Can't stop the bleeding
I'd first like to apologize to my readers (all 3 of you!) for not posting in quite some time. I don't really have a legitimate excuse other than the fact I moved during the last week of October.
In reality I'm just tired. Not physically tired, but mentally exhausted by Cleveland sports. Let me briefly give you my rundown on the state of our teams as painlessly as possible, after which you are all free to go.
BROWNS:
If you refer back to my last blog, I corrected predicted the demise of Mo Carthon. Now I'm calling for Romeo's head.
I have nothing against Crennel personally. He seems like a great guy, but I don't believe he has the first clue about what he's doing as a head coach in the National Football League.
The effort, while stellar in the Steelers game, has been widely uninspiring across the board most of the season. The Browns don't seem to have a glaring talent deficiency like in previous seasons, however every opponent seems to just do everything better than we do.
We spend all afternoon watching Droughs/Wright/Harrison getting stuffed for short gains on running plays and then witness Rudi Johnson galloping through gaping holes in our defense.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the 3-4 defense has not accomplished it's desired goals, unless of course those goals were to allow opponents to execute 8-9 yard gains consistently and drive the length of the field at will in the fourth quarter. In that case, its doing fine.
The team has been nothing but a mess since 1999 and there is no reason to believe the "new" Cleveland Browns will be anything but "Arizona Cardinals-East."
INDIANS:
Its that time of year again. The time when teams begin snatching up free agents and Tribe owner Larry Dolan heads into his bunker to emerge sometime around opening day. So far, the Indians have netted journeyman Dave Dellucci. Excuse me if I'm not logging onto MLB.com to order my "Dellucci" jersey, but unless he has a hidden talent of being able to save 35 games as a closer, I don't see how Mr. Dellucci will make much of a difference in the standings.
It may be a tad shortsighted to believe the Indians will hold fast with the Dellucci signing. I'm sure they will add a few more free agents, its just I'm expecting nothing but more mediocrity from the penny-pinching Dolan's wallet.
I would love the Indians to prove me wrong and pick up an impact pitcher this offseason. Until it happens I'm expecting more of the same, ho hum.
CAVALIERS:
I know the city is locked in a passionate love affair with this team right now, but I have to be honest, I'm not overly impressed.
I still think the Ilgauskas re-signing will weigh the Cavaliers down like a steel anchor for years to come. We could have had a guy like Nazr Mohammed for far cheaper, and he can actually run the floor!
Just like the other Cleveland "teams," the Cavaliers just look uninspired. They are going to win some games solely on the fact LeBron is on the roster, but does anyone believe this team got better from last year?
And yes, I believe we had a right to expect them to improve on a season in which they may have overachieved. If you are able to reach that far into the playoffs, the next season's goal should be nothing short of a title.
Nothing about the Cavs says "title" to me right now. They struggle getting defensive stops in crunch-time. They seriously lack crunch-time scoring options not named LeBron or the occassionally hot Damon Jones. When Ilgauskas is in the lineup its like draggin grandma and her walker to Disney World, he just slows everybody down from having a good time.
As frustrated as I get with the Cavs, I still think they are one player away from becoming title contenders. Unfortunately the type of player they need is difficult to come by. They need an attitude guy, much like a Charles Barkley or Sam Cassell. Veteran guys that know what needs to be done to win and aren't afraid to get in a teammates face to let them know about it.
Right now, the Cavs roster looks like a intramural frat team. They all seem to get along too well. Remember several of Michael Jordan's Bulls teammates hated him, but they also respected him.
Well that's enough for now. I hate the sports in this city right now. Its not just bad, its dismal. Games are depressing to watch and the pleasure sports used to bring me a a youth just doesn't seem to exist.
And if it doesn't
GO BUCKEYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In reality I'm just tired. Not physically tired, but mentally exhausted by Cleveland sports. Let me briefly give you my rundown on the state of our teams as painlessly as possible, after which you are all free to go.
BROWNS:
If you refer back to my last blog, I corrected predicted the demise of Mo Carthon. Now I'm calling for Romeo's head.
I have nothing against Crennel personally. He seems like a great guy, but I don't believe he has the first clue about what he's doing as a head coach in the National Football League.
The effort, while stellar in the Steelers game, has been widely uninspiring across the board most of the season. The Browns don't seem to have a glaring talent deficiency like in previous seasons, however every opponent seems to just do everything better than we do.
We spend all afternoon watching Droughs/Wright/Harrison getting stuffed for short gains on running plays and then witness Rudi Johnson galloping through gaping holes in our defense.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the 3-4 defense has not accomplished it's desired goals, unless of course those goals were to allow opponents to execute 8-9 yard gains consistently and drive the length of the field at will in the fourth quarter. In that case, its doing fine.
The team has been nothing but a mess since 1999 and there is no reason to believe the "new" Cleveland Browns will be anything but "Arizona Cardinals-East."
INDIANS:
Its that time of year again. The time when teams begin snatching up free agents and Tribe owner Larry Dolan heads into his bunker to emerge sometime around opening day. So far, the Indians have netted journeyman Dave Dellucci. Excuse me if I'm not logging onto MLB.com to order my "Dellucci" jersey, but unless he has a hidden talent of being able to save 35 games as a closer, I don't see how Mr. Dellucci will make much of a difference in the standings.
It may be a tad shortsighted to believe the Indians will hold fast with the Dellucci signing. I'm sure they will add a few more free agents, its just I'm expecting nothing but more mediocrity from the penny-pinching Dolan's wallet.
I would love the Indians to prove me wrong and pick up an impact pitcher this offseason. Until it happens I'm expecting more of the same, ho hum.
CAVALIERS:
I know the city is locked in a passionate love affair with this team right now, but I have to be honest, I'm not overly impressed.
I still think the Ilgauskas re-signing will weigh the Cavaliers down like a steel anchor for years to come. We could have had a guy like Nazr Mohammed for far cheaper, and he can actually run the floor!
Just like the other Cleveland "teams," the Cavaliers just look uninspired. They are going to win some games solely on the fact LeBron is on the roster, but does anyone believe this team got better from last year?
And yes, I believe we had a right to expect them to improve on a season in which they may have overachieved. If you are able to reach that far into the playoffs, the next season's goal should be nothing short of a title.
Nothing about the Cavs says "title" to me right now. They struggle getting defensive stops in crunch-time. They seriously lack crunch-time scoring options not named LeBron or the occassionally hot Damon Jones. When Ilgauskas is in the lineup its like draggin grandma and her walker to Disney World, he just slows everybody down from having a good time.
As frustrated as I get with the Cavs, I still think they are one player away from becoming title contenders. Unfortunately the type of player they need is difficult to come by. They need an attitude guy, much like a Charles Barkley or Sam Cassell. Veteran guys that know what needs to be done to win and aren't afraid to get in a teammates face to let them know about it.
Right now, the Cavs roster looks like a intramural frat team. They all seem to get along too well. Remember several of Michael Jordan's Bulls teammates hated him, but they also respected him.
Well that's enough for now. I hate the sports in this city right now. Its not just bad, its dismal. Games are depressing to watch and the pleasure sports used to bring me a a youth just doesn't seem to exist.
And if it doesn't
GO BUCKEYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Jon Sladek at 10:11 PM
2 comments
