Is Cleveland on the Rise in the World of Sports?

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With the Cavaliers winning Cleveland’s first professional championship in over 52 years, some may say that that is their only chance of tasting glory. Others may say that luck was on their side when the they beat the best team in NBA history, the Golden State Warriors. Cleveland basketball is obviously one of the best in the nation, but their football is a much different story. Lets face it, the Cleveland Browns are consistently one of the worst teams every year in the NFL. Their losing records, no-name players, and quarterback situation no one knows how to fix shapes the reputation of the Browns we all know. However, the Cleveland Indians have stunned the world. They have defied the odds, defeating the highly favored Boston Red Sox and the red-hot Blue Jays to make their first world series appearance in 20 years. Things are looking up for the the Forest City. By no means is Cleveland “back,” or one of the “elite” sports cities, but they definitely are on the right path.

When King James returned to Cleveland in 2014, the Cavs were automatically one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. If it wasn’t for all the hype surrounding the Golden State Warriors, more people would realize how good the Cavs were. However, most people don’t get over the fact that the Cavs are in the weaker Eastern Conference, so they assume the path to the NBA Finals is easier. The numbers show this to be true, as the West was better for the 16th season in a row. The Cavs showed everyone last year just how good they are, and it is not just Lebron running the show. Guys like Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and J.R. Smith all stepped up in the playoffs. With the chemistry and balance of the team, the only way is up. Not to mention their former coach, David Blatt, was fired halfway through last season, causing major distress on the team and in the front office. The new hire, Tyronn Lue, brought the team closer than they had ever been before. Not much has changed from last year, as a couple of new faces on the team has made them even better. For the foreseeable future, the Cavs will certainly meet expectations.

One team in Cleveland is also running the show, and it’s not the Cavs. The Cleveland Indians have shocked the sports world, defeating the Red Sox and the Blue Jays to make their first World Series appearance since losing against the Florida Marlins in 1997. No one saw this coming, as last season, the Indians finished third in their division, with a record of 81-80 (one game against the Detroit Tigers was never played due to schedule problems). Most people thought that this year would be another sub-par year for the Indians, targeting at the most a wildcard spot. That was certainly not the case. The Indians dominated the AL Central, going 94-67 and being a top five team in the league. Their offense, led by Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana, Jose Ramirez and Tyler Naquin ranks eighth in the majors for runs per game. One thing that goes under the radar with this offense is their ability to steal bases, They rank third in stolen bases, with their success rate of 80.2 percent being eight points higher than the teams around them. Their defence also puts up some numbers, ranking third in overall efficiency. The starting rotation and bullpen also play their part, boasting the sixth-best ERA in baseball. The evidence shown proves just how good the Indians have been, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

With the Indians and the Cavs doing their part, there is one notorious team in Cleveland that is consistently on the losing end: the Browns. Even the name sounds unattractive and deemed for failure, and that’s exactly what history tells us. The Browns are one of the few teams with zero Super Bowl appearances since the NFL-AFL merger in 1966. The outcome looks to be the same every year, a few wins, a injury list through the roof, and a coaching position never fully cemented. Will it ever change? Some may say there is no chance, but there is always a way. It all starts with coaching, and there are many guys at the collegiate level that would be good fits. Coaches such as Brian Kelly of Notre Dame, Jimbo Fisher of Florida State, and Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M all have proven in the collegiate game what they can do. The problem is not many collegiate coaches would not take the risk of leaving their comfort zone for a whole new team, players, and front office, especially with a team like the Browns. The players are just as important. With the Browns most likely to get the number one overall pick this year, it is important to choose wisely. As most assume the quarterback position is the most important position to fill, the offensive and defensive lines are the key to a successful franchise. Those positions are the foundation of any team. If the Browns can be smart in their draft picks and in the free agency market, things can be turned around quick in Cleveland.

Cleveland has got two out of their three professional teams sorted, but the last is going to take some time. For now, the people of Cleveland can enjoy their superstars. It will take some time for people to talk about Cleveland sports on the same level as New York or Los Angeles sports, but the quiet city of Ohio is headed in the right direction.