It started the minute we stepped onto the L train from Midway. It was hot. Cramped. My friends and I piled into the overly crowded car, suitcases in hand. Hanger (that’s hunger-induced anger) was setting in, and patience was wearing thin.

A man in Spongebob swimtrunks and mismatched socks noticed my friend’s blue and orange Cavaliers snapback immediately. “Cleveland, eh? You know they’re never going to win it all!” He then spent the majority of the ride toward Lincoln Park explaining to us why. We hadn’t asked.

Next, it was Calvin, our Uber driver, who stood no shorter than six-foot-five. “CLEVELAND?!” he bellowed in a deep baritone, “I don’t know how y’all can still root for LeBron.” We explained that we were in town to visit a friend and catch the Tribe game on Monday. He shook his head. “I just don’t know.”

As it turns out, a lot of Chicagoans would echo their sentiments. For a city consumed with Stanley Cup fever, no one seemed too distracted to stop and question Cleveland’s loyalty to LeBron…or his ability to bring us a championship.

Not even Spike Lee, whom we ran into on Michigan Avenue Sunday afternoon. My friend called out to the director and famously passionate NBA fan, “Hey Spike! Are the Cavs gonna win tonight?”

Spike paused… and laughed. “No way, man. Not even with three Knicks on that team! They’re done.”

Great. Thanks, Spike.

That night, we did the only thing four Clevelanders in Chicago could do: we sought out the most “Clevelandy” bar we could find to watch Game 5 — one of the biggest games we’d ever see. After asking around, we landed at Vaughan’s, a dive-y little slice of sports bar heaven located in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.

We thought, with an hour and a half to go before tip-off, we’d arrived early enough to grab a seat. We thought wrong. Throngs of Cleveland fans, clad in T-shirts from GV Art and Design, Homage, and Fresh Brewed Tees, had already filled the bar.

Ohio State flags hung on the walls, and a tap full of Great Lakes Brewing Company beer handles were lined up like old friends, waiting for us in the Windy City. There, in the middle of Chicago, we were home.

“Everyone here is a diehard Cleveland fan,” Dave Hamblin, a Chicago resident and Brecksville native, told me. “Typically, when you walk into a sports bar wearing a LeBron jersey, nobody gets it. Look around…everyone here gets it.”

And “get it” they did. For the next four hours, people floated between tables, shared high-fives with strangers and hurled screams at the flat screens in every corner — united by the highs and lows of being a Cleveland sports fan.

Obviously, the game didn’t end the way any of us were hoping — maybe Spike Lee was right, even just for the day. But that didn’t make for any less of a great Cleveland night, right in the middle of Illinois.

“Being here,” Hamblin told me, “Makes me feel like…even closer than home. It feels like I’m with people who are just like me.”

When we cashed out that night, the bartender took an entire round off of our group’s tab, simply because we were Cavs fans. She reminded us to come back to see the game on Tuesday. We’d be home by then, we told her.

But that’s the thing about Cleveland — it feels like home, no matter where you find it.

The post Finding the “All In” in Chicago appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

After helping the Golden State Warriors clinch a championship win on Tuesday night, forward Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP—the first player to do so after not starting a single game during the regular season.

Iguodala, who finished the Finals with averages of 16.3 points, 4.0 assists and 5.8 rebounds, received 7 of 11 total MVP votes. Cavs forward LeBron James received four, while the regular season MVP, Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, did not receive any.

After trailing the Cavs 2-1 going into Game 4, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr added Iguodala to the starting lineup, replacing center Andrew Bogut. The Warriors went on to win each of the series’ next three games, capped off by a 105-97 victory in Game 6 in which Iguodala scored 25 points, and added 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Eleven members of the media voted on the Finals’ MVP award, with the voting breakdown as follows:

Andre Iguodala:

Sam Amick, USA Today
Ken Berger, CBSSports.com
Hubie Brown, ESPN Radio
Jason Lloyd, Akron Beacon Journal
Rusty Simmons, San Francisco Chronicle
Marc Spears, Yahoo Sports
Marc Stein, ESPN.com

LeBron James:

Steve Aschburner, NBA.com
Howard Beck, Bleacher Report
Zach Lowe, Grantland
Jeff Van Gundy, ABC TV

The ABJ’s Lloyd justified his vote for Iguodala in his most recent edition of Final Thoughts.

Yes, I voted Iguodala MVP. Yes, it sent an already frustrated/angry/inconsolable Cavaliers fan base to reach for their torches and pitchforks and demand me to fire myself, kill myself or (preferably) both. Yes, it was difficult choosing Iguodala over LeBron. When I received an e-mail earlier Tuesday asking if I’d be one of only 11 voters (out of the hundreds and hundreds of media covering these Finals) to serve on the MVP committee, I knew full well the dilemma ahead and briefly considered declining just to avoid the hassle. But that’s cowardly.

I’d like to think I was one of the first a few days ago to start mentioning James as a legitimate MVP candidate even in a series loss, bucking 46 years of historically giving it to a player from the winning team. We haven’t created words yet to describe how sensational, spectacular and terrific James was in this series. He was sentacularific. He averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists to become the first player to lead both teams in scoring, rebounds and assists in a Finals series. It’s a compelling argument and one I took very, very seriously.

Two defining factors shaped my final vote: In my mind James had to get it to a Game 7 and Iguodala’s insertion into the starting lineup changed everything. His on/off numbers were indicative of this entire series. When Iguodala was off the court, LeBron shot 44 percent and the Cavs outscored the Warriors by 30 points. When Iguodala was on the court, he was James’ primary defender. James shot 38 percent and the Warriors outscored the Cavs by 55. If the Warriors didn’t have Iguodala, the Cavs would’ve won this series. That’s pretty valuable in my eyes.

“He was great the entire series,” Draymond Green said of Iguodala. “He saved this season for us.”

The fact I work in Akron, for LeBron’s hometown newspaper, has never clouded how I will vote for anything and it never will. Nor should it predetermine me to automatically favor James in anything. That’s beyond stupid logic. Remember, I was one of the only people in the country to vote LeBron first and Curry third on my ballot for regular season MVP, so I’m perfectly open to going against popular opinion. If anything, these Finals only justified my regular season MVP ballot and I absolutely leave here believing I got this one right, too.

It was an agonizingly difficult vote. But it was hard to justify voting for someone when his team lost three consecutive games in the NBA Finals. Had James carried the Cavs to a Game 7, however, he probably would’ve received my vote regardless how the series ended. Now seriously, would everyone blowing up the seven of us who voted Iguodala for MVP feel better today if the Cavs lost the series and he won the award? I assure you James wouldn’t feel any better about losing.

Not only would James winning have been one of the more awkward presentations, but Jason is right: He wouldn’t have felt any better about losing the series. James put up numbers in the NBA Finals that we may never see again. Unfortunately, even the best player in the world can’t triumph over a full team on his own. That Curry or Klay Thompson received nary a vote speaks volumes.

The post LeBron gets 4 of 11 Finals MVP votes; Andre Iguodala wins appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

After inspiring fans throughout the NBA playoffs — including a very well-attended autograph signing and pun-themed T-shirts — Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Matthew Dellavedova is now inspiring a Hollywood production.

You read that right. According to reports from the Sydney Morning Herald, Dellavedova’s life and basketball career will soon be the basis for a feature film or Friday Night Lights-style scripted series.

Tentatively titled The Final Four, the project will feature three Australian players who move to the U.S. to play college ball, following a journey similar to Dellavedova’s.

Role Models executive producer Jason Shuman has signed on, and The Bodhi Tree’s Robert ‘Bobby’ Galinsky will act as screenwriter and executive producer. Shuman said the script was written a few years ago and is now being brought to life.

“It’s quite a compelling story and I think it’s going to do well because it’s like Remember The Titans – people love a real underdog story. It won’t be Matthew’s life story or autobiography, but will be inspired by his exploits in Melbourne and overseas, and we’re meeting with his management in the next couple of weeks.

It will be a film or a scripted series. We see real potential here in following these kids from grade school to high school to college to the NBA.”

The 24-year-old signed with the Cavs after going undrafted in 2013, after moving to the US to play college basketball at St. Mary’s College in 2009.

The post Matthew Dellavedova: Coming soon to a theater near you? appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

This Sunday, the Cleveland Indians will call up starting pitcher Cody Anderson from Triple-A Columbus to make his MLB debut against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 24-year-old right-hander was the Indians’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2013, but struggled in Double-A Akron last year. Anderson seems to have turned it around this year, going 4-3 with a combined 1.87 ERA between 12 starts in Akron and Columbus. He has 53 strikeouts and 14 walks in 67 1/3 innings.

Anderson spent most of the past offseason at the Indians’ training facility in Goodyear, working on his conditioning—and only going home for holidays. Earlier this month, he told The Columbus Dispatch he owes his success on the field to that off-season dedication.

“It was tough not going home for most of the offseason, but you have to sacrifice a little bit to get a little bit. It’s starting to pay off. I want to keep it going and keep the Clippers winning.”

Anderson joins top Tribe prospects shortstop Francisco Lindor and third baseman Giovanny Urshela, who, after much fan speculation and excitement, were both called up to the bigs earlier this week.

The Indians, who went through nine pitchers in Wednesday’s 17-0 loss to the Cubs, are expected to add Anderson to the regular starting rotation. No word yet on how recent position-player pitchers Ryan Raburn and David Murphy feel about the roster move—I’m guessing relieved.

The post Indians to promote Cody Anderson for MLB debut on Sunday appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

It would appear that ex-Cavaliers coach Mike Brown is officially bidding farewell to Cleveland, putting his palatial Westlake mansion on the market just last week. So if you’ve got a spare $2.4 million lying around, you can live large like the former Coach Brown himself.

The 7,500 square foot mansion boasts all of the luxurious amenities you’d expect from a home located on “Chairmans Rowe” (no, I’m not joking… that’s actually the street name), including five spacious bedrooms, seven lavish bathrooms, a sumptuous gourmet kitchen and much, much more. Situated on more than two acres of pristine, professionally groomed ground, Brown’s mansion offers a “privileged lifestyle that’s rarely available,” according to its Realtor.com listing.

Because the multi-million dollar price tag isn’t quite in my budget, I’d like to imagine the team sleepovers the Cavs could have here instead.

J.R. Smith is shooting pool in the billiards room, while Tristan Thompson is outside, cannonballing into the in-ground swimming pool. Iman Shumpert’s perfecting his flat top in the perfectly appointed spa, while LeBron and Kyrie relax poolside in a resort-like cabana. (I assume LeBron has dibs on the master suite, too.)

At the end of the night, the whole team could snuggle up in the state-of-the-art, in-house movie theater to watch the forthcoming movie based on Matthew Dellavedova’s life.

I’m just saying… it kind of makes sense.

No word yet if any offers on the mansion have come in, but knowing that current Cavs coach David Blatt is a big fan of team bonding… it might just be the perfect place. There’s no bowling alley — as far as I can tell — but he’d have plenty of room to add one.

The post Ex-Cavs coach Mike Brown’s Westlake mansion is up for sale appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

Have you been struggling to imagine former Ohio State standout Terrelle Pryor as anything other than a quarterback? Well, don’t worry: He has been too. After being picked up on waivers by the Browns early last week, Pryor is coming around to the idea of moving into a wide receiver role.

“I’m going to give this slash-player deal a chance,” Pryor told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I just want to play football. I’m a playmaker, and I believe if I can touch the ball, I can go to the house, especially if I have space. This should definitely open up some opportunities.”

After the Bengals cut him (the third NFL team to do so in the last year), Pryor said he immediately got in touch with Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, and that the two plan to work out with Randy Moss before he reports to Browns training camp in July.

In fact, Pryor has posted several videos to social media in the last week, including one where he’s practicing running a route:

AB style. pic.twitter.com/p12IFszB8i

— Terrelle Pryor (@TerrellePryor) June 24, 2015

“The thing that helps me is that I played quarterback, and I know what the quarterback wants,” Pryor said of playing receiver. “What I’ve got to work on is the specifics, cutting in and out of the breaks. Athletically, I believe I can do anything on the field. When I get on the field, I may not be the best, but I always feel like I am. I bring that mindset. I work my hardest to be the best I can at that position.”

An obvious homage to Kordell Stewart’s old role with the Steelers, there’s no indication yet of just what that “slash” could mean for Pryor and the Browns. But if one thing is clear, the kid who used to be referred to as L.I.C. (“LeBron in Cleats“) ready to step up to the challenge of switching positions with no lack of confidence—or talent.

The post Terrelle Pryor is going to give “slash-player deal” a chance appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

No, the United Church of Christ isn’t concerned about the Cleveland Indians’ lack of hitting or their occasional bullpen woes. The UCC, conversely, has sent a stack of petitions signed by more than 1,000 people to the offices on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario this past Tuesday, calling for the team to not only remove its Chief Wahoo logo, but change its name as well.

“For decades, we have spoken out in opposition to the usage of negative stereotypes, and been active in protests against such misuse,” said the Rev. Linda Jaramillo, a UCC national officer, in a press release to the Akron-Beacon Journal. “We will continue to journey in solidarity with our brothers and sisters until this part of our body of humanity is honored and respected.”

At the denomination’s biennial General Synod gathering, which took place earlier this week at the Cleveland Convention Center, the UCC also called for the Washington Redskins NFL team to make similar changes to its team name and logo.

Headquartered in Downtown Cleveland, the UCC represents 1 million members and more than 5,000 congregations nationwide. Since 1991, the UCC has been vocal opponent of the use of Native American imagery for sports team, and has been among the groups protesting the Indians’ name and logo at each year’s home opener.

Chief Wahoo has been an Indians’ logo since 1947, but was replaced by the “Block-C” as the team’s primary mark in 2014.

The post The United Church of Christ has some opinions on the Indians appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

Between the return of Mo Williams and Kevin Love’s, um, exposure in ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue,” Monday was a big day for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, the Cavs are setting their sights on a potential next move: Trading for shooting guard Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers.

ESPN sources say that Cavs, in addition to Joe Johnson trade, are also exploring a Jamal Crawford-for-Brendan Haywood trade with Clippers

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 6, 2015

The club is reportedly looking into using Brendan Haywood’s non-guaranteed $10.5 million salary to acquire the scoring specialist and 15-year league vet. According to NEOMG, Crawford said on Monday that he’s in great shape, but is not permitted to discuss potential trade scenarios. “I’m 100 percent healthy, motivated and ready for next year,” he said. “I believe I have a big year in store. I’m just excited and ready for next season.”

Crawford has played for six NBA teams in his career, and has spent the past three seasons with the Clippers. He averaged 15.8 points per game last year in 64 games (4 starts), shooting just under 40 percent from the field and a shade under 33 percent from the three-point line. He has long been a scorer off the bench, and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2014.

But, how does Crawford really feel about the possibility of joining the Cavs as a sixth man? Hiding in plain sight on Monday evening was a clue. Maybe.

Crawford himself favorited this tweet from Jay Williams, former Chicago Bull and Duke standout turned ESPN commentator:

If the @Cavs land Jamal Crawford & stay healthy, that could be a major major problem for the rest of the league. @ESPNNBA

— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) July 6, 2015

Personally, I can’t help but agree with Williams… but I also can’t help but wonder: Is Jamal Crawford trying to send us a message? Is he in favor of this potential trade? Or is Crawford just a friendly tweeter, scrolling through his mentions and passing out “favorites” like they’re candy?

Only time will tell, but in this year’s lightning-fast free agency period, I’m guessing we won’t have to wait long for an answer.

The post Cavs reportedly interested in Jamal Crawford; the feeling may be mutual appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

Want to see the power of branding first hand? Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden tops the list of nationwide NFL jersey sales since the NFL Draft. Also breaking the top 10 is teammate Donte Whitner, who came in ranked 10th. That’s right: Two Browns players rank among the 10 best-selling jerseys—in the whole country—since the draft concluded on May 2.

According to The Jersey Report (via NFL Retweet), the rest of the top 10 includes a lot of names you’d probably expect to see:

1. Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden
2. New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.
3. Philadelphia Eagles RB Demarco Murray
4. Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning
5. Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston
7. Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota
8. New England Patriots QB Tom Brady
9. Buffalo Bills RB LeSean McCoy
10. Cleveland Browns S Donte Whitner

It’s interesting to note that Marcus Mariota topped the list of jersey sales for the month of May, when Joe Haden was ranked 16th. That means Haden’s 15-spot jump occurred entirely over the month of June.

So, what could have caused this surge in sales? Let’s talk about it.

Cleveland Loves Joe

Browns fans have been taking to Twitter in droves to share their excitement for the upcoming season—and for the team’s new, “oranger” jerseys.1 And, since Joe Haden is a fan favorite, season after season, it should be no surprise that his jersey is, too.

@joehaden23 @DonteWhitner Came home from lunch to find a wonderful package! Less than 10 weeks away! #Believeland pic.twitter.com/uAg7BQI2Dx

— Jody Matthews (@jdawg19534) July 6, 2015

@NFLRT @DICKS Hell yeah! @joehaden23 @DonteWhitner #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/u3859d7Mym

— Holly (@lovethebrowns1) July 7, 2015

And, Joe Loves Cleveland
Whether he’s sitting courtside at a Cavs playoff game, or holding court at a nightclub on West 6th street, Joe Haden is a man about town. Always decked out in Cleveland gear and a wide smile, these public appearances can only help boost his surging popularity.

Y'all know these two are #ALLinCLE at the #NBAFinals. pic.twitter.com/agKqc4bvbB

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 17, 2015

The End is (Almost) Near

I’m talking about the end of the offseason. The Browns’ regular season kicks off in less than 70 days, and training camp begins at the end of the month. While we’re still in the dead of summer, football will be back before we know it. And, with the Cavs season over and the Indians season (kind of) dragging on, who could blame us for being ready—and excited—for a little football?

1. The brown, of course, remains unchanged.

The post Joe Haden tops jersey sales since NFL Draft appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

Do you find yourself missing former Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson? Well, bad news… he’s still pretty awesome. Thursday, the San Francisco 49er tweeted a video of himself nailing a field goal from 65 yards out:

Out with my dad today. Guess he's not quite done yet. #65 yards #its good pic.twitter.com/Qdbu5Iyrbs

— Phil Dawson (@phil_dawson_4) July 9, 2015

Deep sigh.

The good news, however, is that if you find yourself missing good ol’ Philly D, you’re not alone. Based on the reply-tweets to that video alone, I’d say your fellow Browns fans really miss him, too:

I feel your pain, guys.

Meanwhile, it looks like Phil is spending his summer gearing up for the 2015 season, which, by the way, will be his 18th in the NFL:

Anybody starting to smell football in the air? Year 18, here I come.

— Phil Dawson (@phil_dawson_4) July 9, 2015

In case you were wondering, Phil still holds the Browns career field goal record (tied with Lou Groza) with 234. The former Pro Bowler spent 14 seasons with the Browns before being released by the team and signed by the 49ers in 2013. At the time, he was the last remaining player from the 1999 Browns squad.

And if you were wondering if Phil misses us, too:

@ClevelandChick : I have not, nor will I ever forget C town!!!!

— Phil Dawson (@phil_dawson_4) May 26, 2015

Maybe just a little.

The post Phil Dawson nails 65-yard field goal; Browns fans miss him appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

The stars were out in Montrose Friday night, as LeBron James hosted a hometown premiere of “Trainwreck,” the new movie he co-stars in alongside Amy Schumer and Bill Hader.

Hundreds of fans came out to the Regal Cinemas Montrose Movie 12 in Akron to see LeBron and company walk the red carpet, which was decorated with heartfelt messages from the LeBron James Family Foundation, including “I Promise to Never Forget Where I Came From” and “Just a Kid from Akron, Ohio.”

Hosting the premiere—and having all of his co-stars in town—is just another opportunity for LeBron to proudly show off his home. “I try to do a lot for this city,” James told NEOMG. “Any way I can continue to uplift the city and the things that I do. It always kinda made sense to me, and this one did.”

Schumer and Hader star in the comedy, while James plays a small, supporting role as himself, who just happens to be Hader’s best friend and life coach.

James brought them to Akron along with Judd Apatow, who directed the film, as well as Orange-native Vanessa Bayer, who played a supporting role in the film, and producer Barry Mendel.

According to NEOMG, LeBron spent Friday afternoon driving Schumer, Hader and Apatow around the area, even making a stop at Swenson’s, the famous Akron drive-in, for Galley Boy cheeseburgers and banana milkshakes—all of which was filmed for an upcoming “Funny or Die” skit.

“Trainwreck” opens nationwide on July 17.

The post Pics: LeBron James, Amy Schumer and Bill Hader from “Trainwreck” premiere in Akron appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

Ed’s Note: Scott Sargent is on vacation, so Jessica Forrester is filling in this morning.

When Scott asked me to pinch-hit for him on today’s While We’re Waiting, he said “the only rule is that there are no rules.”

That’s really great, because I’d like to spend the next few minutes talking to you about this season of “The Bachelorette.”

Alright, no. I’m kidding. (But seriously, the love triangle between Kaitlyn, Nick and Shawn B. is giving me a lot of feelings. If anyone wants to talk about it, hit me up on Twitter.)

Speaking of things that give me feelings…

The frustrating mess that is the MLB All-Star Game
I’m just going to go ahead and say it: I hate that a fan vote determines the starting lineup of the MLB All-Star Game. I hate it almost as much as I hate that the league that wins the ASG gets home-field advantage in the World Series. Let me clarify: I don’t necessarily hate those two things individually, but I hate them together. (Are you counting how many times I’ve already said “hate” in this post? It’s adding up quickly. I promise this entire thing won’t be full of rage.)

Letting the fans choose the starting lineup says, to me, that the outcome of the ASG doesn’t necessarily matter, because it’s an exhibition game that’s all for fun. As it should be. But, having the game decide something as important as home-field advantage in the World Series … says the exact opposite. Right? Now, it’s a game that counts. When you add in the fact that a player vote and manager selection rounds out each All-Star team, and the MLB-instituted rule that every team must have at least one player on its league’s roster, you’ve got a complicated mess on your hands.

The MLB needs to decide something very important: Does the All-Star Game count? Plain and simple. If it’s an exhibition game that’s just for fun, let the fans vote. Hell, let the fans take over and play an inning. If, however, the outcome of this game is going to continue to determine who hosts Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 of the World Series, the building of the rosters—and the playing of the game itself—need to be taken more seriously.

Grabbing a coffee… and maybe a new friend.
Recently, the Starbucks in Hudson, Ohio was the first in the country to roll out a new… friend-finding service? I don’t really know what to call it, so let me just explain:

After you’ve picked up your drink from the counter (grande skinny vanilla latte, please), you can request a small sign from the barista that you then hang via Velcro off the front of your table. Like a beacon of social curiosity and open-mindedness, that sign lets other patrons know that you’re open to having a stranger join you at your table. No seriously… It’s that simple. If someone spots the sign and is feeling adventurous, they’re welcome to pull up a chair and join you.

I think this is equal parts awesome and creepy. On one hand, we’re all so digitally connected these days, it feels like interpersonal, “real” connections between people are waning. I love the simplicity of this idea, and the spirit behind wanting to encourage people to reach out and be friendly to someone new—and actually in person. No screens to stare at. No swiping left or right.

On the other hand, you never know what you’re going to get with something like this. Are you going to meet the love of your life? Find a new best friend? Maybe, but probably not. Are you going to feel kind of awkward and uncomfortable and just end up pounding your coffee so you can bolt out of there as soon as possible? Probably a bit more likely.

A (very) little bit about me.
Because I’m the newest addition to the Waiting for Next Year team, Scott also suggested I use this as an opportunity to introduce myself, which I’m only telling you because I hate talking about myself. (There’s another “hate,” for those of you that are counting.)

Anyways, I joined the team here at WFNY about a month ago, and I can honestly say that I’m loving every minute of it. I write for a living, but it’s in advertising, marketing and PR. Being able to shift gears and write about Cleveland sports has been awesome. And, I’m thrilled—and slightly humbled—to be WFNY’s first female staff writer.

I live in Downtown Cleveland and, although it’s been three years, I still can’t believe all three stadiums are within walking distance of my front door. I still call it The Jake, and I was raised on the ’90s Indians and the sound of Tom Hamilton’s voice. I’m obsessed with my alma mater, Ohio University, and I’m fueled almost exclusively by coffee and red wine (but not mixed together, you guys).

Ok, enough from me. It’s Monday morning and you’ve probably got work to do. Get out there and punch today in the face, Cleveland. Have a great week!

The post Selecting All-Stars and making friends at Starbucks: While We’re Waiting… appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

UPDATE: A body believed to be Dawson’s has been found in Lavon Lake. From ESPN:

Divers have recovered a body from a Dallas-area lake in the search for a former Houston Texans [and Browns] receiver who fell out of a rented boat.

Former Texans wide receiver JaJuan Dawson has been missing since falling out of a rented family boat. The Collin County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that the body is believed to be 37-year-old JaJuan Dawson.

Lt. Chris Havey said divers located the body around 11:30 p.m. CT Monday in Lavon Lake. An autopsy has been ordered, but Havey says investigators believe it’s Dawson.

This was the story as of late last night:

Rescue divers are still searching for JaJuan Dawson, after the former Browns wide receiver fell off of a boat into Lavon Lake, outside of Dallas, on Sunday evening, per NFL.com.

Dawson, 37, was reportedly on the boat with his three children and two other adults. Family members told authorities he was not wearing a life jacket when he fell overboard, and alcohol is not believed to be a factor in his disappearance. Rescuers began searching for Dawson around 6:30 p.m. Sunday before shutting down their efforts at 11:30. The search for Dawson resumed at dawn on Monday morning, using divers and sonar, but thus far to no avail.

Dawson was drafted out of Tulane by the Browns in the third round (79th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played two seasons with the Browns, notably catching a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tim Couch in his first game and leading the team with six catches for 83 yards that day. His rookie season came to an end one week later, when he suffered a season-ending injury against the Cincinnati Bengals.

He went on to play one season with the Houston Texans and also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts. In 2004, Dawson attended training camp with the New York Giants and was later released, finishing his NFL career with 52 catches for 664 yards and two touchdowns. His LinkedIn profile lists his current occupation as Senior Sales Representative for Boston Scientific, a medical supply company, in Dallas.

The search for Dawson is expected to resume on Tuesday.

The post Body believed to be former Browns WR JaJuan Dawson found in Texas lake appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

When I got the opportunity to catch a preview screening of Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck, I jumped at the chance. But I’ll admit that, going in, I didn’t know a ton about it. Obviously, I knew the big names attached to it, and I knew enough about the plot to assume it was a rom-com that would be right up my alley. With Amy Schumer starring and writing, LeBron James appearing, and Judd Apatow directing, I should have known better. Because, while Trainwreck is not your typical rom-com, it is exactly what you should expect from Amy Schumer: A sharply funny movie that’s just the right mix of raunchy and heartfelt. And just plain good. Really good.

Trainwreck follows the misadventures of 30-something Amy Townsend (Schumer) who is, indeed, a train wreck… but a lovable one at that. Taught as a child by her unfaithful but kind of well-meaning father (Colin Quinn, who is spectacular) that “monogamy isn’t realistic,” Amy grows up believing exactly that. She spends her days smoking a lot of pot and drinking even more. She beds a lot of men. Like… a lot. Look, I’m not slut-shaming here, I’m just saying that when you look up Trainwreck on IMDb, four of the first 10 characters billed are known only as “One-Night Stand Guy.” For Amy, there are too many walks of shame, sky-high heels and nasty hangovers to keep count.

Despite her sloppy lifestyle, Amy actually has a pretty killer job as a writer for a popular men’s magazine (think GQ). She gets assigned a feature piece on physician-to-the-stars Aaron Conners (played by Bill Hader) who is developing a new, game-changing surgery method for repairing torn ligaments. The thing about Aaron is that he not only treats star athletes, he’s also friends with them.

While I wouldn’t call LeBron a co-star, I wouldn’t call his part a cameo, either

And that, of course, is where LeBron comes in—and where he really shines. In Trainwreck, he’s playing a version of himself that is sensitive, nurturing and fiercely protective of his best friend, Aaron. He’s also fiercely protective of Cleveland, lecturing Aaron at one point on how wonderful the fans and The Land can be. (At this part in the movie, people in my screening actually cheered. Go Cleveland.) LeBron seems at ease when he’s on camera, with great comedic timing and a natural, genuine way of playing his part. Not to mention the incredible on-screen chemistry between LeBron and Bill Hader. One of their best and most hilarious scenes involves an intense one-on-one game, and while I don’t want to give anything away, I will say that there is a chalk toss involved.

A lot of people have asked me how much LeBron is in Trainwreck, and, while I wouldn’t call him a co-star, I wouldn’t call his part a cameo, either. Think supporting character — he pops up pretty frequently throughout the entire movie and enough so that fans will be pleasantly surprised. Speaking of athlete cameos, Trainwreck is full of them. Keep your eyes out for Amar’e Stoudemire, Tony Romo, and WWE star John Cena, just to name a few. Also, don’t miss a split-second appearance by the Cavs’ own Iman Shumpert and free agent J.R. Smith, filmed back during their days with the New York Knicks.

Trainwreck is, at its core, a girl-meets-boy love story. But there’s so much more to it than that. There are some heavy storylines that will take you by surprise, but there’s enough of Schumer’s trademark self-deprecating humor that you’ll be laughing throughout. Regardless if you’re an Amy Schumer fan or just a big fan of LeBron, grab a Wine Cube* and go see it.

Trainwreck opens nationwide on Friday, July 17.

*For those unaware, a Wine Cube is essentially an adult juicebox full of wine. Amy is obviously a fan, even if Cena isn’t:

Universal Pictures

The post First look at Trainwreck: LeBron James and Amy Schumer shine appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

Joe Haden might be taking over the world. Well, maybe not. But, from recently leading NFL jersey sales nationwide to being the third Cleveland athlete to ink a deal with the Jordan Brand, it certainly seems like he’s just about everywhere.

Now, Haden is taking his personal brand where it’s never gone before because the Cleveland Browns cornerback has launched his own YouTube channel.

On Twitter, he promised that the channel would be a place for his fans to “Get to know my style. Get to know my friends. Get to know my life.” And, when it comes to style, he’s certainly not lacking. Haden, a known sneakerhead who owns The Restock Cleveland, a shoe store in downtown Cleveland, also posted a four-minute video tour of his multiple sneaker and shoe closets:

So far, Haden has only posted the two videos, but he’s already racking up the views. And, with 256,000 followers on Twitter and more than 417,000 on Instagram, his YouTube channel is sure to take off as quickly as his rising popularity.

The post Joe Haden launches YouTube channel appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

“So, LeBron James, Steph Curry and Chris Paul walk into the Four Seasons…”

It might sound like the start of a very good joke—or of a very big-budget commercial—but it actually happened on Monday in Las Vegas, when members of the NBA Players Association gathered for summer meetings at the Four Seasons hotel. Notably in attendance was Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James, who has not been incredibly active in players’ union activities until now, but was elected as the union’s first vice president during the past season’s All-Star break. And according to reigning league MVP Stephen Curry, James did more than just sit in. “We have a lot of voices, a lot of people were vocal, but he [James] talked about what it takes to get to the next level as a union,” Curry said. “It wasn’t anything specific, but he was very vocal.”

What, exactly, was James vocal about? According to several players who were there, James spoke about the importance of power for the players, union participation and building unity as a group—similar messages to those he delivered when he was elected to union leadership in February.

Union participation seems particularly important when you consider that many players may be setting their sights on securing a larger share of the NBA’s forthcoming nine-year TV deal. The deal, set to bring $24 billion into the league, begins in 2016 and means that future collective bargaining sessions with NBA owners are almost certain. Either side can opt out of the current agreement, under which players would receive 51-percent of the TV deal.

According to NEOMG, the union did not take action on the collective bargaining agreement—yet—nor did it determine anything related to player issues such as cameramen being too close to the court. The players in attendance did, however, take part in an informative discussion that, in addition to James and Curry, included union president and Los Angeles Clipper Chris Paul, Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and even former Cavaliers Lou Amundson, Danny Green and Drew Gooden.

Now with the Washington Wizards, Gooden said it was good to see his friend and former teammate actively participating in union efforts. “I’m jokingly saying this because I’m his boy, I’d never see ‘Bron at a meeting before,” he said. “It was good to see where he’s at and the value of him being there as a union.” Gooden added that, after 12 seasons in the NBA without much union participation, James could now serve as the “voice of the guys on the other side of the podium. I’m glad he’s here to bridge that gap.”

Former teammate Green also spoke to the value James brings to the table when it comes to the complexities of the collective bargaining agreement. “He did a great job for his first time. He understands it well, he broke it down well for guys to understand. Chris did a good job also. He [James] did what all great rep leaders do, he broke it down for us so we can understand and make decisions and pass it on to our teammates for votes.”

The post Vice President LeBron James steps up his players’ union participation appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

Think of it like the first day of school—except not really at all, because half of the freshmen are over 300 pounds and there are quizzes about formations instead of fractions. Today, the Cleveland Browns’ 2015 rookie class reports to Berea for its first day of training camp.

The Browns’ 12 overall draft picks were the most in the NFL,1 and with a draft class that big comes big expectations—especially in the mind of head coach Mike Pettine. “You talk about guys that are competitive, guys that are relentless, guys that are tough—that’s why we picked these guys,” he said in May.

“Relentless” and “tough” is exactly what training camp will be like for first-year players like Danny Shelton, Cameron Erving, Nate Orchard, and Duke Johnson, who will have to pass a grueling conditioning test and thorough playbook quiz, as well as go through extensive meetings with assistant coaches. According to the Browns, that’s where the groundwork for the 2015 season, which kicks off September 13 against the New York Jets, begins.

Even though Shelton missed all of OTAs (organized team activities) while he finished his coursework at the University of Washington, the Browns expect the 12th overall pick to make an impact with 339 pounds of playmaking ability and contagious work ethic.

“He has all the talent in the world,” defensive line coach Anthony Weaver said of Shelton. “He is a ball guy. He’s a guy that conscientiously takes the mindset every day of getting on the field and getting better. That’s what you love about him.”

[Related: An NFL scout’s take on the Browns draft]

Erving, on the other hand, was tasked by the Browns to learn all five positions on the offensive line—a challenge that entails intense memorization of the team’s playbook.

“It’s a little more taxing (learning all the positions) but I love it,” Erving said. “I love the process, every moment of it. I don’t really think of it in a negative way, but more of ‘hey, what can I do?’ The more value I have, the more I add to the team.”

And, while the Browns expect Erving to bring depth to the O-line, they expect Orchard may find his fit as a pure pass rusher. “He’s going to be a great fit in the locker room. I watched his press conference. You guys can see the charisma there,” defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil said. “He’s dynamic against the pass. He knows how to get to the quarterback.”

Meanwhile, Johnson, who impressed the coaching staff early on, spent time during OTAs and mini-camp at wide receiver, was used in two-running back shotgun formations and returned kicks. “I think we’ve all seen what he can bring—the explosiveness and how we can turn a handoff or a short pass into a significant gain with a back like that,” Pettine said. (Johnson would surely bump his Madden rating up a few points with those sorts of plays.)

Other rookies arriving today include defensive lineman Xavier Cooper, safety Ibraheim Campbell, wide receiver Vince Mayle, cornerback Charles Gaines, fullback Malcolm Johnson, tight end Randall Telfer, linebacker Hayes Pullard, cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, tight ends E.J. Bibbs and Kevin Haplea, wide receivers Shane Wynn and Darius Jennings, running back Luke Lundy, offensive lineman Darrian Miller, outside linebacker Mike Reilly, cornerback De’Ante Saunder and defensive linemen Dylan Wynn and Tory Slater.

Browns rookies will go through 14 training camp practices, an Orange and Brown scrimmage at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, two joint practices in Rochester with the Bills, and four preseason games.

“I can’t wait,” Shelton said. “Let’s get the ball rolling.”

(We can’t wait, either, Danny. And I like you already.)

1. Only Jacksonville was also in double-digits, with 10 rookies.

The post Browns rookies report for training camp with raised expectations appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

With the start of the NCAA football season a little more than a month away, a piece of the quarterback puzzle has fallen into place for the Ohio State Buckeyes. While we don’t yet know who will start, we’re beginning to see who won’t.

Braxton Miller confirmed to Sports Illustrated‘s Pete Thamel on Thursday night that he plans to start the 2015 season playing H-Back — a hybrid receiver position — for the Buckeyes.

“For the most part, it’s going to be H-Back and punt return,” Miller said in a phone interview to SI.com on Thursday night. “It’s a long process to get back totally to throwing and throwing every day. This is the smarter thing for right now, God blessed me with a lot of talent and different opportunities. I’m going to have fun with that and still score a lot of touchdowns and help the team out and be dominant at that.”

According to SI, Miller first had the idea to switch to wide receiver in April, when he discussed it with strength coach Mickey Marotti. Next, he brought it up to head coach Urban Meyer and, in May, the two started watching film of wide receivers together. Later that month, Miller and fellow quarterback J.T. Barrett began sneaking on the practice field together, so Miller could catch passes from Barrett.

Miller told SI.com that he had kept the idea of switching to receiver a secret for quite some time, keeping it as a fallback plan in case he couldn’t return fully healthy to quarterback.

But Miller hasn’t completely abandoned the idea of seeing some time under center in 2015, as he said he estimates that he’ll spend about 80 percent of his time during training camp at receiver and 20 percent at quarterback. But with two shoulder surgeries already under his belt — and an estimated two more months until he’s completely healthy — he’s approaching the season with his sights set on playing wide receiver.

“It’s going to be electric”

Not only does Miller’s move to wideout alleviate some of the pressure around the quarterback position for the Buckeyes, it strengthens their already-packed-with-talent roster — and improves their odds to repeat as national champion.

“It’s going to be electric,” Miller said. “We had a great season last year, but we didn’t see anyone do off-the-wall type stuff. I’m sure guys miss seeing an explosive, 60-yard shake-and-bake run every once in a while.”

The Ohio State staff believes that, from H-Back, Miller will be able to take a little bit of everything, from conventional passes to pitches, shovel passes and bubble screens — and maybe even throw the ball on trick plays.

“Braxton Miller can play wide receiver as long as he wants to play it,” says Ohio State receivers coach Zach Smith. “His speed, strength, talent, commitment and, really, lifestyle will allow him to be like Joey Galloway. It’s going to be a matter of how quickly he grows into the position, but the sky is the limit for him.”

And when it comes to the quarterback position for the Buckeyes, it’s now a two-man race between redshirt junior (and Cleveland native) Cardale Jones and redshirt sophomore J.T. Barrett.

The post Ohio State’s Braxton Miller moving from QB to wide receiver appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

On the heels of a five-game losing streak, and with talk of possible trades circulating for days, the Indians made a move Tuesday evening, sending left-handed outfielder David Murphy, as well as cash considerations, to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Double-A shortstop Eric Stamets.

Twenty-three-year-old Stamets is a native of Dublin, Ohio who bats and throws right-handed. He was ranked as the No. 22 prospect in the Angels’ farm system by @MLBPipeline, who reports that Stamets built a reputation as a strong shortstop in college (University of Evansville), with tremendous defensive tools, good instincts and game awareness. He also possesses above-average speed, which adds to his defensive range. Behind the plate, Stamets leaves the Arkansas Travelers batting .248 with 53 hits, three homeruns and 23 RBIs in 214 at-bats. He was the Angels’ sixth-round selection in the 2012 amateur draft.

Murphy was pulled from the Indians’ lineup shortly before Tuesday night’s game against Kansas City, but remained in the team’s dugout at game time. The team made the announcement official around 8:30 p.m. that evening. Murphy, known affectionately to teammates and fans as “Good Guy David Murphy,” leaves the Indians batting .296 with a .344 on-base percentage, .437 slugging percentage, five homers and 27 RBIs in 84 games, with 192 of his 206 at-bats coming against right-handed pitchers.

With the MLB’s trade deadline quickly approaching — it’s this Friday, July 31 at 4 p.m. EST — all eyes are back on the Indians to see if the team makes any other roster moves.

Here’s Cleveland Indians’ GM Chris Antonetti discussing the disappointing position the Tribe find themselves trading veteran players.

The post Goodbye, Good Guy: Indians trade OF David Murphy appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.

It’s officially (almost) that time, Browns fans. On Thursday, our team in orange and brown gathered in Berea for the first official day of training camp. Following the two-hour practice, Head Coach Mike Pettine talked with the media, sharing his take on the day overall—and on some specific members of the team. The high points?

• Wait and see.
• Terrelle Pryor at WR? Definitely maybe.
• Wait and see.

Overall, Pettine told the local horde that he saw many good things from the first day of training camp—mainly the team’s focus, effort and energy:

“I think in a lot of ways it was a typical first day. I saw a lot of good things out there – most importantly, the focus, the effort and the energy. This is a shock to the system. I told them that afterwards. Our recovery from here is very important and to take care of themselves these next couple hours. No matter how hard you train over the summer, there is no way to replicate this. I thought our guys handled it well. We threw a lot at them from a physical standpoint and from a mental standpoint. It was clear to see that our guys were in shape and they got in their books over the summer. I will reserve final judgment until I watch the film as always. My first impression was that it was a good start.”

Speaking of a “shock to the system,” Pettine explained that the first day of training camp was shortened to only two hours in an effort to help players acclimate to the busy practice schedule—and to hopefully prevent injuries down the line.

Also still a bit of a shock to the system for some of us? Imagining former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor playing at wide receiver. Even Pettine admitted he found himself watching Pryor more than he typically might, and had this to say on his first-day performance:

“He is a big, explosive athlete. We all saw that he catches the ball. He has a lot to learn. Getting off of press coverage, that will be a big thing once we get the pads on Saturday. I thought it was a solid first step for him. I think he would have some confidence coming out of today. I think a lot of credit to (wide receivers coach) Joker Phillips, who has taken him as his position coach, getting him schooled up and has been trying to get him caught up to speed. I think he has done a nice job of getting him lined up and knowing what he is supposed to do. We’ll see. It’s certainly going to be a progression. I thought it was a good start for Terrelle.”

And when it comes to those quarterbacks, Pettine said it’s a toss up between league veteran Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel—and that we should all (you guessed it) wait and see:

“It is hard to say. There were some good balls thrown out there (…) I will reserve that judgement again until I watch the tape. I thought both those guys did some good things. What I liked about it, regardless after the ball was snapped, is the command in the huddle and the knowledge of the offense and to be able to take a play and if a guy was lined up wrong and move him and just the way the plays are being called and the cadence. Sometimes that takes some time. We’re further ahead this year than we were a year ago with that for all the quarterbacks.”

Elsewhere in the line-up, Pettine said that the coaching staff and team trainers are keeping a close eye on a handful of players, hoping to cut-down on the risk of re-aggravating old injuries during training camp. When it comes to offensive lineman Alex Mack, Pettine and staff are paying close attention—and noting the importance of open communication:

“If he needs a day, if he needs some reps, if he needs to cut some time back. He knows his body better than anybody else. We will depend on him to let us know when he does need to scale it back. We’ve used the phrase ‘Save him from himself’ before. That might be the case. I think he will be smart about it. He will be smart about it.”

Some players, like veteran defensive lineman Phil Taylor, did not participate in yesterday’s conditioning test for “injury reasons,” but will do extra conditioning with the team’s strength and conditioning staff later. “He is still on very much a limited basis,” Pettine said of Taylor. “His team reps, we will determine those each day just with where he is with it.”

And, looking to new team acquisitions, Pettine told the media he expects big things from wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who joined the Browns this season after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs:

“A proven veteran who has had solid NFL production. It’s a skillset that we need to have in that room. You look at having some of the other smaller, explosive guys – Hawk (WR Andrew Hawkins) and Gabe (WR Taylor Gabriel); (WR Travis) Benjamin is a little bit bigger but not much – that you need that big receiver that can make a contested catch. He does an excellent job on the back-shoulder throws. He made one today. He does a real nice job getting his feet down. Obviously, he’s shown why we brought him here.”

The Browns take the field for training camp again today in Berea, and the season officially kicks off on September 13 against the New York Jets—less than 44 days away. What happens between now and then? Just wait and see, Cleveland.

The post Mike Pettine and First Impressions: Training Camp Notes 07.30.15 appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.