Downtown Cleveland, and especially the area around Quicken Loans Arena, was crackling with energy October 30.
VIDEO: Cleveland Cavaliers home opener
The source of the power surge was, in the mind of 14-year-old Mayfield Village resident Anthony Velotta, easy to trace. ‘It’s LeBron, for sure,” Velotta said as he and 15-year-old stepbrother Dylan Kachline moved around the edges of the mass of people who had come to welcome back superstar forward LeBron James after his four-year stint with the Miami Heat. James was back wearing wine-and-gold as the Cavs opened the 2014-15 season against the New York Knicks. ‘I always thought he’d come back home,” Velotta said. GAME COVERAGE:
Cleveland Cavaliers fall 95-90 to Knicks in home opener
Long before the opening tip at 8:11 p.m., thousands of fans jammed the streets around the Q.
On a picture-perfect fall evening, they listened to live music, visited kiosks operated by Nike and other high-profile companies and, in general, soaked up as positive a vibration as has run through the Cleveland sports scene in many a year. ‘It’s just a great feeling, an unbelievable atmosphere,” said Melissia Leonard of Garfield Heights. She was there with her husband, Norman, and their children, Gabriel and Jensaya. ‘I’ve been a season-ticket holder for a long time, and I’ve never had such a positive feeling about the Cavs,” Norman Leonard said. The game attracted national media attention of the sort not seen here since James and the Cavs advanced to the 2007 NBA Finals. The Cavaliers issued about 400 media credentials.
TNT, doing the national-TV broadcast, had a full contingent of announcers and analysts in the building. So did ESPN. Entertainment and sports celebrities were out in force, too. Popular R&B recording artist Usher thrilled the capacity crowd with a soulful version of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.” The list of music celebrities in the house included power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber. Retired soccer star David Beckham was spotted, too. The Browns were well-represented by current players Joe Haden, Donte Whitner and Johnny Manziel as well as retired players Kevin Mack, Eric Metcalf and Bernie Kosar. Former Cavs Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ron Harper turned out for the event. PHOTOS:
Cavaliers vs. Knicks NBA action from Quicken Loans Arena
James, for his part, shrugged off all the hoopla surrounding his first regular-season appearance as a Cavalier since 2010. ‘I don’t get caught up in it. I’m beyond getting caught up in it,” he said.
The media types turned out en masse to cover the triumphant return of James and to get a first look at the star-studded team around him that includes holdover star Kyrie Irving and three-time All-Star power forward Kevin Love. ‘It’s going to be electric,” Love said in a pre-game interview. ‘I’ve been told Cleveland fans are like no other.” Although he’s new to the Cavs, Love is well aware that no Cleveland pro sports franchise has won a championship since the Browns in 1964. ‘The fan base is hungry, and so are we,” Love said. ‘We know what we want is within reach. We’re going to get everyone’s best shot.” David Blatt, the new coach of the Cavs, allowed himself to get caught up in the rush of good feelings that enveloped the most anticipated opener in the 45-year history of the franchise. ‘I’m excited as hell. Who wouldn’t be?” Blatt said during his pre-game meeting with reporters.
Blatt, who came to the Cavs after a 21-year coaching career overseas, said his wife and their children would be watching the game live at 2 a.m. in Israel. PHOTOS:
