LeBron James Over MSG: A Cleveland Sports Fan’s Nightmare

That’s right Cleveland sports fans. That is LeBron James in the advertisement. That is New York City he is above. That is the world’s most famous arena he is residing over. That is where the New York Knicks hail. That is where LeBron James can become a billionaire. That is where Cleveland sports fans don’t want to see him go.

The Cleveland sports fan has been through enough. The last time a professional team in Cleveland won a championship was in 1964 (Browns NFL Championship pre-Super Bowl era). In 2004, Cleveland was named the most tortured sports city in America by ESPN. They lost their Browns for three years in the late 90′s. Their talented Indians go where the money is and escape Cleveland.  Their Cavs have never won an NBA title. Current Browns coach and former Jets coach, Eric Mangini, gave the Jets a future (Sanchez and Edwards) to add bodies to the Brown’s roster. The Indians traded away a horse called CC Sabathia to the Brewers who pitched Milwaukee into the playoffs and earned a mega-million dollar contract with the Yankees. This city is in pain.

Cleveland isn’t a major economic force by any means and isn’t even on the same planet when it comes to New York. The New York metropolitan area yields nine professional sports teams while Cleveland has only three. New York teams for the most part are the strongest teams financially in each sport (Islanders are the exception). New York teams (for the most part) can buy talent while Cleveland has no way to retain homegrown talent. New York teams add misery to the Cleveland sports fan.

The line must be drawn at LeBron James. LeBron is Cleveland’s hope. He is the one bright spot in Cleveland sports. He defines the word “superstar”. Will he give Cleveland fans the chance to break the city’s championship drought and re-sign with the Cavs? Cleveland’s been so close to winning (’97 Indians, ’06-’07 Cavs) but fell short. LeBron James and the Cav’s give this city the best shot at a championship and they have a chance to do it every season as long as LeBron stays. Don’t count on the Indians or Browns winning any time soon. The Indians have lost some talented players over the last few years (CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez) and the Browns’ organization is in a disarray.

In LeBron’s quest to become a billion dollar athlete, he is going to consider playing in the city where that advertisement sits. New York wants him. Knicks and Nets fans are putting up with being the laughing stock of the NBA for a chance to sign LeBron James in 2010.

The hopes and dreams of one city is glaring over another. All a Cleveland sports fan can do is hope that LeBron and the Cavs win a title this season because if LeBron leaves, it may be years until the city ever gets close to a championship again.