong.  It has happened twice before, but the one time I thought I was wrong I was actually right.

...Japan's Olympic Softball Team.  They beat Team USA 3-1 for the gold medal.  This was the first time Team USA lost since 2000.  Note to Team USA basketball...this could be you!

...CavFanatic.com.  The website, about 3-months into it's BETA launch recorded it's 1,900th profile this week and is now up to over 1,930 Fanatics.

...Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Walsh.  They won back-to-back gold medals in women's volleyball last night and already announced they will defend their gold in 2012.  What's more impressive, they didn't lose a set in 7 consecutive matches...wearing bikinis!

...Bob Saget, who was "honored," if you can call it that, by being roasted on Comedy Central.  If you haven't seen it, make it a point to catch a replay.  Academy award winner, Cloris Leachman, who I might add is 82 years young, stole the show by far.  If you don't know who she is, click here.  (If you clicked to find out who she was, shame on you.)  I wish I could repeat some of her bit but Admin Witness is...well, he's an enforcer when it comes to foul language on the site.  However, here was one of her clean lines, "Someone please punch me in the face so I can see some stars!"  Jeffrey Ross and Gilbert Gottfried were great as well.  Norm McDonald was absolutely brilliant.

...ME!  I was actually deemed by the powers that be of CavFanatic.com as a Cavaliers employee with the "best profile."  I have no clue of the criteria nor think that mine is better than any other's, most notably Joe Gabriele's, Moondog's, Mandizzle's or The Fanatic's, but I humbly accept this award.  I'd like to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for through him all things are possible; my mother and father for deciding to stay in on that spring night in April ‘79; the Cavaliers for giving this bright eyed and energetic boy from Youngstown a shot; Admin Witness for making his vision a success and giving me a soapbox to speak from; the Fanatic for being, well, a Fanatic; Miss Holland; my grade school computer teacher who taught me how to type without looking at the key board; (music starts to play) ummm...ummm...and lastly, all of you on CavFanatic for reading because without you there is no CavFanatic.  All for One. One for All.

Two blogs in one week?  Yes, it is an anomaly and only happens under extenuating circumstances during the off-season but after yesterday's move by Danny Ferry, I think this warrants another soliloquy.  Let's cut to the chase, we just got better.  And not like 2-3 games better but like became "one of the most dangerous teams in the league" better.  First of all, one of the biggest Cavs killers, avg. 26 pts and 9 dimes against us last year, is now a Cavalier.  Hey, if you can't beat him, buy him.  Mo Williams is a true point guard in every sense of the word.  That's not a knock on Delonte or anyone else on our team, I'm just stating the facts...well, my opinion.  He's a 6'1", 185, point guard who can push the tempo, run the point, create shots, knock down the open shots and, most importantly, shoot 86% from the charity stripe.  Imagine this starting 5 - Mo, Delonte, Z, Ben and TheBron®.  Not too shabby...

Now many people are going to say, "But RyZa, didn't we just lose an important role player with size in the front court with this trade?"  Look, Joe Smith was no average Joe.  Loved the guy and thought that he added something to our team but he was only averaging 6 pts and 4 reb in 20 minutes of action.  We got guys to pick up those minutes, points and boards.  Fact of the matter is, I hate to see Joe Smith and DJ go, but with Mo Williams coming to the Wine and Gold, I don't mind seeing them walk away...if you're picking up what I'm putting down.

To close, I would like to say goodbye to Joe Smith and Damon Jones.  Joe Smith was a great player and arguably one of the biggest pieces to the trade last season as it relates to what he contributed and when he did it.  We needed something done, he did it.  Most importantly, he brought a maturity to the team and a arguable one of the happiest players I've ever seen on and off the court.  He's got a great smile and an even better game.  I wish him luck in OKC. 

Last and certainly not least, DJ.  DJ, DJ, DJ, DJ...what can I say?  We had to pull Ahmaad off the roof when we learned DJ got traded.  We're still keeping a close eye on Ahmaad and he's doing better but I do think he is looking for a timeshare in Milwaukee.  He was the most entertaining player to watch during warm-ups and during the game.  Whether he was putting a "3" on a platter, turning the faucet on or doing his little shimmy before shooting jump shots in warm-ups, he is one of the "best shooters in the world" (his words not mine), and I agree.  When he is on, forget about it.  I think what I'll miss most about DJ are his post game interviews.  You NEVER know what he is going to say and I love it!  If there's a camera on, DJ is on...ALWAYS!  The prodigal son is returning to Milwaukee (ok, he was only there for one season but still...), is in a good system under Skiles and Redd will get him some open looks.  Keep putting it on a platter, DJ!

Joe and DJ, best of luck to you and thank you for all you gave us here with the Cavs.  We welcomed you to the family and you will always be a part of it regardless of the colors you now don.   But, like the Beatles said, "You say goodbye and I say hello."  

Hello, Mo.  Welcome to the Family!