The Drought

It was apropos that King James and the Cavaliers would take part in the "Great Drought". Five field goals and 23 measly points was all they could muster in the second half of a do or die Game 7 against the defending Eastern Conference champs. The event can now be formally catalogued and classified with the other heart breaking Cleveland sports playoff memories. To be fair the Cavs were never the favorites and never at the point were they should have won. The scrappy Cavs stoked the embers of championship hope to the city that has been the hand maiden of Victory for over forty years. Three straight victories over a lifeless bunch of no shows meant even the hardened cynic thought (albeit privately) maybe, just maybe they can do it. However after being up only two at halftime, the Pistons remembered who they were and the drought and route were on.

As Lebron exited stage left for the season ABC flashed the equivalent of finger nails on the chalkboard: The Drive, The Fumble, Mesa and Game 7. Of course the hardened fan remembers the broken foot of Jim Chones after the Miracle at Richfield in 1976, "Red Right-88"interception in 1980, the Fumble II, "The Collapse" against Pittsburgh not to mention just out and out losing to the Braves. This playoff run, though, the ashes weren't as bad. Of all the major sports, basketball is the one most built for dynasties. The Celtics or Bull teams dominated in ways that are unequaled in the other sports for a reason. Good basketball teams win in the NBA, fluke upsets are rare, and it takes a long time for a champion to be dethroned. The fact that a complete rematch of last year's conference championships is a distinct possibility should surprise no one. As such one doesn't expect an upstart team in its first playoff appearance to zig zag through the playoffs to collect a title. As long as Lebron stays put, the city could witness the equivalent of a deluge in the Sahara - a championship. That's the big if though, will King James sign and stay in his home? Given the NBA's history and the "Larry Bird Rule" it's likely, but its Cleveland sports and nobody knows when or if it'll rain.