Cleveland professional sport’s long and painful road to glory

• The Drive (1987)

• • John Elway takes the Denver Broncos 98 yards to beat the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Championship game

 

• The Fumble (1988)

• • The Browns are within inches of beating the Broncos to head to the Super Bowl when Earnest Byner fumbles at the goal line.

 

• The Shot (1989)

• • Michael Jordan makes a game winner over Craig Ehlo to knock the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the playoffs.

 

• Art Modell moves the Browns to Baltimore during the team’s 50th season (1995)

 

• Game 7 of the World Series (1997)

• • Up 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jose Mesa blows a save and the Florida Marlins beat the Indians to win the World Series

 

• The Decision (2010)

• • Akron native LeBron James decides to “take his talents to South Beach” after failing to bring Cleveland a championship during the first seven years of his career on the Cavaliers roster.

 

• The Return (2014)

• • On July 11, 2014, LeBron announces that he will return to Cleveland after spending the last four year playing for the Miami Heat.

 

• The Promise Kept (2016)

• • LeBron finally delivers on his promise of bringing the city of Cleveland a championship after beating the Golden State Warriors 4-3 in the NBA Finals.

 

Lebron James (Finals MVP)

• First player to lead both teams in every major statistical category

• Averages 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals, 2.3 blocks

• Totals- 208 points, 79 rebounds, 62 assists, 18 steals, 16 blocks

• Third NBA title championship (two with Miami, one with Cleveland)

(Stats from Basketball-Reference.com)