stillers4me
01-02-2011, 09:36 AM
A month after LeBron James returned to Quicken Loans Arena on Dec. 2, this sometimes crestfallen sports town has seemingly shifted its allegiance back to the Cleveland Browns.
Clearly, it took a while for most everyone here to get over "The Decision" - James' controversial, if not botched, exit from Northeast Ohio. Amid the theatrics of James' lavish South Beach welcoming, Cavaliers fans were mostly numb and angry.
Still, most Cavs fans are unforgiving. Most die-hard Browns supporters have moved on.
"This town is football first, regardless," Browns linebacker David Bowens said. "LeBron was one of those home-grown products the city adopted as its baby.
"Since (James) left, the focus has come back to our team. Our hard-working style of play is reflective of a hard-working city that hungers for a winner. This town embraces the identity of this team."
For Browns center Alex Mack, Cleveland will embrace the Browns the way Pittsburgh does the Steelers when one of the NFL's most storied rivalries becomes relevant again — or, at least competitive.
"We need to win more games for that to happen," Mack said. "We need to pack that stadium before any of that can be true."
So far, the Browns are exactly where they were a year ago...............
Read more @ http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_716303.html
Clearly, it took a while for most everyone here to get over "The Decision" - James' controversial, if not botched, exit from Northeast Ohio. Amid the theatrics of James' lavish South Beach welcoming, Cavaliers fans were mostly numb and angry.
Still, most Cavs fans are unforgiving. Most die-hard Browns supporters have moved on.
"This town is football first, regardless," Browns linebacker David Bowens said. "LeBron was one of those home-grown products the city adopted as its baby.
"Since (James) left, the focus has come back to our team. Our hard-working style of play is reflective of a hard-working city that hungers for a winner. This town embraces the identity of this team."
For Browns center Alex Mack, Cleveland will embrace the Browns the way Pittsburgh does the Steelers when one of the NFL's most storied rivalries becomes relevant again — or, at least competitive.
"We need to win more games for that to happen," Mack said. "We need to pack that stadium before any of that can be true."
So far, the Browns are exactly where they were a year ago...............
Read more @ http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_716303.html