Some Cleveland Sports Thoughts

 

January is a slow month for sports in Cleveland.  The Browns failed to make the playoffs again.  The Cavaliers are doing well, but the NBA season is still about a month away from the All Star break.  The Indians are about a month away from the start of spring training in Winter Haven.  So, I just wanted to offer some thoughts on the sports scene…

 

*  With a lean free agent market in baseball this year, Mark Shapiro continues to do an excellent job procuring talent.  He focused on strengthening the team’s bench, which could pay dividends during the season.  Guys like Eduardo Perez, Todd Hollandsworth, and Lou Merloni are all serviceable subs who will help this ballclub.  I’m still a little concerned about the bullpen, but all in all, the Indians are still a legitimate contender for the American League pennant in 2006.

 

*  WKNR’s Kenny Roda pawns himself off as a Steelers’ fan and a Browns’ fan, but he seemed a bit too happy after Pittsburgh’s 41-0 hammering of Cleveland on Christmas Eve.  If indeed you are a fan of the brown and orange, you could not be so gleeful after that performance.  Roda was delighted to rub the Browns’ collective noses in that mess.  He follows that up by conducting a Steelers rally in the heart of Browns country, which is advertised on the station.  You cannot be a fan of both teams, anymore than someone could be a fan of both Ohio State and Michigan.

 

*  More on Roda…Here’s hoping he doesn’t hurt himself patting his own back.  The afternoon host on 850 AM is taking partial credit for Browns GM Phil Savage keeping his job.  The fact is the outrage of the fans contacting the team’s office and that the organization was becoming a national joke is the reason for Savage staying.  Several days later on Greg Brinda’s show, The News-Herald’s Jeff Schudel told Brinda that no radio talk show host saved Savage’s job.

 

*  Listening to the Cavs’ game the other night, I noticed that play by play man Joe Tait has started to criticize the defense of guard Damon Jones on the air.  Tait is critical toward officials, but rarely does a Cavalier incur his wrath.  This is usually a sign that management is not happy with the player’s performance and he soon could be relocating.  Just something to keep in mind…

 

MW