Lebrons Return One Of Many Storied Returns In Recent Memory
How Lebron James performs in his return to Cleveland tonight will only matter tomorrow at the water coolers and on sport talk shows. Cleveland his NBA home for the previous seven seasons, has wounds that are still healing. A Cavalier win tonight would go a long way in helping those wounds heal.
In July James took a public relations hit to his imagine when he decided to take his talents to South Beach and play for the Miami Heat. His announcement on an hour long ESPN special was perceived by many in the sports world to be arrogant and grandstanding.
In Cleveland they shed some tears, burned his jersey and tore down billboards and advertisements with his name and face on them. The James departure sparked many to state that Cleveland was a cursed sports city.
In an open letter to Cavaliers fans owner Dan Gilbert called the ESPN special narcissistic and self promotional. Further adding fuel to the fan bases fire, Gilbert wrote," you simple don't deserve this cowardly betrayal".
The move to south Florida is a work in progress. Coach bumping and an 11-8 record isn't the start everyone was looking for. In the words of Lebron, nothing less than multiple world championships will suffice.
Being from Baltimore I have experienced many heartbreaking departures of players and even a franchises departure, it hurts but time heals all wounds.
In no particular order here are nine of the most controversial returns in recent sports history and how the athletes performed against their old teams, or in two cases against the teams they wouldn't play for.
McNabb Wins In His Return To Philadelphia, October 3rd, 2010
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In a shocking move last off season the Philadelphia Eagles announced they had traded Donovan McNabb to division rival, the Washington Redskins. Stunned as the next guy, McNabb took it all in stride as many in Philadelphia felt it was time for McNabb to hit the road.
Booed harshly on draft day by Philly fans, the Eagles chose McNabb in the first round of the1999 draft with second overall pick. McNabb would go on to become the franchises all time leading passer.
He would also lead the Eagles to seven playoff appearances, five NFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance. The Eagles would lose to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX, 24-21.
McNabb and Philadelphia didn't have to wait long for his return. The Redskins visited Philadelphia in only their fourth game this season. McNabb was surprisingly greeted with a short standing ovation. Uncharacteristic for Eagles fans.
The much anticipated Vick versus McNabb showdown ended early when Michael Vick was injured and replaced by Kevin Kolb. Neither Kolb nor McNabb played great football but the Eagles did prevail 17-12 in a typically ugly NFC East style grudge game.
McNabb on the day was 8 out of 19 for a paltry125 yards. McNabb threw one interception and did manage to connect with tight end Chris Cooley on a 31 yard touchdown pass.
Ruth Returns To Fenway, April 19th, 1920
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OK so maybe this one isn't that recent but the story of the much documented sale of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919 for $125,000 has been told thousands of times. Harry Frazee the owner of the Boston Red Sox was feeling pressure from The Babe.
Ruth was threatening to hold out the 1920 season if his salary wasn't increased to $20,000, twice what Ruth made the year before.
Frazee was also a well known theatrical producer and with the pressure from Ruth and needing money to finance a play (No No Nanette) he was producing, Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000.
The Yankees would go onto to win four World Series titles with Ruth and the Red Sox wouldn't even finish above .500 again until 1934.
The Yankees may have won the war but did you know that when Ruth returned to Fenway Park the following spring he and the Yankees didn't win a game.
The Yankees would play Boston in an early season double header in the third and fourth games of the 1920 season. The Red Sox would sweep the Yankees in the early season double dip. Winning game one 6-0 and game two 8-3. Ruth would go 3 for 8 with one RBI in the twin billing.
The Sox would complete the series sweep the next day beating Ruth and the Yankees 3-2. Ruth was 0 for 4.
Captain Comeback Leads Ravens Over Colts November 29,1998
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When the Mayflower trucks pulled out of the Baltimore Colts training complex headed for Indianapolis on March 29, 1984 hearts were broken and a city was left in tears.
Roughly 1,703 days passed until they returned on November 29, 1998. This time they were the Indianapolis Colts and they were taking on Baltimore's new team the Ravens. Baltimore was three years into their new franchises existence.
Baltimore had done to Cleveland what had been done to them. They took another cities NFL team, the Browns. Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore after the 1995 season. Upon their arrival I and many other Ravens fans wanted know when were we playing the Colts?
The Ravens traveled to Indy in their inaugural season, losing 26-21.
The 1998 showdown featured a rookie quarterback from Tennessee, Peyton Manning and a head coach with a link to both organizations in both cities with both teams.
Ted Marchibroda had coached The Baltimore Colts, Indianapolis Colts and now the Baltimore Ravens. Marchibroda would coach the Ravens for three seasons but this was his biggest game as their coach.
After a rough start another former Indianapolis Colt, quarterback Jim Harbaugh would have to step up and prove why they called him captain comeback.
Trailing 24-13 at the half, captain comeback Jim Harbaugh would indeed live up to his nickname, leading the Ravens to a 25-7 second half edge and a very satisfying 38-31 win for the city of Baltimore.
The Colts would severely out gain the Ravens on this day, 540 yards to 314. Marshall Faulk rushed for 192 yards and would have another 75 yards through the air. He would score two touchdowns on the day.
Rookie Peyton Manning threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns but it was Harbaugh that stole the show. Following the victory over the Colts, Harbaugh handed the game ball to former Baltimore Colts great Johnny Unitas. Unitas had been standing on the Baltimore Ravens sideline during the game.
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Art's New Team Returns To Cleveland November 7, 1999
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The marriage and subsequent divorce of Lebron James to the city of Cleveland isn't the first time the city has had to deal with the return of an ex.
On November 7, 1999 the former Browns would make their return to Cleveland and the man that moved them to Baltimore didn't make the trip.
Art Modell had to watch from his home in Baltimore as death threats and hard feelings kept him from attending. He had to like what he saw on his TV, his new team the Baltimore Ravens delivered a 41-9 thrashing over his old one.
Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore and in the process gave up the rights to the team name, colors and all history associated with the Cleveland Browns. In a fan poll run by the Baltimore Sun his new team’s name, the Ravens was chosen.
Modell is still vilified to this day and although he no longer owns the Ravens, never made a trip to Cleveland to watch a game after the move. Many believe his move from Cleveland has cost him a chance of getting into the Hall of Fame.
After moving the team following the 1995 season, Modell claimed the failure of the city to build the team a new stadium and his loss of revenue due to poor conditions at old Municipal Stadium wouldn’t allow him to survive as an owner if he stayed.
After the move to Baltimore was announced and following the Browns final home game of the 95 season , fans would tear apart sections of Municipal Stadium, many taking seats as souveniers.
Modell did make a series of poor on field personnel signings that cost his franchise money. He also claimed that new stadiums for the Indians, the Cavaliers and the building of the Rock-n-Roll hall of fame further added insult to injury.
Cleveland would have to wait two more seasons to get their first victory over Modell and the Ravens. They would sweep the season series from the Ravens in 2001.
Clemens Returns To Fenway July 12, 1997
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Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette publically stated that Roger Clemens was in the twilight of his career when he allowed the rocket to enter into free agency after the 1996 season.
Clemens would enter the spotlight and win the CY Young award in the following two seasons. He would win the award two more times, once with the Yankees and Astros. He would also be a very vital part of the Yankees World Series winning teams in 99 and 2000.
After his departure from Boston he would have to wait until mid July the following season to return to Fenway Park.
Clemens would pitch a gem en-route to winning his 14th game of that season. Clemens struck out 16 Red Sox batters, giving up just four hits and one run.
Clemens wouldn't be greeted as warmly when he returned to Fenway in July of 1999.
He was then a New York Yankee and the Red Sox would get the better of the Rocket on this night. In a no decision Clemens gave up four runs on five hits in just five innings of work.
The Great One Returns To Edmonton October 19, 1988
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On August 9th, 1988 the greatest hockey player to ever live was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.
Wayne Gretzky, Marty Mcsorley and Mike Krushelnyski were traded to the Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas and $15 million dollars in cash. The Oilers also obtained the Kings first pick in the 1989 draft, which they later traded to the New Jersey Devils.
Gretzky was crushed and didn't want to go but after speaking with Kings Owner Bruce Mcnall he decided it was time for a change, but not before Gretzky had requested the other two players in the deal. The last condition of the trade was that Gretzky had to call Oilers owner Peter Pocklington and request the trade.
He returned to Edmonton just seven games into the 1989 season. The kings would score six goals but the Oilers would score eight times to win the game.
The game was nationally televised and the Oilers had their largest attendance figure ever on this night.Gretzky would receive a five minute standing ovation and was cheered every time he stepped on for a shift. He would notch just two assists in the loss.
The Kings and Oilers would split the season series four games apiece and meet in the first round of the playoffs that season.
Edmonton stormed out to a 3-1 series lead but The Great One would lead L.A. back. The kings would win the series in seven games knocking the defending Stanley Cup Champions from the playoffs.
Gretzky would score two goals in the seventh and deciding game.
Favre Returns Green Bay November 1st, 2009
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You know the story and you know how it played out. Favre returned to Green Bay the villain as a Minnesota Viking.
Favre returned and led the Vikings to a decisive 38-26 win. Favre would have a banner day as he would connect on four touchdown passes.
Favre and the Vikings completed the season sweep of the Packers with this Lambeau win. Earlier in the season Favre dealt the Pack a 30-23 loss in Minnesota.
Favre in his first two games against his old team would pass for 515 yards, seven touchdowns and surprisingly, no interceptions.
Favre would lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship game last season, losing to the eventual Super Bowl winner, New Orleans Saints.
Elway Refuses To Play For Irsay and The Baltimore Colts September 11, 1983
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John Elway was selected first overall in the 1983 NFL draft, not by the Denver Broncos but by the Baltimore Colts. Elway would send shock waves through the NFL by announcing he would never play a down for the Colts, this before the draft even took place.
Elway promised if Robert Irsay, GM Ernie Acorsi and the Baltimore Colts drafted him he would go play baseball for the New York Yankees. The Yankees made Elway their first selection in the 1981 summer draft. Irsay drafted him anyway.
Elway actually spent two seasons playing minor league ball in the Yankees organization. Elway was originally drafted to play baseball out of high school by the Kansas City Royals, he chose to attend Stanford and play college football instead of signing with Kansas City.
Elway hit .314 with a club high 24 home runs for the Yankees single A affiliate during the summer off from Stanford, after the Yankees drafted him.
With baseball numbers like that, the Baltimore Colts took Elway's threat seriously and on May 2nd, 1983. Irsay and the Colts traded Elway to Denver for QB Mark Herman and the rights to OL Chris Hinton.The Colts also received the Broncos first round pick in the 84 draft.
Colts fans didn't wait long for a chance to show Elway what they thought about his decision. The Broncos would travel to Baltimore in the second game of the season, the Colts home opener.
It was a sweltering day with temperatures hovering close to 100 degrees. I remember, as a 13 year old teenager growing up in Baltimore, I was there that day to sweat and boo Elway.
Elway was greeted during warm-ups with "ELWAY SUCKS" signs printed courtesy of a local radio station.
Probably for the only time in his career Elway didn't perform well under the pressure. He was only 9-21 for 106 yards and was replaced by Steve DeBerg.
DeBerg would lead the Broncos to 14 fourth quarter points and a 17-10 come from behind victory.
Elway would get the last laugh on the Colts during the 83 season. In a December rematch played at Mile High Stadium, Elway would accomplish two major firsts.
Elway would get his first 300 yard passing game and the first of his 47career fourth quarter comeback victories.
Elway led the Broncos to 21 fourth quarter points beating the Colts 21-19. He would throw all three of his touchdowns that day in the fourth quarter. Elway went 23 of 44 for 345 yards.
Many said the Elway pick was the worst draft day decision in the history of the NFL. Elway clearly stated he had no desire to play for the Colts before the draft. Many believe it was one of the nails placed into the franchises coffin in Baltimore.
Little did anyone there that day know that the 1983 season would be the franchises last in Baltimore.
Drew Finally Shows Up In Philadelphia August 10, 1999
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Scott Boras and JD Drew made it perfectly clear to any team that drafted him that he wouldn't sign for anything less than $10 million dollars. The Philadelphia Phillies didn't believe them and made Drew the second overall pick in the 1997 draft.
The Phillies flat out refused to pay the money and Drew flat out refused to sign. Drew took his demands and played baseball that summer for the St. Paul Saints of the Northern Independent League.
The Phillies didn't give in and neither did Boras and Drew.
Drew re-entered the draft in 1998 and was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals, this time fifth overall. Drew made his major league debut the same night Mark McGuire broke Roger Maris single season home run record, September 8, 1998.
Phillies fans were licking their chops and couldn't wait for Drew’s first appearance in Philadelphia.
Unfortunatly they had to wait until mid August of the following season.
The Cardinals came to town for a three game series. Drew did not play in the first game.
On August 10th,1999 Drew would make his long awaited appearance in the city of brotherly love. There wasn't much love for Drew on this night, he was booed very loudly and even had two D sized batteries thrown at him by two fans.
Drew didn't succumb to the pressure and although the Phillies won the game 7-5, Drew was 2 for 4, hitting a triple and knocking in one run.
Drew’s career has been plagued by injuries. Drew made stops in Atlanta and LA before signing a five year $70 million dollar deal in January of 2007 with the Boston Red Sox.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
