I discovered the Cleveland Indians in the early 90’s right around the time when baseball expanded to three divisions and the Tribe became a yearly central division contender. Playoffs never yielded championships, but it was a thrill to be a part of. Shortly after those teams grew old, the Cavs landed LeBron James and experienced a similar level of success, also never bringing home a title. While the Browns success has not been as high, there has been a memorable season thrown in here and there.
Despite the teams never bringing home titles, I loved the thrill and excitement of the playoffs. It was great to be a part of something that you knew the entire world was watching. My fandom as an Ohio State fan has delivered one title, and many bowl and Final Four appearance and those teams (football and basketball) have been consistently in that conversation for the better part of my life.
Watching the current playoffs within the NBA and NHL has me missing that competition at the professional level. The NHL playoffs have been so exciting and what I wouldn’t give to see the Blue Jackets be a part of that. I know they have a long way to go to be at that level, but they surely seem to be headed in the right direction. Playoffs do something to fans that continually draws them in. You have sports like the NHL and MLB that struggle with ratings throughout the long regular season, but when the playoffs hit they get all the attention in the world.
While the NBA playoffs seem to last forever, there is something about them that brings in the fans. An NBA game is a show, celebrities come out to see it, the lights are on and the arenas are packed. The NBA has marketed itself very well of late to be a showcase that you must tune in to. I miss that. I remember in the height of the LBJ days in Cleveland, all the commercials and excitement surrounding the NBA playoffs.
Being a fan makes you believe that your ownership is always leading you in that direction. That winning championships and making the playoffs are the ultimate goal. We are inpatient as fans, we don’t want to hear about a three-year plan, we want a right now plan. Sometimes spending money and trading draft picks are needed to compete right away and we don’t look at how they may affect the team long term.
I’m doing my best to be patient, but I hate seeing these other fans around the country see their teams there every year. You can call it jealousy, but I want that, I need that. I do believe the professional teams I cheer for are headed that way. I feel as though I have been patient, but that patience is beginning to run thin. Browns, Cavs, Jackets, and Tribe, it’s time to make that move, deliver on the patience we have given you. We want to be a part of winning again. The time to take that next step is now! I don’t need all four there, I would be happy to start with one. A small level of success in one sport, will allow for me to be more patient with the others. Let’s not let another year go by with zero playoff experiences!
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