Written by Paul Cousineau

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Have things ever been collectively better for Cleveland sports?  Paul Cousineau says they haven't, and backs up his stance with evidence in his latest column for us.  Cavs coming off a NBA Finals appearance.  The Indians are headed to the playoffs.  And the Browns are finally giving fans a glimmer of hope.  Paul says we shouldn't take playoff appearances for granted.  Because history shows they've been hard to come by in this town.

Watching the Browns run their record to 2-2 with their second AFC North win, and then switching over to watch the Tribe win their 96th game (7th highest total in club history) amidst Cavaliers season ticket commercials, I realized that it's happening.  
 
The Cleveland sports teams are all cresting (forgive me for being overly optimistic about a 2-2 Browns record), and...has this ever happened before?  
 
Everyone knows that no Cleveland team has won a professional championship since 1964; but, beyond that, how long (and how far-reaching) has the drought been for coincidental success by the Cleveland teams?  
 
While a team making the playoffs has to be considered a success, a better gauge of success would be the success in those playoffs. Using that barometer, when have our three beloved franchises won at least one playoff series or game (in the case of the Browns) in their history?  
 
Prepare yourself, the numbers are ugly, considering that we're talking about over 100 years:  

Indians  

1998  
ALDS: Indians over Boston (3-1)  
 
1997  
ALDS: Indians over Yankees (3-2)  
ALCS: Indians over Orioles (4-2)  
 
1995  
ALDS: Indians over Red Sox (3-0)  
ALCS: Indians over Mariners (4-2)  
 
1948  
World Series: Indians over Braves (4-2)  
 
1920  
World Series: Indians over Robins (5-2)  
 
Cavaliers  

2007  
Eastern Conference 1st Round: Cavaliers over Wizards (4-0)  
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cavaliers over Nets (4-2)  
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavaliers over Pistons (4-2)  
 
2006  
Eastern Conference 1st Round: Cavaliers over Wizards (4-2)  
 
1993  
Eastern Conference 1st Round: Cavaliers over Nets (3-2)  
 
1992  
Eastern Conference 1st Round: Cavaliers over Nets (3-1)  
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cavaliers over Celtics (4-3)  
 
1976  
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cavaliers over Bullets (4-3)  
 
Browns  

1994  
AFC Wild Card Game: Browns over Patriots (20-13)  
 
1989  
AFC Divisional Playoff: Browns over Bills (34-30)  
 
1987  
AFC Divisional Playoff: Browns over Colts (38-21)  
 
1986  
AFC Divisional Playoff: Browns over Jets (23-20)  
 
1969  
NFL Divisional Playoff: Browns over Cowboys (38-14)  
 
1968  
NFL Divisional Playoff: Browns over Cowboys (38-20)  
 
1964  
NFL Championship: Browns over Colts (27-0)  
 
1955  
NFL Championship: Browns over Rams (38-14)  
 
1954  
NFL Championship: Browns over Lions (56-10)  
 
1950  
NFL Divisional Playoff: Browns over Giants (8-3)  
NFL Championship: Browns over Rams (30-28)  
 
That's it.  

11 playoff victories for the Browns, 9 playoff series wins for the Cavs, and 7 playoff series wins for the Indians.  
 
Now look again at all of the years for a coinciding year.  

Not there, is it?  

There has NEVER been a year that two Cleveland pro sports franchises have both WON a playoff series or game in the same calendar year.  

NEVER!  

How absurd is that?!?  
 
Of course, with the Cavaliers going to the NBA Finals and the Tribe facing off against the Yankees, the possibility is out there that 2007 could be the year. Once that ridiculous precedent has finally been set, the Tribe can eradicate the old "last championship in 1964" mantle from the city.  
 
Things are turning around for our once-moribund franchises.  

But, first things first, let's take the Yankees down and make Cleveland sports history.