[Bill,
June 6, 2007]
Cleveland
The Cleveland Cavaliers, in all likelihood, are going to win the city's first championship in 43 years when they beat the San Antonio Spurs for the NBA Championship. The Cavaliers have never been in the NBA Finals.
The last Cleveland champion was the 1964 Cleveland Browns, back when Jim Brown was still playing. The Tribe (baseball's Cleveland Indians) last won in 1948, when they beat the BOSTON (not Milwaukee, not Atlanta) Braves back when the league was almost entirely segregated. There is no hockey team in Cleveland; I have no idea why.
And we think we have it bad in Philadelphia -- we have a comparable embarassment of riches: We won a pair of Stanley Cups in the mid-70s (back when the game was played by toothless men carrying clubs), the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers, who went 11-1 in the playoffs in 1983 and also had a great championship run in the mid-60s, the hapless Phillies, who nonetheless won a World Series in 1980, that is, in living memory to those who still have their original teeth, and even the Friggin' Iggles ... actually, the Feebles last won the NFL Championship in Franklin Field back in 1960, defeating the Green Bay Packers, about the same time as those dominant Browns teams. Plus, Joe Frazier was heavyweight champion of the world in the 1970s and kicked Cassius Clay's ass.
However, Cleveland's championship drought will soon change, as Cleveland will almost certainly beat up on the Spurs. San Antonio has won three championships in the past nine years, so I don't feel bad if they lose this one.
And we Philadelphians will wonder what we did to cause such a delay ... those I should note that I'm not actually a "first fan" of any Philadelphia team. My teams are the Lakers, who have won about 70 championships in my living memory, the Jets, who won only one, but it was the best one, the Bruins, who haven't won in 35 years, but seriously, who gives a shit about hockey?, and the Reds, who won in 75-76 and 1990. It also helps that I have a "second favorite team," which is the Steelers (five Super Bowls).
Plus, it further helps that in baseball, I can always root for anyone who plays the Yankees and Mets, which often can be satisfying. In football, as long as the Loathsome Dullness Cowpokes lost, I'm okay. In basketball, I don't care who wins, since the game is so deteriorated that it's an embarrassment (except the Lebron James and the Spurs). And hockey, as long as the Rangers lose, no problem.
The last Cleveland champion was the 1964 Cleveland Browns, back when Jim Brown was still playing. The Tribe (baseball's Cleveland Indians) last won in 1948, when they beat the BOSTON (not Milwaukee, not Atlanta) Braves back when the league was almost entirely segregated. There is no hockey team in Cleveland; I have no idea why.
And we think we have it bad in Philadelphia -- we have a comparable embarassment of riches: We won a pair of Stanley Cups in the mid-70s (back when the game was played by toothless men carrying clubs), the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers, who went 11-1 in the playoffs in 1983 and also had a great championship run in the mid-60s, the hapless Phillies, who nonetheless won a World Series in 1980, that is, in living memory to those who still have their original teeth, and even the Friggin' Iggles ... actually, the Feebles last won the NFL Championship in Franklin Field back in 1960, defeating the Green Bay Packers, about the same time as those dominant Browns teams. Plus, Joe Frazier was heavyweight champion of the world in the 1970s and kicked Cassius Clay's ass.
However, Cleveland's championship drought will soon change, as Cleveland will almost certainly beat up on the Spurs. San Antonio has won three championships in the past nine years, so I don't feel bad if they lose this one.
And we Philadelphians will wonder what we did to cause such a delay ... those I should note that I'm not actually a "first fan" of any Philadelphia team. My teams are the Lakers, who have won about 70 championships in my living memory, the Jets, who won only one, but it was the best one, the Bruins, who haven't won in 35 years, but seriously, who gives a shit about hockey?, and the Reds, who won in 75-76 and 1990. It also helps that I have a "second favorite team," which is the Steelers (five Super Bowls).
Plus, it further helps that in baseball, I can always root for anyone who plays the Yankees and Mets, which often can be satisfying. In football, as long as the Loathsome Dullness Cowpokes lost, I'm okay. In basketball, I don't care who wins, since the game is so deteriorated that it's an embarrassment (except the Lebron James and the Spurs). And hockey, as long as the Rangers lose, no problem.
Apparently I was mistaken about the Spurs, who now lead 3-0. Idiot? That's a little harsh, don't you think?