I Lebron Irving Love the Cavs

It was 2015 and I was at a sports bar on one the lakes in Minnesota. Leech Lake, Woman Lake, I can’t remember which one exactly, I mean it’s the land of 10,000 lakes. There was food in front of us, and my wife and her family were recapping the day’s fishing totals but I was glued to the television. I had requested the tv to be turned to the 2015 NBA Finals between my hometown team, the Cleveland Cavs vs. the Golden State Warriors. We were watching game 5 but this team stole my heart with their game 3 win. I paced through the bar, fist bumped great plays, and sunk back into the chair as the Warriors pulled away late in the game.  It was two days later I sullenly listened to the radio broadcast of the Warriors winning game 6 and vanquishing the Cavs.

I was disappointed but not saddened by the loss. This Cavs team played through injury to push the better Warriors team to 6 games when most people thought it would only go four or five at most. Through the magic of Lebron James and a bunch of plucky castoffs played inspired basketball making the Warriors worry and the basketball take notice.  When Lebron returned to Cleveland I doubted anyone would have imagined a scenario where he would become the underdog. Yet he and the Cavs were, the underdogs. I have loved basketball since I started attending Saturday morning practices in the 2nd grade, and this team reminded me of the joy I experienced discovering my first love.

In 2016, I patiently waited for the Cavs to work their way into a rematch. I wanted them to play the Warriors again. When we received our opportunity, we played horrible and the media and even some of my friends piled on the Cavs. My favorite basketball team wouldn’t and couldn’t go out like this. I wanted more for them. I had watched so many games over the last two years that even my wife who has never played team sports in her life began to know the Cavs player by name. At this point I just wanted them dig deep and show they deserved to be remembered as a worthy opponent.  Next thing I know I’m watching game 6 with my wife asleep on the couch, cheering without making a sound, and texting back and forth with my brother and mother. You know it’s a big game when the mother starts texting you.

So here we are a game 7 later tonight. My childhood love of basketball and all it did for my life, my hometown team, and the chance for a historic comeback for this team all intersecting tonight.  Win or lose tonight, this Cavs team has given this fan everything he could ask for. Memorable wins, gut wrenching losses, and a won’t give up attitude over the last two years that just pulls me to them. I will probably not sit down tonight as I started getting nervous for this game last night and I’m not even playing in it. Cleveland teams haven’t won a big sports championship in a long time and the city has been given the nickname “The Believeland.” I have no clue if this team will deliver a title to Cleveland but they have made me believe it can happen. Let’s go Cavs, just one more to win to go!