Helluva Read

[swerb]

Long, but worth it ...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/ ... /Cleveland

[GodHatesClevelandSport]

It's an article that will move many to tears. It's absolutely the best thing you will read about Cleveland for a long, long time.

And I'm not even halfway through it.

Savoring it because I know how long it will be before I feel like this while reading something again.

[cozmeesah]

Wow. I actually almost teared up a couple times reading that.

Thanks for the link, Rich.

That is, until I made the mistake of reading the comments left to that article. Jesus, some people are such horrible jackasses. Read comment sections of nearly every web site out there and you will see the bottom rung of the human race.

[jfiling]

Thank you for posting this, Rich, because I'm sure I would have missed it otherwise.

I think there is one defining passage in the piece that says it all:

They never imagined he'd come to this place, or that they'd ever get to shake his hand. But they did believe -- because, like them, he was from northeast Ohio and grew up poor -- that he understood why making moonshine on a Sunday afternoon is important.

They thought he understood.

Everyone did.

[jb]

This is why I never delude myself into a dream of being a professional. Not on my best day. Arguably the best article I've ever read capturing TCE (TM) perfectly.

Thanks Swerb. Dunno, but this may deserve a permalink from the site home page.

At the very least, can we send Thompson a cyber card of thanks from TCF that we can all sign if we want?

[jb]

Are the federales gonna bust the OLPH people now? I hope they didn't get ratted out.

[paulcousineau]

Are the federales gonna bust the OLPH people now? I hope they didn't get ratted out.

Don't mess with those folks down there on Neff.
Someone once told me that they were running guns out of that place...I still don't know if they were serious or not.

Best article I've read in a long time.

[motherscratcher]

Outstanding. Absolutely outstanding. I read it a little bit at a time because i didn't really want to get to the end and be done with it. I didn't cry but things did seem to get a little dusty in here on more than one occasion.

Also, I'm glad I didn't read any of the comments. I didn't realize there were any. But, I've seen enough ESPN comment threads to know the level of discourse.

[jb]

Also, I'm glad I didn't read any of the comments. I didn't realize there were any. But, I've seen enough ESPN comment threads to know the level of discourse.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[jack_tors]

This was a great read. Well worth the time. The author did a good job of trying to show what it means to be a Clevelander. Really appreciate the work, especially from as ESPN supported writer/site. Some of my favorite places in the city are mentioned, very cool.

[skatingtripods]

I go to the Venture Inn after open hockey on Friday nights. Genessee's on tap for 7 cents an ounce. Us hockey players will drink any beer, especially $4 pitchers.

[jb]

You can also tell which of "we" hocky players went to college. vb ;-)

Hey fuck 'em. Re-read TMLP's vow if you have questions.

This would bury the Heat from other moves and they'd be the T Wolves of the 90's.

[idoctribefan]

Great article. Each year as winter kicks into gear, my wife asks me why I moved us back to Cleveland. Each year I answer "because I'm from Cleveland". Tomorrow I'll have her read this and maybe she'll finally understand.