The Importance of Sports in 'The City'

I just finished watching the athletic phenom himself, LeBron James, win a game in the last second on the brightest stage of his career. This made me reflect on the effect on people's emotion that sports has and how it effects lives. How many times have you been at the office or at school the day after the home team won or lost a big game? Being on either side, you will notice that the environments can be very positive or very moribund. I remember the day after the New England Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl in 2002, the boss in the office was more aloof than the the employees. We didn't get anything done on that day. On the flip-side, when the Pats lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, man we got so much work done on that day, it was unbelievable. I mean, people did not want to talk about the game and would have rather gotten lost in work than discuss the disappointment of a beloved team losing a big game.

In regards to Game 2 of the 2008-09 Eastern Conference Finals, I cannot help but think about the effect of James on the city of Cleveland. The Cavaliers franchise is located in an area of the United States commonly referred to as the 'Rust Belt', where in the early parts of the 20th Century, the steel manufacturing industry kept cities afloat. As the industry waned in the latter parts of the century, the cities declined and interestingly, so did the fortunes of the sports teams in the area. The Cavaliers were atrocious in the 90s as were the Browns in Cleveland, which was moved and re-named in 1995; the Detroit Lions still are affected by the crumbling economy that is interwoven into the day to day operations of the organization; the Cincinnati Bengals haven't even sniffed any semblance of true relevance since 1989. The Detroit Pistons and Pittsburgh Steelers are pretty much the only organizations who have relatively sustained themselves throughout the changes of society. The Steelers have done so due to a commitment to a manner of business that is deeply rooted through family lineage while the Pistons learned to adapt and change with the times without adhering to the same business paradigm that brought success in the past.

Getting back to the subject of this entry, I am very happy for the people of Cleveland. I had a chance to visit there during a research project in 1998 and I saw a ghost town in Downtown Cleveland. Cleveland Browns Stadium was still under construction, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Jacobs Field were pretty much the only attractions for the out of towner. As I walked about the burned out remnants of a city that boasted the dubious distinction of having a lake so polluted (Erie) that it caught on fire, I thought if there was something positive and transcending, it would bind the people. If I were to visit Cleveland today, the downtown area that I saw ten years ago all but abandoned would have life...thanks to LeBron James. The city is now in the epicenter of the sports world and the city has money coming in via the NBA coverage and increased tourism. Even though the city is divided at its core due to it's history, the fans are united under the success of a common interest. However, what happens to the city if James leaves for literally 'greener pastures' when he opts out of his current contract in 2010? The rumors of Nike paying him extra money to join a large market team are false and impractical in these economic times, so his staying where he is will be motivated by his desire to continue the transformation of his 'hometown', which will not only have a tremendous impact on the fortunes of the team, but the city as well. If Eric Mangini can turn around the Browns and James leaves, then maybe it would lessen the blow, but Cleveland's resurgence was built by James and could hollow out without him. The unity under the thin veneer of a winning team led by an iconic figure disappears and the positivity and economic growth associated with it likewise disintegrates.

The fans of Cleveland sports should enjoy this moment. The reason being is that it is easy to be spoiled by greatness when it is around on a year to year basis...just ask the fans of the Patriots, the Chicago Bulls or Montreal Canadiens. I constantly remind my friends that victory and success can be fleeting and things never remain the same in the sports world; ACLs tear. Players age. Overrated player are bums. Coaches get tuned out. Ownership changes. It all connects with us on so many levels as we work, study and live. Sports gives us a creative outlet and inspires us all. I know we all remember the camera shot of the young fan sporting the James jersey incredulously holding his head after Hedo Turkaglu hit that potential game winning shot tonight. That same kid's emotions swung 180 degrees after the winning shot by James. Imagine going into a holiday weekend on the losing end of the stick and now think about how many bars are breaking the bank as people celebrate. Cab drivers are making a killing and I bet Trojans are making thousands of 'entries' this evening. Winning changes everything and everyone is happy. That is why in these trying times, sports fans located in the 'Rust Belt' deserve to taste winning on the same level as those in Boston, Los Angeles and New York. Congrats, folks...enjoy it while it lasts.