It was a disappointing sports weekend in Cleveland. The Cavaliers are fighting injuries, including one to their franchise player, the Indians’ offense has hit the ground sputtering over the first week of the season, and the city’s sports fans lost a friend with the death of Gib Shanley, most notably the voice of the Browns in the 1960’s and 70’s.
Cavaliers. Toward the end of the third quarter on Saturday afternoon, the wine and gold were leading Orlando 72-64. The next thing you knew, the Magic was ahead, 84-75, after going on a 20-3 run. Once again, the Cavs didn’t know how to handle success, something that is becoming more and more prevalent with this squad. Certainly, it is something to be concerned about with the playoffs just about two weeks away.
Now, LeBron James has a bad back, and it is obviously affecting his game. Ben Wallace missed another dunk, which I believe extends his current streak to three straight games, and Boobie Gibson cannot make an open shot. This team treats the basketball like it is a wet bar of soap at times, and is trying to make the great pass instead of the basic one. Since they don’t play until Wednesday and have three days off, perhaps James and Wallace can rest their weary backs, and emerge healthy for the last five games of the campaign.
Indians. After scoring 17 runs in their first two games, the Tribe bats have gone silent, crossing the plate just seven times in the next four games. The team has yet to get a hit out of its leftfielder, Franklin Gutierrez went 3 for 3 on opening day, and hasn’t had a hit since. Not only have the Indians hit just four homers, but also they aren’t collecting any other extra base hits either, and they struck out a lot against the A’s.
There is no question it is very early, and every team has a four game stretch were it doesn’t hit during the season. Just look at the Tigers’ high-powered offense thus far. Yes, Victor Martinez is important to the lineup, but not that important. The only Indians who are hitting well thus far are Grady Sizemore and Ryan Garko. That will change, but it was definitely hard to watch the Tribe over the weekend.
Gib Shanley. Another sports voice from my youth is gone. Gib Shanley was the voice of the Browns for many years, even calling the last Cleveland sports championship in 1964. The Gibber also did Ohio State football, and some Cavs basketball on television during the early days of the franchise. He was professional, but also understood that it was sports he was covering, so he added a sense of humor to his broadcasts.
That didn’t mean he was afraid to speak his mind. He was critical of Ted Stepien’s ownership of the Cavaliers, and he is probably most famous for burning an Iranian flag on the air at the end of one of his sportscasts in 1979. Now, Gib rests along side people like Pete Franklin, Nev Chandler, and Jim Graner as people who’s voices were part of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s who are now gone. Our deepest sympathies to Gib’s family.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 