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Misc General General Archive The Year in Cleveland Sports - Third Quarter
Written by Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore

2013 01 cleveland review 3So 2012 has come and gone without another championship from any of Cleveland’s teams.

While there were no titles to celebrate, there were still plenty of stories, from firings to trades, to too many losses and too few wins.

Our annual review of the year in Cleveland sports continues with the second quarter of the year. (In case you missed the First Quarter, click here. Second quarter can be found here).

Spain beats Italy in the Euro 2012 final, the squad’s third consecutive international title, leaving little doubt that La Roja Furia is the best team in the world.

Closer to home, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upholds the suspensions of four players, including Scott Fujita of the Browns, for their alleged role in New Orleans’ bounty program.

As the start of training camp loomed, we wondered if the Browns had the proper roster depth to compete in the NFL.

The Cleveland Indians place reliever Nick Hagadone on the Minor League disqualified list after Hagadone suffers a self-inflicted injury to his pitching hand and land in a fight with the players union.

Early season predictions were less than kind to the Cleveland Browns.

The NFL Supplemental Draft offers the Browns a second chance to improve the team for the 2012 season and general manager Tom Heckert jumps in by selecting wide receiver Josh Gordon.

Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving makes headlines for his performance as a member of USA Basketball’s Select team against the U.S. Olympic team. Irving’s summer is cut short, however, when he does his Nick Hagadone impression on a gym wall.

Liverpool starts rebuilding the club under new manager Brendan Rodgers, signing Roma striker Fabio Borini.

Following their selection of Josh Gordon in the NFL Supplemental Draft, the Browns receive mixed reviews from the national media. The team does receive some love, though, for its commitment to getting younger.

With the Indians slipping in the standings, we wondered if Manny Acta is really a good manager, or is he just managing to get by?

Liverpool continues its flirtation with Fulham striker – and American international – Clint Dempsey.

After another mediocre outing from Ubaldo Jimenez, the time had arrived for Tribe fans to accept Jimenez for what he is.

After a strong start to the season, Indians pitcher Derek Lowe reverts back into the pitcher who was 4-10 with a 6.20 ERA after the All-Star break in 2011.

With training camp getting ready to start, Randy Lerner issues a 96-word statement that changes everything – he is selling the Cleveland Browns to Jimmy Haslam.

No matter what they do, the Cleveland Indians just can’t shake the Detroit hangover.

At the trading deadline, the Indians make a move – for Triple-A first baseman Lars Anderson.

After watching Derek Lowe go 2-9 with an 8.28 ERA in his 13 prior starts, the Indians finally decide enough is enough and release the veteran pitcher.

A day later, Johnny Damon joined the exodus as the Tribe released the 38-year-old outfielder during a seven-game losing streak.

The Cleveland Browns announce that Brandon Weeden will be the starting quarterback, a position he will hold until being injured in Week 16 against Denver.

Jimmy Haslam’s first weekend as owner of the Browns was a hit with fans and the media, but signing the check was only just the beginning.

This being Cleveland, the joy didn’t last long as news broke that rookie running back Trent Richardson would need arthroscopic surgery and that corner back Joe Haden was facing a four-game suspension for using Adderall.

No matter what the Indians tried, all it amounted to was re-arranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship.

With the Tribe in a free fall for the second consecutive season, it was time to ask if Tribe fans were being realistic about the team.

The Browns open the exhibition season with a 19-17 loss to Detroit.

As if he didn’t have enough to do with getting the Browns ready for the regular season, coach Pat Shurmur decided to pick a fight with Twitter.

After 75 years and 24 tries, the U.S. Men’s National Team finally beat Mexico in Mexico, winning 1-0 at Azteca Stadium.

The Browns defeat Green Bay, 35-10, in their second exhibition game.

Liverpool prepares for the start of the Premier League season with manager Brendan Rodgers preaching a word familiar to Cleveland fans – patience.

On the final day of training camp, the Browns did football things and for some reason people got worked up about it.

After finally breaking an 11-game losing streak, the Tribe goes on the road and loses eight-of-nine to fall deeper into the abyss.

 Liverpool lets one slip away in their season-opening match against Manchester City.

The Tribe entered a weekend series with Oakland having not won back-to-back games in a 44-game stretch.

Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who signed a new contract in the off-season, made Grantland’s list of the 10 types of contracts that haunt NFL franchises.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur gambles that sitting rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden for the final exhibition game is the right move.

Liverpool finally – finally – cuts ties with Andy Carroll, sending the £35-million man to West Ham on a season-long loan.

Sports Illustrated’s college football preview issue details the rise of Alabama coach Nick Saban, who’s process to rule college football started at Kent State.

The transfer window slams shut on Liverpool without Clint Dempsey making the move to Anfield.

Chris Perez talks about why the Tribe can’t compete.

Art Modell, the owner in the history of the NFL owner who could not make money in a league with a license to print cash, passes away.

With the Browns ready for the start of the 2012 NFL season, it was time to Get ’Er Done.

The Browns drop their opening game for the 13th time in 14 tries since 1999, losing to Philadelphia on a late Michal Vick touchdown pass. The close loss was something Browns fans would become familiar with as the season went along.

Incoming Browns owner Jimmy Haslam steps down as CEO of Pilot Flying J so he can keep a closer eye on his new toy.

The Indians continue a fruitless struggle to fix starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.

The Browns can’t overcome their mistakes and fall to Cincinnati to drop to 0-2 on the season.

For those Tribe fans that still didn’t get it, Matt LaPorta did his best to prove that he is not a major league player in a game against Minnesota.

The Browns drop their ninth consecutive game dating to 2011, this time at home to Buffalo to fall to 0-3 on the season.

With fan anger bubbling, it was time to remind Browns fans that firing coach Pat Shurmur during the season wouldn’t help anything.

The Indians fire manager Manny Acta with six games remaining in the season.

The Browns battle Baltimore in a Thursday night game, but come up short to open the season at 0-4.

Coming tomorrow: The Indians hire Terry Francona as manager, Randy Lerner and Mike Holmgren officially exit Berea, Kent State begins a historic run in football and the Browns end the season in familiar fashion.

(Photo by Getty Images)

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