A few weeks ago, while at the Indians game with some of our fellow writers at The Cleveland Fan, there was a point in the game where we looked around and seemingly everyone in our group was busy looking down and tapping away on some kind of device.
Being the only person in the group without a smart phone made us realize how much technology and social media has changed the way we watch and interact during sports events. We can be at home on the couch, at the stadium or the arena, and still interact with a community of Indians, Browns and Cavs fans across the country and around the world through Twitter, Facebook and e-mail. (And that doesn’t even take into account the numerous high-quality fans sites devoted to Cleveland sports).
That got us thinking about some of the biggest Cleveland sports moments in our lifetime in the pre-blog and social media era, which we are defining as anything before 2004. Because while Syknet may have become self-aware in 1999, sports blogs didn’t become prevalent in town until 2004, the same year Facebook was created, and Twitter did not launch until 2006.
So we came up with the 20 biggest sports stories that would have made the Internet blow up in Cleveland had these various social media platforms existed at the time. We’re starting today with Part One, highlighting No. 20 to No. 16.
Last Saturday, my wife competed in a competition to determine who the most fit people were in Austin. If you recall, I was helping to train her, mainly by throwing a medicine ball into her face for toughness, but also by doing more constructive things such as building upper body strength and helping with her mechanics.
Ten months of grueling practices, late night plane rides, being away from the family, and three or more games a week has come to an end. Every player’s dream in September when training camp begins has become a reality for the Los Angeles Kings. Dustin Brown became just the second American-born captain to be instructed by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to come and get the Stanley Cup. What transpired was a celebration that gives every hockey fan, regardless of their allegiance, chills. Well, except for New Jersey Devils fans.
Last night right before bedtime, Mrs. Hancock and I got into a fight. I’m playing Words With Friends and live tweeting the NBA game from bed, as per my norm, and she’s reading her book. All is well and then she throws out there “it bothers me that you hate my home town.” Uh oh, someone wants to fight…
As the seconds ticked down on New Jersey's valiant Game Four victory, one that ensured at least one more home game for Martin Brodeur in his illustrious career, very few people believed that the win gave the Devils any kind of chance in the series. After all, only three teams in NHL playoff history have erased a 3-0 series deficit to come back and win the series and none of them have happened in the Stanley Cup Final. However, in a series that has been very evenly played except for a late Game Three meltdown by the Devils, there was a little bit of justice. The Devils have played well enough not to be swept. They'll get at least three more days out of the NHL season thanks to winning on Wednesday night.