Let’s face it. Cleveland has been suffering pretty badly since the Browns last championship in 1964. Some say there is a curse in Cleveland, but I disagree. In order to succeed, even in any area of life, you need to fail. Some of the best sports teams and especially players have failed many more times than they have succeeded. Those teams and players have bounced back no matter how bad the defeats they have faced in the past. That is why in the next few years, the sports media will be talking all Cleveland. LeBron will finally get his ring in Cleveland, the young Indians talent will come together and take down the World Series, and the Browns finally will make the Steelers games a rivalry again while moving on to defeat the weaker NFC in the Super Bowl.
I see Cleveland taking a similar road to what Boston sports teams have taken. Prior to 2001 Boston really had not seen much success in their professional sports clubs. The Patriots did not have a Super Bowl ring yet, the Red Sox had to deal with the “Curse of the Bambino” and Buckner’s error while not winning a World Series since 1918, and the Celtics had their last successes at least 15 years in the rear-view mirror. Times looked pretty bad for the Boston teams at the turn of the 21st century. But then all of a sudden Boston was the happening sports city of the United States by winning 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, 2 World Series in 4 years, and the Celtics are currently back at the top of the NBA. All 3 of the major teams, Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics, are now continuous contenders for their own league championship title. This kind of situation is right on the horizon for Cleveland.
Cleveland rocks when it comes to the Browns. The sellout crowds haven’t changed, but the team definitely has. After having only one winning season since 1999, the Browns made it to double digit wins in 2007. Only a tough conference kept the Browns out of postseason play in ‘07. Once the team makes it to January football they will be a dangerous opponent for top tier clubs such as the Patriots and Colts. With a Pro Bowl quarterback and all-star receivers, Cleveland finally has a high-powered offense back. Once the defense improves with the help of new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, the Browns will finally add a Super Bowl Championship to their pre-Super Bowl era titles.
“It’s Tribe Time Now” was the 2007 MLB Playoffs slogan for the Indians, and no other phrase could say it better. Last year’s American League Manager of the Year Eric Wedge looks to make up for last year’s heart-breaker to the Red Sox after being one game away from the World Series before losing 3 straight. The Indians haven’t won a World Series since 1948. The high-powered offense of the 90’s has now become more of a balanced ball club with a stronger starting pitching rotation to turn their championship drought around. Power hitting Travis Hafner looks to bounce back from a lack-luster 2007 season while the rest of the young team uses last year’s experience to their advantage this year. The Indians have most of their star players locked up with long-term, less expensive contracts and have room to make a couple good trades with the team’s player depth.
King James and the Cavaliers are at their highest point in franchise history. After making their first ever NBA Finals appearance in 2007, the Cavs look to make an even stronger run this season. A blockbuster trade in the middle of this season brought the team back to the top of the Eastern Conference. Once healthy with added depth to the bench, LeBron and the Cavs will be able to make a run for the Finals again. They currently are a 4 seed behind the Pistons, Celtics, and Magic, but still are dangerous enough to upset the Celtics and Pistons in the conference semi-finals and finals. The Cavs must be able to renew a 2010 expiring LeBron James contract and will most likely get him to stay as long as the team keeps surrounding him with a championship caliber team.
Cleveland will soon end its championship drought by going all the way with not just one of the teams, but all 3 teams before the start of next decade.
Posted by believeland 
