Cavaliers Media Day Has Become a Holiday for the City of Cleveland

By Casey Drottar @cdrottar19 on September 26, 2014

It’s a wonderful, optimism-filled day in Cleveland, Ohio, today.

And why is that? Is it because of the Cleveland Indians and the approaching MLB postseason? Not even a little bit. The Tribe are a convoluted, near-impossible scenario away from even getting to a play-in game.

What about the Cleveland Browns? Nope, nothing to see there, as it’s bye week for them. Unless Johnny Manziel posts some crazy, drunken Instagram pics this weekend, don’t expect much news from the city’s football team.

No, today, the giddiness comes from what’s normally a low-key event; Cleveland Cavaliers media day.

Typically a routine involving mostly photo opportunities for team programs and some interviews about season predictions, media day is hardly something to get excited about. Typically.

That is, except, today. See, things change a bit when your summer involves re-signing your franchise point guard, acquiring one of the NBA’s best power forwards and witnessing the return of Cleveland’s prodigal son. Thanks to keeping Kyrie Irving in the fold, trading for Kevin Love and LeBron James coming home, media day is a bit different this time around.

This time, it’s a reminder of how the Cavaliers spent their summer vacation. It’s also a preview of what’s to come this season. It’s the first time fans can see James in a Cleveland jersey since 2010.

For many reasons, today’s Cavs media session has practically become a de-facto holiday.

Consider the scene from last year’s media day, and this should give you all the evidence you need as to why today is so big for the Cavs.

In the summer of 2013, Cleveland curiously selected Anthony Bennett with the top overall draft pick, and made some low-key, but potentially positive signings such as Jarrett Jack and Earl Clark. They also took a flyer on Andrew Bynum, signing the mercurial center to an incentive-laden contract with the hopes of him turning his career around. It wasn’t the greatest offseason in the history of the NBA, but it was enough to give Cavaliers fans a little hope.

Cleveland had been a moribund franchise for the past few years, but was projected to contend for a playoff spot. Owner Dan Gilbert claimed he expected as much, saying he was done with draft lotteries. The Cavaliers weren’t supposed to be one of the league’s best teams, but even a seven or eight seed in the playoffs would’ve been seen as a great step forward.

As we know, it didn’t turn out this way. The Cavs were a disaster last year. Bynum was jettisoned in January, Irving and guard Dion Waiters feuded, GM Chris Grant was fired midseason, with “second time’s a charm” coach Mike Brown shown the door at the end of his first year back with the team.

The 2013 Cavs media day was one full of cautious optimism, and the following season was a hot mess.

Today? Things have changed a bit.

Last year, Cavs media day was populated by mostly local media, save for a couple national pundits. This time, over 300 media members descended upon Cleveland’s practice facility. The enormous crowd featured press from Germany, Israel, Japan and Brazil. ESPN is literally broadcasting Sportscenter live from Cleveland. When’s the last time that happened?

Imagine Irving and Waiters when they walked into the practice facility this morning. Last year, not much was expected of them, and they maybe had to spend a couple hours answering questions from those paid to cover the team. This morning, they walked into mass hysteria.

Last year, the questions were along the lines of “do you think this is a playoff team?” Now, they’re being asked “is it championship or bust?”

It’s this immediate culture change, this overnight transformation the Cavs went through, from a team who might possibly make some noise to a title contender, which makes today’s media day such a huge event.

If you don’t believe me, just turn on local sports radio. Fans in Cleveland are calling in to talk not about football or Indians playoff chances, but instead to talk about how unbelievable it is to see James wearing a Cavs uniform again. They’re hearing quotes from the press conferences and wondering aloud who Cleveland might have to face in the NBA Finals. Today’s media day has brought more excitement than you’ll see on a Christmas morning.

Consider that when you realize this is essentially just a glorified photo shoot.

Mainly, the craziness comes from just how much time has passed since the Cavs stole national headlines. James announced his decision to come home way back in early July, and the trade for Love broke in August. Since then, it’s been nothing but waiting. Cleveland fans were told the best player in the world would be on their team this year, and then realized they wouldn’t actually see this fulfill itself for another three months.

Today is the closest thing Cleveland fans have to seeing what was once a ludicrous dream come into fruition. Last season, followers hypothesized insane scenarios on how the Cavs could possibly lure James back, only to be laughed at. As we speak, they’re finally seeing those hopes once deemed crazy officially taking shape. James took questions with “Cavs” written across his chest. Oh, and Love was there, too.

It may seem silly to have a press conference become a certified circus as it did today, but it sure isn’t crazy for Cleveland fans. It’s the first step of a season they’ve been waiting for since July 11. The team, the one the entire world will be following this year, is finally all together. They’ll take the court for their first practice tomorrow. And they’ll do so with one goal; to bring the city its first championship since 1964.

Cleveland fans have heard all summer about how James and Love are officially Cavaliers. They’ve read about how two superstars will be joining Irving and Waiters. But, they’ve never actually seen it. That is, until today. It may just be media day, but for Cavs fans, it’s their first look at their best hope for a title.

Coach David Blatt said it best at his press conference, claiming “I just want to get started.”

So do we, David. So do we.

Casey Drottar is a Columnist for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @CDrottar19 or “Like” him on Facebook