c1975's Blog

On Saturday, October 18, 2008, I attended my very first NBA (pre-season)game. It was the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Philadelphia 76ers at the "Q" Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. I am a Clevelander and have actually been watching the Cavaliers on tv since I was a kid; the days of Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance, Craig Ehlo. But in recent years, with the arrival of Lebron James and Directtv at my house, I have been watching more Cavs basketball and have really become a fan of the team. And I finally got to my first Cavaliers' basketball game on 10/18/08. I had a good time, although it was a preseason game. The sparse crowd was pumped and the guys (The Cavs) played great--especially at the end--and rallied to win 100-97. Best of all was seeing them win. I was extremely happy about that :)Lebron James did not play in the fourth quarter but did get off some nice shots when he was in that got the crowd going. Based on what I saw in Saturday night's game, I think there is reason for the Cavs' fans to be optimistic this season. I hope so. Cleveland sports fans need something to get excited about. All in all, I enjoyed my first time at an NBA basketball game;a Cavaliers game. I give it a B+. There were a few things I could have done without at the game. During the timeouts, there were these games that people from the crowd played, like spinning themselves dizzy on baseball bats. I thought it was silly and unnecessary. Why do they have to have these childish contests, which are clearly marketing ploys, during the ball game? Call me a purist, but I am there to see a basketball game; that is what matters. I attended some Indians games and they did not have such nonsense during timeouts. Another thing I could have done without are the dancers (the girls and the hip-hop dance team that I think is dubbed "scream team"). They were nothing spectacular and nothing to do with basketball. They, I think, are also just there to market to those in attendance who may not be basketball fans. I think the experience of attending an NBA game should be all about the fans; true fans; people who really appreciate and come to see to the game of basketball.
It was still a fun evening; it was nice to get out of the house and it was awesome to see a Cavs' win. I think I'll do it again. I hope I will; especially when the Cavaliers take on teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, LA Lakers. I am looking forward to the regular season! GO CAVS!

I have a little "bone" to pick with CBS for their NFL coverage on 9/14/08--specifically during the 4:15 pm Pats-Jets game. Now, I couldn't be home that Sunday afternoon so I set up my VCR for not only the game but also because my favorite band Lifehouse was slated to perform during halftime of that game and frontman Jason Wade was to sing the national anthem. Much to my chagrin, when I got home later and watched the tape, there was no Lifehouse performance to be found! I'm like "What the hell?" I read that Lifehouse was to appear at halftime and Jason was to sing the anthem more than once. Where were these performances? Why did CBS cut them? It is just not right, it is not fair. Lifehouse is a tremendously talented band that deserves more credit then they are getting and they deserve more air time. And Jason is a great singer--one of the best in the world. His rendition of our national anthem deserves to be heard. Why did CBS not show it? What did CBS do what they did? They "fumbled" on this one! Just last year, I think, they showed singer Josh Groban perform "The Star Spangled Banner" before an NFL game. He did an excellent job but Jason can also sing and he deserves to be heard! So does his band Lifehouse. Lifehouse deserves R-E-S-P-E-C-T. CBS made a "bad call" on 9/14/08. I hope in the future the network and NBC and ABC and FOX, too, will use better judgement and not just show a so-called "popular" or "glamour" act.
I also think that the National Anthem performance before all sport events should be shown on tv

The games of the XXIX Summer Olympics have come and gone. I watched them on TV as I have always done. I've always enjoyed them--always enjoyed the ceremonies and all the nations coming together and I enjoy the competition. I am a big sports fan. I watched these Olympics on NBC (who I think have televised them since 2000, if I'm not mistaken). I give their coverage of this year's Games a B, or, if a medal was to be awarded to the network, I think they would get the bronze medal. I enjoyed the coverage of the swimming, diving, gymnastics. I thought Michael Phelps was just awesome--winning gold in all eight of his events in less than a week! He is truly a great champion and seems a nice, down-to-earth, humble young man, too (kind of cute also :) ). Glad I got to see LeBron James of the Cavaliers and team USA get basketball gold and the Argentine men take soccer gold (broadcast on Telemundo). But I think NBC put too much emphasis on volleyball (both the beach and indoor kind). I think they should have put more emphasis on soccer and basketball. I do not think that volleyball is more internationally popular than soccer and basketball. Basketball is obviously growing and gaining fans globally. This could be seen in the Opening Ceremony of these 2008 Olympics--where 5 of the flagbearers in the Parade of Nations were NBA players. I think I may have liked to have seen more of the equestrian events, too. I also did not like how at times, NBC would start covering an event then they would cut away to another then back again. I think they should start and finish an event; showing it in its entireity before going to another. And show more of the medal ceremonies after the events. So NBC's Olympic coverage of these Olympic Games for me earns a bronze medal. I do think they need to step up and show more of basketball and soccer. ABC is not afraid to show soccer. I think NBC overdid the volleyball coverage.
I am glad however that these were a fairly peaceful Olympics; that the athletes are returning home safe and sound. In a year and half; in 18 months (2010), it all happens again, with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. I look forward to watching again.

I created a petition that I hope my fellow Cleveland sports fans will join me in supporting. It is located at    http://www.PetitionOnline.com/clevemls/petition.html


I think it deserves support because soccer is a growing sport in the USA and Cleveland has some of the best sports fans in the world. I think it would help to boost our city's economy and create jobs and promote Cleveland bringing more people to see what the town has to offer, which includes our excellent museums, world class orchestra, and more. Also great theatre and concert venues and the beautiful Browns stadium which is underused.

Another NBA season has come and gone. I watched the NBA Finals, including Tuesday's (June 17, 2008) deciding game 6. Congratulations to the 2008 NBA Champions Boston Celtics and to their fans. They were the best team. The Lakers didn't seem to have any fight left in this game as the Celts crushed them (beat 'em by 39!). Boston deserved to win. But it still stings that my team the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to them in Round 2 (the second time in less than a year that a Boston teams knocks a Cleveland team out of the playoffs! damn!). It's small consolation that the Cavs took the best team in the league to 7 games in that second round series (a series in which the Cavs made a valient effort; especially LeBron James who played his butt off). It kind of sucks that this city of Cleveland has been twarted again (and by Boston again--did I mention that?)in a run at a championship! But I must congratulate Boston and their fans again. As a Clevelander, I am still a Cavaliers fan, however, and I wish them better luck next year and I hope they make it back to the playoffs and back to the Finals and get the Championship! I'd been also rooting for the Dallas Mavericks (who were unfortunately knocked out in round 1 this year!). I also wish them better luck next season and a return to the playoffs and to the Finals. I also hope they win the Championship (if the Cavaliers don't). The Mavs like the Cavs have never won an NBA Title that's why I enjoy rooting for them and hope to see one of these teams get the Championship ring in the near future.

This weekend, on a chilly, rainy, Saturday afternoon (10/27) in Cleveland, in our town's newest shopping center, Steelyard Commons, at the Alltell Store, I got to meet one of my favorite players on one of my favorite teams: Daniel Gibson of the Cleveland Cavaliers. I got an autographed picture from him and I shook his hand and wished him good luck this season. He seemed nice and I'd have talked to him if there hadn't been a long line waiting (a line which may have been longer if it hadn't been cold and wet outside; you had to wait outside before you could go in to meet Daniel). I do hope the Cavs have a great season and I hope they can win the NBA Championship this time.
I watched Game 4 of the World Series last night. I didn't think Boston would sweep. I thought the Rockies would give them more of a battle. Thought it would be a six or seven game series. Alas, it wasn't. Boston seemed to have, in the end, too much hitting and pitching. Congratulations to Boston fans. Still hurts that the Cleveland Indians didn't make it to the World Series. And watching the Rockies, I know the Tribe could've beat them. The Rockies didn't really have much of an answer to Boston.
I was also a bit disappointed in the singers of the National Anthem during the World Series. I heard Josh Groban sing the National Anthem in 2005 and it was great and I wish he could've done it again. I hope he'll get the opportunity again soon. Another singer that I wish would have sung the Antham during the Series is Lifehouse frontman Jason Wade. He certainly has an incredible voice and has sung the Anthem right here in Cleveland before a Cavaliers' game in 2005. I'm still sorry I missed it. I hope the Cavaliers bring him back to sing the anthem and that I do not miss it again

Jury Duty and Tribe Madness
Last week (October 15-18)I was on jury duty. It was an interesting experience. I had actually been summoned before but I had never actually been selected for a jury on a trial. This time I was. It wasn't on the first day. On the first day (Monday) I waited in the jury assembly room then after 11 am, I was called up to be a perspective juror on an accident case. The selection of the 8 jurors and one alternate was not completed that day. We were dismissed about 5 pm. The next morning, I returned and the jury and alternate selection for the accident case was completed. I was not chosen. I was excused from that case. I returned to the room to wait. After lunch, I was called again to be a possible juror on a case of assault-robbery-kidnapping (case being over now; I can discuss it). 12 jurors and 2 alternates were selected for this case. This time I was selected. After the selection, we were dismissed and we returned Wednesday morning and heard testimony. I was a bit nervous; not being allowed to take notes and because I had never been on a jury before and because I had to keep quiet so long about it. On Thursday we heard the closing arguements and then we were sent to deliberate on the case. We reached the verdict later in the afternoon and found the defendent guilty on 1 count of kidnapping and 1 count of robbery. We found him not guilty on the second count of robbery and felonious assault (there had not been enough evidence on these counts). We were then thanked for our service and dismissed and told we will probably not get called again to serve jury duty for at least 2 years. I did not mind having the opportunity to serve and be part of our justice system. I'll do it again if called. And I think me and my fellow jurors did a good job on the case and rendered a just verdict.

I was sad to see the Cleveland Indians' season end last night. In game 7, it looked like, for a little while, the Tribe may have had the chance to win. The pitcher Jake Westbrook settled down after a shaky start and the hitters began to score runs and it looked good when the score was 3-2. But then it fell apart after Westbrook left and the Indians could not score anymore runs. It's sad. This city was so excited for the Indians; so crazy for them, cheering and waving the rally towels. And the big screen at Jacob's Field was showing the away playoff games and the home games were packed to capacity. I am a Clevelander and also shared in the excitement. I did so want them to win, to be World Champions. I feel this town has waited so long and so deserves a championship. I got into watching the Tribe these past couple of months. And was so happy and hopeful when they reached the playoffs and then beat the Yankees. I did not want to miss a game. I even passed up a concert to which I could have gotten in free. I thought after that it would our year to be World Champions. But in the end, the Red Sox proved too much. But I am thankful to the Tribe for an exciting season. They showed lots of heart and much improvement this season (had the best regular season record in baseball!) and I look forward to next season and hope it is better yet for them.
In the meanttime, I am glad the NBA Cavaliers' season is beginning next week.