8 Hilarious And Epic Ways Cleveland Sports Fans Have Pledged Their Loyalty
By Nikki Rhoades|Published June 14, 2018
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Cleveland is a sports town. Locals love a good sporting event and we never truly lose faith in our team. Sometimes, we may have too much faith in our teams, but Clevelanders are ride or die. We’re here through thick and thin… but some of us are more dedicated fans than others. You’ll get a chuckle at these hilarious and epic ways Clevelanders have flaunted their pride for their hometown team.
In 2015, Cavs fans were gearing up for an epic face-off between our home team and the Golden State Warriors. One fan was more excited than others, however, and had "2015 NBA Champs" tattooed on his leg. The catch? He did it well before the championship, and we didn't win that year. Rumor has it that he updated the tattoo to say "2016" the following year.
Clevelanders were on the edge of their seats watching the Indians in the 2016 World Series, many from the comfort of their home and others at the watch party at Progressive Field. One man was on the edge of his seat in a local tattoo shop, apparently unaware of another Clevelander's 2015 tattoo mistake. He had Chief Wahoo tattooed alongside a tribute to the Cavaliers... but he did it before Game 7 took place. As you may remember, the Chicago Cubs were the victors that year. At least his tattoo was half correct!
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3. The Shining Stars of the Browns' Perfect Season Parade.
We've all heard the joke about leaving two Cleveland Browns tickets on the windshield just to get rid of them, only to return and find that other people began adding their unwanted tickets to the pile as well. Cleveland continued its tradition of flaunting its humor in early 2018, but for a disappointing reason. After winning a grand total of zero games in the 2017 season, disgruntled Browns fans gathered downtown to voice their disapproval... and did so in some truly hilarious ways, as evidenced by the photo above. Though many Clevelanders were ashamed of the gathering, the Perfect Season Parade raised a whopping $17,157 for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.
We may not have a ton of wins to brag about, but we certainly have a passion for our team. Our loyalty goes so deep that some fans even want to honor and remember those dearly departed... not from this life, but from our local team. Since 2014, one couple in North Ridgeville has been honoring the memory of our QBs with an epic Halloween display, and their graveyard grows bigger each year.
History has been made in Cleveland in many different ways, but the most unusual moments happened in 2010. In March, 20,562 sports fans filled Quicken Loans Arena donning Cavs-themed Snuggies. This sea of red was recognized by Guinness World Records as the "Most Fleece Blankets in One Color in One Place." Keep up the crazy brainstorming, Clevelanders.
When the Cavs face off against the Warriors, tensions run high. However, one chain of local ice cream shops knows exactly how to break the tension: with humor, of course. Multiple locations throughout Greater Cleveland have displayed signs saying, "Steph Curry is softer than our ice cream."
When LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for Miami Heat, locals were heartbroken. Many still are, but it was the way locals reacted to the departure that was so notable, and mildly funny in retrospect. Like angst-ridden teenagers going through a particularly traumatizing breakup, many locals burned their jerseys that displayed his number. Some hosted group bonfires, while others created Facebook pages dedicated to the act.
Perhaps the most telling signs of Clevelanders' devotion to their team is... well, the signs they hold up during games. Locals prove time and time again that they are witty, dedicated, and more than a little bit sassy.
Clevelanders have a great sense of humor and one of the places where it’s most fervently displayed is in our sports world. It’s been proven time and time again that you can’t spell miracle without CLE, but our sports teams are constantly proving that fact with the help of dedicated fans.