Kevin Love expects to be a Cavalier next season
May 31, 2015C-Cap Recap: Indians Win Three in the Emerald City
June 1, 2015Happy Monday, you guys. If you’re reading this in the Cleveland area, odds are that you are still attempting to dry out from the hellacious storms. If you’re not in the Cleveland area, that sucks—the NBA Finals are set to tip off around these parts come June 9. You still have time to book your flights and let the family know you’ll be crashing for a few days. Oh, and I’d make sure your schedule is as flexible as possible come the week of 15th. You know, just in case.
While you have already seen this week’s Sports Illustrated cover that has LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers “taking the leap.” What you may not have seen, however, is the Mark Bechtel article that accompanies the excellent cover, the piece that fits the issue-wide narrative of “my town, my team,” but also reminds everyone that while the team is James’, it is also the fans’.
Most specifically, the idea that James is leading a nationwide tour of retribution, barreling through each village and taking back what was rightfully his—or ours. From east coast to west, James is effectively marching through, making up for decades of pain, inflicting back on those that caused so much tumult over so many seasons over so many years, regardless of sport.
James’ play has been an exercise in the exceptional. It has also been an exercise in exorcism. This postseason the Cavs have already bounced two towns responsible for inflicting serious pain on their fan base: Chicago (a certain Shot by another decent baller in a number 23 jersey) and Boston (the Indians’ epic 2007 collapse at the hands of the Red Sox and a capitulation by the Cavs in ’10 that preceded—and possibly precipitated—the Decision). Throw in the fact that the team nsnagged James back from Miami (1997 World Series), relegating the Heat to dreaded mid-lottery status, and the impending defeat of Atlanta (’95 World Series), and you can almost picture James announcing, a la Michael Corleone, that today Cleveland is settling old scores. What next? Harry the Hawk’s head in Al Horford’s bed? (Hey, Warriors, three words, for the Browns’ playoff loss to Oakland in ’81: Red Right 88.)
Now, let’s be honest: You can throw a dart at a map of the United States and be pretty damn close to a city that has had a negative impact in Cleveland Sports lore. Had he wanted to add John Elway and the Broncos, Bechtel could’ve mentioned Timofey Mozgov coming over to Cleveland and being a huge piece of the team’s success. Baltimore and Pittsburgh are lucky they don’t have a basketball team.
But the point remains: Things have been aligned almost in an eerie fashion. There’s no telling if James will get to make up for that fateful play against the Raiders, but the poetry is tough to ignore, and betting against James is even tougher. If I’m Jose Mesa, I’m locking my doors.1
The Jordan 1—or better said, “The 1″—was re-released this past weekend. Well, this isn’t entirely true as Nike.com pulled the plug on their on-line release just hours before it was set to go live. You see, this shoe, the one that started it all, was going to be one of the most sought after sneakers over the last several years. And with on-line orders becoming less and less successful for end users thanks to bots scooping up pairs before most can even access the line, well—Nike wanted to get things right. Say what you want about The Swoosh, but if the ends justify the means, it should be commended.
Even if you don’t get the whole shoe thing, you’ll appreciate Russ Bengston’s piece over at Complex, explaining the iconic importance of this shoe and why sneaker aficionados everywhere were thirsting to cop a pair.
It would not be hyperbolic—or, you know, wrong—to say that the Nike Air Jordan 1 was the shoe that changed everything. In fact, if anything, that’s not saying enough. It would be more fair to say that the Air Jordan 1 started everything. It didn’t make Michael Jordan—he did that by himself—but it was there at the start as he, the Chicago Bulls, and Nike became juggernauts. The Air Jordan 1 wasn’t the first basketball sneaker, not by a long shot, but it was the first basketball sneaker that transcended basketball while it was still new. Designed in Portland, Ore. and worn in Chicago, it became a nationwide phenomenon before conquering the world.
Retail chains still released their pairs this weekend, but even then, the releases were limited (many Foot Locker locations received a fraction of the stock compared to most general releases) and mostly done by raffle. The lack of an online release only served to increase secondary market prices, with most pairs being listed well north of $400. It speaks volumes that in an age where the newest, latest and greatest gets all of the buzz, that the first Jordan, the one with the least amount of technology—no visible air, man—has such staying power despite the brand gearing up to release their 30th incarnation of the shoe later this year. That something made in 1985 has more panache than something made in 2015, well—that’s just Jordan for you.
Just like back in ’85, these shoes will come unlaced. Those who land them will have their choice of red, black or white laces. Previous reissues had the new-age Jordan logo on the tongue where these are true to OG form with the Nike Air. That leather, so buttery. The back story, incomparable. I can’t wait for my pair to arrive.
Hot takes are so cute they should have their own Pinterest board. Here’s this week’s edition of #ActualSportswriting:
“Like every game is his last” by Nick Friedell (ESPN Chicago): “Van Gundy later told Chicago media writer Ed Sherman that, among other things, Forman had “called me a bunch of names,” and that Thibodeau’s representatives had asked him to tone things down. Van Gundy insisted both publicly and privately that he was not speaking for Thibodeau, but the widespread belief within the Bulls’ organization was that that was precisely what he was doing.”2
“Unclimbable” by Eva Holland (SB Nation): “I need to tell you about the Cirque of the Unclimbables. Ever since I went there, I’ve tried to describe it to friends and family, tried to explain its power and its perfection. It is, I tell people, the best natural campsite I have ever visited. It’s also among the most beautiful eyefuls of landscape I’ve ever seen — its rock walls more overpowering than Zion’s, in Utah, its evening light more perfect than Hawaii’s, its peaks more menacing than Denali, and its stillness more complete than the deep rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula. It’s a place that forces me to reach for comparisons from fiction: It’s “Lord of the Rings,” I tell people. It’s Mordor crossed with the Shire.”3
“Steve Prefontaine’s Last Run” by Mary Pilon (Grantland): “With golden hair, movie star charisma, and a rebellious air, Prefontaine was redefining what it meant to be an Olympic athlete. Through his fame as a tough runner with a fierce kick and outspoken nature, he emerged as a rebel with a cause: improving life for working athletes.”4
“What’s next for Kurt Busch and Patricia Driscoll” by Seth Wickersham (ESPN The Magazine): “Busch parked at a fork in the road, between the exits for terminals and for rental cars. He hit the button to open the trunk. “Just get out,” Driscoll said. As Busch lifted the trunk, Driscoll hopped into the driver’s seat “like a ninja,” he recalled. She hit the gas. The trunk handle broke off in his hand. “I knew you’d pull a stunt,” he texted her. “Bye forever.” Bye forever lasted a week.”5
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And finally: Is LeBron James actually under appreciated? Here’s a little Garbage Time with Katie Nolan.
Have a great Monday, kids. Three more days. Can you make it?
- And while we’re here: Go buy the magazine. [↩]
- I had intended on including this last week, but alas. For those of you who wondered why Jeff Van Gundy seemed so pro-Bulls in the second round, here’s your answer. [↩]
- Just a fantastic piece. Another one that I wanted to include last week, but had already had a handful selected. Beautiful writing, beautiful photographs. Worth your time. [↩]
- Forty years since Steve Prefontaine was killed in a car accident, this is a terrific piece of Pre’s impact on the past and present. [↩]
- A great all-encompassing look at one of the crazier stories in sports over the last several years. And yes, I just considered NASCAR a sport. It won’t happen again. [↩]
16 Comments
NASCAR as “not a sport” is a really cold take.
Great article on the Thibs drama by Friedell.
As classless as Reinsdorf’s statement was when they terminated him, I think the playoff series against the Cavs maybe demonstrated the cumulative effect of the way those players were saddled and ridden the last few years. Noah especially was a shell of himself, incapable of his trademark effort plays when the Bulls desperately needed them. Yes, 5 years ago all teams rode their players bigger minutes. But the problem is that the Bulls face better-rested players in this new era and it showed. Thibs ended up looking sort of like an old-school baseball manager who insists on a 4-man rotation and eschews a set-up man. It may work for a while, but only if the other teams play the same way.
Maybe the Bulls are soft too. Gasol is has been. Rose is more fragile then Irving. Noah has been worn down but don’t you think the way he plays in general had more to do with his issues now? Just like what happened to Varejao.
The real problem is the Bulls can’t get past LBJ no matter where he plays. I find this ironic given how past Cavaliers teams always had Jordan standing in their way. I don’t feel bad at all for Chicago in fact I hope it continues for years.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again win or lose I have really grown to appreciate and love the current Cavaliers season. I’ve seen this team grow and really come together overcoming a ton of adversity and plenty of nay sayers. The only thing that will make this season better is putting the icing on the cake with a ‘ship and I really do believe it’s very possible. It won’t be easy but heck nothing has been this season.
The kudos start with LBJ but there are plenty of other people who deserve credit as well. I don’t care what reporters both nationally and locally report I’m going into blinder mode all that matters are the games. I can’t wait for Thursday!!!
I enjoy it heck I’ve even started to watch a little Indy Car again too. It’s been a long time.
I agree with your point here, it reminded me of a thought I had last week after reading Reinsdorf’s statement:
Man, there was a way for Reinsdorf to get his point across without being a dick about it, publicly to a guy he just fired. It reminded me of the Browns firing a coach and conducting a coaching search, a year after firing a coach and conducting a coaching search. Maybe it won’t matter if Hoiberg already has a relationship with the FO guys, which sounds like the case, but if for some reason that falls through, there might not be as long of a line to coach that team as you’d expect in a big market like Chicago with the obvious talent that team has.
All I know is it’s great competition, it’s physically demanding, requires vast amounts of practice and precision, and none of us could do what those guys do (including, for the most part, the pit crews). It may not look like soccer, but I definitely count it as a sport.
Generally speaking, “X is not a sport” is a cold take.
yep. Suspect that these owners surround themselves with yes men and forget that their public expressions of indignation may not look so righteous within the coaching fraternity. The FO was probably right that it was time for Thibs to go. But the guy just gave your franchise six years of 90 hour, passionate work weeks and he won. Show some respect. Say thank you, and in a way that makes it clear you mean it.
Well I enjoy it and so do alot of others.
I think it’s great. I’ve been a NASCAR fan since the late ’80s. I cried when Dale Earnhardt died. No joke.
I’ve been a fan for a long time I didn’t cry but that was definitely a dark day for the sport. I go back to Bill Elliott. He was one of my first favorites that I can remember.
Awesome Bill from Dawsonville.
$83 / h0ur @mk13
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I can respect all of those things, and the folks who enjoy watching, but I still find it to be duller than watching paint dry. I can and have gotten into some random sports before (darts, curling, Aussie rules football), but I just cannot get into NASCAR. To each his own.
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