Cleveland Fans Hope Cavaliers Good Fortune Rubs Off On Other Teams

Not since the great Jim Brown was powering down the sideline in the 1950s and 60s has Cleveland seen a transcendent athlete like LeBron James. During those years of Jim Brown's dominance, so too, were the Cleveland Browns. 

The last time the city of Cleveland celebrated a major sports championship was when Jim Brown helped the team win the old NFL Championship. Now, the Cavaliers and their superstar athlete hope to bring Cleveland back to the top of the sports world in the National Basketball Association. 

Cleveland fans are so used to their teams collapsing and lack of power, that any inkling of competitiveness conjures up thoughts of a title. The Cavaliers with LeBron James are so overpowering this season that many people are not only thinking of that elusive title, they are almost expecting it. 

Some even think that once the jinx has been lifted by the Cavaliers, other teams in the city may return to the upper echelon. The Cleveland Indians had the Boston Red Sox on the ropes in the 2007 American League Championship Series with a three games to one lead before rolling over and letting the Sox roll to another title in three years. 

Many major cities can experience a period of dominance in pro sports like Boston has enjoyed since the New England Patriots captured their first Super Bowl title in 2002.  The Patriots have gone on to win two additional Super Bowls, while the Red Sox have claimed two World Series titles since 2004. 

Last year, the Cavaliers were on the brink of eliminating the Boston Celtics before surrendering their playoff series with the Celtics on the floor of the TD Banknorth Garden. The title was the seventh for the starved city of Boston since 2002. 

So, with LeBron and company pressing for homecourt advantage throughout the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Clevelanders are hoping it will open a flood gate. 

The Indians have been on the verge of a title and have the talent to win it in Major League Baseball. The Browns, with a little retooling from Eric Mangini and company, can possibly get into position to be in the playoffs on a consistent basis. 

Maybe the city is finally on the verge of something here, and one day we can all sit back and remember when LeBron brought back the Cleveland glory years that have not existed since 1964.