The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
CAVS’ RESURGENCE IS TOP 2021 STORY
Cleveland pro sports list includes name change, Browns headlines
The 2021 seasons for Cleveland’s pro sports teams and individuals was like many others before them — some good, some bad, some hope, some disillusionment, some frustration and some pride for the city.
And, as with so many seasons going back more than 50 years, no champions emerged. In fact, one championship was lost when former UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic lost his belt and the claim to “Baddest Man on the Planet” that went with it.
So here are our top 10 pro sports stories of 2021. Whether you agree or disagree or think a story is missing from the list, we welcome your feedback.
1 THE RESURGENCE OF THE CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers played in the NBA Finals in 2018, when they were swept by the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James left in free agency to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Cavs proceeded to crash to 14th place in the Eastern Conference in 201819 at 19-63. They were 15th a year later at 19-46 in the season abruptly halted by the coronavirus pandemic and 13th in the conference last season at 22-50.
It is fair to believe general manager Koby Altman’s job would be in danger if the Cavaliers did not improve. In today’s NBA dominated by 3-point shooters, Altman took the road less traveled, and it has made all the difference.
Altman figured the Cavs would be better if they went big. He acquired 6-foot-11 Jarrett Allen in January 2021 from the Nets as part of the three-team trade that sent James Harden to Brooklyn. Next, he selected 7-foot Evan Mobley with the third pick of the NBA draft on July 29. He completed the transformation by acquiring 7-foot Lauri Markkanen from the Bulls on Aug. 28 in another threeteam trade.
The Cavs sent Larry Nance Jr. to Portland in the deal.
Not every player Altman acquired was in the 7-foot range. He pried guard Ricky Rubio from the Timberwolves for Taurean Prince, a 2022 second-round pick and cash in early August.
Rubio was a catalyst for the Cavaliers, but he suffered a torn ACL playing against the Pelicans on Dec. 28. Collin Sexton suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 11th game of the season.
The Rubio injury forced Altman to seek reinforcements via trade. The Cavs (20-16) were on a threegame slide when they hosted the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 2.
2 BROWNS WIN PLAYOFF
GAME
The Browns finished 11-5 in 2020 after stumbling to 6-10 in 2019. Kevin Stefanski, in his first year with the Browns, was named NFL Coach of the Year.
The Browns qualified for the playoff for the first time since 2002. That year, with Butch Davis as head coach, they lost a wildcard game to the Steelers at Heinz Field. The 2020 playoff game, played on Jan. 10, 2021, was also a wild-card game against the Steelers in Heinz Field, a place where the Browns hadn’t won since 2003 when Tim Couch was the quarterback.
Stefanski had to watch the game from home because he tested positive for COVID-19. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer served as acting head coach. The game began with Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey snapping the ball over the head of Ben Roethlisberger, who was lined up in shotgun formation. The ball rolled into the end zone and safety Karl Joseph pounced on it for a Browns touchdown 14 seconds into the game.
The Browns forced five turnovers and led, 28-0, after one quarter. They fought off a Pittsburgh rally to win a playoff game (48-37) for the first time since Jan. 1, 1995, when they beat the Patriots, 2013, after finishing 11-5. Baker Mayfield was born 3 ½ months later.
3 INDIANS RENAMED
GUARDIANS
After 106 years as the Indians, Cleveland’s pro baseball team was renamed the Guardians. A news conference revealing the name change was held on July 23 with the added announcement it would take effect with the final out of the 2021 season.
The name was changed because some Native Americans and their supporters believe “Indians” is offensive. Owners of other teams with names linked to Native Americans, such as the Atlanta Braves in baseball and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL, did not succumb to pressure to change their monikers.
Many fans were, and still are, either upset or ambivalent with the name change. The Guardians plan to continue selling “Indians” gear in their team shop at Progressive Field.
A roller derby team that was already named the Cleveland Guardians sued the baseball team. The teams resolved the conflict amicably. Terms of the agreement were never disclosed.
4 CAVS DRAFT MOBLEY
The lottery balls fell the Cavaliers way, and despite having to wait for the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets to make their picks (Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green), Altman got the player he wanted in Mobley. There is more than half the season to play. But Mobley is in line for Rookie of the Year because of the impact he has had on the Cavs.
Mobley has done far more for the Cavaliers than the players drafted before him have done with their respective teams. Here are the stat lines of all three players through Jan. 1:
• Cunningham, a 6-foot-6 point guard, is averaging 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 32.4 minutes in 25 games for the 5-28 Pistons — last in the Eastern Conference.
• Green, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, is averaging 15.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 30.6 minutes over 22 games for the 10-25 Rockets — last in the Western Conference.
• Mobley, a power forward, is averaging 14.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 blocked shots and 2.5 assists in 33.5 minutes over 28 games for the 20-16 Cavs.
5
BROWNS RELEASE OBJ
For 2 ½ seasons, the Browns and Mayfield tried to make things work with Odell Beckham Jr. It never happened.
Beckham was acquired from the Giants in March 2019 by former general manager John Dorsey after the Browns finished 7-8-1 in 2018. They were 0-16 in 2017.
Beckham caught 114 passes for 1,586 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games with the Browns. His last game with them was Oct. 31 against the Steelers. He caught one pass for six yards. Two days later, on the day of the NFL trade deadline, Beckham’s father put together a video of the times Mayfield either didn’t throw the ball to OBJ when Beckham was open or threw off-target when the pass was intended for Beckham. Beckham was released before the week ended. He quickly signed with the Rams.
Beckham, in six games with the Browns this season, caught 17 passes for 232 yards and no touchdowns. In six games with the Rams he has 20 catches for 248 yards and four touchdowns. No receiver on the Browns roster has four touchdown catches. The Browns as a team have 17 receiving touchdowns.
The disconnect between the Browns and Beckham
symbolizes how the team has regressed from the success of last season. They carry a 7-8 record into their game with the Steelers on Jan. 3.
6 SHANE BIEBER INJURY
Indians (at the time they were the Indians) pitching ace Shane Bieber went on the injury list with a sore shoulder on June 15 after 14 starts. At the time he led the Major Leagues in innings pitched (90 2/3), pitches thrown (1,475), batters faced (383) and strikeouts (130).
Bieber was told not to pick up a baseball for two weeks. The Indians expected him to return around the All-Star break in mid-July. Instead, he didn’t pitch again until Sept. 24. He made two starts to finish the season, pitching three innings each time. He did not allow a hit in the Sept. 24 outing against the White Sox. He allowed four hits and one run Sept. 30 against the Royals. He came through both outings with no issues and went into the offseason feeling confident about 2022.
Aaron Civale suffered a finger injury June 21 pitching against the Cubs. He didn’t pitch again until Sept. 7. Zach Plesac suffered a fractured right thumb when he banged it on a chair removing his jersey after a rough outing against the Twins. He was on the injured list for six weeks.
The injuries to the three starters were too much to overcome. The Indians finished 80-82, 13 games behind the Central Division champion White Sox, and missed the playoffs. It was the first time they finished under .500 since they were 68-94 in 2012. Not coincidentally, Terry Francona took over as manager in 2013.
7 COVID-19 STRIKES AGAIN
Commissioners in all major sports strongly encouraged their players to get vaccinated for COVID-19, and things were going well until the Omicron variant started spreading like wildfire in early December.
The Browns were hit especially hard. They had to play the Raiders with Nick Mullens, a practice squad quarterback, as their starter because Mayfield and Case Keenum were on the COVID-19 list. So were left tackle Jedrick Wills, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and tight end Austin Hooper, among others. The Browns lost on a field goal by Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson on the final play.
Mayfield was activated on game day morning to face the Packers on Dec. 25. Wills was still on the COVID-19 list. Mayfield threw four interceptions. He did not use the lack of practice time (he said he never felt ill while in quarantine) as an excuse. The Browns lost, 24-22.
If the Browns miss the playoffs, 2021 will be remembered as the year they were sacked by COVID-19.
COVID also hampered the Cavaliers in late December. But the absences spread over an 82-game season are easier to absorb than when they affect a 17game campaign.
8 INDIANS TRADE LINDOR
The Indians on Jan. 7 traded four-time AllStar shortstop and fan favorite Francisco Lindor to the New York Mets for infielders Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario, righthanded pitcher Josh Wolf and outfielder Isaiah Green.
Right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco, another player beloved by Tribe fans, also was shipped to the Mets in the six-player trade.
Lindor would have been a free agent after the 2021 season. There was no way the Indians could pay him what he got from the Mets before the 2021 season began — a 10-year, $341 million extension that kicks in in 2022.
Lindor did not handle the pressure of his new contract or playing in the New York spotlight well. He batted .230 with 20 home runs and 63
RBI. Mets fans booed him in late August, and he responded by flashing two “thumbs down” to the fans after hitting a double.
Meanwhile, Rosario, also a shortstop, was the surprise player of 2021 for the Indians. He batted .282 with 11 home runs and 57 RBI in 141 games. He scored 77 runs — four more than Lindor. Lindor played in 125 games.
9 MIOCIC LOSES BELT
Francis Ngannou knocked out reigning UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in the second round of a battle inside the octagon on March 28 with a vicious left hook. Miocic was already out, but Ngannou hammered him one more time when the Eastlake North graduate was flat on the canvas.
Three years earlier, Miocic successfully defended his title when he beat Ngannou in a convincing unanimous decision in Boston.
Miocic is still considered the best heavyweight in UFC history, and will be until someone bests what he has done. His career achievements include records for most consecutive title defenses (three), most total title defenses (four), title fight wins (six) and total strikes (1,537).
10 CLEVELAND HOSTS
NFL DRAFT Cleveland hosted the three-day NFL Draft from April 29 to May 1. According to the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, 160,00 fans attended the three-day event, even though the crowds were limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. The commission estimated the draft brought in $42 million to Cleveland and surrounding communities in hotel, restaurants, car rentals, shopping and other expenditures.
Though the draft was conducted from the parking lot across from FirstEnergy Stadium, the Browns conducted their business from team headquarters in Berea, as they do every year.