i never buy the travel time argument. Its not like these guys travel by bus.

i never buy the travel time argument. Its not like these guys travel by bus.

 

Great point

I think we have a legitimate shot.  The Cavs generally play to the level of their competition (bad when we play Charlotte or the Knicks) so I expect a highly competitive 7 games.  I am worried about Tony Parker more than Duncan.  He is so fast and gets to the lane.  Those are the types of PG's that kill us.  The only hope is that Gibson can stay in front of him since he is our fastest guard.  Hughes was key against the Pistons because Billups couldn't bully Hughes like he does most point guards because of his size, but Parker is a different style and a Hughes that is not 100% (or even 75% for that matter) will have a hard time staying with Parker.  Gibson may need to start for that reason alone. 

This was in the Detroit paper:

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Terry Foster: Terry's Town

Cleveland wins no friends

 

They danced, shouted and screamed most of the night in downtown Cleveland Saturday night as the Cavaliers celebrated their first trip to the NBA Finals at the expense of the Pistons.  You got the feeling they were dancing on our grave.  Two weeks ago, the city of Detroit was on fire because of its hot sports teams.  Then Cleveland happened.  The baseball team romped past the Tigers in five straight games, including a three-game sweep at Comerica Park and the first two of a four-game series in Cleveland this past weekend.

 

A night later, the Cavaliers won their fourth straight game over the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals after losing the first two games of the series.  The funny thing is, Cleveland bought advertisements on local radio inviting us to visit their city.  Why is that?  Do they want to kick us in the teeth in person?

 

More at www.freep.com

Numbers game

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Zachary Lewis

Plain Dealer Reporter

Being a Cavs fan isn't cheap, especially in the postseason. But as a look at sales of Cavs tickets, apparel and other merchandise since Saturday's historic win makes clear, true fans in Northeast Ohio have been willing to rise up to the potentially pricey occasion. The payoff for the city is in the millions.

 

 

FAN SPENDING

 

$3.5 million -- The amount spent by those attending each Cleveland playoff game for tickets, food, merchandise and hotel rooms, according to the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland.

 

$1.2 million -- The amount coming from out-of-towners.

 

 

Those are my favorite numbers.

 

Kayak.com has room still available downtown from $90 (holiday inn) to $300+ (hyatt)

http://www.kayak.com/s/hotels.jsp?completed=true&searchid=HdOKt69vX2tcYdfS0CzL

^^ I love the comment about the advertisement to visit Cleveland..

 

I swear if I hear another Michigan.org commercial, I may just puke..

Yeah.. I like Detroit, but c'mon. 4 World Series titles, 10 Stanley cups and 3 NBA championships. Cry me a river.

Yeah.. I like Detroit, but c'mon. 4 World Series titles, 10 Stanley cups and 3 NBA championships. Cry me a river.

 

you're forgetting the one NFL playoff win since the modern era.

 

and by win, I mean one solitary game, not a superbowl.

Strickland bears witness

Posted by Mark Naymik June 06, 2007 19:20PM

Plain Dealer Politics Writer

 

In Cleveland's version of the Gospel of the Chosen One, it is fitting that an Ohio preacher have a role.  Gov. Ted Strickland, an ordained Methodist minister, pledged Wednesday to fight for believers' right to bear witness to a well-known symbol of sports marketing: the 120-foot-high banner of Cavaliers superstar LeBron James that hangs from a downtown building across from the Quicken Loans Arena.

 

Citing an ongoing state effort to remove the Nike-sponsored sign, whose size and proximity to a federal road put it at odds with state and federal regulations, Strickland performed a sidewalk miracle: He turned the sign into "commercial art."  Standing across the street from the banner, which declares "We are all witnesses," he cracked a wide smile, turned and said, "You cannot look upon that incredible display there and not embrace the concept of it being a work of art."  Strickland said that federal anti-billboard regulations make an exception in urban areas for commercial art.

 

More at www.cleveland.com

I heard this on the radio this morning.

Which road is a Federal Road? Ontario?

I took it to mean 90, but I could be wrong.  Is it visible from the freeway?

Ontario is also US RT 422

I just looked on Google Earth. Ontario is Route 422 ( I always thought 422 was a state route).

 

From Wikipedia (this makes it true, right?):

 

U.S. Route 422 is a 271 mile long spur route of U.S. Route 22 split into two segments in the U.S. states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The western spur begins in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and ends at Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. The eastern spur, located entirely within Pennsylvania, begins in Hershey and ends at King of Prussia, near Philadelphia.

 

The segmented nature of US 422 violates AASHTO numbering, as two separate roadways traditionally do not carry the same route number. However, the two sections of US 422 are connected by US 22 and U.S. Route 322, allowing the two halves of US 422 to carry the same designation.

 

In Downtown Cleveland, the western terminus of the western segment of US 422 is at U.S. Route 6, U.S. Route 20, US 322 and State Route 14 in Cleveland's Public Square. Coincidentally, in Hershey, the eastern segment of US 422 begins at an interchange with US 322 and Pennsylvania Route 39.

 

US 422 is named the Benjamin Franklin Highway in Pennsylvania.

 

Originally, US 422 was routed along existing roads, but much of the route now runs along purpose-built alignments.

 

 

I tried (briefly) to find a map of 422 - but could not.

Instead, here is a Google Earth Image of where the sign is located.

 

 

From Wikipedia (this makes it true, right?):

 

Not always  :-) but in this case I believe it's true. US 422 begins/ends at Public Sq (Superior & Ontario).

 

Anyway, GO CAVS!!!

^^^ I'm ecstatic the Cavs have made it to the finals. KJP, I think it's just the pent up expectations being released. Plus it's an indication of things to come, the Cavs should be strong contenders for many years to come. And the fact the Indians are favored in the East? It's doesn't get much better for a sports-obsessed town.

 

I was jacked up for the Browns during their appearances in the AFC Championship games after the 1986, 1987 and 1989 seasons. I was jacked up for the Cavs during their Eastern Conference Championship series against the Bulls in 1992. I was jacked up for the Indians during their two World Series appearances in 1995 & 1997.

 

I was let down all six times before and, throughout, become jaded on the incredible selfishness of professional sports overall (Browns leaving, sports "unions" going on strike numerous times in the past 30 years [i'll never understand that], "We may make a lot of money but we spend a lot of money", etc. etc.).

 

I'd love to be able to put my heart and soul into this Cavs team, but I just can't do it. Sorry to all the under-25 crowd here, but when you get your hopes beaten down six times that when you see a team contend for the world championship and your only personal experience over the past 40 years of your life is a letdown, the automatic reaction is to expect a disappointment. I wish I could feel differently, and only a world championship for a Cleveland team will do that for me.

 

That's why winning the conference title doesn't excite me all that much. I hope that explains where my emotions are right now -- buried under disappointment repeated six times over.

^ what the hell? are you saying those 80's force/crunch soccer world titles didn't float your boat enough?  :laugh:

 

yeah....we all know what you mean. the interception, the drive, the fumble (browns), the collapse (tribe), the broken foot, the shot (cavs). all that kind of...ummm...grinds you down. and that new browns three td playoff game lead over the steelers...oh lets not even go there.

 

siiiiigh. here we go again. my noives, my noives.

 

sing it old school style: c'mon cavs, got ta make it hap pen.  :clap:

KJP:

 

First, I completely understand your point. However something does not make sense.

From what I know of you over this very short time, you appear to be one of the first cheerleaders jumping on the bandwagon when it comes down to any particular development. Writing about it... interviewing the "stars"... memorizing all of the "stats."

Yet you claim to be mr. pessimistic when it comes to Cleveland sports.

There have been more times we have been disappointed by "Urban Ohio interest" adventures then we have by the almost championships of our various pro sports teams.

 

Why the conflict?

 

(this coming from a person who hates only one thing more then basketball.... more basketball - yet i am on the bandwagon... sort of)

Just enjoy the ride.  The cavs are underdogs in a big way this series so they have nothing to lose.  We as fans needs to just sit back and enjoy it.  Now if we do the traditional "cleveland sports" thing and end up getting the Spurs on the ropes only to blow it in the end, I just might move to Antarctica.  Most were not expecting us to reach the eastern conference finals given the up and down regular season.  Either way we will look back at this and remember it as a very exciting time for the city and its fans.

Attention Cavs Fans and Alcoholics:

 

Bier Markt will buy a shot for the entire place tonight with every LeBron three pointer.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/events/index.ssf?domain=event&type=&region=&range=&pov=cavs+watch

 

Bottoms Up!

^ holy shite that is hilarious. hopefully everyone gets waaay waaay steekin drunk with that if ya know what i mean!

 

Time to hit the bars.

 

GO CLEVELAND!!!!!

Musky, I don't get emotionally involved in development projects. They are exciting when they are announced (or, better yet, when I discover them!). But those don't compare to the emotional investments I had in sports teams over the years. That's especially true of the Browns in 1986 and 87, or the Indians in 1995. I still have Beta videotapes of numerous Browns games from the 1980s, media guides, news articles, sweatshirts, ticket stubs and gameday programs from the playoff games I attended against the Jets and Broncos and more. I also have a few VHS tapes of Indians games from 1995, about a million cups from Jacobs Field-bought drinks, sweatshirts, you name it. But that doesn't come close to the lengths of craziness I went to with the 1980s Browns teams.

 

I don't get emotionally invested like that anymore. I probably never will again since I'm not 20 years old anymore and I'm at much different place in my life with another 20 years behind me.

Who is that jackass on the pregame (bald...I think his brother plays for the Spurs) who constantly bashes the Cavs??  What a pric...how can you completely write off any team like that!?!?  I don't care who the Cavs played...each team they played - they beat, just like the Spurs did.  IDK, the guy just came off as a total asshat last night during pregame!

i enjoyed the cavs "liquor courage" analogy from Grant Hill

i enjoyed the cavs "liquor courage" analogy from Grant Hill

 

I love Grant Hill!

Who is that jackass on the pregame (bald...I think his brother plays for the Spurs) who constantly bashes the Cavs?? 

 

Whoever he is, right or wrong, he's annoying.

It could also be Jon Barry, his brother plays on the Spurs.

^that's it...I just couldn't remember his name.

Start Gibson!!

It could also be Jon Barry, his brother plays on the Spurs.

 

Nice job ABC! Nothing like a balanced opinion... :behind:

Start Gibson!!

 

Start Gibson at the point and give Z more rest, this playoffs grind is showing off his age. As slow as the Cavs transition game is, it grinds to halt when he's on the floor. It's like LeBron and Co. get down the court, set up the defense and just rotate around until Z is set. It's the "come on old man, we'll wait for ya" offense.

 

 

Regardless of the outcome of the Finals, it's clear they need to address the point guard situation this offseason.  Hughes and Marshall (if possible because of contracts) need to go.  It's obvious we have a young kid who can score (Gibson), but they are still missing that true point guard who can play shut down defense, distribute the ball, and score (aka Mike Bibby).

 

It's going to be difficult though, they have guys like Snow eatting up 6.7 million next year along with wastes such as Ira Newble (although he has a very trade friendly, expiring contract next season).

 

Also, lets not forget we have to sign Varejao and Pavlovic this offseason too..

Regardless of the outcome of the Finals, it's clear they need to address the point guard situation this offseason.  Hughes and Marshall (if possible because of contracts) need to go.  It's obvious we have a young kid who can score (Gibson), but they are still missing that true point guard who can play shut down defense, distribute the ball, and score (aka Mike Bibby).

 

It's going to be difficult though, they have guys like Snow eatting up 6.7 million next year along with wastes such as Ira Newble (although he has a very trade friendly, expiring contract next season).

 

Also, lets not forget we have to sign Varejao and Pavlovic this offseason too..

 

Well, that's the thing. The Cavs are in salary cap hell at this point. Ferry's moves might have done the most damage to this organziation since old baldy himself put the Cavs in PR hell after he punched MJ back in the day. And at least when he punched Jordan, I had a good laugh. Nothing to laugh about with this salary cap mess.

Well Gilbert has already stated that he will pay the luxery tax to keep Varejao and Pavlovic, so I'm not concerned about that.

 

It comes down to can we move Marshall or Hughes.  Marshall is much more likely since he's a big who can shoot.

 

If not, we sure as hell better hope Gibson can learn to run an offense and not just be a shooter.

Is Kenny "The Mouse" McFadden available!?!?! 

any comments on this? ouuuch. from a blog:

 

 

Charles Barkley was the guest on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” on Monday (mp3). While talking about the NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland (rough transcription).

 

“Well, after spending the last week in Cleveland, they needed this. And I hope… that LeBron… for him to do is get together with some investors like Magic Johnson and rebuild some of these inner-cities. I did not like what I saw in the City of Cleveland. Downtown. And if LeBron and Magic get together, it could be phenomenal. Not just for the game of basketball, but for the entire city. Because they need economic development.”

 

 

Well first you have to ask, what did Charles see?

Who was his guide?

Is "sexy" just bitter?

Are his statements, really that different from many our ours?

I hate to be debbie downer, but I can see Sir Charles' point. To an outsider, it's bleak around here. Heck, to me it's bleak! I get an hour for lunch, and I have gotten SO bored this spring and summer, I don't know what to do with myself. There's nowhere to shop or browse, Euclid is all torn up AND the buildings are vacant. It's really quite depressing.

 

The one thing LeBron could do to make a small difference would be every time he signs an endorsement deal, he should stipulate that a certain number of jobs be created in Cleveland. For a guy commanding a $90 million shoe deal (who knows how much it'd be worth if he resigned today), he could really throw his weight around. Nike, Microsoft, etc. It'd be awesome if he became a little economic engine. But I don't think we need a Magic Johnson and LeBron James megaplex or a The Magic King James Pizza Emporium with key duplication services.

any comments on this? ouuuch. from a blog:

 

 

Charles Barkley was the guest on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” on Monday (mp3). While talking about the NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland (rough transcription).

 

“Well, after spending the last week in Cleveland, they needed this. And I hope… that LeBron… for him to do is get together with some investors like Magic Johnson and rebuild some of these inner-cities. I did not like what I saw in the City of Cleveland. Downtown. And if LeBron and Magic get together, it could be phenomenal. Not just for the game of basketball, but for the entire city. Because they need economic development.”

 

 

It will take more than Lebron or Magic to rebuild most of America's inner-cities. I could see a "rough transcription" like this being taken out of context. Take a vacation in Miami's Liberty City & Overtown the winning city of last years championship.

any comments on this? ouuuch. from a blog:

 

 

Charles Barkley was the guest on ESPNs Pardon the Interruption on Monday (mp3). While talking about the NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland (rough transcription).

 

Well, after spending the last week in Cleveland, they needed this. And I hope that LeBron for him to do is get together with some investors like Magic Johnson and rebuild some of these inner-cities. I did not like what I saw in the City of Cleveland. Downtown. And if LeBron and Magic get together, it could be phenomenal. Not just for the game of basketball, but for the entire city. Because they need economic development.

 

 

It will take more than Lebron or Magic to rebuild most of America's inner-cities. I could see a "rough transcription" like this being taken out of context. Take a vacation in Miami's Liberty City & Overtown the winning city of last years championship.

Vacation?  Hell no!  avoid those places with all cost.  Although I would like to see folks from NE Ohio who think Hough or E 77 are "bad" areas, look at straight up ghetto hoods like Overtown.  They would change their tune.

 

The equalizing affect of Liberty City/Overtown?  South Beach, International tourist destination, "appearance" of a hip cool city with a robust economy.

The equalizing affect of Liberty City/Overtown?  South Beach, International tourist destination, "appearance" of a hip cool city with a robust economy.

 

Exactly. The media spent their time covering last years finals in the city of MIAMI BEACH. Amazing how many people confuse the glitter of Miami Beach for the reality of Miami.

Have I said that I REALLY dislike that Barry guy on the pregame...just shut up already, your brother is on the darn team.  I think we all know that you're gonna be hanging from their balls the entire series.  Why does he even get airtime?!?!

Haha well from the ratings, not too many people are listening or seeing him

Well, that's the thing. The Cavs are in salary cap hell at this point. Ferry's moves might have done the most damage to this organziation since old baldy himself put the Cavs in PR hell after he punched MJ back in the day. And at least when he punched Jordan, I had a good laugh. Nothing to laugh about with this salary cap mess.

 

Odd thing that when we signed Danny Ferry as a player, it put the Cavs in a bad spot salary-wise back then, too. We couldn't trade Ferry because no one would take his huge contract. And we couldn't waive him because we would still have to pay him.

Hell, even I'm getting into the spirit (see avatar).

don't waste your time on Mall C unless you really have a penchant to do the electric slide.

Well, I got photos of a lot of people walking about so that was worth the price of admission - not much else was. Then again, when my high school had pep rallies I was hiding out in the art room.

Cavs are against the ropes again... need to sweep at home, just like they did with Detroit!

Well, that's the thing. The Cavs are in salary cap hell at this point. Ferry's moves might have done the most damage to this organziation since old baldy himself put the Cavs in PR hell after he punched MJ back in the day. And at least when he punched Jordan, I had a good laugh. Nothing to laugh about with this salary cap mess.

 

Odd thing that when we signed Danny Ferry as a player, it put the Cavs in a bad spot salary-wise back then, too. We couldn't trade Ferry because no one would take his huge contract. And we couldn't waive him because we would still have to pay him.

 

That's a good point about Ferry and his salary as a player. His contract problems, in a roundabout way, was how the Cavs ended up with worthless load called Shawn Kemp.

 

I have no beef with Ferry though, he did something no other Cavs' GM could do....he got the Cavs to the Finals. I just hope that, in two years, we don't see LeBron playing in Brooklyn and the Cavs are still capped out. That scenario pans out and it'll be back to 17 win seasons again.

Ferry did the best he could to make the Cavs a better team immediately (which worked).. but he had to pay the market rate for guys who weren't worth what they got (Marshall, Damon Jones).

 

Everyone is worried about Lebron going to the Nets or the Knicks.. why?

 

It's not about money, he has plenty of that.. he is the face of this city.. would he be that in NYC? No.

 

Lebron has absolutely nothing to be worried about, he's ahead of Jordan and is already in the finals in his 4th season.  This offseason will show a lot about Ferry if he can unload some of the crappy contracts and get us a legitimate point guard (BIBBY).