During that time Ohio has suffered like few other states have.  In addition to almost total futility on the field, the state has had to endure more than its share of off the field problems as well.

One of its football teams left town (only to win a Super Bowl within 5 years in their new city) and then returned and has been mostly terrible since.  The other football team became notorious for poor draft picks and criminal activity as well as being the worst team of the 1990s in the standings.

Of Ohio’s two baseball teams, one has choked away two chances at a World Series crown in the past 15 years, while the other has only two playoff appearances since 1990.  Even the Kid, Ken Griffey Jr. suffered a string of debilitating injuries once he returned to play in his home state, potentially costing him a run at the most hallowed of individual achievements, the career home run record.

The only NBA team in the state was largely irrelevant from 1990-2003, with only a couple of heartbreaking losses to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls to show for their troubles.  Then, perhaps even more gut wrenching, Ohio watched the franchise’s homegrown meal ticket flee the state and head to Miami to chase championships and parties, leaving them nothing more than a lottery-bound mess.

Finally, Ohio’s pro hockey team, established in 2000, has had the worst points record in the NHL during the span of their existence.  They have settled into a state of relative failure, in a league that has struggled to maintain its status as one of the premier associations in sports.

Given this bleak (but somewhat recent) history, it’s difficult to imagine one of these star-crossed teams bringing a professional championship home to the Buckeye state.  In considering all 6 teams, we can see that there are varying levels of likeliness that each of them will win a title.  Let’s rank them, from least likely to most likely to reach the promised land of their respective sports.  Keep in mind that this is not a declaration that one of these teams will win a title, just my take on the likelihood that one will, relative to the others.

6. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have been a complete disaster for almost all of the last 20 years.  Currently, they are pinning their hopes on rookies Andy Dalton (QB) and A.J. Green (WR).  It’s hard to say how good Dalton can be, but the consensus is that Green is a star in the making.  Of course, just a few years ago the Bengals had a star receiver at the peak of his ability (Chad Johnson), and they still couldn’t make it out of the first round of the playoffs.

Unfortunately for the Queen City, Mike Brown’s reluctance to spend the necessary money on scouting and facilities will prohibit the team from getting to the elite level in the NFL.  When your star quarterback decides to retire healthy at 31, you know your team is a long way from winning it all.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets

As I mentioned earlier, the Blue Jackets have been pretty dreadful since their inception.  They do have star center Rick Nash locked up for the next 8 years under a very rich contract, but barring some extraordinary upgrades on the rest of the roster they will not find themselves competing for a Stanley Cup any time soon.

It’s simply too tough to contend in the superior Western Conference, especially with Detroit, Chicago and Nashville, all formidable powerhouses, residing in their own division.  I’m afraid Columbus had better stick with the Buckeyes and their impending NCAA punishments.

4. Cleveland Browns

The poor Browns.

As an Ohio resident I can tell you that there are drastic differences between Bengals fans and Browns fans.  Bengals fans are convinced every year that this will be their year.  They ceaselessly envision their beloved purveyors of Who-Deyism beating out Pittsburgh and Baltimore on their way to the playoffs.  And they are almost always wrong.

Browns fans, however, are almost always pessimistic.  They expect the worst, and who can blame them?  They’ve been force-fed the equivalent of a turd sandwich for the better part of 50 years.

I’m convinced that Mike Holmgren will at least make the moves necessary to return the Browns to respectability, but that’s their ceiling as far as I’m concerned.  It seems doubtful that Colt McCoy will be the savior they need at quarterback, and the NFL has taught us that until that position falls in line, everything else is baseless.

3. Cleveland Indians

Baseball is a game in which, despite the gaps in spending between the haves and the have-nots, all teams seem to have a decent chance at success.  The Indians have made themselves a (surprising) contender by building around pitching and defense.

For many small market teams, winning is cyclical.  I expect the Indians to stockpile prospects and keep building a smart, sabermetric-friendly club until they are ready to make a big splash for the pieces they need to go for it all.  Then they will blow it all up and start over again while sandbagging money.  Such is life for the have-nots.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

Given the total debacle that the last 12 months have been for Dan Gilbert’s Cavaliers, it may be surprising to see them this high on the list.  But if we have learned anything in the NBA (coincidentally from this team and that famed 2003 top draft pick) it’s that one player can make the difference in a team winning a title and failing to even make the playoffs.

Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson were the two players the Cavs chose to build their future on in this year’s draft.  Looking at their roster, they still appear to be a lottery team, so we could be looking at a team that is able to mature together much like Oklahoma City has in the last couple of years.  Maybe the NBA landscape will become one in which stars all join up to party and win together, but it seems that any team with three or four elite young players should have a chance to contend no matter what the new NBA looks like.

1. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds made the playoffs last year behind a potent offense and quality pitching from the top three starters in their rotation.  Their management team, led by Walt Jocketty, has made it clear that they are willing to spend more than previous regimes, and they have done a good job of developing talent (see Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto among others).

As I mentioned above, baseball allows teams to compete as long as they make sound decisions and are able to spend a little (although it certainly helps if they can spend a lot, right AL East?).  The Reds must address issues in their pitching, both in the rotation and the bullpen.  If they can upgrade a few arms they have an excellent chance to bring a World Series back to the state of Ohio.

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Twitter: @keithmullett

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Image Credits:

mancavesports.org

one4theotherthumb.com

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images North America via zimbio.com

Joe Robbins/Getty Images North America via zimbio.com

LeBron James is now going to my home in South Florida.

More precisely, Miami.

Does that do anything for me? No. Without a doubt.

I’ve been a Cavs fan since I can remember, but this one goes down as a defining moment in sports history, and it has two sides, the beautiful, and the ugly.

There has never been such a huge buildup to anything that I’ve ever seen in sports more than this one moment. It had a total of 6 million dollars in advertisements and drew an audience like none other. And during the interview LeBron James announced his decision where he would play for the next 5 years of his career while making people in Miami fall in love. At the same time he broke the hearts of each and every fan he once played for…on national TV.

Right after the announcement, I put my face in the palms of my hands, and asked myself, “Why LeBron?” I surely would’ve thought this iconic NBA figure would’ve had more class and respect than to just flat out smack his home-state in the face like that, but just like my prediction of where he’d end up, I was dead wrong.

Hours later, we got to hear from the man that put LeBron in position for a ring for the past two seasons, Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers majority owner. He had some wonderful words for the fans of Cleveland:

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown “chosen one” sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And “who” we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called “curse” on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south. And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day….

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue….

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

I think Dan Gilbert has said everything we’ve wanted to hear. Expect more from the Cleveland side, in the coming days…

So what’s next for LeBron? Where do we go from here? Well, as you can see from the above, you know the Cavs fans have gotten a head-starton their festivities, and so if they have begun to move on, so should everyone else.

Now, what to make of the new trio in Miami?

Without a doubt the NBA should begin preparing for something historic as you have 3 of the top-10 scorers on your roster and 3 of the most iconic players in the NBA in Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. It’s like Team USA all over again, except this time they are wearing white, red, and black jerseys, and they are playing right next to strip clubs, sandy beaches, and beautiful women at every corner.

Not a bad lifestyle, huh?

But, it’s going to be complicated to wonder how Heat coach Mike Spoelstra will handle all that star power. Without a doubt, this is going to be a daunting task and Spoelstra will have his work cut out for him. But hey, it’s been done in the past, with guys like Magic, Kareem and Worthy, and Bird, Parish and McHale.

We’ve seen it done before, but can it be done with this squad?

LeBron and Wade seem to have the same mindset, except LeBron is a superior passer and rebounder, so how long until the paint gets clogged? Who knows, this just might be the “Cavs fan” in me speaking. No matter what LeBron did or said, we as NBA fans should appreciate the basketball we will witness in the next 5 years, in Miami.

In the end, life goes on and we must accept what happens, whether we like it or not. And for those of you up in Cleveland, my heartfelt apologies go out to you, because I cannot think of one city that deserves this any less.

As the last 7 years passed, we all watched LeBron go from the friendly neighborhood kid to the star of the franchise, all the way to the King of the NBA world; and the funny thing is that he did it all without winning a single championship. Maybe that’s why he’s leaving. I mean, it is the easy rout. Why not go play with 2 of the league’s best and cruise to the NBA Finals? Maybe LeBron was just tired of crying every season and walking away empty-fingered?

Whatever the case, we need to stop all the speculation and cut the rumors. No one knows exactly the logic of why LeBron did what he did, whether it was to be with his buddies, or because he couldn’t handle the pressure in Cleveland. Whichever’s the case, we have the facts now:.

• One, it will be awkward watching LeBron James in a Heat jersey.
• Two, the Miami Heat are the favorites next year in the East.
• And, three, LeBron is gone, and no one else can say it better, than those in Cleveland…

Heck, LeBron could someday define Cleveland sports, period.

I’ve never seen or heard of an athlete as advanced, bodied, and talented as LeBron in any sport, ever. Sure, he’s not the best player ever a la MJ, or even the best player currently a la Kobe; I will be the first to say it. He doesn’t have the 6 rings, or any of that.

But, can it happen? Could LeBron achieve all of that?

Why not?

And this is why LeBron James means so much to the city of Cleveland, and the rest of Ohio, not only financially, but emotionally too.

Editor’s Note: This morning, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports wrote a terrific column analyzing how LeBron and his team have handled things since free agency officially started…and why Cleveland fans should be encouraged by what it might mean for his future. Considering what Devon has provided below, if Wojnarowski’s article proves prescient it could be one of the happiest days in the history of Cleveland sports.

LeBron James has stolen the hearts of everyone in that city, and he can break them just as easily, with a pen, paper, and dotted lines he signs with a team that is not the Cavs.

Image source: Nike

But forget that, because in a few weeks, I won’t be able to make an article like this if LeBron is indeed gone. So, I want to show my viewers a glimpse of the love Cleveland has for LeBron, and what the Akron phenom has done to those in the entire state of Ohio.

Even the young feel the pain…

As you can see, things can get very emotional…

The “Don’t Go Mobile”

Even Browns star Josh Cribbs…

The Youtube nerds as well…

And last, and definitely least, the gross!

So LeBron, if you look at this article, this is what the fans of Cleveland feel for you.

And in my case, I hope it helps your decision…and yes, in a positive way, even though I know the last one was pretty creepy!

Thanks for viewing!

Tim Tebow and company were supposed to wipe the floor with Tennessee and were favored by 30 points. But when Eric Berry knocked Tebow flat on his back, the Vols made a statement that they weren’t going down easy.

This game was an all-out war between two SEC teams and rankings didn’t matter. If a few key plays had gone differently, this game could have gone either way. But in the end, Florida was the better team and came out on top.

Though Tennessee lost the game, they now have some of their swagger back that they had lost after the UCLA game. The Vols head back to Knoxville this Saturday to face the Ohio Bobcats.

Ohio should be an easy win for UT, but blowing the Bobcats out isn’t the focus of this game. It is critical that Jonathan Crompton plays well and gets a confidence boost. Tennessee needs Crompton to be ready to face upcoming SEC opponents Auburn and Georgia.

Crompton needs to work on getting into a rhythm on his throws and work on his accurarcy downfield. Against Florida, it seemed everytime Crompton threw a ball further than 15 yards it would be intercepted. This passing needs some serious work if the Vols expect to convert on long third downs.

The running back tandem of Montario Hardesty and Bryce Brown has emerged as a legitimate 1-2 punch. Also with freshman David Oku showing some promise, this backfield could turn into a 3-headed monster. The running game is the strength of this Vols offense and these two backs should tear right through the Ohio defensive front.

The Florida game showed that the Vols have a championship level defense and arguably the best defensive player in the country in Eric Berry. If Lane Kiffin can get his offense back on track, this team could be near the top of the SEC East.

Saturday’s game versus Ohio will be a stepping stone for the Vols to get ready for SEC play.
My prediction: Tennessee- 35 Ohio- 7

Quote of the century- After the UT- Florida game. CBS sideline reporter: “Coach Kiffin, I guess you won’t be singing Rocky Top tonight like you planned, but what did you think of the game?” Lane Kiffin: “Pardon me? I can’t hear you. Rocky Top is playing right now.”

Tonight, the Cleveland Browns take on the New York Giants at Cleveland Browns Stadium, nestled comfortably in the heart of the Midwest. Thus far into the 2008 season the Browns have not done as well protecting their home turf as they did last year when they went 7-1 at home. Already, two writers here at Midwest Sports Fans have predicted a win tonight for the Browns in their Monday Night Football matchup against the currently undefeated Giants.

And while the Browns are clawing their way to a tough, hard-fought, highly significant victory this evening, Cleveland residents, and anyone planning on visiting the city, have the opportunity to enter a contest for a chance to chance to win a significant victory of their own.

PositivelyCleveland.com is sponsoring a contest that honors Cleveland’s history as the Rock and Roll Capital of the World. All you have to do is follow this link to the Cleveland Rock and Roll In the Know Sweepstakes and fill in your name, email address, and phone number to enter.

The winner of the contest will receive four tickets to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with a private guided tour with the museum’s curator. According to official contest rules, entries must be received by this Friday, October 17th, at 11:59am.

There are plenty of compelling reasons to enter:

1. Did you know that the first ever rock and roll concert was held in Cleveland in 1952? I did not. Hence, the presence of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
2. Should you be chosen as the winner, you can make an entire week out of your trip to Cleveland. You can take your tour of the greatest music museum in the world, shoot on down to Canton and visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well, see the Goodyear blimp in Akron (also the hometown of LeBron James), and enjoy some outstanding parks and golf courses during your downtime.
3. Brady Quinn is still wearing a hat and holding a clipboard, so if you profess your support for John McCain and Sarah Palin, as Brady Quinn did recently, he might be compelled to accompany you on your tour. (Disclaimer: This claim is by no means guaranteed and is, in fact, utterly preposterous. Do not plan a trip to Cleveland hoping Brady Quinn will be your tour guide. Who knows — if the first half goes badly for Derek Anderson tonight, Quinn could actually be playing.) As of right now, Brady has nothing better to do, and he is obviously a rock and roll fan as evidenced by the picture of he and Brett Michaels from Poison to the right.
4. Our very own Ryan Russell, a Cleveland native who predicted a victory for the Browns tonight and is also a professional musician for The Franchize (who recently played a show at the Playboy Mansion), has been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame “50 times” according to him, and thinks it’s a necessary trip for any music fan.
5. Karma. The more fans of the city of Cleveland who enter the sweepstakes, the better the Cleveland Browns chances of beating the New York Giants tonight and winning the AFC North. Don’t believe me? Well, answer me this: can it hurt? No. But it could, possibly, in some cosmic way help. To me, that says zero downside, but huge potential for upside. Right now, if you’re a Browns fan, you should be doing everything to increase this team’s karma and good fortune!

Prove your fan loyalty and sign up for the Rock and Rock In the Know Contest right now. Then come back here and leave a comment with your prediction for the score of the game. Whoever comes the closest to the actual game score (assuming a Browns victory — remember folks, we win and lose as a team) will receive two free passes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, independent of the sweepstakes. We’ll roll the free passes over to next week if the Browns somehow come up short tonight. (Hint: There is NO incentive to pick the Giants to win. We’re all about boosting the Browns karma here at Midwest Sports Fans, objectivity be damned. Let’s see how long of a comment thread we can get of overwhelming Browns positivity!)

Aren’t you glad you kept reading?

So go sign up for the contest, leave your comment and score prediction here, and then cheer your heart out for the Browns tonight. The Season of Great Expectations is at a crossroads this evening, but a victory puts the Browns back on a positive track. We’ve already given you our predictions for the score of the Browns’ victory. What is yours?

[tags]cleveland, cleveland browns, rock and roll hall of fame, pro football hall of fame, ohio, contest[/tags]