Steve_424
Hall-of-Famer
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2009
- Messages
- 10,555
- Reaction score
- 13,183
- Points
- 123
"Because, plain and simple, being a fan of a loser means more than being a fan of a winner. It takes a bigger person. It takes a better sports fan. Even though every loss, every bad break, every pang of heartache feels like a step backward, it's really just another plank in the path toward something no Yankees fan, no Cowboys fan, no Lakers fan will ever feel: a championship that erases eons-long suffering. A championship paid for with blind, oft-thankless loyalty. A championship that its fan base truly earned through unwavering devotion to a seemingly hapless cause. No, it hasn't materialized yet -- but it's coming. Oh, man, is it coming. And it's financed in moments like Thursday night's. Trust me." - Geoff LaTulippe, July 9, 2010
All three Cleveland teams will make the playoffs next season. One will win a championship. I'm calling my shot right now.
Lets start with the Browns, who finally seem to have turned the corner. No, this isn't because of one win against the Saints. There were some positive signs last year, and they finally have a nice young core to build around. This season will be the final of the rebuild. They'll have two 1st Round picks in 2015, they'll (hopefully) have the QB position figured out, they'll have Josh Gordon back, and they'll take advantage of a division with a Bengals team that has plateaued and Ravens and Steelers teams trending in the wrong direction. They won't be a Super Bowl contender, but they will reach the postseason for the first time since 2002. I'm even feeling chipper enough to predict a 1st Round upset.
The Indians will take care of their "unfinished business" by winning the 2015 Central Division Title. I know, it's hard to envision right now. Consider though that Kipnis and Santana are playing hurt, Swisher is out, they played half of a season with Cabrera/Swisher butchering routine plays, the bullpen is gassed, and they are still only four games from a Playoff spot. It might be tough to feel positive about them right now, but they're closer than we think. The main reason is starting pitching - Kluber, Salazar, Carrasco, Bauer, and House form an exciting, extremely young, extremely talented rotation. They have some nice pieces on offense - Brantley, Santana, Kipnis, Gomes, Chisenhall, Ramirez, and, soon, Lindor. They have some work to do this offseason in adding a bat or two and another reliable bullpen arm, but with the young core intact and our division rivals likely to lose star players (Shields in KC, Scherzer in Detroit), the Indians will be ready to pounce on the opportunity.
Finally, the Cavaliers. This team is absolutely loaded. With a weak Eastern Conference, the Finals are an expectation, not a hope. Once they get there, they should have the talent and a driven LeBron James to lead Cleveland to its first championship since 1964. The Spurs worry me the most, but I wonder if this will finally be the year father time catches up to them a bit. Ginobili and Parker have both battled injuries and, as great as the Spurs were last season, lets not forget OKC pushing them without Ibaka. If the Cavaliers can stay healthy (a big "if" with Andy and Kyrie), I don't see anyone stopping them. A parade in downtown Cleveland celebrating a championship - it will be simply incredible.
I hope you're all ready for 2015 - it will be a year we die-hard Cleveland sports fans have been waiting for for a long, long, long time.
GO BROWNS! GO TRIBE! GO CAVS!
All three Cleveland teams will make the playoffs next season. One will win a championship. I'm calling my shot right now.
Lets start with the Browns, who finally seem to have turned the corner. No, this isn't because of one win against the Saints. There were some positive signs last year, and they finally have a nice young core to build around. This season will be the final of the rebuild. They'll have two 1st Round picks in 2015, they'll (hopefully) have the QB position figured out, they'll have Josh Gordon back, and they'll take advantage of a division with a Bengals team that has plateaued and Ravens and Steelers teams trending in the wrong direction. They won't be a Super Bowl contender, but they will reach the postseason for the first time since 2002. I'm even feeling chipper enough to predict a 1st Round upset.
The Indians will take care of their "unfinished business" by winning the 2015 Central Division Title. I know, it's hard to envision right now. Consider though that Kipnis and Santana are playing hurt, Swisher is out, they played half of a season with Cabrera/Swisher butchering routine plays, the bullpen is gassed, and they are still only four games from a Playoff spot. It might be tough to feel positive about them right now, but they're closer than we think. The main reason is starting pitching - Kluber, Salazar, Carrasco, Bauer, and House form an exciting, extremely young, extremely talented rotation. They have some nice pieces on offense - Brantley, Santana, Kipnis, Gomes, Chisenhall, Ramirez, and, soon, Lindor. They have some work to do this offseason in adding a bat or two and another reliable bullpen arm, but with the young core intact and our division rivals likely to lose star players (Shields in KC, Scherzer in Detroit), the Indians will be ready to pounce on the opportunity.
Finally, the Cavaliers. This team is absolutely loaded. With a weak Eastern Conference, the Finals are an expectation, not a hope. Once they get there, they should have the talent and a driven LeBron James to lead Cleveland to its first championship since 1964. The Spurs worry me the most, but I wonder if this will finally be the year father time catches up to them a bit. Ginobili and Parker have both battled injuries and, as great as the Spurs were last season, lets not forget OKC pushing them without Ibaka. If the Cavaliers can stay healthy (a big "if" with Andy and Kyrie), I don't see anyone stopping them. A parade in downtown Cleveland celebrating a championship - it will be simply incredible.
I hope you're all ready for 2015 - it will be a year we die-hard Cleveland sports fans have been waiting for for a long, long, long time.
GO BROWNS! GO TRIBE! GO CAVS!
