Im from Hungary and I became a fan of the Cavs in 2008 when I was 17. I was going through a love depression and just the general teenage years of uncertainty and insecurities. Im a Real Madrid fan for more than 12 years now but I was very fortunate that I fell in love with this team back then because I needed another sports culture to follow religiously.
That time was all about LeBron and naturally he was my favorite player too. I felt an almost personal connection as he showed me how to be poised, confident and accountable in life. Or at least I thought. The night of the decision I stayed up for what was 4am for me and I remember shaking in anger, disappointment and hopelessness. Ive never even been to Cleveland but I felt betrayed. To this day I am very emotional about the subject and I wasnt ready to forgive LeBron even after his new letter this summer.
However once he left I started to follow the team much more closely. I found out about the history of the city and area, about all the great players, front office personnel and announcers. I got hyped up for drafts and stayed up for the long nights to watch games and anything I could. I guess during this time I realized that sometimes the name on the front of your jersey means much more than the one on the back. I took this analogy to life as well and I could say that by following the Cavs through the "worse" times has made me into a more complete person.
I found it very hard to be able to show forgiveness to my teenage hero/villain this summer. There was even a condescending user here on RCF that simply posted: "Forgiveness bro, try it". However, with everything else that has happened in my life during this year Ive grown up enough to realize that the world doesnt revolve around me. One thing that LeBron/Kyrie and other NBA starts i feel still struggle with. Either way I am much more welcoming of LeBron now because of what new hope he has given back to Cleveland and how our off-season shaped up so incredibly.
What I was trying to say with all this is that you all who are from Cleveland or a fan of the Cavs should be proud. I know I cannot begin to comprehend the history and all the heartbreaks you have felt, but I hope it at least compensates somewhat that your city and team was able to fill such a huge role in my life. I am a better person for having followed the team, dealing with all its adversities and seeing all your opinions on RCF as well. Even if Im just one person, I think there are many more out there in the world that associate Cleveland as a beacon of light in their lives. So instead of being negative, saying Cleveland is cursed etc, try to sometimes remember the positives too
I know that I will forever stay with this team, no matter the circumstances and I cannot wait for the day when I can attend a game at the Q and then celebrate later downtown in my Andy jersey
PS:
I was so much invested in the Cavs/NBA/players that I was considering writing my Bsc thesis on how sports can be used to showcase leadership qualities and approaches. I was turned down because the topic was to difficult for a Bsc thesis apparently, but soon Ill try again as my Masters course approaches thesis time!