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Miracles: Cavaliers fans in the 70’s and Today Pt. 1
Thanks to everyone who answered my questions comparing these two eras... even those of you who said, “Dude, I’m 22 and I don’t know a damn thing about the 1970’s.” There will be a part 2 featuring similarities and differences between the coaches and actual teams on the floor. I would love to hear from more of our fan base who still remember The Miracle.
PM me this week.
*This article is written for the front page of RCF, and can be viewed on that page with pictures.*
The Stimulus Package
Cleveland has taken to Mo, Redz, Boobie, Big Ben, Wild Thing, Joe Beast, Big Z, and of course King James to the tune of record-breaking profits. According to Terry Pluto, The Q has only witnessed three home games that did not sell out, and merchandise sales this season have increased 108% by last count. The Sports Business Journal has declared this Cavaliers team to be the biggest local ratings boon in the past decade of local NBA telecasts. Can The Cavaliers be seen as a viable tool in the economic turnaround in Cleveland?
“Pip,” a local business leader in the entertainment field and moderator of RealCavsFans.com, offers this viewpoint: “I do see things improving within the city. 4th street is booming, 6th street is booming, the projects for the new city trains are coming along nicely. Downtown is starting to really take shape with the new restaurants and clubs opening up… and as a member of this community for the time being, I do appreciate the efforts that are being put forth within this area. They're working their way inside-out here, and the vision is coming along. Bumps along the way of course, but that goes with virtually everything that takes time to come to fruition.”
While the Cleveland community has backed this Cavaliers team to the best of its ability, stark numbers and stories of our economic downturn remain the 800 pound gorilla in the room when discussing life in Cleveland. Consider the fact that Cleveland unemployment hit 10% in June of 2008. That percentage is expected to be far greater in the upcoming census now that The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced that Ohio’s jobless rate hit a 25 year high of 9.7% this past month. In the face of these statistics, the 800 pound gorilla named “the economy” is dressed as a ballerina and doing an interpretive dance.
“No matter where you're at or what industry your state/city thrives on,” said Pip, “when the backbone becomes fractured, you're gonna suffer in some capacity… but, I just think it makes people more aware of their situation, and a little more choosey in where they put their dollar.”
Nevertheless, Cleveland is supporting this team in dollar bills nearly as much as it does in spirit.
If you are a Cleveland sports fan under the age of sixty, chances are very good that you have experienced unfamiliar emotions recently. In today’s world of mental health, such changes are diagnosed by the symptoms you display, triangulated by your upbringing and environment. Common symptoms of the modern Cleveland sports fan now include hopefulness, euphoria, and occasionally dribbling an imaginary basketball while walking through the hallway.
There is no reason for anxiety over these changes, sports fans – although it is natural to be anxious for the start of round two. Mexico might have the Swine Flu, but Cleveland has Wine and Gold Fever.
Especially when a times are tough, a dominating sports team can lift a city like nothing else.
Cleveland: 70’s
Too few in the current Cavaliers fan base were alive during the first outbreak of Wine and Gold Fever, The Miracle of Richfield. RCF insider “Wine and Gold” said this about the Cavaliers fans in 1976:
“....although the passion for the team is great today ...it is nothing close to the atmosphere that was present with the Miracle at Richfield Cavalier experience.
To those not old enough to have experienced that period on Cavs basketball that may seem hard to believe, but, the love affair and the passion with which the fans of the team lifted them to heights that they never could have without them. It was an experience, as a fan, that I really can't compare to anything I've ever experienced again in my lifetime of following sports. The closest thing may have been the early run of success that the Indians had when they first opened Jacob's Field, but, even that couldn't really compare.”
Much like today’s sagging economy, the Late 70’s were coined by some historians “The Age of Disillusionment.” President Richard Nixon had recently admitted to the Watergate scandal, Former vice President Spiro T. Agnew drew equal resentment for various illegal transgressions in international relations.
More troubling for Cleveland, the strong industrial infrastructure of the local economy was becoming outdated. Cleveland was a manufacturing city in a time when companies were encouraged to outsource labor to third world nations. From a national perspective, this was meant to keep American companies competitive with foreign companies. Locally, Clevelanders were facing massive unemployment. Transportation of goods were quickly transforming from water and rail to highways and trucking… leaving Cleveland’s greatest assets in the wake of technological advancement.
“JonfromVA”, a long-time poster on Cavaliers websites, summarizes his memories of life in late-70’s Cleveland:
“Even back then I was an optimist ... little did I know that even mediocrity was no sure bet…
“But for a couple of years there the Cavs seemed like anything was possible. If they could pull out wins like a magician pulls a rabbit out of his hat ... why couldn't they go all the way? That's why it was a "Miracle". The hope of winning something was delirious - especially in a time of forced busing, race riots in the schools, post-Vietnam, social upheaval, drugs, Middle East wars, oil embargos, inflation, etc. Of course, that's all post-analysis. At the time we were all just living and coping with what we thought was the way things were supposed to be.”
Despite the migration of jobs out of the Rust Belt, the powerful broadcasting range of WWWE and the velvety delivery of Pete Franklin and Joe Tait drummed up wide interest in the high-scoring Cavaliers.
“Green Lantern”, a long-time Cavs fan from Columbus, offered this memory:
“I watched the games whenever they were on TV, but I remember listening to as many games on the radio as I could. I had hooked up my stereo with wires to pull in distant radio stations.
Then that 75-76 team I followed closely, and they had a good season. That playoff series with the Bullets was off the chart that year. The Bullets were one of the physical but established teams, but the Cavs were determined to win… and they did.”
Another young man, now known in internet NBA circles as Wine and Gold, was able to talk his father into scoring some Bullets tickets in that legendary playoff series. The Bullets would go on to win the NBA title two years later… but in 1976, they were no match for The Miracle:
“Lots of the noise and fan interaction at Cavs games today is induced and programmed. Nothing of that nature existed during the Miracle years.”
Even Bob Finnan had to acknowledge the pure force of the Miracle of Richfield home court advantage in his most recent fan chat… with a caveat: “It (Cleveland’s fanaticism) might be greater (now) if that's possible.”
Which fan base will prove to be the most overpowering: your current Cavaliers or your father’s Cleveland Cavaliers?
The next month will determine the winner.
Thanks to everyone who answered my questions comparing these two eras... even those of you who said, “Dude, I’m 22 and I don’t know a damn thing about the 1970’s.” There will be a part 2 featuring similarities and differences between the coaches and actual teams on the floor. I would love to hear from more of our fan base who still remember The Miracle.
PM me this week.
*This article is written for the front page of RCF, and can be viewed on that page with pictures.*
The Stimulus Package
Cleveland has taken to Mo, Redz, Boobie, Big Ben, Wild Thing, Joe Beast, Big Z, and of course King James to the tune of record-breaking profits. According to Terry Pluto, The Q has only witnessed three home games that did not sell out, and merchandise sales this season have increased 108% by last count. The Sports Business Journal has declared this Cavaliers team to be the biggest local ratings boon in the past decade of local NBA telecasts. Can The Cavaliers be seen as a viable tool in the economic turnaround in Cleveland?
“Pip,” a local business leader in the entertainment field and moderator of RealCavsFans.com, offers this viewpoint: “I do see things improving within the city. 4th street is booming, 6th street is booming, the projects for the new city trains are coming along nicely. Downtown is starting to really take shape with the new restaurants and clubs opening up… and as a member of this community for the time being, I do appreciate the efforts that are being put forth within this area. They're working their way inside-out here, and the vision is coming along. Bumps along the way of course, but that goes with virtually everything that takes time to come to fruition.”
While the Cleveland community has backed this Cavaliers team to the best of its ability, stark numbers and stories of our economic downturn remain the 800 pound gorilla in the room when discussing life in Cleveland. Consider the fact that Cleveland unemployment hit 10% in June of 2008. That percentage is expected to be far greater in the upcoming census now that The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced that Ohio’s jobless rate hit a 25 year high of 9.7% this past month. In the face of these statistics, the 800 pound gorilla named “the economy” is dressed as a ballerina and doing an interpretive dance.
“No matter where you're at or what industry your state/city thrives on,” said Pip, “when the backbone becomes fractured, you're gonna suffer in some capacity… but, I just think it makes people more aware of their situation, and a little more choosey in where they put their dollar.”
Nevertheless, Cleveland is supporting this team in dollar bills nearly as much as it does in spirit.
If you are a Cleveland sports fan under the age of sixty, chances are very good that you have experienced unfamiliar emotions recently. In today’s world of mental health, such changes are diagnosed by the symptoms you display, triangulated by your upbringing and environment. Common symptoms of the modern Cleveland sports fan now include hopefulness, euphoria, and occasionally dribbling an imaginary basketball while walking through the hallway.
There is no reason for anxiety over these changes, sports fans – although it is natural to be anxious for the start of round two. Mexico might have the Swine Flu, but Cleveland has Wine and Gold Fever.
Especially when a times are tough, a dominating sports team can lift a city like nothing else.
Cleveland: 70’s
Too few in the current Cavaliers fan base were alive during the first outbreak of Wine and Gold Fever, The Miracle of Richfield. RCF insider “Wine and Gold” said this about the Cavaliers fans in 1976:
“....although the passion for the team is great today ...it is nothing close to the atmosphere that was present with the Miracle at Richfield Cavalier experience.
To those not old enough to have experienced that period on Cavs basketball that may seem hard to believe, but, the love affair and the passion with which the fans of the team lifted them to heights that they never could have without them. It was an experience, as a fan, that I really can't compare to anything I've ever experienced again in my lifetime of following sports. The closest thing may have been the early run of success that the Indians had when they first opened Jacob's Field, but, even that couldn't really compare.”
Much like today’s sagging economy, the Late 70’s were coined by some historians “The Age of Disillusionment.” President Richard Nixon had recently admitted to the Watergate scandal, Former vice President Spiro T. Agnew drew equal resentment for various illegal transgressions in international relations.
More troubling for Cleveland, the strong industrial infrastructure of the local economy was becoming outdated. Cleveland was a manufacturing city in a time when companies were encouraged to outsource labor to third world nations. From a national perspective, this was meant to keep American companies competitive with foreign companies. Locally, Clevelanders were facing massive unemployment. Transportation of goods were quickly transforming from water and rail to highways and trucking… leaving Cleveland’s greatest assets in the wake of technological advancement.
“JonfromVA”, a long-time poster on Cavaliers websites, summarizes his memories of life in late-70’s Cleveland:
“Even back then I was an optimist ... little did I know that even mediocrity was no sure bet…
“But for a couple of years there the Cavs seemed like anything was possible. If they could pull out wins like a magician pulls a rabbit out of his hat ... why couldn't they go all the way? That's why it was a "Miracle". The hope of winning something was delirious - especially in a time of forced busing, race riots in the schools, post-Vietnam, social upheaval, drugs, Middle East wars, oil embargos, inflation, etc. Of course, that's all post-analysis. At the time we were all just living and coping with what we thought was the way things were supposed to be.”
Despite the migration of jobs out of the Rust Belt, the powerful broadcasting range of WWWE and the velvety delivery of Pete Franklin and Joe Tait drummed up wide interest in the high-scoring Cavaliers.
“Green Lantern”, a long-time Cavs fan from Columbus, offered this memory:
“I watched the games whenever they were on TV, but I remember listening to as many games on the radio as I could. I had hooked up my stereo with wires to pull in distant radio stations.
Then that 75-76 team I followed closely, and they had a good season. That playoff series with the Bullets was off the chart that year. The Bullets were one of the physical but established teams, but the Cavs were determined to win… and they did.”
Another young man, now known in internet NBA circles as Wine and Gold, was able to talk his father into scoring some Bullets tickets in that legendary playoff series. The Bullets would go on to win the NBA title two years later… but in 1976, they were no match for The Miracle:
“Lots of the noise and fan interaction at Cavs games today is induced and programmed. Nothing of that nature existed during the Miracle years.”
Even Bob Finnan had to acknowledge the pure force of the Miracle of Richfield home court advantage in his most recent fan chat… with a caveat: “It (Cleveland’s fanaticism) might be greater (now) if that's possible.”
Which fan base will prove to be the most overpowering: your current Cavaliers or your father’s Cleveland Cavaliers?
The next month will determine the winner.
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