Almost time for the NBA playoffs. The Cavaliers have clinched a playoff spot. Can they wring some magic out of it? They proved last night that they have the stuff to win even without LeBron running the floor. Andy Varejao has really come a long way and proved that he deserved that contract. I always thought he did. I like what he adds to the team. Z has been on fire this whole season...compared to 2 years ago when I was totally, totally NOT a fan of his...he was dragging. NOW he looks like he still wants to play.

Wally S. is doing the team good. Ben Wallace needs to get well. If we are going into playoffs, we need the team firing on all pistons (no pun intended). The WHOLE team.

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I hope my Cleveland Indians can pull some fire out of themselves this year. I think baseball players and basketball players have it SO much worse than football players! Look at ALL the games they have to play...back to back! Football players only have to play an actual game once a week!

The Tribe has come hot out of the gate...even given the frigid temps. Sizemore gets better every year and I am happy to see Carmona has improved also. Cabrera was good last year but his abilities waxed and waned. Hopefully he can hold more consistancy this year. I would REALLY like to see more from Hafner this year. Not that he is my favorite player or anything. Just becuz my brother is constantly told that he looks just like the guy (and my brother plays ball really well himself...even though he just turned 40).

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I won't be paying TOO much attention to the NFL draft this year...especially since the Browns have had their draft already. Lots of trading and signing of veteran players. They have had enuff time to build the team back up with rookies. Now it is time to plug the holes with guys that KNOW the game and can hit the ground running (again...no pun intended). Romeo is doing just what the team needs done. As a die hard Browns fan, I can say that with the team the Browns have NOW, they had better be making it into the playoffs if not all the way to the Superbowl this year. We have been very long suffering fans.

Ask and ye shall receive. Varejao has found his pace. Actually, last night's game against the Pacers was an extraordinary game for Sideshow Bob. 15 points and 16 rebounds. Way to go! Now, just keep going! Practice, practice, practice. That is what you guys get paid the big bucks for!

I am glad to see the new guys starting to step up. LeBron is NOT the whole show. You guys have to show it is a TEAM...the Cleveland Cavaliers not the LeBron Show with the Cavs as back up. It will never work that way. Step up and grab your share of the light!

My dad and brother had tickets for last night's game and they couldn't make it. Over in their corner of Ohio they had nearly 2 ft. of snow and they decided not to try the trip. I would have been stupid enuff to try to make it. An hour drive...normally. However, I am NOT stupid enuff to try and make it from where I am now...4 hour drive...normally.

I have been singularly impressed with how the Cavs are doing. I just wish my satellite company recognized that I should be able to tune in Fox Ohio (when I live in Ohio) and NOT Fox Pittsburgh. How assanine is that?

I'm not sure, yet, what is going on with the Tribe. I have been too engrossed in what is happening with the Browns. It seems we have had our draft already. When it comes to the actually NFL draft weekend we won't have much of a voice. But that is okay becuz I'm pretty impressed with what has happened to beef up the team all ready. If the Browns don't make it to the playoffs this year then they should hang it up. Forever.

I am very pleased to see Wally Szczerbiak and Ben Wallace look like they had some new life in them. But...the whole team needs to be doing something more. And here is why...

All of the Cavs fans are holding their breath. Will LeBron leave for the Nets? LeBron...you KNOW Ohio...you KNOW Cleveland fans. We have embraced you and treated you like royalty. Now how 'bout some major loyalty? We don't even mind that you can't sing!

If LeBron jumps ship for another team becuz of some rapper friend/part team owner...I will never watch basketball again. I have been getting rather fed up with the whole mentality of some of these players anyway.

CLEVELAND- The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired forward/center Ben Wallace and forward/center Joe Smith from the Chicago Bulls and guard/forward Wally Szczerbiak and guard Delonte West from the Seattle SuperSonics, General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. In exchange, the Cavaliers sent Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown to the Bulls and Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall to the Sonics. In addition, Cleveland acquired Chicago’s 2009 second round pick and Seattle acquired Adrian Griffin from the Bulls.

That was the news in my email. I was watching the game last night and they brought all those guys out. I knew Gooden and Hughes were gone. I can understand those trades. While some fans may wonder why Hughes was sent off...cuz he was doing good for a change...that is exactly why he was traded off. He has been injury riddled too many seasons. And NOW that he was off the bench and doing something, it was the perfect time to trade him off. Gooden can be a really good player, at times, but he draws WAY too many fouls and penalties which cost the Cavs a lot of points.

The one that I do not agree with getting rid of is Donyell Marshall. I thot he was an asset to the team.

Time will tell if these 'new' players will help the Cavs achieve their goals. I am with LeBron on this one...the team did NOT get the type of players they really needed. I hope they prove me wrong.

I am glad to see Z working so hard to improve himself, tho. Two years ago I was yelling for them to dump him. But now...they can't do without him. I was also not happy with the contract disputes with Anderson Varejao. He, to me, was a key player for the team. But since his return I have been sorely disappointed. Perhaps he needs to take a page from Z's book...work harder...make yourself more versatile. I would LOVE to see you wearing a Cavs uniform for many more seasons to come.

Daniel Gibson...step it up a notch baby. You are good...you have the potential to be GREAT. So go for it.

And to the "new" players...prove yourselves. Plug yourselves into this team and PROVE yourself to the Cavs fans. What you may or may not have done somewhere else means squat to us right now. Your names mean squat. You have to PLAY...so work it.

Listen up Detroit...can you hear that heavy breathing? nope...it ain't comin' from your basketball groupies...it is the heavy breathing of the Cavs closing that gap!

It took the Cavs some time to get started, but with 4 straight wins to the Pistons 3 straight losses, the Cavs (unlike their last opponents) are pouring on the heat! They are playing like a well oiled machine. Let's just hope that they don't run dry any time soon. Still 6 games back of the Pistons.

And Sunday night was a most happy time for me! With the loss of the Packers to the Giants that meant that the Super Bowl was not doomed to become the Ego Bowl. There was NO WAY there would be room enuff in that stadium for both Favre's AND Brady's craniums!

Eli didn't let me down. So, Bret...are ya gonna retire NOW? Altho, I must admit, you played better this last season than you have for the previous couple. You still have a pretty good arm. But with guys like Eli stepping up, you just might wanna step down.

As for the NEPs...I find it interesting that so many ppl that declare themselves Steelers fans also declare their allegiance to the NEPs. TRUE Steelers fans are just that...Steelers fans. It is so easy to be fair weather fans. Where are all those ones the USED to be Vikings fans years ago? While the Browns have never been to a Super Bowl...and let's face it..they have had their more than fair share of suckage years...I am still a fan. I may also root for the Colts but I am always, always a Browns fan. No matter how much they suck or soar...they are my team.

BUT...in picking a team to root for come Super Bowl time...I am glad that I don't have to toss a coin to cheer for the lesser of two evils. It is a clear cut decision for me now...I will be there rooting Eli on...

And Tom Brady...I don't think you have that cast on your foot from a football injury. I think you got your foot entangled in Bundchen's sheets. Will your fans think it was worth it...even if YOU do?