Draft just the first step in Cavs' return to relevance

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Let's get to work.

For three years, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been trying to placate their fanbase with talk of cap flexibility and stockpiled draft assets. The wins weren't coming, but the future was bright, according to the brass. 

Now that the 2013 NBA Draft has ended with another unorthodox selection by GM Chris Grant, it's safe to assume that fans no longer want to hear vague boardroom-speak about what could be. Nor does anyone want to see, cute as it was, another private plane full of ironic bowtie-wearing Cleveland icons jetting  to New York City for the draft lottery. Those days are done, and to their credit, the franchise's decision-makers seem to understand that playtime is over. 

Cleveland athletes love the Heat, then wonder why fans get mad

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"This one's for LeBron!" Gordon probably thought.

So, this thing happened a couple of nights back where the Miami Heat won its second straight championship, and LeBron James grabbed his second consecutive Finals MVP. Some people in Cleveland were angry and bitter about this turn of events. Others shrugged it off and went to bed with their consciousnesses unclouded. Still others lauded the hometown kid for growing up and winning big in South Beach. Many people took to Twitter and other social media platforms to make their feelings known.

Normally, this would not be worthy of note. People can't have a BM these days without taking their smartphones into the can to record the evidence. However, what happens when Cleveland athletes with no connections to Miami, LeBron or the Heat start bigging up the newly crowned champions? How would this go over in a town that has not celebrated a major sports championship in half a century?

Talking to myself about Mike Brown

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Q: The reaction over Coach Brown's rehiring seems pretty split. Where do you stand?

A: Look, after thirty years of reacting to Cleveland coaching hires, I've learned to eliminate emotion. My first thought is never an impassioned judgement, but rather a dispassionate inquiry: Why? I simply ask why, and then I answer my own question. Motivation almost always tells the...

Q: (interrupts) OK, I'll bite. Let's play the rapid-fire WHY game. Why Pat Shurmur?
A: Because of Mike Holmgren's ego, nepotism and a shared agent.

Q: Why Eric Mangini?

A: Because Tony Grossi told Randy Lerner during a press conference that the Jets had just fired Mangenius. 

Q: Why John Lucas?

A: Because no other coach was down with losing on purpose for a year for two.

Q: Why Eric Wedge?

A: Because he Vulcan mind-melded with Mark Shapiro.

Q: Why Mike Fratello?
A:  Because his predecessor's teams lacked fire.

Q: Why Tito Francona?
A: Because this is a TribeTown and Terry sells it! OK, the rings helped.

Vote for the Indians' Bill Selby in the #OCABracket. Because it is right and just.

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So Will Burge (@WillBurge) and TJ Zuppe (@TJZuppe) put together a list of Cleveland's most obscure athletes of all time. And while I disagree with the premise that Bill Selby is obscure--after all, he has been described as "God" and has been elected to the Hall of Fame (Buffalo Bisons style). Also, he has a Bond-like home run counter online.

Regardless...take a few minutes to vote for Bill Selby here...give us at Cleveland Sports Torture a ray of hope, celebrating a great teammate who gave us a great moment off Mo Rivera more than a decade ago. Never forget.

Here's another link to the vote so you don't forget...and in the meantime enjoy the memory!

Cavs must bring Byron back for one more go

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"You be quiet now, boy. I'm trying to watch 'Quincy.'"

When Byron Scott stands glowering on the Cavaliers' sideline, he looks like that strict uncle you were always a little bit afraid of. The kind of old-school disciplinarian not shy about pulling out his belt to deliver a whoopin' on whoever was fixin' for one, dagnabbit.

Scott needs to take the belt out more on these Cavs, a collection of raw talent that treats defense like a sullen teenager considering a messy room. Overall, the team simply plays too many stretches of lackluster basketball, evidenced again yesterday in a 91-77 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cavs' fourth straight defeat and 14 of 16 overall, for the seven people out there who still give a damn about the 2012-2013 squad's fortunes.