For Cleveland sports fans, Cavs winning a title has led to a week-long victory parade -- Terry Pluto (photos, video)
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The official Cavaliers victory parade was Wednesday in downtown Cleveland.
But Cleveland fans have been having their own version of the parade ever since the final buzzer of Sunday’s 93-89 victory over Golden State in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Everywhere I’ve gone, people want to talk Cavs…
And the title…
And the memories…
And they smile and laugh and usually say something like, “I still can’t believe it.”
The first championship for a major Cleveland sports team in 52 years has brought everyone together.
Within a few minutes after the game, the emails began rolling in from fans.
Gregory Stern (Greensboro, N.C) wrote: “The stream of emails and texts started coming in on my phone, as to be expected. What was not expected was the number I received from people whom I’ve not heard from in YEARS. They were from all walks of life — people I worked with, played rugby with, old neighbors… Some wrote, ‘Couldn’t help but think of you as I watched the game. Congratulations."”
I’ve had people stop me at the grocery store, at the bank, the airport, in parking lots — all with their stories.
How they cried when the Cavs won…
How they called and texted friends to celebrate…
How they thought of someone who has died, wishing they could share this moment with a special person.
A FEW NAMES, MEMORIES
I received this email from Bill Cottrill:
“Somewhere, Bill Fitch is smiling.
“Somewhere in heaven, Nev Chandler is yelling ‘Pandemonium Palace.’
“Somewhere in heaven, Herb Score is saying, ‘Good for you Cleveland.’
“Somewhere in heaven, Hal Lebovitz is sitting at the deli counter with a bagel and smiling.”
It seems all the suffering through all the losing Cleveland seasons led to those venerable sportscasters and sportswriters ending up in sports heaven.
While taking a red-eye flight home after Game 7, I did wish Lebovitz was still with us because there would have been no need to “Ask Hal” what he was thinking — he’d have savored every minute.
Or as Scott Snowden (Laurel, Montana) wrote: “(Growing up in Barberton) I always admired the Cavs of my childhood: Coach (Lenny) Wilkens, Mark Price, Craig Ehlo, Larry Nance and Hot Rod Williams. Mark Price is still my favorite Cav. But we are celebrating a championship that team couldn’t bring us. It was missing a superstar.”
That Cavs team was also my favorite. I covered them (home-and-road) from 1985-93 for the Akron Beacon Journal. I would have loved to see that group with LeBron James facing the Bulls and Michael Jordan.
COMING TOGETHER
Eric Gooch wrote a long email about watching Game 6 with friends in Denver, where he lives now. After the Cavs won Game 6, he was certain the Cavs would win Game 7. The next day, he bought a ticket back to Cleveland to be with friends from his old hometown for the final game.
On Sunday night, he was wandering around downtown with thousands of others to celebrate the stunning Cavs victory.
“I hugged more than 500 people … people I never met,” he wrote. “And to the hundreds of others that hugged … the thousands of people they all hugged … I love you!”
David Katz (Virginia Beach, Va.): “I’m from Canton and I’m 61. I’m watching the victory parade online at work … Seeing this celebration reminds me of films I saw about the end of World War II. I’m not comparing the 52-year championship draught to a World War, but the happiness and release of emotions seems similar.”
I actually had a few other fans say the same thing, mentioning those old WW II newsreels of the celebration.
It’s the coming together of everyone … the sense of relief and joy.
YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP
Lou Kaltenstein wrote his own version of scribbles right before Game 7. I love them. I added the numbers:
1. On the night I was born, the Cavs lost to Dr. J. (Julius Erving) and the Sixers.
2. My seventh birthday was at the Richfield Coliseum. When they showed my name on the scoreboard, I was in the bathroom.
3. As a kid, I inexplicably asked for a replica jersey of our small 12th man who rarely played — Steve Kerr.
4. In the 1990s, my family went to watch the Cavs be eliminated by Michael Jordan every June.
5. At a Strongsville basketball camp, I was chosen to play Ron Harper in a game of P-I-G. I was blanked, 3-0.
6. Our high school team got to play a game on the Cavs court. I was on the floor for six seconds and made a turnover.
7. The ping-pong ball sending LeBron James to Cleveland came just in time for my move to Denver.
8. If they lose tonight that would fit this story perfectly. If they win, it might just redeem the last 36 years.
Well, Lou, guess what?
They won!
VETERAN FANS
Joe Kolengowski wrote: “Some fans on TV after the game said they had been fans since the early 1990s and had to wait such a long time to see a title. My best friend and I were at the first Cavs game at the old Cleveland Arena in 1970. We didn’t think we’d live that long (to see a title). We’re both 65 and Sunday was his 65th birthday. Pretty good birthday present!”
Or as Bambi Vargo wrote: “My dad is 85 years old. He said he was so happy, he almost cried!”
And Bambi was thrilled her dad was there to share the moment with her, as we all should be with the elderly fans in our lives.
Pat Heydinger wrote a very emotional email:
“I could only think of my Dad and what this would have meant to him. He’s been gone for 20 years. He was a huge Cleveland sports fan. He was able to witness the Browns in 1964 and the Tribe of 1948. He always told me to cherish the championships because they are rare.
“I am 67 years young and don’t really remember much about the Browns in 1964, other than I can remember him hugging Mom and crying when they did the seemingly impossible, just like we did last night. How fitting it is that the Cavs bring another championship to Cleveland – on Father’s Day no less.”
Bottom line?
Winning a title doesn’t change the big problems and issues in our lives. But it does give us more joy, more patience and the ability to have more fun with almost anyone we encounter.
And that means so much.
For Cleveland sports fans, Cavs winning a title has led to a week-long victory parade -- Terry Pluto (photos, video)
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