Links to the Present: Party Like it’s 2007 Edition

The Tribe play Wednesday in their first playoff game since ’07.  The Browns are tied for first place in the AFC North.  Ohio State’s football team is 5-0 and ranked number four in the nation.  Heck even the Bengals and Reds don’t look too shabby.  The air is crisp.  The leaves are turning.  Days of apple cider, haunted houses, and hay rides are right around the corner.  Things haven’t been this right with the world of Ohio sports since before the LeBrocalypse.   …2007, when the Browns, Tribe, Buckeyes, and Cavs were all — you know — good.   Tomorrow, training camp opens for the Cavaliers, and suddenly the pressure is on.  Given the recent tide of local successes and the slow, painstaking rebuild that the Cavs have been through over the last three seasons, anything less than a trip to the playoffs for this young Cavaliers team would be considered a disappointment.

So, amid this backdrop, Monday was Media Day at the Q, the day when the 2013-2014 Cavs were introduced to the world.  Tuesday, training camp starts.

Joe Gabriele of Cavs.com recaps the days events, here.  It appears Kyrie is ripped, Andy is a happy newlywed, and Tristan Thompson is a charismatic, “Media Day master.”

The Cavs rounded out their 2013 training camp roster with some familiar names: Australia’s and St. Mary’s Matthew Dellavedova, Miami’s Kenny Kadji, St. Bonaventure’s Michael Lee, Georgetown’s Henry Sims, Memphis’ Elliot Williams, Jermaine Taylor of Tavaris HS (FL), and our old pal, DeSagana Diop.   According to The Plain Dealer’s Jodie Valade, Diop tore his achilles in 2011, and had knee issues in Charlotte last year, but he is ready to go.

I’m 31 in age, but I’m probably like 26 because I haven’t played since I left Dallas… I feel fresh. I’m healthy. This is the best I’ve been in a long time.

Diop is beyond a long  shot to make the squad, which has 15 spots, and 13 guaranteed contracts, with Matthew Dellavedova being partially guaranteed.  (Interestingly, C.J. Miles contract is not guaranteed.  If you’re looking for a surprise training camp cut, he’s the only possibility).

The news out of Media Day was overwhelmingly positive, with Kyrie Irving saying he wants to be “the best player in this league,” and that he’s, “ready to take responsibility for it by helping us make the playoffs.”  Jarret Jack soliloquized that the Cavs shouldn’t be happy with just making the playoffs.    Andrew Bynum has been cleared for “basketball activities,” but not full contact practice.  Some people like Kurt Hellin, are skeptical as to what this actually means.

New father, Dion Waiters, is still seeking out your submissions for a charity that he and his Focused on the Future Foundation will support this year.  Submissions are due by Oct. 10th.

Here’s some pic links.  Mike Brown, looking exacly like 2007 Mike Brown.  For those of you worried about Anthony Bennett’s waistline, does this scare you?  Sergey Karasev looks villainous, and then, not so much.  And finally, how’s this for the “awkward team photo” of 2013?