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Emotional Cavalier fans might want to grab a handkerchief, or get near their fainting couch during today’s column. It might prove to be too powerful for some of you. I don’t want to oversell it, but I think you’ll cry like a little girl – 10 times worse than “Field of Dreams” and 20 times worse than “Brian’s Song.”

The storyline begins thusly …

The Wine and Gold worked their way past the Wizards on Saturday in Game 1 and went on to thump they heads by 30 on Monday night in Game 2. TheBron outscored Washington’s Big Three single-handedly as the Cavaliers won their eighth straight against Eddie Jordan’s flummoxed bunch.

Of course, you might think that because of their early good fortune, the Team Bus ride to our nation’s capital would have been a party on wheels. But that’s not the way it works in the world of Mike Brown. As far as the Head Coach is concerned, the Cavaliers are 0-0, and he wants them to play like they’re 0-2.

Coach is keeping a tight lid on things. He nixed the Cavaliers team visit to the Washington Monument. He cancelled the visit to the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Franklin Delano Romanowski Memorial. He cancelled Lance Allred’s visit to National Archives to see the Bill of Rights and cancelled Big Z’s visit to the Smithsonian Institute to see Archie Bunker’s chair.

The Cavaliers’ trip to the White House to be congratulated for winning the Eastern Conference Crown by President Josiah Bartlett ...

Cancelled.

But as fiery as the Wine and Gold’s defensive guru can be, I don’t think even he could have concocted a stirring soliloquy like the one that greeted the E-Master 7000™ state-of-the-art e-mailing machine at a Flying-J truck stop just outside of Latrobe.

I can stand in the way of this magnum opus no longer …

Dear Optimist-

I just had an awesome vacation in Montego Bay, Jamaica; and I got back just in time for the second game of the series. The Cavs I saw were the Cavs I wanted to see for a long time after the famous blockbuster trade. They were the Cavs I am truly in love with, without having any small doubts. (You know, doubts do visit me sometimes. I try to fight them off, but they just keep coming from behind, from the top, from around the corner.)

A lot of times I daydream about being the Cavs coach. I daydream of my speech to them right before the game. This would be my speech to them before the next game …

“Men, you know that the Wizards were brainstorming these last few days, trying to come up with a new game plan. They are going to come out there and give it ALL THEY'VE GOT.

And what are we going to do? We are going to surprise them! We are going to bring even more heat on them then (sic) we did the last time! We are going to bring such defensive presence, that they will be scared to attack! We are going to be vicious! They are going to feel us breathing down their necks. They are going to feel our claws getting under their skin every second!

Remember, we are the predator(!), and they are the pray! (sic) We smell their fear, and it arouses our aggression! Feel it! FEEL THE SMELL OF THEIR FEAR!!!

Now let’s go get ‘em, fellas!!!!!”

(And I could sure say it with passion.)

Keeping my faith!

Regards,

Victor
Brecksville, OH

Wow.

That’s the passion, people! That’s the pathos!! That’s a man with aroused aggression.

Victor is clearly a certifiable lunatic – something they normally clamp down on in the cozy suburb of Brecksville. But he’s also got his twisted little mind focused for the Cavaliers postseason run. And he may have just given us a new rallying cry for the 2008 Playoffs …

As it turns out, the speech Coach Mike Brown gives has the same effect, and the Wine and Gold stick with the Wizards through every peak and valley, every hair-pin turn. Gilbert Arenas’ circus three to close the first quarter is met by an equally-jaw-dropping bucket by Delonte West to close the half. Washington leads by three at intermission; the Cavaliers lead by two after three.

The Wizards push their advantage to six with just over two minutes to play. But TheBron, who’s had a relatively quiet night, begins his reign of terror – canning back-to-back threes to tie the game. Joe Smith swats Antawn Jamison’s game-winning layup attempt with 14 seconds to play and, with the clock winding down, TheBron dunks home the game-winner with 3.3 to play.

FEAR THE SMELL OF THE BEARD!

The Cavaliers bench goes berserk as the Chosen One steals the ensuing in-bounds pass and mashes home an insurance dunk – closing out the dramatic 103-99 victory to give the Wine and Gold a daunting 3-0 series lead.

Wizards fans are crushed and shuffle out of the arena, dejected and empty-handed.

No big win. No Chalupa™. Nothing.

Our story’s heroes, on the other hand, leave the Verizon Center with their head held high – poised for the sweep on Sunday.

Get yourself girded up for a good one on Thursday night, my furry little friends. It’s going to be a bare-knuckle battle to the finish. So remember the words of our insane friend, Victor: "We are the predator, and they are the pray."

Feel the smell of their fear, Cleveland!

Feel the smell of their fear!!!

And time permitting …

Keep the faith.

Your pal,
The Optimist

COME ON, CAVS! ©1975

please play loudly