For the most part, Cleveland professional sports franchises have one thing in common: A lack of star power.
You can certainly make the argument right now that the Cavaliers have their star in point guard Kyrie Irving, but he’s still a rookie and has a lot more improving to do. No one doubts that once he gets better, he can become a perennial all-star and the face of the franchise.
Basketball fans in this area did have a megastar for several years in LeBron James, but he proved to be someone who did not want to embrace the role of leader and winner. He was content, and still is to some extent, to be more famous as a personality than as a winner.
People in Orlando are experiencing the same thing with Dwight Howard.
The Indians seemingly want to build their team with a bunch of hard-working, seemingly anonymous (at least to people who don’t live in Northeast Ohi0) guys. They fear that if a player shows signs of greatness, it is simply a fact that he will soon depart for a bigger market team when free agency arrives.
That’s why the Dolans talk about the window of opportunity opening every four or five years or so. It gives them time to put together another “core group” of players.
The Browns haven’t had a nationally recognizable face since the team returned to the NFL in 1999. Yes, Joe Thomas has been a perennial All-Pro, but he’s an offensive tackle. NFL Films isn’t putting out DVD’s featuring the best blocks of Joe Thomas.
That’s why it would be such a shot in the arm of the Browns if they were to draft Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III this April. Griffin would provide the buzz around the franchise that it so badly needs. It would force people around the country to watch Cleveland highlights.
Unfortunately, that the state of sports today. You need to have stars or you need to win to put people in the seats.
That’s why the Indians struggle with attendance. Despite their attitude that they know how to build a winner, the fact is that since Mark Shapiro started running the team (along with the Dolan ownership), the Tribe has had just two seasons (2005 and 2007) over the .500 mark.
That sustained mediocrity doesn’t build excitement around the team, and that results in the lack of people in the seats.
The Indians haven’t had a true face of the team since Jim Thome left either.
Sure, C.C. Sabathia and Grady Sizemore had all-star years here, but neither either stayed long enough (Sabathia) or kept the performance going long enough (Sizemore) to be that face.
And the attitude of ownership is such that it is likely no one will ever spend the majority of their career with the Indians again, that is, if they have a great deal of talent.
Instead, the city and Browns’ and Indians’ management seem to gravitate to the hard-working, lunch pail type players. Guys like Josh Cribbs and Jack Hannahan. Cribbs is great at what he does, but do you want the face of your team to be a special teams ace?
That’s the mentality of Cleveland, and it has to change.
You win in professional sports with talent. If that talent has heart, determination, and the will to win, then you can win championships.
Cleveland sports fans don’t want to hear that, but until they get some very good players, the title drought will continue. That’s why the Cavaliers might just be the closest to winning right now.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 