It's not easy to be a professional athlete in the city of Cleveland. We don't have bright lights, celebrity hot spots, an average temperature in the 70's, and the ocean to sell you. Big business? Nope, don't have much of that either. Promises of endless wealth? World Class ownership? Depends on who you ask. We should warn you- there have been others that have come before you. Self proclaimed stars and leaders of teams. Record holders and hard workers (according to their agents). So why doesn't it all carry over? You want to play pro sports in Cleveland? Wait, you want bring and develop a culture of winning here in Cleveland? We have some advice for you.
Look, we all get it, you're gifted, blessed, whatever you want to call it. But let's face it, for the most part, you've been spoiled. Don't like that word, how's pampered? Catered to? From the moment you played the game, from the moment people have seen you play, someone has been looking for a way to exploit you. It's a tough business, and make no mistake, it's a business. Decisions won't be easy, everyone will have an opinion, but the one that will matter the most is yours.
Cleveland. We're a blue collar town. Hard working people who give everything to their job, and then some more to their families when they go home. We don't take many vacations, we rarely get to fly first class, or eat at 5-start restaurants. We balance our checkbooks. We're savers. We wear our emotions on our sleeves, and we live and die with our sports teams. This is a working man's town, and we are all proud of our city. Don't believe me? My friend Wolf has the word "Cleveland" tattooed on the inside of his arm. He wants to add the skyline behind it.
Back to you. The city of Cleveland has had some of the greatest athletes in the history of sports. Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Bob Feller, Austin Carr, Bernie Kosar, even LeBron James to name a few. Some played their entire career here, while some just passed through. Ultimately, the ones that leave Cleveland have all made the same mistake; they don't understand the culture.
Fans in this city are smart. We couldn't care less about how much money you think you should be making, or about how you want to build your brand. All we care about is taking care of business on the field. We're starving for a winner. I've been in other cities and listened to call in shows, but none have ever had the passion or the fire that the ones in Cleveland do. We spend all day preparing for the game, we watch the game, and then we want to spend all night talking to you about the game. Win or lose, we have observations. The best part about it all, not even the star player is above criticism. We tell it like it is.
I've never been a pro athlete, so I don't understand all the demands that are put on athletes today. I've never walked into a restaurant, or a mall, and had to worry about being able to enjoy my privacy. I've never been a target for the paparazzi. Then again, I've never had the opportunity to make millions of dollars to play a GAME. Fame has it price, and athletes today in my opinion, don't want to pay that price for the money they make. You can enjoy the pleasures that await you behind the velvet rope of celebrity, but you're going to have to deal with the backlash as well.
For a pro athlete to succeed in Cleveland, and enjoy his/her success here, they have to start with the fans. Form a relationship, put in the extra time, let your guard down a bit. Show loyalty. Don't get caught up in the promises game, just work hard and lead by example. This city has some of the best fans in the world, and just once, we deserve better.
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