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January 25, 2010 - By Brian McPeek
That was an impressive week of basketball from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wins at home over Toronto, the Lakers and Oklahoma City, all playoff-caliber teams with superstars of their own, qualifies as impressive. More so when you consider that the Cavs started three different point guards in those games and still had enough to notch victories. In his latest edition of The Weekend Wrap, Peeker talks about the super week from the Cavs, starts to look ahead towards Indians season, and touches on the AFC and NFC Championship games and the Colts/Saints Super Bowl matchup.
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January 18, 2010 - By Brian McPeek
We've nearly reached the Gobi Desert in terms of Cleveland sports. No more Browns games for months, the Tribe is still weeks away from meaningless spring training games and the Cavs are at the half way point of a long NBA season. This is the dead zone of the Cleveland sports calendar. It's a mish-mash from Peeker this Monday in the Weekend Wrap. He hits on the Cavs recent west coast swing, Rob Ryan's head coaching aspirations, Donte Stallworth, Mike Redmond, and the general dissappointment from the NFL Playoff games we've all watched these past two weekends.
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January 11, 2010 - By Brian McPeek
"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." Charles Dickens wasn't writing about the Browns when he set that phrase to paper but he may as well have been. In a week where the Browns seemingly took a huge step toward continuity, organizational accountability and professionalism with the official arrival of Mike Holmgren and the retention of Head Coach Eric Mangini (not to mention the expected arrival of a GM in Tom Heckert of the Eagles), Josh Cribbs peed in the punch bowl and put a stop to what was, up until then, a pretty enjoyable party. Peeker hits on the recent developments with the Browns, some signings from the Indians, and the Cavs and LeBron in The Weekend Wrap.
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January 6, 2010 - By Andrew Clayman
With the best journeys, it's not the destination that matters, but the fun you had getting there. ...Still, there's nothing wrong with knowing you're heading for something epic at the end of the rainbow-- and that's exactly what we've come to with the 64 Since '64 Tournament's Championship Round. While we had a blast matching up the likes of Craig Ehlo vs Earnest Byner and Albert Belle vs Mark Price, we knew all the fun was eventually leading up to one final, serious question: Who is the greatest of them all... Jim Brown or LeBron James?
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January 1, 2010 - By Erik Cassano
The final year of the first decade of the 21st Century was, once again, devoid of world championships for Cleveland's teams. But even without trophies or rings, there was still plenty to remember from the sports year 2009 in Cleveland. From the good (anything involving LeBron James or Josh Cribbs) to the bad (another Tribe fire sale) to the ugly (Braylon Edwards slugging a friend of LeBron's, then getting traded) it was another eventful sports year on the North Coast. Erik Cassano has been counting down the top ten biggest Cleveland sports stories of 2009, and today, brings us his #1 moment.
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January 1, 2010 - By Jerry Roche
Will LeBron James resign in Cleveland? Can Mike Brown coach a team to a NBA Championship? What will the Indians starting rotation look like? What kind of manager will Manny Acta be? Will Eric Mangini survive the arrival of The Walrus? Who will be the Browns starting quarterback next season? These are some of the pressing questions Cleveland sports fans will seek answers to here in 2010. In Jerry Roche's latest, he picks the ten biggest questions facing the Browns, Cavs, and Indians this coming year ... and gives us his thoughts on how they may be answered.
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December 31, 2009 - By Chris Hutchison
What's going on with these Browns? This is not how we do things in Cleveland. Our teams do not get better as the season progresses. No one "improves". The Modus Operandi here in NE Ohio is "letdown". We won't have you showing up our rich tradition of mailing it in. And the irony? The coach may still be fired on Monday. With the Dawn of the Walrus now official, and the Browns one game away from heading into what is a highly anticipated off-season, there are all kinds of things to talk about in the world of Cleveland Browns football. Chris Hutchison runs the gamut in this week's Browns Outsider.
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December 30, 2009 - By Andrew Clayman
After spending three months sifting through 45 years of silver linings, four men have been chosen to represent the very best of Cleveland sports in a time devoid of world titles. The participants aren't shocking, but the lack of any Cleveland Indians might be. Instead, we've been left with two Browns taking on two Cavs for the right to fight for all the marbles. Can a cinderella point guard pull off the impossible? Does the beloved QB have one more comeback in him? Or are we headed for a palindromic showdown of #23 vs #32? Cast your votes... It's Final Four time!
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December 28, 2009 - By Brian McPeek
It's been a rough 2009 for Cleveland sports. But what a finish to the year for this beaten down fan base. The Browns and Cavaliers put a heckuva bow on this stinker of a year over the past week, as the Browns built off the Steelers win with wins at Kansas City and a home win over the Raiders, and the Cavaliers rattles off impressive wins over the Kings, Lakers, and Rockets. In The Weekend Wrap, Peeker gives us his thoughts on the encouraging play by the Browns, the resurgent Cavaliers, and also takes a look ahead to this Friday's Rose Bowl between the Bucks and the Ducks.
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December 26, 2009 - By Erik Cassano
The final year of the first decade of the 21st Century was, once again, devoid of world championships for Cleveland's teams. The Cavaliers mounted a serious charge, but didn't have the height or muscle to match up with the Orlando Magic, and were turned back in the conference finals. But even without trophies or rings, there was still plenty to remember from the sports year 2009 in Cleveland. Between now and the end of December, we'll unveil our top 10 Cleveland sports moments from 2009. Sit back and re-live the year that was.
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December 25, 2009 - By Erik Cassano
The final year of the first decade of the 21st Century was, once again, devoid of world championships for Cleveland's teams. The Cavaliers mounted a serious charge, but didn't have the height or muscle to match up with the Orlando Magic, and were turned back in the conference finals. But even without trophies or rings, there was still plenty to remember from the sports year 2009 in Cleveland. Between now and the end of December, we'll unveil our top 10 Cleveland sports moments from 2009. Sit back and re-live the year that was.
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December 18, 2009 - By Andrew Clayman
Only eight men still walk the rocky and desolate road toward the Final Four: 3 Browns, 3 Indians, 2 Cavaliers. Some of them were shoe-ins from the word "go." Others have defied logic to wear the Cinderella slipper (no offense, Grady). Now, loyal Cleveland sports fans must turn into bickering teenage Twilight addicts and align themselves with the camp of their choice: the Wizard or the King? The shortstop or the quarterback? #25 or #25? The Elite 8 is upon us!
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Successful poker players may lose many small pots and still be totally happy, for their goal is to win the occasional big ones. The same thinking comes naturally in football. When the "Browns are in a fourth down, "moving all in", in the meaning of going for it, is worthwhile only if the odds for success are good enough. In most other cases, it�s probably wiser to just "fold" the hand, as in punting the ball away. In the same way, winning or losing a single yard means nothing as long as they manage to get a first down.
December 14, 2009 - By Brian McPeek
This past Thursday night, our Cleveland Browns gave us a taste of the way things could and should be in this town. A feeling of pride, with fans proudly donning their Browns gear as they were out Christmas shopping over the weekend. Brian McPeek is still basking in the glow of the 13-6 win over the Steelers, and in the Weekend Wrap ... touches on the victory, a Cavs team that seems like its going through the motions, Adam Miller, and a couple of feel good stories from the past couple of days.
December 10, 2009 - By Brian McPeek
It doesn't take long. You can spend weeks climbing the tallest mountain while falling off it will kill or maim you in seconds. You can spend 25 years and millions of dollars crafting an image and a brand only to see it all go up in flames in the time it takes to �sext' a Vegas VIP hostess. You can go from being lionized to Leno-ized in the blink of an eye. Just like that. Ask Tiger Woods. Brian McPeek has his opinion on the matter, and he lays it out for us in his latest piece.
December 7, 2009 - By Brian McPeek
I'm not sure what's worse; watching yet another Browns loss or being somewhat satisfied in not feeling completely embarrassed by it. Either way you look at it the Browns are now 1-11 and the death spiral continues. In The Weekend Wrap, Peeker talks about the Browns 30-23 loss to the Chargers and also hits on what was a great week for the Cavaliers, Delonte West, Evan Moore, Texas/Alabama, TCU/Boise State, Joakim Noah, Tim Tebow, and more. Enjoy ...
December 3, 2009 - By Andrew Clayman
So, who are the eight greatest players of the modern Cleveland sports era? You've only got a few more days to cast your votes. In the meantime, the 64 Since '64 Bracket Breakdown rolls on, as Jeff Ellis and Andrew Clayman look at the last four matchups of Round 3 and gear up for the Elite 8. The finish line is finally on the horizon, but who will stay in the race? The jerk or the choir boy? The homerun king or the hall of famer? CC or Grady? It's about to be settled. Go vote!!!
November 27, 2009 - By Mike Piper
Yawn. Another profitable week for the Lead Man. That's five of those in his last six tries. And a 25-18-1 record year to date for our resident handicapper here at The Cleveland Fan. The Lead Man is our way of saying thanks to our loyal readers by allowing him to enhance their lifestyles each fall. Last week, Lead ended 3-2 ... with a 4-1 week spoiled by an injury to Kurt Warner, which Lead says should have taught all gamblers an important lesson. This week, we get three winners from the Leadquarters. On to the picks ...
November 27, 2009 - By Gary Benz
On Wednesday, Eric Mangini threw himself on a cross of sorts by essentially admitting that he was wrong for suggesting that the Detroit Lions were deliberately faking injuries to slow down the machine that is these Browns. He didn't say it that neatly or cleanly, of course. He's Mangini after all. Everything comes with a qualifier and this time it supposedly was the frustration of losing coming through. Gary Benz has a couple theories as to why Mangini reversed course on his public throw-down on the Lions ... and he shares them with our readers in his latest.
November 26, 2009 - By Brian McPeek
This is Cleveland. It's where the 45 year streak of championship-free professional sports is outweighed only by the pessimism that it's likely to continue. But there are things for which Brian McPeek is thankful for. And that's what it's all about today. Keep in mind that he typically dips the brush on the sarcastic side of the color palette. But occasionally he might mix in something that's actually near to my heart. And he does today, on Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers and their loved ones!
November 26, 2009 - By Erik Cassano
In Cleveland, you have to want to be thankful. In a town where the economy is badly damaged, jobs are drying up, the population is shrinking and the sports teams haven't delivered a major league professional title in 45 years, it's incredibly easy to focus on the ways in which we're the gum on the bottom of fate's shoe, and far too easy to look down the road and see a Cleveland in which LeBron James has left and is winning championships elsewhere. In a Thanksgiving piece for us, Erik Cassano goes the other route and tells us why he is thankful to be a Clevelander.
November 19, 2009 - By Mike Piper
It was a kiss your sister 1-1-1 week for The Lead Man last weekend, and we know how rare non winning weeks are for western Lake County's top handicapper once we get into the meat of the football season. Picking winners at a 59% clip so far this year, Lead looks to get back in the winner's circle this week, as he and his staff at the Leadquarters have uncovered some key information in regard to some tilts on this week's slate. But this weekend isn't just any weekend, it's Michigan weekend.
November 18, 2009 - By Andrew Clayman
Now this is where things really start to get interesting. The 64 Since '64 Tournament has reached the Sweet Sixteen, and those of you who've been voting in the online bracket will now get a chance to cast aside the novelty of it all and get serious. Here in Round 3, some classic Cleveland sports debates will get re-examined, and possibly some new, completely unneeded ones will get started. Just who had the better all-around quarterback in the '80s, the Kardiac Kids or the Dawgs? Could the Wizard of Oz lose to the one Brown selected before him in the 1978 draft? It all gets settled now!
November 16, 2009 - By Brian McPeek
Ho-lee Buckeye. It wasn't supposed to be that hard this Saturday against an Iowa team coming off a home loss to Northwestern, and missing starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi. But we got it done. And we're heading to Pasadena. In the Weekend Wrap, Peeks hits on Saturday's win, the looming Michigan game, "Tressel Ball", Jamal Lewis, J.J, Hickson, Delonte West, and how terrified he is of tonight's nationally televised Browns/Ravens game.
November 13, 2009 - By Mike Piper
LA rockers Guns �n Roses often sang of a Cold November Rain, but here in the rock and roll capitol the talk is of the Lead Man's hot November reign, a familiar tune he plays on the man, that rockets up the charts each and every fall in the 440. The first full football weekend of November 2009 saw that trend continue as the Lead Man knocked down 3 of 4 wagers as he gears up for his per usual late autumn run. The Lead Man has now registered winning weeks in four of his last five tries and is 21-15 on the year.
November 9, 2009 - By Brian McPeek
Between the Indians, the Browns, and the Buckeyes losses to USC and Purdue ... the tenor of The Weekend Wrap has been downright depressing for the better part of the last seven months. But not this weekend. Thanks to a 24-7 Buckeye pasting of the Penn State Nittany Lions in Happy Valley. And Brian McPeek was there, in the flesh. And gives us his account of his weekend behind enemy lines, getting to witness, in person, a much needed signature win for the Bucks ... and one that has them in prime position to secure another Big Ten title next weekend.
November 5, 2009 - By Mike Piper
This past election week gambling news involving the passage of legalized casino gambling in the state has gotten the attention of many Ohioans. With gambling on their minds, questions among the masses are sure to arise, and when this happens, the wisest of them call on the Lead Man and seek his opinions of the goings-on. They wonder how LP plans to tackle both the new casinos and the many issues surrounding them. In this week's column he says there's not too much for serious gamblers to be excited about. And gives our readers four point spread winners for this weekend.
November 4, 2009 - By Andrew Clayman
The second round of our latest bracket wraps up this week as we take a closer look at some very intriguing battles for those all-important Sweet Sixteen berths. Can the Top Dawg somehow take down a Homerun King? Can Albert Belle run over a Mack Truck? Is Grady Sizemore turning into the baseball version of Austin Carr? Hell, we've even got Paul Warfield vs Rocky Colavito! So take a break from stabbing your Mangini voodoo doll and bask in the wondrous absurdity that is 64 Since '64.
October 30, 2009 - By Mike Piper
As is the custom, as we rocket toward the holidays and the weather on the North coast begins to cool, the Lead Man heats up. Last week LP again laid waste to the man, nailing 3 of his 4 selections. And when the Lead Man says nailed, he means nailed. Lead Man was to his picks last week as Steve Phillips was to his intern, as LP and Steve-o did the nailing and the intern and the picks were easy. Now at 16-11 on the year, and right at the spot of the season where he usually takes things to a new level, the Lead Man checks in with four college plays and one in the NFL.
October 26, 2009 - By Brian McPeek
If you can't laugh about this 2009 Browns team, you'd surely be crying. They are and total trainwreck. So Brian McPeek has decided to just sit back and laugh about what he's seeing. And there was plenty of comic relief in Sunday's 31-3 good 'ole country whoopin', administered by the Green Bay Packers. But alas, brighter days are ahead. Cavs season starts Tuesday night. And the Indians have a new manager. Peeks talks about all of it in The Weekend Wrap.
October 24, 2009 - By Andrew Clayman
It's finally time to charge full force into Round Deux of 64 Since '64: the bracket style tournament that finally confirmed, once and for all, that Earnest Byner was better than Craig Ehlo. Now that the 64 are down to 32, the talent gap is thinner, the debates are testier, and the votes are likely to get a lot closer. The winners advance to the "Sweet Sixteen of So What," proving their place as mighty, modern era Cleveland sports heroes. This week, Jeff Ellis and Andrew Clayman explore the first half of the remaining brackets, including King James' next test, a pair of former Browns teammates locking horns, and Man-Ram crossing paths with a legendary linebacker.