Saturday, June 29, 2013
The state of the Columbus Blue Jackets and thoughts on LeBron coming back to Cleveland
This week's podcast includes Blue Jackets analysis and the idea of LeBron coming back to Cleveland. Click here to listen.
Friday, June 21, 2013
A Season of "Almost's"
Sports can suck sometimes. Specifically, being a fan of athletes or teams.
That isn't to say that the competition isn't great or that the drama and intensity isn't world-class. You're reading this because you really like sports. I'm writing this because I really like sports. In the end, they're just games and mostly meaningless fun in the big picture, but it really is no fun when things aren't going your way in the sports-world.
(Full-disclosure, I was brought up on Ohio State football and Cleveland pro sports. I have since added the Blue Jackets to "my teams." You can imagine my heartbreak outside of the 2002 title in football.)
The 614 has had a tough go of it recently when it comes to sports. This could include Cincinnati and Cleveland as well. A lot of teams came close, but most of the fans came away from each particular season feeling empty-handed. Let's take a look at some recent sports heartbreaks:
LeBron James just capped off his second consecutive NBA Title with another Finals MVP to go with it. He's stomping on hearts across Cleveland and Ohio in the process. He was our guy, born and raised in Akron. He was supposed to bring a title to Ohio, not the clowns posing as "fans" in Miami. And get this, it almost didn't happen. The Spurs played a magnificent Game 6, and a made free throw here, or a rebound there, and we would be making of "LeChoke" and his 1-3 record in the Finals. Instead, everything that had to go right for the Heat did, and they held off the aging Spurs in a Game 7 for the ages. Pop actually got outcoached in Game 6, and Danny Green and Tony Parker combined to shoot 4-24 in Game 7 to doom the Spurs. Cavs fans everywhere almost got their chance to see LeBron fail.
Ohio State men's hoops - we've been saying this for awhile, the Buckeyes almost won the title. They almost got to the Final Four for a second consecutive season, except everyone forgot how to shoot against Wichita freaking State. They almost won the title in 2012. And 2011. And 2007. In fact, one of the most storied hoops programs in NCAA history has just one title to their game, all the way back in 1960. This was followed almost by two more titles, but they finished runner up in both of those years. Thad Matta almost has this program to the top.
Ohio State football - almost competed for anything in the post-season, if not for that whole pesky lying to the NCAA thing a couple years prior. Urban Meyer has a chance this upcoming season to reverse this fortune as the Buckeyes are finally eligible for a bowl game and the program seems to be back in order. For you die-hard Buckeye fans, you know how close Columbus was to celebrating a title many times - '06, '07, '10 recently, and essentially every year from 1993-1998 (oh...John Cooper...). Still, the Buckeyes have managed seven national titles, but the one in 2002 is the only one in over 40 years.
Browns - I got nothing. They're almost a competent organization? Haha, just kidding.
Bengals - the Bengals haven't won a playoff game since the 1990 season. They almost won a playoff game the last seasons, falling both times to the Texans.
Indians - Again, I got nothing here recently. Heartbreaks in '95, '97 (and almost every year when they were on their run), and '07.
Reds - The Redlegs almost won a playoff series last season, but they blew a 2-0 lead in a best of 5 to the San Francisco Giants. Their almost ready to turn the corner and be a World Series contender.
Cavs - Besides almost getting to see LeBron lose in the Finals (again), the Cavs are almost ready to turn it around. They fired Byron Scott as their coach and have the first pick in the upcoming draft. LeBron teased the fans plenty, almost delivering a title in '07 and then not getting out of the East in '08 and '09. Thanks for nothing, LeBron.
Blue Jackets - The CBJ almost made the post-season this year. They almost won a playoff game a few years ago in their only appearance. Actually, those are about the only almost's that apply to the franchise, unless you count draft picks and players they almost drafted.
As you can see, if you're going to be a sports fan in Ohio, you better be ready for some close calls that will almost never go your way.
That isn't to say that the competition isn't great or that the drama and intensity isn't world-class. You're reading this because you really like sports. I'm writing this because I really like sports. In the end, they're just games and mostly meaningless fun in the big picture, but it really is no fun when things aren't going your way in the sports-world.
(Full-disclosure, I was brought up on Ohio State football and Cleveland pro sports. I have since added the Blue Jackets to "my teams." You can imagine my heartbreak outside of the 2002 title in football.)
The 614 has had a tough go of it recently when it comes to sports. This could include Cincinnati and Cleveland as well. A lot of teams came close, but most of the fans came away from each particular season feeling empty-handed. Let's take a look at some recent sports heartbreaks:
LeBron James just capped off his second consecutive NBA Title with another Finals MVP to go with it. He's stomping on hearts across Cleveland and Ohio in the process. He was our guy, born and raised in Akron. He was supposed to bring a title to Ohio, not the clowns posing as "fans" in Miami. And get this, it almost didn't happen. The Spurs played a magnificent Game 6, and a made free throw here, or a rebound there, and we would be making of "LeChoke" and his 1-3 record in the Finals. Instead, everything that had to go right for the Heat did, and they held off the aging Spurs in a Game 7 for the ages. Pop actually got outcoached in Game 6, and Danny Green and Tony Parker combined to shoot 4-24 in Game 7 to doom the Spurs. Cavs fans everywhere almost got their chance to see LeBron fail.
Ohio State men's hoops - we've been saying this for awhile, the Buckeyes almost won the title. They almost got to the Final Four for a second consecutive season, except everyone forgot how to shoot against Wichita freaking State. They almost won the title in 2012. And 2011. And 2007. In fact, one of the most storied hoops programs in NCAA history has just one title to their game, all the way back in 1960. This was followed almost by two more titles, but they finished runner up in both of those years. Thad Matta almost has this program to the top.
Ohio State football - almost competed for anything in the post-season, if not for that whole pesky lying to the NCAA thing a couple years prior. Urban Meyer has a chance this upcoming season to reverse this fortune as the Buckeyes are finally eligible for a bowl game and the program seems to be back in order. For you die-hard Buckeye fans, you know how close Columbus was to celebrating a title many times - '06, '07, '10 recently, and essentially every year from 1993-1998 (oh...John Cooper...). Still, the Buckeyes have managed seven national titles, but the one in 2002 is the only one in over 40 years.
Browns - I got nothing. They're almost a competent organization? Haha, just kidding.
Bengals - the Bengals haven't won a playoff game since the 1990 season. They almost won a playoff game the last seasons, falling both times to the Texans.
Indians - Again, I got nothing here recently. Heartbreaks in '95, '97 (and almost every year when they were on their run), and '07.
Reds - The Redlegs almost won a playoff series last season, but they blew a 2-0 lead in a best of 5 to the San Francisco Giants. Their almost ready to turn the corner and be a World Series contender.
Cavs - Besides almost getting to see LeBron lose in the Finals (again), the Cavs are almost ready to turn it around. They fired Byron Scott as their coach and have the first pick in the upcoming draft. LeBron teased the fans plenty, almost delivering a title in '07 and then not getting out of the East in '08 and '09. Thanks for nothing, LeBron.
Blue Jackets - The CBJ almost made the post-season this year. They almost won a playoff game a few years ago in their only appearance. Actually, those are about the only almost's that apply to the franchise, unless you count draft picks and players they almost drafted.
As you can see, if you're going to be a sports fan in Ohio, you better be ready for some close calls that will almost never go your way.
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