That's What She Said podcast: Coping with saying goodbye to Cleveland's losing tradition
— -- One of the most enduring draws of any competitive sporting event is its unpredictability. Whether it's No. 14 seed Mercer upsetting No. 3 Duke in the round of 64 at the 2014 NCAA tournament, or 5,000-to-1 underdogs Leicester City winning the English Premier League title, sports fans live for the unexpected.
At the same time, there's also the allure of an established, shared narrative -- jokes and stories that are communal, based on a history we've all witnessed together. The Patriots are cheaters, the Lions will never make a Super Bowl, the Sixers are a mess, the Yankees are the evil empire and Andy Reid can't manage the clock. Even if you don't always agree with the jokes, you always get the punchlines.
Sports fans understand that the way things have been will often inform the way things will be -- at least for a while.
So what to make of the Cavaliers winning the NBA title? Cleveland, the most bedeviled of all sports cities, finally got a trophy and a parade, putting an end to its 52-year drought. And not only did the city's basketball team defeat the winningest team in the history of the game to claim the championship, the city's baseball team is white hot, as well. The Indians just went unbeaten at home in June, ran off a 14-game win streak and look to be a favorite for the Fall Classic.
Are we really ready to live in a world where Cleveland sports are ... good?
No one could begrudge Cleveland fans their right to a little good fortune. After years of disappointment (see: The Catch, The Drive, The Fumble, The Decision), loyal Ohioans finally get to be on top. And yet, there's a feeling of mourning for the rest of the sports world in saying goodbye to our favorite sad story. The annual ribbing (and occasional torment) of the fine folks of Cleveland was a given. Add another year to the drought, another heartbreak to the list, and try again next year.
Now we all have to accept that Cleveland is no longer the doormat of sports cities and no longer tops on the Sports Misery Index.
What on earth will happen when the Chicago Cubs finally win a title? What is their identity? Who are they, if not the longest-running lovable losers in sport? You can forget about those monologue jokes, late-night talk-show hosts. You'll have to find another globally recognized symbol of futility.
In the end, I know that change is good -- particularly for those stuck rooting for perennial duds. So with Cleveland finally enjoying a victory, I guess we'll move on to mocking long-time losers Buffalo or San Diego, though it won't feel the same.
Thank God we'll always have the Browns.
This week's "That's What She Said" podcast features a man who's more than happy to say goodbye to losing traditions. Longtime Cleveland sports fan Jay Crawford, who anchors the 11 a.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, was in his home state to witness the Cavaliers win the NBA title in June. We talk about his nerves heading into an all-or-nothing Game 7, the thrill of watching the victory with his son and the atmosphere in Cleveland when the drought finally ended.
Crawford also shares his thoughts on balancing fandom with professionalism, connecting with viewers in the age of social media and new technology, crafting and understanding your personal "brand" and learning to work with a variety of on-air teammates.
Thanks, as always, for listening, and check back every week for a new edition of "That's What She Said."
