And I wasn't singling out anyone. I just think its more important to look ahead. I love learning about history, but not as a means to get energized from regret.

 

EDIT: BTW, that's why I love summer and Browns training camp. I love to look ahead as hope springs eternal! Then comes fall and I start watching other teams and doing other things. :)

 

But this thread is about basketball. So who's going to the Heat parade today?? ;)

 

 

Actually, I would prefer that we not have a debate on who's had it worse. Ever go to a bar and there's this beaten-down guy at the end of the bar who has his own private stool to sit on for the past few decades? From it, he cops an attitude about everything, has a chip on his shoulder about everything and lives his life through a rear-view mirror. When some poor unsuspecting soul sits down next to him and starts complaining about something, the bartender winces. Why? For the next however-long the new arrival cares to stay, the debate continues for who has had the toughest life. And who wins? What do they win? The chance to sit on that stool for the next 50 years until someone else comes along who can convince someone he has had a tougher life?

 

No thanks. There's a great line in the movie The Shawshank Redemption: "Get busy living, or get busy dying." Yesterday is dead. Today and tomorrow are still alive. And if pro sports is that depressing for you (as it is sometimes for me), then find something else that brings you joy. I have no intention of spending the rest of my life on that barstool, looking back. Look ahead or die.

 

Strongly agree. I have my issues with the overall competitive balance of the NBA (and MLB, to a lesser extent) but generally I am tired of people hating LeBron or hating Art Modell or whatever - get over it, move on. LeBron James = best player in the NBA, he was going to win it eventually, and whether anyone agrees on those terms or not is really irrelevant. He won, so good for him.

 

And I'd *still* welcome him back in Cleveland later in his career. Grudges accomplish nothing.

I would say that grudges accomplish nothing and it's important to look forward and keep living in real life, but we're talking about professional sports. The lows are only as low and the highs are only as high as you want them to be.  But you can't have one without the other. You enjoy the wins because you know how much the losses hurt. We basically cheer for players because of what kind of tee-shirt they wear, and professional sports are irrational at their core. Sure, I can take a balanced and fair outlook and say that LeBron is the best basketball player, but f*** that guy. If I just wanted to admire athletes for their performances I'd go and watch pole-vaulting. Go Cavs!

For as long as I can remember, Cleveland has primarily defined itself by the success or failure of its pro teams. Ironically though, at a time when all 3 teams are languishing in mediocrity with no legitimate hope for a title run in sight, the city seems to be reviving and is poised now to make a genuine turnaround and comeback for the first time since the Industrial Collapse. Maybe that's a sign of some kind?

 

I'd say it's long overdue for Cleveland and Clevelanders to stop being perpetual sports victims and start embracing the many things that are actually going right around town. Who needs South Beach?

Let's try to bring this back on topic (the thing that is listed as the title of the thread).

 

Houston seems to be stockpiling assets to make a play a major piece.  They just traded Chase Budinger to Minny for the #18 pick.  They already had two picks in the teens and are reportedly in talks with a few teams in the top 10 to acquire more picks.  Word is that making a play for DHoward is Option A, with the fall-back plan being trying to coax Ferry (who loves draft picks) out of Josh Smith.  In related news, with Budinger going to Minny, has Minny become the new Utah Jazz?

^^I'll take it for about a week

 

I'm with bumsquare. I'm not going to sit around and brood over the Heat/LeBron, but if he ate a bad clam and sh!t himself during the victory parade, I wouldn't be sad.

For as long as I can remember, Cleveland has primarily defined itself by the success or failure of its pro teams. Ironically though, at a time when all 3 teams are languishing in mediocrity with no legitimate hope for a title run in sight, the city seems to be reviving and is poised now to make a genuine turnaround and comeback for the first time since the Industrial Collapse. Maybe that's a sign of some kind?

 

I'd say it's long overdue for Cleveland and Clevelanders to stop being perpetual sports victims and start embracing the many things that are actually going right around town. Who needs South Beach?

 

I'm 46 years old and do not recall that.  Being proud of the Browns and saying our success or failure of our sports teams defined our city is poppy cock!

So ESPN posted that video on youtube. Its up to almost 500,000. Thanks ESPN and Mark Johnson...  :whip:

 

Cleveland Weatherman Can't Help But Show His Frustration

So ESPN posted that video on youtube. Its up to almost 500,000. Thanks ESPN and Mark Johnson...  :whip:

 

Cleveland Weatherman Can't Help But Show His Frustration

 

Because I love to torture myself, I'm tempted to click on that video just to see just how degrading the comments are regarding my fair city.

I always had a thing for Sharon Reed too

So ESPN posted that video on youtube. Its up to almost 500,000. Thanks ESPN and Mark Johnson...  :whip:

 

Cleveland Weatherman Can't Help But Show His Frustration

 

Because I love to torture myself, I'm tempted to click on that video just to see just how degrading the comments are regarding my fair city.

So ESPN posted that video on youtube. Its up to almost 500,000. Thanks ESPN and Mark Johnson...  :whip:

 

Cleveland Weatherman Can't Help But Show His Frustration

 

Why do you kids get so upset over trivial BS?  I thought it was funny.  The comments, stupid, just like cleveland.bomb comments are to be expected.  Brush it off and learn to laugh at our city.  Get over it already.

^ That's why I posted it...I thought it was kind of funny. Mark was being very tongue in cheek about it.

Here's my problem with the "learn to laugh at our city" philosophy: We're already the butt of jokes everywhere for everyone else and as someone who loves this place and is happy with life here, it gets old.  Now if this were Denver or Portland or Kansas City or anywhere else that has a fairly neutral reputation, sure I'd have no problem not taking everything so seriously and laughing at truly funny things that happen in town.  But in Cleveland, every time one of our own residents makes a spoof local tourism video or does something stupid that goes viral, we always have to hear the same old lines from outsiders that generally go "only in Cleveland" or "that place is a dump" or "mistake by the lake, har-har." 

 

Forgive me for being a bit defensive when this kind of nonsense plays itself out once every few months.  Forgive me for becoming a bit weary of constantly being told that my choice of where to live and really my identity is inferior.  And no, I do not believe that most of those types of comments are in good fun, I think they are meant to be insults and I view them as such.

Clevelander, I couldn't agree more. On a brighter note, I heard one of the trolley drivers explain to a guy from Rochester NY who had just transferred here what a cool city Cleveland was and how much he is going to enjoy living here. Then he went on to explain all the things that people take for granted and the guy should check out when he settles in. He was really knowledgeable about Cleveland.

Here's my problem with the "learn to laugh at our city" philosophy: We're already the butt of jokes everywhere for everyone else and as someone who loves this place and is happy with life here, it gets old.  Now if this were Denver or Portland or Kansas City or anywhere else that has a fairly neutral reputation, sure I'd have no problem not taking everything so seriously and laughing at truly funny things that happen in town.  But in Cleveland, every time one of our own residents makes a spoof local tourism video or does something stupid that goes viral, we always have to hear the same old lines from outsiders that generally go "only in Cleveland" or "that place is a dump" or "mistake by the lake, har-har." 

 

Forgive me for being a bit defensive when this kind of nonsense plays itself out once every few months.  Forgive me for becoming a bit weary of constantly being told that my choice of where to live and really my identity is inferior.  And no, I do not believe that most of those types of comments are in good fun, I think they are meant to be insults and I view them as such.

 

Everyone?  Do you really, in your heart of hearts, think Cleveland is the butt of jokes everywhere?  Its not that people are picking on Cleveland, it's the Cleveland has a "woe is me" mentality and we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get over it. 

^ I think it's both 'woe is me' internally, or more precisely 'I'll put down Cleveland too so people know I'm in on the joke', combined with a national perception of Cleveland being a term homogenous with 'not desirable'. (at least in regards to how Cleveland is portrayed by the media). It's a broad statement, to be true, but I believe there's truth in it.

 

That said, we can't take ourselves too seriously all the time. And since in the grand scheme of things, sports don't matter that much to me, I got a laugh out of Mark's little 'tirade'.

 

But getting back on topic, does someone want to tell me who exactly is advising Dwight Howard on his career moves? That guy is going to end up as reviled in Orlando as LeBron is here, only in his case for NOT making a decision.

Everyone?  Do you really, in your heart of hearts, think Cleveland is the butt of jokes everywhere?  Its not that people are picking on Cleveland, it's the Cleveland has a "woe is me" mentality and we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get over it.

 

I think you're very, very wrong here.  Yes, it does seem ubiquitous. 

 

As another example, just from last week, and NBA related from the long-running and very popular Bill Simmons NBA Draft diary:

 

7:53 — In Wednesday's back-and-forth mock draft, Chad Ford predicted that Cleveland would draft Harrison Barnes fourth partly because he was "good friends" with Kyrie Irving. I thought this was ridiculous; apparently, so did the Cavs. They just tabbed explosive Syracuse guard Dion Waiters,3 setting themselves up for an easy "Anytime you can take the Big East's 'Sixth Man of the Year' with the fourth pick in an NBA draft, you have to do it" joke. Didn't we already go through this with Marvin Williams? Now we're running it back?

 

(Note that's too important for a footnote: I thought the Cavs should have taken Thomas Robinson, but they obviously passed after spending last year's no. 4 overall pick on Tristan Thompson — same position as Robinson, not as good — so instead of stashing potential stud Jonas Valanciunas abroad in 2011 and picking Robinson this year, they spent two top-five picks on the poor man's Robinson and Syracuse's sixth man. The lesson, as always: God hates Cleveland.)

 

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8111210/welcome-draft-diary-xvi

 

Again, I don't think I'm overreacting.  This is a running theme that I refuse to apologize for being sick of.

Actually I kind of want a "God hates Cleveland" T-shirt.

Yes, for all those self-imposed "victims."

Here's my problem with the "learn to laugh at our city" philosophy: We're already the butt of jokes everywhere for everyone else and as someone who loves this place and is happy with life here, it gets old.  Now if this were Denver or Portland or Kansas City or anywhere else that has a fairly neutral reputation, sure I'd have no problem not taking everything so seriously and laughing at truly funny things that happen in town.  But in Cleveland, every time one of our own residents makes a spoof local tourism video or does something stupid that goes viral, we always have to hear the same old lines from outsiders that generally go "only in Cleveland" or "that place is a dump" or "mistake by the lake, har-har." 

 

Forgive me for being a bit defensive when this kind of nonsense plays itself out once every few months.  Forgive me for becoming a bit weary of constantly being told that my choice of where to live and really my identity is inferior.  And no, I do not believe that most of those types of comments are in good fun, I think they are meant to be insults and I view them as such.

 

exactly. you know this tact decribed someone like michael heaton's whole career, for example. the scene? peedee? ugh. who knows how much civic damage they caused or perpetuated?? thankfully the internet era has buried these relentlessly negative ninnies or made them change their tune somewhat to at least be more neutral. i have never seen local media so willing to put its city down over boosting itself up than old school cle media. what would you ever expect from national media given that situation?  they just followed suit. thankfully this has greatly changed for the better.

 

This should throw some fuel on the fire re the conspiracy theories about the Bejing Olympic "Redeem Team"....

 

Assuming Dwight Howard ends up in Brooklyn or LA..... that would mean that the entire roster from that entire roster (save for two washed-up players in Michael Redd and Tayshaun Prince) all now play in the four most desirable markets for NBA players - NYC, LA, Chicago, and Miami

 

LBJ, Wade, Bosh - Miami

Kobe, CP3, (Howard) - LA

Melo, Kidd, DWilliams, (Howard) - NYC

Boozer - Chicago

Conspiracy or not, the big problem is that the NBA has almost overnight become a league of the half-dozen "haves" (big market teams) and the two dozen "have nots" (everyone else).  It's really frustrating that Gilbert and the other smaller market owns caved in during the lockout and accepted this deal (at the behest of the big market owners) with nothing more than a verbal promise that things would change, that the direction the league started taking in the late 00s wasn't going to continue.

 

With this new direction for the NBA and the way that many fans (perhaps a majority, even) of the league now seem to be rooting more for the name on the back instead of the name on the front, I'd almost prefer to see contraction down to about 10-12 teams.  I mean what's the point of even having teams in Cleveland or Milwaukee or Salt Lake City or New Orleans or anyplace else that isn't NY/LA/Chicago/Boston/Dallas/Houston/Miami if the former group of teams can't even really compete with the latter?  Right now the small market franchises are nothing but pawns--the Washington Generals, basically--for the traveling road shows that are the big market franchises.  As someone who was once a big fan of the sport of basketball, the NBA, and most of all the Cavaliers, I want nothing to do with being a pawn for a league that's not going to give my team a chance at winning it all.

 

And yes I'm fully aware of San Antonio and now Oklahoma City bucking that trend a bit, but San Antonio's great run happened before this era of big market superteams and OKC is a bit of a fluke situation with that rare superstar player who's not a prima donna...regardless he'll be up for free agency in three years and I'll be very curious to see what he does, particularly if between now and then OKC doesn't win a title.

^I would think the 'market' for the Cavs is comparable, if not superior, than the market for Houston.  Houston splits Texas with Dallas and SA and has NOLA directly to its east.  The Cavs actually have a very large market to tap into with no teams in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, or Cincinnati.  Of course, with the NBA season being played between November and April, other 'factors' come into play.  Chicago has never had much luck with NBA free agents either.  They have gone hard after Kobe, McGrady, Duncan, Lebron, etc. only to come up empty handed.  Boozer might be their biggest signing I can think of and he was largely thought of as 3rd tier in his free agent class.  I just don't know what can be done to prevent NBA players from preferring to spend their winters in Miami or LA...

^I would think the 'market' for the Cavs is comparable, if not superior, than the market for Houston.  Houston splits Texas with Dallas and SA and has NOLA directly to its east.  The Cavs actually have a very large market to tap into with no teams in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, or Cincinnati.  Of course, with the NBA season being played between November and April, other 'factors' come into play.  Chicago has never had much luck with NBA free agents either.  They have gone hard after Kobe, McGrady, Duncan, Lebron, etc. only to come up empty handed.  Boozer might be their biggest signing I can think of and he was largely thought of as 3rd tier in his free agent class.  I just don't know what can be done to prevent NBA players from preferring to spend their winters in Miami or LA...

 

A few thoughts:

 

First of all, as I mentioned in my post, I think that NBA fans are less loyal to franchises than fans of any of the other major sports.  So maybe Cleveland technically has a huge geography monopoly protruding out from Lake Erie, but I have a hard time believing that few folks in Pittsburgh or Buffalo care much about the Cavaliers, especially considering both a big hockey towns.  I think that the market discussion in this case really does revolve around the size of the metropolitan area...though I understand the argument for keeping Houston off the list.

 

Second of all in regards to Chicago, I do think that it's viewed by players as an attractive destination even if they've struggled in recent years in actually landing top players.  I remember about five years back when Kobe was unhappy in LA and he was whining about being traded that he wanted to be a Bull and (like Howard now) that was one of the only places he would sign off on being traded to.  Between the tradition of the franchise and the city itself, I still think that Chicago has a lot of allure.

 

Finally, I think that the only way to really rectify the situation would be (or would have been) to institute a rock solid hard salary cap.  The luxury tax (loophole) is really what allows all of this nonsense to happen IMO.

Nate Silver is the first to break the big news....

 

Sources: Magic accidentally deal Dwight Howard to themselves in 26-team trade.

 

 

First of all, as I mentioned in my post, I think that NBA fans are less loyal to franchises than fans of any of the other major sports.  So maybe Cleveland technically has a huge geography monopoly protruding out from Lake Erie, but I have a hard time believing that few folks in Pittsburgh or Buffalo care much about the Cavaliers, especially considering both a big hockey towns.  I think that the market discussion in this case really does revolve around the size of the metropolitan area...though I understand the argument for keeping Houston off the list.

 

I wasn't implying that the Cavs fanbase extends in any meaningful way into Pittsburgh or Buffalo or Cincy.  But the lack of NBA teams in those towns means less competition for Youngstown, Erie, Columbus, etc.

Nate Silver is the first to break the big news....

 

Sources: Magic accidentally deal Dwight Howard to themselves in 26-team trade.

 

 

First of all, as I mentioned in my post, I think that NBA fans are less loyal to franchises than fans of any of the other major sports.  So maybe Cleveland technically has a huge geography monopoly protruding out from Lake Erie, but I have a hard time believing that few folks in Pittsburgh or Buffalo care much about the Cavaliers, especially considering both a big hockey towns.  I think that the market discussion in this case really does revolve around the size of the metropolitan area...though I understand the argument for keeping Houston off the list.

 

I wasn't implying that the Cavs fanbase extends in any meaningful way into Pittsburgh or Buffalo or Cincy.  But the lack of NBA teams in those towns means less competition for Youngstown, Erie, Columbus, etc.

 

Fair enough.  I just think there's far less regional loyalty in the NBA.  I get the impression that in some of those towns (or any non-NBA market around the country), for the folks that do care about the NBA, they're rooting more for individuals like Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant than any one particular team, be that team the Cavaliers or anyone else.  I could be wrong, but it seems like that's a very typical form of NBA fandom.

Agreed.  Regional loyalty is somewhat dilluted in the NBA, but we comparing apples to apples (Cleveland's NBA market vs. some other city's, like Houston's, NBA market).  You're right in that it does often come down to one player to expand the team's market.  When LBJ was here, it was quite common for the seats next to mine to be filled with folks from Columbus, WVa, Toledo, and other areas in the region.  Point being, the potential is there..... whereas, it doesn't matter if the Browns had an LBJ equivalent.... half of Youngstown would still spit on a Brown and Orange flag in a heartbeat.

Agreed.  Regional loyalty is somewhat dilluted in the NBA, but we comparing apples to apples (Cleveland's NBA market vs. some other city's, like Houston's, NBA market).  You're right in that it does often come down to one player to expand the team's market.  When LBJ was here, it was quite common for the seats next to mine to be filled with folks from Columbus, WVa, Toledo, and other areas in the region.  Point being, the potential is there..... whereas, it doesn't matter if the Browns had an LBJ equivalent.... half of Youngstown would still spit on a Brown and Orange flag in a heartbeat.

 

Right, but that goes back to the overall point...fan interest in small market teams is only going to exist when they've got superstars.  And in today's NBA, the superstars are avoiding the small markets at all costs, even giving up money to go elsewhere.  It may even only be a matter of time before big-time players coming out of college start trying to dictate where they will and won't play/sign contracts if they're drafted.

A bombshell on the horizon.  It appears to FINALLY be done.  Lots of pieces, but the nuts and bolts are as follows:

 

Dwight to LAL

 

Bynum to Philly

 

Igoudola to Denver

 

Orlando gets Al Harrington, Moe Harkless (76ers 1st rd pick this past draft), and a future first rounder from each team, and the deal clincher

for sure, the Congo Kid Christian Eyenga

 

Neither Bynum nor Howard are coming with assurances they will re-sign this summer.  The deal makes sense for all involved.  Orlando couldnn't possibly ask their new coach to start camp with the Dwight Show running 24/7

orlando shoulda gotten more

It's a weird situation. I think it basically comes down to the fact that 1 year of Dwight is way more valuable for LA than it is for Orlando. Orlando was staring down the barrel of a season with a superstar who didn't want to be there, and zero chance of contention. They had to clear the decks, and were able to get basically 4 low firs-rounders (including Harkless). Better than getting nothing and having to stare at Dwight's sh!t eating mug every day.

I think, though I'm not certain, that the Lakers and Sixers will be able to hold Howard and Bynum "hostage," if you will, when they become free agents next year.  If either one wants to go elsewhere, but want a max contract, they're going to have to work with the front offices of those respective franchises to get a sign-and-trade.

new orleans hornets....new orleans pelicans??

 

I like it. New team names are too often boring. Panthers, Bobcats, Hornets, Jaguars, etc.

I was skeptical till I came across the top-hat pelican.

 

http://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/new-orleans-pelicans-logo-mockup/#0

I say they call themselves the Jazz and dare Utah to sue them. When is Utah going to admit they have about as much to do with Jazz as New Orleans does with having hornets?

 

EDIT: Does N'Awlins have hornets? Does anyone care if they do?

no, they were apart of the league expansion in 1988 which also ushered in lame names such as heat and magic. They should have a voodoo-themed name or something.  how about the Ragin' Cajuns?

Speaking of names, I am in favor of changing the Wiz back to the bullets.  Also, the SuperSonics need to make a return.

no, they were apart of the league expansion in 1988 which also ushered in lame names such as heat and magic. They should have a voodoo-themed name or something.  how about the Ragin' Cajuns?

And the timber wolves were also introduced.  The Hornets were originally in Charlotte.  The Hornet name was a historical significant name to the Charlotte area.  When the Team moved to NoLa, the name should have changed then.

Speaking of names, I am in favor of changing the Wiz back to the bullets.  Also, the SuperSonics need to make a return.

 

The Bullets was bad then and it's bad now considering the crime in and around DC.

Looks like the Kings will be moving to Seattle.  I suppose it was only a matter of timing for the Maloofs to sell the team and no potential buyer was going to keep it in SacTown

Say goodbye to the New Orleans Hornets.  And say hello to the New Orleans Pelicans!

 

 

In other NBA Hornets related name news.  The Charlotte Bobcats are considering going back to their original Hornets name.

The Pelicans is a lame name. That's all I have to say about that.

I dig the logo tho

Why not the Butterflies?

Who says today's NBA players can't play defense?

 

 

More: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/kick-it-out-kick-it-old-school-just-don-t-kick-an-opponent-in-the-face-111813

Devastating news for former MVP Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls.  Rose had season-ending knee surgery today.  This surgery is on his right knee.  In May 2012, he had surgery on his left knee that caused him to miss all of last year.

 

MORE: http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/10034512/derrick-rose-chicago-bulls-season-knee-surgery

I spent all summer giving my Bulls fan coworker crap about how Rose doesn't actually play basketball. Now I feel kinda bad.

^The Rose injury is bad news for all lovers of pro basketball... His is a rare talent that most likely will never have the chance to fully flower (no pun intended).... I'm totally bummed about this.