Fancy cars. Hot women everywhere. Fire. No, I am not talking about a night out with Stephen Jackson at an Indianapolis strip club. The new-look Cavaliers

Fancy cars.  Hot women everywhere.  Fire.  No, I am not talking about a night out with Stephen Jackson at an Indianapolis strip club.  The new-look Cavaliers’ upped the ante on an already impressive entertainment filled product. 

Opening night is always special in the NBA, but in a city where championships come along as often as plagues, a team with high expectations is coveted dearly.  The Cavs did their part to make it a special time for their guests, with no reason to believe the rest of the year will be any different. 

The usual electric player introductions were preceded by a heartfelt speech by recently re-signed (thank God) forward Drew Gooden.  Player and fan relationships and closeness is always important.  In Cleveland, it is magnified exponentially.  Drew did an outstanding job sounding unrehearsed, and genuinely thanked the fans for supporting the team.  The one team in town with no need to kiss our butts for our loyalty is the only one that does it.  Makes you wonder. 

The city wide promotion to “Light It Up” was pretty impressive as well (both driving down to the game and inside the arena).  Gilbert even found a more effective way to use the pre-game fire, transferring it to the main scoreboard.  Very cool. 

Even the in game MC are growing on me a little bit.  True, Nicole being easy on the eyes has a little to do with it, but both her and her sidekick Ahmaad do a pretty good job keeping a nice flow to the game. 

Now, of course, there will be some drawbacks to your Cavs experience.  For example, I get it.  The Chevy Aveo is very, very, very good with its fuel economy.  If I cut Chevy a check for $10,000, can you please limit my exposure of it to 50 times per quarter? 

And the new PA guy leaves me pining for Ronnie “Slam” Duncan.  I realize Duncan was over the top, but when his replacement isn’t even exciting enough to announce the starting lineups (Ahmaad does it), you have a problem.  Isn’t there any middle ground out there? 

All in all, though, the Cavs have the golden ticket to the city that the Indians had for the mid to late 90’s.  Dan Gilbert has done his part to make the ride as exciting as possible for all of us.