Cleveland vs. LeBron

The day has come. After the flaming jerseys, media whirlwinds, jokes, tears, and anger in the five months since "The Decision", the first page in the next chapter of Cleveland's sports history begins tonight: Heat @ Cavs.

Wright Thompson put together an incredible piece on Cleveland, its people, and what sports and LeBron mean to this city "on a precipice" for ESPN's Outside The Lines.

He accosts me for my company's role in "The Decision" -- I actually understand his anger, though I won't say that to his face -- and I tell him what he can do to himself. He likes this answer, which is as Cleveland as his rage at the four letters on my press pass. Raab motions me over to the side of the locker room and digs around in his backpack until he finds it, safe in a plastic bag: a ticket stub. It's from the 1964 NFL Championship Game -- the last title the city won. He passes it to me carefully. Section 7, Row Z, Seat 19. Carrying this stub doesn't make him strange. It makes him a Cleveland sports fan.

I recommend reading the whole story, which reveals a lot about both Cleveland and LeBron James.

I—and likely 99% of the nation—will be hoping for a Cavs win (I'll also be hoping for a win for the Cavs fans, in that no one does anything incredibly stupid or harmful at the game tonight; no need to threaten or throw batteries, folks). My boys Esq and Baby Joey, though, ever the LeBron groupies, will be waiting for James outside of the locker room at the game tonight, too. I can't wait to hear their tales of this night when they get back.

Unless the Heat win. Then I won't be so lucky as to not hear their retelling of the night.