Cleveland choked, Cleveland choked, Cleveland c-c-choked

Before I start my next lengthy blog on the pitiful Cleveland Indians, I thought I share a few thoughts on the Cleveland Cavaliers. First, I knew the Cavs basketball team would fail. It's in the town's blood. Every team in the city blows it in the big game. The media put them on a pedestal despite the team's many flaws of being too old, too streaky, overrated defense, etc. This win is in a long line of failures for Ohio teams over Florida teams in recent years. Let's see, we've got 1) the Marlins 4-3 over the Indians in the 1997 World Series 2) the Florida Gators 41-14 win over Ohio State in the 2007 BCS National Championship 3) the Gators 84-75 win in the 2007 Men's Basketball NCAA championship 4) the Magic beating the Cavs 4-2 and in the process ruining the "dream" final of Kobe vs. LeBron. To be fair, Ohio State did knock off Miami in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. However, as a Gator fan, I was thrilled to watch Miami's 34 game winning streak come to a screeching halt.

Second, Orlando outmanned them and proved they were in fact a better team. Even without All-Star Jameer Nelson, Orlando's starting five of Alston, Lee, Lewis, Turkoglu, and Howard by far exceeds Williams, West, James, Varejao, and Ilgauskas. Even Orlando's bench has the major edge on Cleveland's bench. For a team with the MVP and Coach of the Year, they were flat out beaten.

Cleveland proved they had the best player in the series, but Orlando showed they were the best team. No ifs, ands, or buts. Orlando won 4-2 despite the referees awful pro-LeBron officiating. As of now, LeBron James will have his picture alongside every other athlete who failed to bring to the city hungry for a championship.

Lastly, LeBron and the other Cavs players who refused to shake hands were disgraceful to sports. The team showboated all season long with by posing for bogus pictures, and pointing after dunks. As it turns out, the biggest joke was...Cleveland themselves. To not have the class to congratulate someone on a hard fought series is pathetic. The team clearly needs to grow up, and not have MVP's at high schools. In case you didn't notice, all of you are playing in the NBA, and not simply dunking on some no-named 6'1" Kobe immitator. Orlando is not a dirty team. They simply went out and did their jobs. Although, I'm not a Magic fan, I have the utmost respect for Orlando's team and organization. They simply go out and do their jobs. They don't need to disrespect their opponents like some teams do.

For the record, I'm not surprised by LeBron walking out. The "face of Cleveland" actually had the nerve to show up to Jacobs Field sporting a Yankees hat in game one of the 2007 ALDS. This was the Tribe's first postseason game since 2001 (losing in five to the Mariners in the ALDS). He knew that a championship in any sport would've made them happy. If he really cared about the people who help put money in his pocket, he would've at least pretended to be on their side. He could've worn a neutral shirt or a Cavs shirt. In classless fashion, he cowardly left the game in either the fifth or sixth inning during the blowout. The Indians won the game 12-3.

By the way, I think the comparisons to Kobe can end at the end of the series. True, Kobe lost in six games to the Celtics last year, but at least they made it to the Finals. Kobe now has the team fired up to win as they are only two games from winning the World Championship. LeBron's Cavs fell in six in the Eastern Conference Finals."The Mamba" has the class to shake hands and handle interviews like a man. Kobe, unlike LeBron, comes through in the clutch. No one, and I mean no one, fears LeBron in the clutch like everyone fears Kobe. For instance, in game two, four of Orlando's five players were surrounding Kobe as he attempted the game winner at the end of the fourth quarter in game two of the World Championship Series. LeBron's winner in game two clearly extended the season because without the shot, Cleveland goes fishing as Orlando sweeps them out of the playoffs. In addition to this, I failed to mention Kobe has three rings (and might add four with a series win over Orlando) to LeBron's zero. "The King" couldn't take the Spurs to five in the 2007 Finals. Instead of listening to the obnoxious "Cleveland Rocks" (which is a cheap, rip-off version of "I Love L.A."), I'll be singing "Cleveland choked, Cleveland choked, Cleveland c-c-choked".