Why The Cavaliers’ Championship Means So Much More To City of Cleveland

Photo: Gary A. Vasquez

In case anyone didn’t know, on June 19th, 2016 my all-time favorite sports team, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the the NBA Champions, breaking the curse and giving the city that I love its first professional sports title in 52 years. And it was done in historic fashion. Not only did my Cavs erase a 3-1 series deficit — which no team in Finals history has ever done — but they also did it against the winningest team of all-time; a team that was led by the league’s first ever unanimous MVP.

“U Wasn’t There”. That’s the title of a Cam’ron song that dropped earlier this year, but those three words play back so loudly in my head. Especially now.

When the final buzzer sounded, I cried and jumped around my living room. When that final buzzer sounded, the entire city of Cleveland erupted with joy that has been withheld for 52 years. When that final buzzer sounded, the state of Ohio rose to their collective feet. “Ohio did it! We got one! We did it! A win for Cleveland is a win for all of us!” People said stuff like that, and it didn’t bother me one bit.

Until I saw who was saying it.

If you’re from Ohio, you know that — for whatever reason — Cleveland is treated like the black hole of the state. The ugly stepchild. People in cities like Columbus and Cincinnati talk about Cleveland like it isn’t even a part of the state. I lived through a ‘Columbus vs. Cleveland’ rivalry that started when a wave of kids from Cleveland came to Columbus to turn the Ohio State football program up. I’ve had and still have friends from Cincinnati who absolutely despise The Land and everything about it. Again, I don’t get it. But it’s a real thing here. So when I saw non-Clevelanders, who talked so crazy about the city, clamoring to share this joy, I was confused.

Then I got irritated.

Because it was like, people kept saying “Yay! Ohio! I’m so happy for Ohio!” NOBODY (except people from the city) was saying “Cleveland”. Again, a win for Cleveland is a win for Ohio, indeed, but you gotta know when you take the backseat. You can be in the car, but you gotta be in the back. The driver seat and the passenger side is reserved for those of us who have been down. The ones whose world came crashing down when Michael Jordan hit The Shot. The ones who didn’t follow LeBron James to Miami in 2010, and subsequently opted to stay put and go through the worst four years of pro basketball ever. The ones who could only catch Cavs games on Fox Sports Ohio, because we weren’t good enough to get ESPN, ABC or TNT action. The ones who deliriously thought Anthony Bennett would save us. The ones who put all their chips on Kyrie Irving, whether LeBron came back or not.

Take it how you want, but this is about more about Cleveland, and all of northeast Ohio, than anywhere else. Nobody has waited longer. Nobody has remained more loyal. No one has been more deprived than we have (no, really. Look it up). Columbus is the home base of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who have two National Championships in the 2000’s. There is also the MLS’s Columbus Crew, who got one back in 2008. Cincinnati’s Reds got their 5th World Series win in 1990. None of that equates to the 52 years of turmoil and disappointment we lived through in Cleveland.

I’m being lowkey selfish with this title, but I don’t care. When you stayed down after people left, this is how you’re supposed to act. As for the ones who didn’t stay down? It’s all love. Turn up with us. Come to the parade. Just know we know that “U Wasn’t There”.

Go Cavs. Ohio Against The World (not Ohio Against Other Cities In Ohio, Until That City Wins A Championship).