Cleveland Rox!

Hello once again, bloggers and bloggettes! Another column from me, Tim, the new kid on the block. This entire column is about the "Cleveland sports curse." Is it for real? Well, I have proof that Cleveland teams are indeed cursed.

1954 World Series - Cleveland Indians Vs. New York Giants: Cleveland comes into the Fall Classic after a spectacular season (111 wins, 43 loses), one of the league's best pitching staffs (Lemon, Feller, Wynn, Garica, Newhouser), and a team of sluggers (Doby, Avila, Rosen). They face off with the Giants, who come in with a 97-57 record. Cleveland, in all respects, should've won this series. But it seems like after losing four straight, the turned into the Indians we know today. The highlight of the series being Willie Mays making "The Catch" off the Vic Wertz blast.

1987 AFC Championship Game - Cleveland Browns Vs. Denver Broncos (a.k.a The Drive): Okay, another good example. The Browns, making one of the biggest playoff run in team history, are one game, one win away from their first Super Bowl. Browns had the lead, 20-13 late in the game. On the kickoff, the ball takes a bad bounce, skips past the Broncos kick returner, and is finally downed at the Broncos 3 yard line. Cleveland fans everywhere think this is the year. Then, Cleveland's defense collapses and John Elway drives his team 97 yards for the tying touchdown. Broncos go on to win the game in OT.

1988 AFC Championship Game - Cleveland Browns Vs. Denver Broncos (a.k.a The Fumble): The rematch! Browns down 36-33, but are driving. They get into a goal-to-go situation. They could've kicked the field goal to tie the game. Instead, Kosar hands it off to Earnest Byner, he goes up the middle, fumble it at the 2 yard line, and Denver recovers it. Denver takes a safety, and wins it 38-33. And I hear people saying there's no curse.

1989 NBA Playoffs, First Round - Cleveland Cavs Vs. Chicago Bulls: Cavs have their best season in team history, having a 57-25 record. They play a 5-game series with the Bullies. First of all, Cleveland should've beaten them in 3. Anyway, it comes down to a deciding game five. With six seconds on the clock, Craig Ehlo inbounds to Larry Nance, who gives it back to Ehlo, and he drives to the basketball for the score. Chicago takes a timeout. The score was 100-99 with three seconds left. Crowd goes nuts. Then, on the other side of the court, the inbounds pass comes in to a guy named Jordan. He hits"The Shot" from the foul line at the buzzer and upsets the Cavs 101-100.

So, as you can see, Cleveland fans have suffered through a long stretch of heartbreakers. This only proves that there is a curse on the head of every Cleveland sports player and team.

That's all for today. Shout out to Jamie Mottram, author of the Mr. Irrelevant blog and host of Sports Bloggers Live, for answering my e-mails and reading my blog. Until next time, keep it bloggin'!

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