A Party 52 Years in the Making
The streets of Cleveland were jam-packed with fans clad in wine and gold as the city celebrated a long-awaited win.
Finding a way into downtown Cleveland on Wednesday to witness the Cavaliers' NBA title championship parade and rally was a feat within itself. Rapid station park-and-ride lots were full before 9 a.m.—with lines to get on the rapids extending beyond a mile long—highways were clogged from all sides of the city, sidewalks swelled with those venturing on foot, and buses were forced to blow past designated stops filled with waiting riders after being filled beyond capacity.
Now, an important fact to note is that I wouldn't call myself a Cleveland Cavaliers fan. In fact, I might even go so far as to say that my enthusiasm for most sports could be compared to the use of air conditioning in a car on a hot summer day when the windows are already rolled down: pointless.
But after spending nearly nine hours in the heart of downtown Cleveland among literally more than 1 million Cavs enthusiasts, I have to admit, my outlook has changed. I can understand, now, the enthusiasm for the hometown team and why people have been lifelong fans, despite the 52-year drought that plagued the city.
It all comes down to loyalty.
It doesn't matter whether a city’s teams win or lose games and championships. Fans will support them no matter what. There couldn't be any better example of this than Cavs fans. Believe me, after Wednesday, I can attest to that.
The atmosphere of downtown jubilant. Spectators arrived hours prior—even the night before—to stake a spot enabling them the best possible view of the day's celebrations. Some climbed the walls of buildings lining the streets of the victory parade route; others peered down from their vantage point on rooftops. Teenagers climbed onto the roofs of RTA bus stops and into the highest points of trees.
One man shimmied up a Lakeside Avenue crosswalk pole and had arguably the best view of the parade procession. He proved to be resourceful in giving the spectators below him a heads up on the approaching procession of parade floats.
Nearly all those who filled the streets of downtown were decked out in Cavs colors, creating a sea of gold, wine, royal blue, burnt orange and white spread out across the surface streets and grass.
As I stood in the thick of the crowd at the corner of East 6th Street and Lakeside Avenue watching bursts of confetti fall from the sky, I finally understood the excitement and hype of those around me. And how could I not? It was infectious.
This is our hometown. It doesn't matter if you're not a fan of the sport; it's the fact that they're one of us, one of our own. And win or lose, we support them.