Gee, aren't you glad that's over? And I'm not talking about Alonzo.

Danielle snapped this picture the moment the clock hit 0.0. 

It lasted 26 games, 55 days, broke the record for the longest losing streak in NBA history and tied the record for the longest losing streak in professional sports history.

But it's over. Finally.

The Cavaliers' thrilling 126-119 overtime victory over the L.A. Clippers on Friday night put to rest the thoughts of them not winning another game this season. I wouldn't have been surprised.

Last week, TNT's Kenny Smith made two jokes about nobody wanting Cavs tickets and nobody showing up to the games. Apparently he hasn't seen any Cavs home games since he and his posse (Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley) were in town on Dec. 2 for LeReturn. The crowd was electric Friday night. The announced attendance was a sellout of 20,562 and the Cavs, obviously, don't fill up Quicken Loans Arena anymore. But there is no way the actual attendance was less than 18,000. Cleveland packed The Q on Friday. I think everyone knew there was a really good chance it could be "the night."

Or maybe it was because Blake Griffin was in town. The kid is a dynamo.

It was a fantastic atmosphere. Winning streaks, 66-win seasons, NBA Finals appearances, playoff showdowns against Boston or Detroit, even 26-game losing streaks with all hope lost, Cavs fans know how to bring it. I was so proud of Cleveland Friday night for bringing a playoff-like energy to the game and pushing their team to a much-needed (understatement of the century) win.

Fellow Copy Editor Danielle Capriato and I attended the win that ended the historic streak on Friday night. We actually attended the Cavs' previous win on Dec. 18 against the Knicks. Another overtime winner. (They haven't won a regulation game since Nov. 27) Time for the Cavs to give us tickets to every game? I would gladly accept. I'll take a guess she would, too. If only we could have those nights off work. (Danielle says: YES, I WILL GLADLY ACCEPT. Especially if we're sitting in the fifth row only a few seats behind Travis Hafner again.)

Cleveland loves its sports teams. The Cavs, even at 9-46, are not an exception. Mo Williams returned from a hip injury to a standing ovation Friday night. Cavs fans blow up Twitter trying to encourage Mo, Boobie Gibson and J.J. Hickson to keep their heads up and that Cavs fans still love them. I don't care what their record is or how many games out of first place they are. How can you not want to be a Cavs fan? It's so obvious how much these guys care about each other and want each other to be successful. They make games fun to watch because it's so clear that they care, and it makes me, as a fan, care about them and root for their success. That's something LeQuitter didn't take away from this team, and never will.

(Danielle says: Worth noting that night was the excitement evident from the players, too. They were jumping up and down on the sidelines, and at one point I think Dom saw Mo taunting a Clipper about his beard. Those guys just have fun, like Dom said, and their attitude change Friday night was palpable. Particularly compared to other games I've attended this season, where it seemed like the guys lost a little bit of that spark as soon as they missed a couple shots.)

So congrats to the Cavs on getting the proverbial monkey off their backs and getting back in the win column. I just hope they don't wait until Danielle and I make it down to The Q together to do it again. (Danielle: Especially after tonight's loss to the Wizards.)
 

Here's a video Dom shot at the end of game:

--Dominic Anselmo
DAnselmo@News-Herald.com
(And kind of Danielle, too!)

Jason Lea, a staff writer and frequent book blogger for The News-Herald, has been crafting videos encouraging people to pick up a book and read. But he's getting a little personal in his latest creation.

Warning: This video is not for the bitter or weak Cleveland sports fan.



This makes my heart hurt.


--Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

The Onion -- a satirical news source -- wrote up its own article on Mike Brown's firing. WARNING: Language that is possibly offensive (I wouldn't post it on this blog) is used. And keep in mind that The Onion is not real -- just really funny.


--Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

That is all.


--Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

I was out to dinner with my boyfriend at a sports bar/restaurant during the 2008 draft. As soon as the Cavs picked J.J. Hickson, he had to drop his conversation with me to text and call a handful of his friends, all of them wondering "Who is this guy?"

Two years later, he's showing you just who he is -- and that is someone who is able to step up when two key players are out and others are running into foul trouble or just can't get past the defense.

I'll admit that I don't follow basketball, nor do I know much about it. But I enjoy watching the Cavaliers -- when they're doing well. When they're struggling, I get the Cleveland cardiac thing going on. Such was the case during today's game, when the Cavs couldn't get ahead of the Celtics. The bright point in the first half of the game was definitely Hickson.

I'm glad to see that he has developed and really become an integral part of the team.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

With his Cavaliers teammates behind him, LeBron James accepts the NBA Most Valuable Player award Monday during a ceremony at James' alma mater, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, in Akron. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

What a way to start the week of the Eastern Conference semifinals!

I was never a basketball fan until I started working with Cavalier fans in 2006. It has only magnified since I moved to Northeast Ohio two years ago. I'm still not a diehard fan (sometimes I get bored during games and would rather be playing with Mark Meszoros' iPhone) like some people I know (I'm talking about you, Nick Carrabine), but I have never loved watching basketball as much as I have loved watching the Cavs this season.

Reading Bob Finann's article for the front page of Tuesday's paper only further illustrated why I enjoy LeBron and the rest of the team so much. They are classy and humble -- not to mention talented. If you haven't caught the Cavs fever yet, now would be a good time to start. The Eastern Conference semifinals game against the Hawks tips off at 8 tonight.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

I have been burned too many times thinking a Cleveland team was going to win a championship.

Never in my lifetime, as I soon will celebrate the 10th anniversary of my 29th birthday, have I experienced basking in the glory of my favorite professional sports time winning it all.

Sure I've been close, most recently in 1997 when the Tribe failed to win Game 7 against the Marlins. Yes we know, Mesa officially blew the save, Nagy lost the game (check the box score the L is by his name).

But the debate on whose fault it was for the Tribe not winning that game is for another time.

Now, we have a great Cavaliers team with King James leading the way and it's exciting. I'm definitely enjoying the ride.

This season, I'm again faced with a real possibility my team can win it all.

What would that be like? I probably would have to go downtown just to experience it with others if the Cavs were to be fortunate enough to be the champs. No, I wouldn't be there to loot or burn cars or get arrested.

But as a seasoned Cleveland fan, I protect myself emotionally. I've learned not to get my hopes too high and I'm trying not to do so again this year, but this time it's really hard and I'm glad that it is.

I want to believe. Can I?

How about you?

Feel free to drop some comments to our new blog.

-- John Arthur Hutchison