All You Gotta' Do Is Win,,,and Birthday Greetings.....

I was able to go to the game last Monday when the Cleveland Cavaliers took on the champion Golden State Warriors. There was a playoff vibe in the air walking through Quicken Loans Arena before the game.

The game started about 8:00. But it was over about 8:10 as Golden State got out to a 12-2 lead. The Cavs body language and play told me this game was over. A few days later the Cavs fired their coach David Blatt. This was the same Blatt that had this team only 2 games from a championship last

Me & Blatt

season with a depleted roster. The same Blatt that had them with the best record in the Eastern Conference so far this season. Yet, you could see something was not quite right. The Cavs seemed to be a fragile team, not playing their best in important games. They also seem to rely on individual talent as opposed to good team play.

Remember, when David Blatt was hired, Lebron had not decided to come back yet. Blatt, a successful European coach, was hired to develop a young team. When Lebron came back, everything changed. Young players and draft picks were traded for veterans. Money was absolutely not an issue. The goal now? A championship. Nothing else is acceptable. Looking back, Blatt was in a no-win situation. He was an NBA outsider, with few friends.

Ty Lue and some other guy.

The new coach, Ty Lue, is the ultimate NBA insider. He's been involved in the NBA for over half his life. The players get along with him well. But everybody likes the assistant coach - when they're the assistant coach. When the pressure comes, and the hard decisions have to be made, will they still get along with him?

So was this the right move? It was certainly a ballsy move. But the only way it will be the right move is if the Cavs win the NBA Championship. This year. Pass/Fail. No other option.

Lebron won't be any better next year.  Speaking of age,,,

Happy Birthday to My Wife.....

My wife has one of those special birthdays that end in a zero tomorrow. I don't know about her, but it's making me feel old. We met when she was 18 and I was 20 years old. We were co-workers at a restaurant in Strongsville, Ohio. (At least the building is still standing.) As we got to know each other, we became friends.  I remember she liked to play jokes on me. Especially when it was about another girl. We became close friends, and the rest is history.

Hippies from the 70's.

Back then she was just out of high school and entering nursing school. Her nursing classes were challenging. She certainly was not confident about any class that had math in it. But she did well and graduated. Today, she's one of the finest nurses in this city. She's got the awards to prove it. She had one characteristic that she still has today: determination.

She has been my partner through all the triumphs and tragedies that life throws at you for decades now. Is she the same as when she was 18? I suppose not. Nobody is. Nobody smiles or laughs exactly like you do when you're a kid. But the hugs mean more now at the end of the day.

Happy Birthday, honey.  The best is yet to come!