Cleveland at center of sports world
CLEVELAND — Blinking back tears, LeBron James extended his right ring finger, the one sparkling with 400 diamonds, and touched the championship banner.
As it rose from a golden, miniature Cleveland skyline toward the ceiling, Queen’s “We Are The Champions” filled Quicken Loans Arena and Cavs fans sang along with Freddie Mercury just as they did in June.
And, incredibly, this was just the warm-up act for a night this city won’t soon forget.
Welcome to the center of the sports galaxy — Cleveland, Ohio.
On the same night the Cavs celebrated their historic comeback in the NBA Finals, winning a title that not only ended a 52-year drought in Cleveland but energized an entire region, the Indians hosted Game 1 of the World Series against the Chicago Cubs next door at Progressive Field.
This type of thing never happened in Cleveland, where sports heartbreak was passed down from generation to generation like family heirlooms. But those days are over.
The Cavs flipped that tired sports script, storming back from a 3-1 deficit to shock the 73-win Golden State Warriors and give Cleveland its first title since 1964, when the Browns won the NFL title. Before receiving their rings Tuesday night — about an hour before the Indians and Cubs got started — Cleveland relived those special days earlier this summer when one of its teams finally fought its way all the way to the top.
James was the final player to be introduced and handed his 6.5 karat ring by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. After slipping it on his hand, James, the kid from Akron who delivered on his promise to win a title for Cleveland, looked at the jewelry with admiration and perhaps some astonishment. Yes, it really happened. Here. “This is for you guys,” James told the crowd, repeating a message he screamed after the Cavs won Game 7 at Oracle Arena on June 19. “This is all for you.”
James paused and then reminded Cleveland that it remains underdogs — even in victory.
“At this point, if you’re not from here, live here, play here … then it makes no sense for you to live at this point,” said the three-time champion. “Cleveland against the world.”
James made sure to wish luck to the Indians, who overcame adversity all season and won their first AL pennant since 1997. They’re trying to end a 68-year Series title drought against the Cubs, those lovable losers 108 years removed from their last championship.
In the moments before they took the floor for the ceremony, the Cavs, wearing new white-and-gold warmups with 2016 NBA Champions written on the back, looked like little kids getting ready to storm the Christmas tree and tear open presents. Kyrie Irving did a little dance in the hallway outside Cleveland’s locker room and shared a big hug with Kevin Love before James joined them and the team headed into the darkened arena where 20,000-plus fans roared.
Following a video that showed highlights from the epic Game 7 — James’ huge block, Irving’s 3-pointer — Silver introduced Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who has spared no expense in building a super team. Cleveland’s starting five this season will make $100 million in salary.
Gilbert’s gotten greedy, and Cleveland fans don’t mind one bit. After all, most of them have waited a lifetime to see one title. Why not another. “When this is all over and that banner goes up there, there is really only one thing left to do — repeat,” Gilbert said. “And, go Tribe.”
There was still an opener to play against the New York Knicks, but that hardly mattered.
In the hours leading up to the ceremony and Game 1, fans of the Indians, Cavs — and a sizeable contingent of Cubs backers — posed for photos around the two buildings. They were savoring a day many never dreamed possible.