On the Eve of Their Worst Nightmare, a Little Advice for Cleveland Fans

     For Cavaliers fans, basketball armaggedon has arrived at their doorstep.  Once prodigal son LeBron James and his Miami Heat teammates sit just a single win away from the title.  Reading blogs and listening to talk shows today, the consensus is very clear.  It's over for the Thunder.  Trailing 3-1 (no team has ever come back in an NBA Finals facing such a deficit) in the series, the Heat appear to be too good, too lucky, too battle tested, however you want to describe it.  The Thunder's chances have been tossed aside, chalked up to being too inexperienced, facing too big a stage, even with a 1-2 punch that can get them back into this series in a hurry.  Not this time.  There will be others, but in the eyes of the professionals, it's Miami's time.  Enter Cleveland sports fan.

     Should Miami win and close things out, James will surely be named the Finals MVP.  Transformation complete.  He'll once again be on the path to the greatest player of all time.  The parade will be huge, every news outlet in the country will be covering, and it'll be plastered all over every channel.  There will no doubt be news casters looking for a reaction from Cavs fans.  Heck, ESPN will probably have crews here tonight, hoping to capture a few idiots in the waking moments after a Heat victory.  The picture will be painted as Cleveland fans being bitter, knuckle-dragging neanderthals that didn't even deserve James' services to begin with.  After all, we'll be reminded that he gave us 7 great years, and it was ownership's fault that he left because they didn't surround him with enough talent to get over the hump.

     In Cleveland, during LeBron's tenure, it was always about more than basketball.  It was about the renaissance of the team, a new owner, chinese partnership, a revamped arena, new uniforms, local businesses, that huge Witness banner, televised games every Thursday night on TNT.  The city was alive.  I remember, in 2007, moments after the Cavaliers had clinched the Eastern Conference title with their fourth straight win over the Detroit Pistons, I received a text from my brother that said "fuck yeah".  My brother, who doesn't care about any sport unless it involves speeds over 150 mph, was all in with LeBron.  That's what he did for our city.  He was so far removed from us, that he couldn't possibly understand how going on national television and kicking this city in the groin after he had lifted it up off the mat would anger us so deeply.

     We'll bounce back from this.  We've been through worse.  We've endured buzzer beaters, red right 88, John Elway, and the Curse of Rocky Colavito.  Sure, Dan Gilbert will catch some heat (no pun intended) for his childish reaction after LeBron left town.  James isn't absolved from those childish moments, either.  He's had plenty of them during the last three years.  What's important is that we represent ourselves professionally.  Don't give the national media another reason to bag on Cleveland and say "and they wonder why no one wants to play there".  It'll be hard, heck, I probably won't even watch the game, but that doesn't mean I'd give a sound bite to the first microphone shoved in my face.

     For LeBron, he'll feel something to I imagine after winning his first title.  Relief will be the immediate emotion.  No more silly questions about his legacy being defined by winning a championship; those questions will be replaced by "when will you win another one or two?".  The stakes will only go up from here for him.  After all the confetti falls, and the reporters file out of the interview room, and the parade stops, they'll be another emotion that sets in for LeBron.  Even he will tell you now that he wishes he handled things differently upon leaving Cleveland, and that he hasn't ruled out playing for the Cavaliers again one day.  There will be a feeling of emptiness, because as great as his coronation will feel.  It'll always compare to what it would have been had he gotten it done in Cleveland.  You can say that's just a desperate Cleveland fans perspective (and maybe it is), but everyone loves a story now a days, and that would have been a great one.

TR

Heat vs. Thunder NBA Finals Preview

     LeBron. KD. Wade. Westbrook. Bosh. Harden.  This year's installment of the NBA Finals isn't lacking any star power.  The Thunder, the new kids on the block, owners of the best record for the majority of the regular season, and benefactors of maybe the loudest home crowd in all the NBA, don't seem to be fazed by the prospect of facing 3-time MVP Lebron James and his Miami "Heatles".  The road traveled for these two teams to this point couldn't be more different.  Miami trudged through a weak Eastern Conference, defeating the Knicks, Pacers, and Celtics.  Neither team really threatened Miami (although the Celtics series went the full 7 games), while the Thunder dispatched the defending world champion Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, and a red hot San Antonio Spurs team.  Even more impressive was the fact that the Thunder took 4 straight from San Antonio after they had reeled off 20 straight victories.

     Despite their path to the Finals, both these teams are pretty evenly matched.  LeBron is playing arguably the best playoff stretch of basketball in his career (you know how I hate giving him his due), and Kevin Durant is showing the world that at the ripe old age of 23, no stage is too big for him.  The superstars will treat the fans to some spectacular moments, but this series will be won or lost by the role players.  Here's how I see the match ups breaking down.

     LeBron vs. KD.  Winners of the last four league MVP awards, all eyes will be on these two guys.  They're both going to explode for monster games, but the defining moment might come when one of these two guys makes the big DEFENSIVE play.  LeBron can guard every position on the floor, so expect him to check just about everyone at some point in this series, especially if the Heat are struggling collectively defensively.  For that reason alone, much to the chagrin of Clevelanders (especially me), advantage LeBron.

     Wade vs. Westbrook.  The other marquee matchup pits two of the best against each other.  While Westbrook is young, he brings a lot of energy to the game, and is a dynamic scorer.  He likes to run...a lot, and as much as Miami likes to run, this could pose a big problem for them.  Miami is a veteran team, and they definitely can't afford to get into a track meet with OKC, even with 2 of the best transition finishers in the game.  The big test for Westbrook is going to be his decision making during the "big" moments.  He's had a habit of trying to upstage KD by taking too many shots, and it's resulted in bad offensive possessions.  He's not a true point guard by trade.  He's a scorer.  Wade has looked and played fragile this post season.  He's been invisible for long stretches during games, offering little support to LeBron.  While there has been some speculation as to whether Wade isn't hiding some type of injury, he'll need to be huge, along with with LeBron, if the Heat hope to win the title.  Advantage Westbrook.

     Bosh vs. Harden.  While these two guys won't be matched up against each other, their performances will play a huge role in how this series is decided.  Miami gets a fresh Chris Bosh back after he missed a good chunk of the East Semis and East Finals due to an abdominal injury.  Harden has displayed the ability to hit huge shots in big spots during games this postseason.  It will be interesting to watch how these two work themselves into their game, and just how effective both will be.  Push.


     Ibaka/Perkins/Fisher vs. Haslem/Anthony/Chalmers.  Another key matchup to watch has more to do with the first two names in each set here, than the point guards involved.  With plenty of slashers on display, the paint and the offensive glass will be two very critical areas, and whoever wins those battles, WILL win the series.  It's that important.  Serge Ibaka has to be respected.  He blocks so many shots, that offensive players have no choice but to try and lure him outside the paint.  Still, the Thunder are one of the longest teams in the league, and they will no doubt try to clog the paint and turn Wade and LeBron into jump shooters.  This is a dangerous scenario for Miami.  Erik Spoelstra will have to get creative in calling plays to get his stars the ball on the move.  Foul trouble will tip the scales heavily to one side.  If I'm Miami, I attack the bigs, and hope for whistles to go your way.  Advantage Ibaka/Perkins/Fisher.


     Coach Brooks vs. Coach Spo.  One of the biggest mismatches in this series will occur right here.  Spo has struggled at times to get creative with his offensive play calling, and his team goes through lapses where they just don't look confident, and a lot of players are just standing around.  It sometimes looks like Spo struggles to command the huddle during timeouts.  Guys look disengaged, and he's already had one spat with Wade in these playoffs.  Scott Brooks is one of the better coaches in the league today, and is very creative with his offensive sets.  In order for his team to have a chance, Erik Spoelstra is going to have to coach his butt off.  Literally.  Advantage Brooks.


     This series will be entertaining for any basketball fan.  You've got the two best players in the league, facing off for a shot at the Larry O'Brien trophy.  The Thunder will have the home court, which does provide a small advantage.  Miami has shown the ability to survive when times are desperate.  LeBron will have to have another great series AND get some big games from Wade and Bosh for Miami to legitimately win this thing.  The Thunder have been battle tested throughout these playoffs, while Miami has been pushed, but really haven't been in big trouble.  With all that being said, I'll take the Thunder to win this years NBA Finals in 7 games.  Enjoy.

TR

The 2012 Draft Showed Us One Thing; Seats are Getting Warm in Berea

     Billed as potentially the most important draft in franchise history, the Browns put a wrap on this year's draft this past Saturday evening by selecting Alabama tight end Brad Smelley in the 7th round.  With 13 picks at their disposal, and a philosophy that lends itself to building a team through the draft, the Browns looked poised to grab some players who could make a difference on both sides of the ball as soon as this season.  While fans had some early excitement when the team drafted Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the 3rd overall pick, there were some puzzling moves and selections over the next two days that fueled online chats and twitter feeds with one simple question- were the Browns brass and their fans watching the same games last year?

     While the Browns focused on offense early, using their first three picks on players to help the seemingly hapless offense (RB, QB, RT), they quickly turned to defense in the later rounds.  While the early picks are expected to be immediate contributors, it was clear that the other selections were more about adding depth to the roster.  There were some trends; just about every player selected had been a multiple year starter for their college, and had displayed the ability to play multiple positions, all while maintaining high character.  No one truly knows how many players the Browns were able to draft (with the exception of Holmgren, Heckert, and Shurmur) that they had actually targeted, but it seemed like everyone in Berea was satisfied with how things transpired over the 3 days of drafting.

     The moment the season ended this past January, you could see that things were unsettling over in Berea.  A press conference was held within a week, and most of the talk was about the quarterback position.  For the next 4 months, everyone speculated as to what the Browns were going to do with their picks.  It appeared the defining moment for this regime was about to arrive, and they were going to have the chance to finally get things moving in the right direction.  While the Browns preached patience to their fans, I believe they've started to buckle a bit under the pressure.  With a grueling schedule this upcoming season, one that includes 10 teams with winning records, another 4-12 season (or worse) could spell the end.  That's when things got a little shaky.

     Everyone within the Browns organization were in agreement- a new quarterback had to be brought in. This was one of the stranger situations because, depending on who you talk to or what you read, multiple things were said regarding this.  In January, it was all about having an open competition to determine the starter for next year.  The idea of Seneca Wallace under center didn't excite the fan base any more than having McCoy back for another year.  Maybe the Browns would sign a free agent to come in and compete with these guys.  Matt Flynn's name was out there, as was Jason Campbell's.  It seemed the Browns would be a lock to swing a trade with the St. Louis Rams to move up to the #2 pick in the upcoming draft.  The prize- Baylor's Robert Griffin III.  The Rams already had a franchise quarterback, and it seemed like a good fit.  Well, the Washington Redskins jumped right in and gave away foreseeable future (in draft picks anyways), and snatched the #2 pick right from the Browns fingers, all while the Browns were trying to drive down the price of St. Louis' pick by downplaying their interest in Griffin.  Matt Flynn signed with Seattle, and the Browns were left with no quarterback of the future.  They gave McCoy a lukewarm endorsement, one that never really felt very genuine.  As for McCoy, where was he?  He certainly wasn't talking to the media.  How did he feel about all of this?  Had the Browns talked to him?  To make things worse, Wallace was adamant that he would not serve as a mentor to any quarterback the Browns brought in.  He was here to play...and start.

     Free Agency came and went without as much as a whimper.  Players were signing all over the place with new teams.  The Browns again seemed slow to get out of the gates on this one.  Were they targeting anyone?  Did they have FA visits scheduled with players?  How much money did they plan on spending?  The picture wasn't coming into focus very clearly here.  There were a few minor signings, but nothing of major impact.  Now the fear was setting in that all the eggs were going into one basket- the draft.

     Rumors swirled around the Browns regarding what exactly they would do with their pick.  Labeled as a "swing pick", many experts believed that the draft would turn what the Browns would do at #4.  The first 3 picks were considered locks, with little drama involved.  Everyone was talking about the Browns.  What should they do?  Trade back and acquire more picks?  Trade up and draft an elite player?  Stay put?  No one really knew for sure what was coming.  As the different reports surfaced, the Browns were careful to comment on none.  They weren't talking.

     With all the things that transpired leading up to the draft, one thing was clear- there was pressure to turn things around...now.  The media was relentless.  Missing out on RG3, not doing much in free agency, and now having to hit on these draft picks; the pressure was immense.  Reports had the Browns targeting Trent Richardson.  He seemed safe to fall right into the Browns lap at #4, but Minnesota was entertaining trade offers (as it was reported) from at least 6 other teams.  Now the Browns weren't in control of their own destiny.  How would they explain to their starving fan base that they had lost out on their guy Richardson?  They wouldn't have to, as it turns out.

     It was at that moment, about a half an hour before Indianapolis would be on the clock with the #1 pick that the Browns buckled under the pressure a little bit.  They traded up 1 spot to #3 by sacrificing three draft choices (4/5/7 rounders).  They would ensure that they would get their man in Trent Richardson.  No one was going to steal their guy this time.  They would flinch again, as their man (I believe), Kendall Wright was taken a mere 2 picks in front of them.  Another player gone that was desperately needed.  Unable to risk losing out yet again, the Browns reached out and pulled Brandon Weedon as their quarterback of the future.  Maybe they could have selected Weedon with their 37th pick.  They had lost, in my opinion, any flexibility to do that when they traded three picks to move up one spot and take Richardson.  The unpredictability of the draft had tilted things a bit for the Browns.  They had gotten two of their guys on the "wish list", but they had to sacrifice extra picks, and perhaps reach a bit to select their quarterback of the future.  They still haven't addressed arguably the biggest need for the team, which is the wide receiver position.  And what to do with McCoy now?  Keep him?  Trade him?  Have an "open competition"?  Who knows what Randy Lerner will do if the Browns spit out another 4-12 season.  Heads will be rolling, no doubt.  Those seats in Berea aren't too hot right now, but they are getting a tad bit warm.

TR
   

Game #8 Observations and Opinions

Not long after I decided to stop watching yesterday's Browns/Texans game (the first half hadn't concluded yet), a very cold, hard truth had settled into my stomach. The Cleveland Browns just aren't good enough to compete each week in the National Football League. Talent, Coaching, Leadership, Preparation, and Execution are all things Pat Shurmur's group just can't seem to get a grasp on. For Browns fans, hope quickly dissipates into anger and frustration after kickoff, as our team often is out of each game by the end of the first quarter. Through 8 games, the team has mustered just 6 points in the first quarter. The organization should be, and it's tough to tell if they are, concerned with turning their fan base off completely with the effort this team is putting on the field each week. I've decided to share a few things that I scribbled down on paper this past Sunday.

Colt McCoy is taking a beating. A lot was made about the work that McCoy had put in this past offseason to learn the West Coast offense. Camp Colt seemed to give the Browns faithful some hope that their quarterback was not only proactive, but was trying desperately to form some type of cohesiveness with his group on offense. The first few preseason games gave the impression that Josh Cribbs was much improved at the receiver position, and Evan Moore would be a solid target for McCoy. It appears that was a great mirage as both receivers have had minimal targets, and have struggled to find a role in Shurmur's new offense. No one could have imagined Colt taking the pounding that he has to this point. Yes, the loss of Eric Steinbach hurts, and yes this is a new group, but the offensive line hasn't done Colt any favors. What's worse is that the coaching staff seems to be clueless as to how to stop these protection woes.

The Peyton Hillis drama is majorly affecting the team. Whether you want to believe it or not, this is a major problem. Hillis was arguably the most popular player on the team, and the face of the franchise nationally. Featured on the cover of Madden, and in high demand everywhere, it seems that Hillis is finding out first hand just how the "business" of the NFL works. He hasn't played it cool, either. A controversial strep throat sit out, a missed charity event appearance, a temper tantrum in practice after re-injuring his hamstring last week, a questionable decision to get married on the team's off day during a game week (while he was injured), and a shaky work ethic this year (including getting treatment while injured), resulting in a players meeting with him, have all forced Hillis into the doghouse with just about everyone. On a team devoid of playmakers, Hillis was someone the Browns had to have in the fold. Instead, he's going down on a long list of distractions that have plagued the team since it's return in 1999.

The team doesn't look prepared. This one falls directly in the lap of the coaching staff. Slow starts have buried the Browns since week 1. Penalties, turnovers, and lack of creativity on offense have stopped the team from establishing any sort of rhythm, something that is crucial in the WCO. Receivers have run incorrect routes more than their fair share of times, and blitz protections have been horrible. Even a member of the Texans defensive line was miffed that the Browns continued to not block him, even after he had recorded 3 sacks on Sunday. There haven't been any in game adjustments until it's too late. We haven't really attacked opposing defenses from the outset yet. Game planning is head scratching as well. No real effort to exploit mismatches, and definitely no extra effort to get the ball into the hands of our best players. Teams are taking our top players out, but they are getting help from our coaching staff! Looks like the blind leading the blind here. Pat Shurmur is a first time head coach, and it definitely appears that he's in for more than he bargained for.

The injuries just keep piling up. Year in and year out, the Browns get derailed before they even play a meaningful game due to a mounting list of injuries. Some are freak injuries, like when Braylon Edwards decided to race Donte Stallworth after practice, wearing no cleats. We all know what happened next, Stallworth stepped on Edwards' foot, cutting it open. There also was Kellen Winslow's "star boyz" moment on a motorcycle. This year, the Browns have been without the services of Hillis, Massoquoi, Watson, Moore, Fujita, Steinbach, Pinkston, Pashos, Hardesty, Brandon Jackson, Cribbs, Gocong, Joe Haden, T.J. Ward, Usama Young, and more due to injuries. All teams deal with injuries, but the Browns just seem to get hit with a ton each year. With the team depth chart as shallow as the local baby pool, they can ill afford injuries to key players.

The offense can't be this bad, can it? While a good chunk of this can be chalked up to injuries at key positions, protection issues, and lack of talent at skill positions, the offense has been just awful at times. Early on, the offense was definitely pass first. In a home loss to Tennessee this year, McCoy put the ball in the air 61 times. Yes, the Browns were behind, forcing them to throw the ball more than they would have liked to admit, but that's a ton of attempts. In a 6-3 win against Seattle, the Browns held the ball for over 40 minutes, and yet they barely won the game. The Browns have just 2 touchdowns in their last 13 quarters. They've scored just 6 points in the first quarter all year (outscored 58-6 overall), and just 3 points in the third quarter. There is zero quick strike ability, and the play calling has been described as "vanilla". What's worse is that there seems to be no logic or flow to the play calls.

The defense is overrated. Ranked as high as #4 in the league this year, the defense has been mostly smoke and mirrors. Joe Haden has been awesome, and D'Qwell Jackson has been playing with confidence, but the rest of the defense has been overhyped and overblown. On Sunday, they allowed a season high 261 yards on the ground. In week 1, Cedric Benson ran for over 130 yards, and Chris Johnson had his only 100 yard game of the year against the Browns. What's even more glaring is that the Browns 3 wins have come against teams with a combined record of 3-21, and of those 3 games, 2 were unimpressive (1 point win over Miami, and the 6-3 flameout vs. Seattle). You could even make the case that the week 2 win vs. Indianapolis wasn't locked up until the final minutes. In my opinion, the Browns are lucky to have 3 wins. The quarterback list the Browns have faced so far this year is even more unimpressive- Andy Dalton, Kerry Collins, Chad Henne, Kyle Boller, and Charlie Whitehurst. Not exactly gunslingers by any stretch of the imagination. Truth be told, the Browns have a young D line (which has shown some signs of life, but has delivered little pressure overall), some age in the secondary, and some of the slowest linebackers in the league. Even more unsettling- 5 games left in the division against teams with a combined record of 18-7.

So where do the Browns go from here? It appears they are headed towards another top 10 draft pick, and the blueprint has been for Tom Heckert to stock pile as many picks as possible and build through the draft, but this team has so many needs that the draft can't be solely relied upon to fill out the roster. The Browns will have roughly 23 million to spend in free agency this upcoming offseason, a time that seems to be the most exciting (sadly) for the Browns, and their fans.

TR

5 Ways to Fix the Cleveland Browns

For as long as I can remember, I've been watching Cleveland Browns football. One of my first memories was on Christmas morning (I may have been 3 or 4 years old), when I received a Browns replica jersey. That jersey was the first real gift I can remember having an attachment with. Fast-forward to today, at age 32, married with a 2 year old, and another baby on the way, I'm a first year season ticket holder for the Browns. Prior to this year, I'd been to some games since the Browns return in 1999, and I'd even attended some games at the old Municipal Stadium. My Uncle was a season ticket holder until recently, which afforded me the luxury to go. Well, I'm 3 games into my tenure as a season ticket holder, and I've had some time (in between bad stretches of football) to soak in the atmosphere at the stadium, and really listen to what the fans have to say. You definitely have to sift through a lot of lip service. Everyone's the best quarterback, head coach, and coordinators. I'm fortunate b/c the section we sit in is filled with long-time season ticket holders, who for the most part, don't make a scene, and understand how the game is played. By nature, I'm a people watcher, so I've decided to share some observations. My friend Marty, who is a part of our group of 4, warned me before the season started. "You'll reach a new level of frustration now that you're vested financially in the Browns". Well, as a paying season ticket holder, I've got a few suggestions for my hometown team.

1. Change the Game Day Experience- We park a little over a mile away from the stadium (hey, it's free, so I'm not complaining), and we pass several parking lots on our way to the stadium. You know what else we pass? Bars, Restaurants, and popular landmarks in the city of Cleveland. Everyone who's ever attended a pro football game understands that tailgating will be prominent. If you don't have a van that you've converted into a Browns-mobile, or a portable charcoal grill to roast some brats on, or a group of guys to to play a 7-on-7 touch football game, there's not much for you to experience downtown. The Muny lot is more of a problem, then an experience. Sure, it's a great time, and you're going to see some crazy stuff in there, but it actually keeps people out of the stadium for parts of the first quarter (in most instances, over half of the first quarter). Playing at home in the National Football League is supposed to provide an advantage for one team. In most cases, the atmosphere at kickoff is very average. People are still filling in, waiting in line at the restrooms, or grabbing food.

I arrive in the stadium on an average of 80 minutes before each game. We watch warm-ups, and get ready for the game. While I know I'm in the minority on this type of approach (I can tell by the stadium being over 85% empty, plus I can still get cell phone service), there really isn't any incentive for fans to arrive early. No activities outside the stadium, and little going on inside the stadium. The fans are down there early, they line up at 6 am, to get in their spot for tailgating, so the experience needs to reach out and appeal to them. We've got all that lakefront property down there, so let's do something more with it than the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock Hall.

2. Hire Some Engaged Staff- Gotta say that this is the most disappointing part of the stadium experience. Walking up to the stadium, there's no momentum, no pomp and circumstance that taps you on the shoulder and says "You're almost there, get ready to have your face melted off!". As you get closer to the gates, the employees are like robots, no one out there hocking programs, no merchandise stands (hey, there's valuable real estate out there!), no live music. No one is smiling, no one is driving any excitement there. Inside, it's worse. The ushers are oblivious to everything that's going on (including fans puking, which is a whole different issue). You get scolded for standing too much, and there is nothing to get the fans jacked up on 3rd downs, so they in turn can make life miserable for the opposing offense, and give the home defense an extra lift. Even the acoustics inside the stadium are barely audible. Everyone seems content on doing what they've always done. It's got a 1980's feel down there, with the exception of the team performing on the field and fueling the excitement. The fans share some of this burden also, as many are too drunk to pay attention to what's going on, or have enough energy to cheer. It's all about where and when the next beer will be served.

3. Better Communication From the Front Office to the Fan base- I really struggled with putting this one out there, but I've gotten the vibe, more so from past executive groups, that they view the fans as a bunch of suckers. We'll pay money, no matter what the product on the field looks like. You know, that might have been the case for a while (a long while), but those times are changing. People are frustrated with group, after group, after group coming into this town, taking a boatload of owner Randy Lerner's money (mostly b/c he doesn't know any better), and leaving the house a bigger mess than it was when they arrived. What Eric Mangini did to this team was inexcusable. Ego, lack of accountability on his position, and a blatant disrespect to the fans and media in this town by withholding information like he's the head of the FBI. As for Randy Lerner, where the hell is he? Some of you might be saying "Now Tom, you don't want an owner that meddles around in everyone's business". I'm not asking for that. I'm asking for presence. Make yourself visible, show everyone that you're not just some rich guy that loves soccer. Go to the games, give people the impression that you have a stake in this, that you want to see it turn around, that this is your team, and if things don't change, then you'll swing the accountability hammer. If I'm getting paid 50 million dollars over 5 years, you better believe my boss is going to want to see if his investment is working out. How many former head coaches are we still paying now, anyways?

This town needs to be handled differently. It doesn't matter how you handled relations in Seattle, or Green Bay, or Philadelphia. This fan base is starving. We need to know what's going on, and that means you're going to have to face the fire sometimes. That's the nature of this town. We've watched too many "experts" come in here, with their grand plan for success, and no one knows anything about it except them. Then draft day or free agency comes, and we're all left scratching our heads. How's that whole "let's keep this a secret" thing worked out for us?

4. Enclose the stadium- Why have an open air stadium? So we have an advantage when the weather changes? The weather doesn't drastically change around here until late December. If that's going to be your plan for advantage, then you better be playing games in January. I'm sorry, this is the NFL, everyone can play in any weather condition. A retractable roof would be awesome in this city. Open when the weather is nice, closed when the weather is bad. Worried about cost? How do cities like Indianapolis (NFL), Milwaukee (MLB), and Detroit (NFL) get them? You got to look at the upside; it'll hold noise in much better, it improves the experience, and you just might be in the running to host a Super Bowl one day. With the new casino coming, new hotels will be going up, and extra revenue will be coming into the city. It makes sense, it's always made sense for the amount of inclement weather we experience here. Forget the outside advantage, b/c there isn't one. Besides, we are running the west coast offense now, and smash mouth football is a thing of the past.

5. Find the Franchise Player...and Don't Miss on Him- While the above reasons are just one man's opinion, and some of you will turn your nose up at me, all while thinking "this guy is living a pipe dream", but the biggest reason that you all can't argue with me is the product that's put on the field each week for us to get behind. The fortunes of any franchise usually begin and end where games are won; with personnel on the field. Does a great ownership group help? Yep. Do you need the right head coach? Sure. But, if you look at any struggling franchise, it usually turns around the quickest when upgrades are made to the roster. Manning in Indianapolis, Brady in New England, Vick in Atlanta, Favre in Green Bay, I could list plenty of examples of teams that found their cornerstone, locked them up, and have never looked back since. How much does one franchise player mean? Ask the Indianapolis Colts. Biggest example for CLE fans to hang on? LeBron James. No one has criticized him more than me in this type of forum, but let's be honest, until LeBron James came around, we were all hoping for Larry Nance, Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, and "Hot Rod" Williams to come riding in to the Q and save the Cavs from more than just those ugly uniforms. Look at what happened with LeBron- the uniforms changed, the arena started selling out, merchandise sales went through the roof, the Cavs logo was recognized around the WORLD, and most importantly, the team was winning...a lot. We all say now that we're glad LeBron left, but are we really better off for it? Dan Gilbert was able to re-vamp the entire arena and the game day experience, largely in part because of ONE player. What's he selling now? Team? Commitment? It certainly isn't tickets.

TR

Is Tiger Woods Done?

Tiger Woods and his story book tumble published a new chapter today, when he withdrew unexpectedly from the Players Championship after just 9 holes and posting a very Un-Tiger like score of 6-over par. This was the first round of competitive golf Woods has played since finishing 4th at The Masters last month. Tiger had taken some time off to nurse both knee and achilles injuries he sustained (and played through) at Augusta National. This no doubt is a major setback in what was hyped as a year in which Woods and his camp seemed satisfied with the progress made not only in his personal life, but with his golf game as well. This latest injury casts a long shadow on the rest of his year, and brings questions of his durability and longevity back into play. So, the question is "Is Tiger Woods Done?".

I believe there are a number of factors at work here. The first, and most critical, is the state of Tiger's life off the golf course. You could make the argument that no professional athlete has ever faced a situation of this magnitude in the prime of their career. As a result of his transgressions, Tiger lost it all; his family, his reputation, endorsement deals, his privacy, and the seemingly invinceable aura that surrounded him. Woods maintains that he's made changes to his personal life, and that he's now in a better place. I think that for a man who lived a lie for as long as he did, he didn't allow himself enough time to get right.

Confidence. Anyone who has ever played golf knows that it's just as much, if not more, mental than it is physical. In Tiger's case, his confidence meter is on empty. On the surface, you might not be able to see it. He conducts interviews in the same manner as before, he walks with his chin up, and he still displays the competitive fire that helped define his career to this point. After Y.E. Yang was able to run Tiger down in the final round of the PGA Championship a few years back and beat him, you could see the wind coming out of Tiger's sails a bit. Golfers no longer fear him when he makes his charge. Gone is his image of the town bully that no one wants to stand up to. Living up to their slogan of "These guys are good", the PGA Tour's golfers are starting to hit their own big shots, make their own big putts, and throw their own fist pumps into the air. Simply put, the field isn't afraid of Tiger anymore...and he knows it. It's time for Tiger to give them a reason to be afraid, for the sake of his confidence.

The Health Factor. For years, golf experts debated just how long Tiger Woods' body could withstand the demands of his swing. No one swings the golf club as hard or as fast as Tiger Woods. It's a fact. His swing has been clocked at over 130 mph. That power has afforded him the flexibility and ability to hit some of the most difficult shots from the most difficult spots of any golfer ever. All that power comes with a price it now seems. The incredible amount of torque Tiger puts on his lower half has forced him into a number of medical procedures on his knee and now seems to be affecting both of his achilles muscles. No one will forget how Tiger winced through an 18 hole playoff to win the U.S. Open in 2009. People at the event said that you could hear things cracking and snapping inside his knee every time Tiger loaded up and swung his driver. The harsh reality is that adjustments need to made to Tiger's swing for the sake of his body.

Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin. This in my opinion, is the biggest nemesis standing between Tiger Woods and golf immortality. It's obvious that Tiger is the ultimate competitor. What he needs to understand is that it's o.k. to be human. Everyone was looking for something from Tiger after the scandal of his multiple affairs came out. I think we were all looking for him to be someone he never tried to be before in his life. Be normal, show emotion, let your guard down, and stop sounding so rehearsed. From all appearances, Tiger Woods doesn't like the person that he is deep down, so he keeps trying to release new versions of himself. Let's start with the affairs. Tiger was living the life that most of us dream about. Lots of money, famous, big home, beautiful wife and even more beautiful children. How does he handle all that? He sleeps with porn stars, Waffle House waitresses, and call girls. As for the golf course, he's switching swing coaches like you and I change underwear (let's hope), and he's obviously not comfortable with his loss of distance off the tee. He hates it. Soon he'll be switching clubs, if he feels it's necessary.

Do I think Tiger Woods is done? Not by a long shot. He can be the golfer that everyone thinks he can still be, but he's at a crossroads in his life. What's worked for him to this point is no longer going to get it done for him. As so many of us will experience, there comes a time in your life when you have to re-invent yourself in order to survive. I believe that these injuries are a blessing for him, and a sign to him that he returned to golf a little too soon. He still has work to do on Tiger Woods the man and Tiger Woods the father, before he can return to work on Tiger Woods the golfer.

TR

LeBron and His So Called "Apology" to Cleveland

LeBron James finally apologized to the city of Cleveland for the way his "decision" went down last summer. Yeah, right. In a post game interview following the Miami Heat's 97-87 Game 5 victory over the Boston Celtics, a game in which the Heat eliminated Boston, sending the league's oldest looking team to an early vacation, James tried to extend an olive branch to the city of Cleveland by offering sentiment for the way he handled himself during last summer's free agent chase for his services. It was nearly 1 year to the day that James concluded his worst playoff series as a professional, against these same Celtics, a series that still stings Cleveland sports fans all the way to their core. Sitting at the podium, with his buddy Dwyane Wade, a Miami Heat baseball cap positioned on the table between them, James answered questions from long-time friend, national writer, and Cleveland native Brian Windhorst. It was at that point, that James offered up the apology.

As I was having breakfast with my daughter this morning, I decided to turn on the local radio sports talk shows. I had already seen the tweets from Mike and Mike, Adrian Wojarnowski, Windhorst, and all the rest of the national guys. This was going to be a hot topic today. I tuned in to the Really Big Show with Tony Rizzo, knowing I would get an honest reaction from a lifelong Cleveland guy. Co-host Aaron Goldhammer had just been on with Mike and Mike to give his perspective (and try to convey the Cleveland sports fan's point of view) to the national audience. Rizzo was incensed.

Once again, LeBron demonstrated that he just doesn't understand Cleveland sports fans. He insulted our intelligence and our emotional investment in our players and sports teams. Offering up an apology while you're riding high isn't exactly the most sincere way to go, LeBron. In fact, it's a cop out. It only fuels our hate for you even more. I expected a lot more (we all did) from a guy who grew up here, played pro sports here for 7 years, and from someone who still lives here in the offseason. Clearly, we all continue to be wrong about this man.

Do I want an apology from LeBron James? Hell yes I do. Here's what I want an apology for. I want an apology from James for him destroying basketball in this city after he promised to restore it. I want an apology for the way he handcuffed our team during free agency by not revealing his plans until the last possible moment, thus turning our team into one of the worst teams in the league this year and setting us back at least 3 years. I want an apology for the arrogant ass way you went on national TV, embarrassed us, then didn't even show a shred of remorse about it. How about an apology for the way you quit on everyone in last year's playoff series against Boston? Apologize to the franchise for doing everything in their power to trade for the players YOU wanted, sign the players YOU wanted, but couldn't hit the home run they needed because YOU wouldn't sign anything longer than a 3 year contract. Apologize for the way we threw away drafts, took on enormous contracts, altered travel plans, and gave your buddies jobs, only to watch you throw it in all our faces because YOU couldn't deliver on your end of the deal. Apologize for the way you helped organize a celebration on national TV the day after you ripped out this city's heart. You acted like you never cared. Why should I believe you now?

Maybe you should just apologize for not giving us your full attention for the last 7 years. Apologize for never understanding this cities passion, while admitting that all you care about is yourself at the end of the day. Apologize for the way you had one eye on basketball in Cleveland, and one eye on your new approaching situation in Miami with your friends. Apologize for knowing the whole time you were leaving, and for not telling us. Why don't you organize an hour long special for that?

TR