Cleveland鈥檚 more than half century championship drought is over. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the NBA Champions after defeating the Golden State Warriors last night 93 to 89 in game seven of the Finals.
It was an historic outcome for a city that can barely believe it.
精东影业鈥檚 Mark Urycki reports.
Tens of thousands of fans packed the streets of downtown Cleveland last night watching the game in Oakland from large outdoor screens or even peering through windows of packed bars and restaurants
With less than a minute to go Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving sunk a three pointer to put the Cavs on top and Cleveland fans could were ecstatic when time ran out.
鈥淭he monkey is off the back!鈥�
Rick Chrapowicz is referring to what many believe was a 52 year curse that was preventing Cleveland鈥檚 three major professional sports teams from winning a championship. Dwayne Spencer of Canton could name the unfortunate athletes in Cleveland who had victory snatched away in the final minute.
鈥淭his is for the Browns defense on The Drive, this is for Ernest Byner, This is for Bernie Kosar, We got a championship.鈥�
The Finals鈥� MVP is LeBron James, who grew up in nearby Akron and can himself rattle off Cleveland鈥檚 famous losses
鈥淵ou can look back to the Ernest Byner fumble, Elway going 99 yards, Jose Mesa not being able to close out in the bottom of the ninth, to the Cavs going to the finals 鈥� I was on that team 2007 and then last year us losing 4-2 and so many stories. Our fans, they ride or die, no matter what鈥檚 been going on.鈥�
Author David Giffels from James鈥檚 hometown of Akron wrote a book of essays called 鈥淭he Hard Way on Purpose鈥� because that tends to be the way things are done in the industrial Midwest.
Cavs fan Robert Datewood said it only made sense that the Cavs would dig themselves a hole against the Warriors, who set a record for wins this season
鈥淲e got down 3 to 1 and the only thing it made me feel like was the storybook finish was going to happen. It wouldn鈥檛 have been fun if we won 4 to 1 or .. It HAD to be like this. We don鈥檛 win anything else if it鈥檚 not like this.鈥�
The Cavs became being the first NBA team ever to win the Finals after being down 3-1 and they did it on the Warriors home court. Kyrie Irving, who scored 26 points, said he was imagining every possible way to win or lose.
鈥淚鈥檝e barely slept in the past two day. I was up just really, really鈥� I don鈥檛 think my mind has really contemplated so many scenarios ever, in the past 48 hours. 鈥�
Now his last minute 3 point shot may replace 鈥淭he Shot鈥� that Michael Jordan made to defeat the Cavs a generation ago. The tears could tell the story, Nearly every player and even Coach Tyronn Lue had trouble composing themselves. Fans like Dave Jaber were also choked up .
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long wait, 52 years, but you know what? I鈥檓 proud of this city and I鈥檓 proud of that team. Today is my birthday and Father鈥檚 Day. I鈥檝e got three daughters so it鈥檚 quite special for me.鈥�
Many fans, like Robert Datewood.. find this whole winning thing disorienting.
鈥淲e honestly don鈥檛 really know how to react at this point. Our life 鈥� we鈥檙e used to losing. We know how to pace that. It鈥檚 a new tomorrow; I don鈥檛 know if anyone knows what tomorrow means now. Everything is different. It鈥檚 only a sports team win but I think our mindset, as much improvement as we鈥檝e been dealing with , now it can be real.鈥�
The Cavaliers returns to Cleveland today. A championship parade seemingly in the planning for 52 years, is scheduled for tomorrow.