Bill, I’m as loyal as they come — while only 44 years young, I have lived here for 34 of those years. Born in the Philadelphia area with a slight allegiance to them, I’m as Brown and Orange, Wine and Gold, and Red, White and Blue as they come. I’ve lived through the Drive, the Fumble, the Shot, and remember vividly where I was for all of those past, traumatizing events. Most loyal red blooded Clevelanders bond with each other on these three significant sporting events in our recent history. They are all so painfully difficult to overcome individually, so vivid in our memories that we use each other to support to try and overcome that past disappointment, and we are largely successful in doing so. We are proud in a sense of the trials and tribulations that we have come through together, and that is the bond we all share.
The Decision, on the other hand, is something much more sinister divisive. Was it a loss as great as one of the three mentioned above? Yes, in a way it was. Not a loss in the true sense of the word, but a loss all the same. But a loss in which each member of this community felt differently, and each has a different opinion on how it affected them personally. Some will feel it was the actions of a narcissistic and self centered immature young man (as Dan Gilbert laid out in his letter), while others supported his choice, and wished him well on his path down to South Beach.
My opinion has never wavered and never will.
This “sports role model” was acting in his own best interests then, and while he may have went about it differently this time around (so happy that he learned his lesson), he is still acting in his own best interest now. He’s not returning to Cleveland to right a wrong. He’s returning to Cleveland to help un tarnish his image. The only thing that really mars his legacy is what he is attempting to fix. He was selfish and self centered four years ago, and nothing has changed.
Kirby Puckett
So root for him Cleveland, the Prodigal Son has returned. Yay us. It’s truly sad that this is a role model for so many of our children today (including my own son). Gone are the Cal Ripken Jr.s and the Kirby Pucketts and soon to follow the Peyton Mannings of the world. Those are role models I could look up to. Role models who truly made the fan feel that he was a part of the community and part of a “team” with a common goal to win a championship for us, not so much for him. These are the individuals that should be respected and admired, not the LeBoobs, but unfortunately the former are becoming ancient history, and regretfully the latter now appears to be the new reality.
Cal Ripken
I for one prefer to hang on to the past. A better place. I’d rather cheer a sub .500 team that displays the characteristics of a team that embraces the culture of the community, than for a .750 team that is simply made up of mercenaries that are more focused on themselves. San Antonio has the blue print my friend, that is something more should try to emulate, but unfortunately they don’t seem to have the panache that our society prefers to consume. And that’s too bad.
But I digress, let me tell you how I really feel……
Brian from Cleveland
