This time of year Americans sit down with family and friends and spend time to be thankful. This is also the point in the sports calendar where there is constantly sporting events on television. So it got me thinking what I had to be thankful for being an Ohio sports fan with a busy life and a wife and kids.
I am thankful that the 2014 NFL Draft is loaded with Quarterback prospects. As the Browns head into the home stretch of another stink hole season ruined by bad quarterback play, Browns fans' attention turned towards the draft. Fortunately this year is the deepest quarterback draft in a very long time. Brandon Weeden, the Browns' first round pick in 2012, who came out of college at 28 as a project, is bar none the worst quarterback in the league. Weeden is not just the worst starting quarterback, the worst quarterback period. He isn't the first terrible quarterback the Browns have tortured their loyal fans with. Since the Browns returned as a cesspool in the NFL in 1999, they have trotted out the following collection of bums and mistakes at starting quarterback.
Ty Detmer, Tim Couch, Doug Pederson, Spergon Wynn, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey, Bruce Gradkowski, Colt McCoy, Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Brandon Weeden, Brian Hoyer, Jason Campbell.
I had to take a shower after listing off that rotten collection of turds. The Browns have the Colts first round pick after convincing them to take the corpse of Trent Richardson plus their own surely high first rounder. I am not opposed to the Browns using both picks on quarterbacks in 2014. I mean one of them has to not suck. I mean right? It has to happen eventually. If the Colts can go from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck and the Packers can go from Bret Farve to Aaron Rodgers then the Browns can get one good quarterback every twenty years. I mean can't we catch a break?
I am thankful this is the last year of the BCS. Ohio State seems locked into the 3rd slot and therefore outside of the championship game despite not having lost a game during the past two seasons. I would love to see the Buckeyes get a chance to play for the national championship this year, however I am no dummy. I have seen Alabama and Florida State and know that the Buckeyes are not in their class. If this was next season in order to win a national title, the Buckeyes would have to beat both of them in a two week period. Not happening. You are just not putting together two perfect games back to back like that. However since this is the last year of the BCS, if the Tide or Seminoles should happen to stub their toes in the last few games of the season, then Ohio State would only have to pull one upset. They have an outside shot of doing that and I would love to watch them try.
I am thankful for the 2013 Cleveland Indians season. It was a great season with tons of ups and downs like any good roller coaster ride season should be. However I know this was probably as good as it is going to get for a few years. The Cleveland Indians shot completely over their skis this season. They hit gold with a few lottery tickets like Jason Giambi and Scott Kazmir. However the mass exodus of players with talent that the Tribe can no longer afford has already begun. Joe Smith a reliable middle reliever left for the Angels because a small market team just can't afford to spend 4 million a season on a setup man. Ubaldo Jimenez who stunk most of his time in Cleveland finally turned it on the last two months. Just in time to decline his player option and cash in big time. Thanks for stinking for two years and then finally getting it together for a payday, Ubaldo. This next season will be a disappointing one for the Tribe as they will take a step back in 2014.
I am thankful that at the end of this NBA season that Lebron James can opt out of his contract. This will finally allow the closure that we Cavs fans need. There has been rumblings that Lebron may return to Cleveland after this season for a do over with the Cavs. I know that would be great for the Cavs record and chances at a title. But Cavs fans have been stuck in neutral ever since the Decision. There were the two years of hate and the past year and a half as been hoping and pining for Lebron to return. Cavs fans clapped and begged for Lebron to return when the Heat came to Cleveland to play on Wednesday and it saddened me to see what we have become. It doesn't make me feel good to see my fellow fans turn into a jilted lover who is hoping for their ex to get divorced and come back. It's pathetic. I will be just be glad when the Cavs finally know that he isn't coming back and we can start actually moving on as a franchise. That way we can build around the often injured Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson who after years of playing basketball realized he shoots better with his other hand, the black hole shooting guard who can't shoot Dion Waiters, Andrew Bynum who keeps talking about retirement, and Anthony Bennett who is on pace to be the worst number 1 overall draft pick since Kwame Brown in 2001. It is only a matter of time until Bennett is a D-League all-star for the Canton Charge. This team has some major issues and I doubt will seem all that attractive to Lebron so it seems like it will be another long, dark era for the Cavs.
What I am most thankful for this season with Cleveland sports teams is what they have done for my son. He has learned that you love people unconditionally. That you stick with them through the hard times even if you don't see good times on the horizon. Being a Cleveland sports fans has taught him that you are loyal and hopeful even if you never get any sort of satisfaction in the end. It has now been 50 years since a Cleveland team has won a title and he sees his friends, who obviously have no class or values and were raised by barbarians, pronounce their love of the Steelers, Heat, Yankees, Red Sox, and other teams just because they are winning currently. He knows that is not how a person should be a sports fan. People love sports for the escape that it allows from life, but I love sports for what it does for my life, how it teaches lessons, and how after every heart-breaking loss and devastating season that my son is becoming a better person through it. I am thankful for that more than any championship my teams could bring. Although I feel that he has learned enough about perseverance and loyalty, so we could really use a Championship Parade. I would be very thankful for that.
Follow me on Twitter @Ferrellcomedy
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