Happy 2011! This sports year in Cleveland has to be better than 2010, only because it could hardly be worse.
The city’s best hope going into ’10 was the Cavaliers and we all know what happened there. That Tribe skipper Manny Acta is now the longest tenured coach/manager among the three professional sports teams here is all you need to know about the state of sports in Cleveland.
Thank goodness for Cleveland State’s basketball team, which has started out its season 15-1. At least they deserve out interest.
All this being said, here is the state of the franchise’s on the north coast going coming into 2011—
Browns. Right now, the Browns would have to be on top of the heap among the franchises here in terms of having good leadership at the top. Mike Holmgren is a football man and his hire of GM Tom Heckert was outstanding based on the latter’s first draft here.
Holmgren does have a huge decision to make on who will coach the team in 2011, and he gave former coach Eric Mangini an opportunity for a second year after four straight wins to finish the 2009 season. He no doubt will hire a head coach with an offensive background, one more in step with the president’s ideas on how to play the game.
Another draft like last season by Heckert will put the Browns in contention for a playoff spot next season. Yes, next season! Remember, he draft three starters in ’10. Other holes will be filled through free agency, particularly bringing in some younger guys to help an aging defensive front seven.
Cavaliers. The wine and gold took the biggest hit in 2010 when LeBron James left via free agency (technically, it was a trade, but we know what really happened). The best things the franchise has going for them is an owner who professes that he wants to win, and coach Byron Scott, who has built two teams (New Jersey and New Orleans) into contenders.
However, they have an inexperience GM in Chris Grant, who thus far hasn’t made an impact move despite his team losing 16 of their last 17 contests. The minor moves the team has made have increased the athleticism of the team, although it hasn’t translated into wins.
The hope for the Cavs is the NBA draft lottery, where they should have a good chance for a very high draft pick. The downside is that many teams are yearly participants in the lottery and never show considerable improvement. You still have to make the right moves, and Grant is unproven at this point.
Indians. It is telling that the best thing to happen to the organization recently was the induction of former Tribesmen Bert Blyleven and Robbie Alomar to the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Blyleven’s last season here was 26 years ago, and Alomar’s was 10 seasons past.
Otherwise, things at Progressive Field continue to be a mess with the ownership hacking away at payroll and sitting and basically watching the entire Hot Stove season, making several very minor moves to try and improve the team.
The farm system is being built and is well stocked, but there isn’t an impact type player in the system that everyone thinks is a can’t miss prospect.
The worst part for the organization is the apathy of the fans. There’s no outrage about the horrible state of the team since their last playoff appearance in 2007.
2011 couldn’t be worse than 2010. Or could it?
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 