My apologies to those looking for new posts here, poor desperate souls that you may be.  I fully intended to post my thoroughly meaningful thoughts about all things Cavaliers basketball during the team's surprising run through the playoffs, but sometimes life gets in the way.  Let me restate that.  Sometimes reality gets in the way.  In my case reality is the impending death of my grandmother - Gertie Thomas.  She was diagnosed with cancer back in December before the holidays but didn't want to tell any of her grandchildren to well after the holidays because she didn't want to be a downer.  At age 86, however, she elected to not be treated for it because at her age it would have required an invasive procedure that she wasn't willing to endure.

She said she's had a full life.  That I shouldn't cry for her for that very reason. That, however, has been difficult, primarily because of what she's meant in my life.  Some people have grandmothers, but I had two mothers.  My grandmother raised my brother and I, her first grandchildren, until we were 6 and 5 respectively.   She didn't have a lot of formal education and worked much of her life in menial jobs, yet when I entered kindergarten at Mayfair Elementary School in East Cleveland, I could read and write.

When I met the woman who would become my wife, it wasn't my mother's opinion that mattered most to me.  It was my grandparents' - moreso my grandmother's that proved most important.

And the best parts of me that I try to put forth, sometimes with much difficulty, I can trace back to this remarkable woman who raised six children of her own, a generation of grandchildren and a few great-grandchildren.  She's kind, compassionate, empathetic and is the embodiment of love with no strings attached.  She could literally forgive anyone any transgression, including a former in-law who once hit her while she was legally considered a senior citizen.

She would welcome anyone in the family be their surnames Black, Williams, Nichols, Perkins, Riley, Rose, Adams, Campbell, Butara, Magas, Seidel, Ambrose, Pantalone, Jones, Card, Caldwell, Smith, Lara, Heindell or whatever.  It didn't matter.  To them she became mama or grandma.

How do you say goodbye to someone so loving, so special.  You just do and enjoy each and every day you have left.  That is why this space has been empty.  I needed to write for the paper and while I enjoy adding my commentary to cyberspace, seeing my grandmother as much as possible for whatever number of days she has left is more of a priority for me.

She's asked me not to cry for her.  My problem is that I haven't been able to stop crying for me - for knowing what I will lose soon.

However, you can expect more words in this space on a regular basis given the situation the Cavs are now in, the Tribe looking to be the real deal and Cleveland Browns training camp a little over a month away.

Cavs lead 48-45 courtesy of some serious rebounding.

They've won the battle of the boards in the first half 26-18 and have 11 second chance points to the Nets 2.  Just like the first game you can expect this to be a ground it out kind of affair.

Second half starts and it's clear that the Nets want to get Vince Carter actually involved with this one as he hits his first shot.

Carter's cold and Jason Kidd begins to heat up, dropping a couple of treys inside 30 seconds. 

67-64 Nets and Vince Carter, who had four points at halftime suddenly found his game and he's up to 13.  And once again, the Cavs are willing to settle for outside shots.

Forgive the delay…I'm alternating between this and game notes.  Deadlines will kill some of the writers tonight.  Nationally televised gaems have a way of doing that.  They tip-off a full hour later than regular home contests and heaven forbid we get overtime.  And with the game staying close at 71-70 that isn't out of the realm of possibility here.

74-73 looks as if LeBron James is returning to what he did against the Nets in the last regular season meeting when he dropped 35 points on the Nets by attacking the basket.  He's agressively taking it in here and it's paying off.

Again the Cavs are winning this game because of what they're doing on the boards.  They have 37 rebounds to the Nets 25.  Fourteen offensive rebounds to the Nets 2 and 13 second chance points to the Nets 2.  What they don't lead is in shooting a stat that the Nets own 54 percent to 44.

The Nets are in the double digits in turnovers, right now it seems as if they're trying to give the game to the Cavaliers and they won't take it. 

Sorry but it kinda took me a sec to get to my seat.

Cavaliers once again look to be settling for jump shots to start.  That's great if they hit them but should they hit a cold streak….

Initial thoughts:  the Cavs are into it.  The crowd is seriously into it on each and every possession.  Sasha Pavlovic has hit two of his first three, a good sign. He wants to keep that hot hand that he found in Game 1.  The Cavs are once again playing aggressive defense.   Early on it looks as if the Nets want to try to push this game more and dictate tone.

Nets up 14-9 early.  Last thing the Cavs and Mike Brown want is to see Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter get untracked. 

How do you know it's playoff time?  When players actually dive for every ball as if it were a vital possession.

Kidd pops a three to put the Nets up by that many.  The LAST thing you wanna see is that guy unable to unleash his full game.  Remember in the Nets series against the Raptors he averaged a triple double. 

Bostjan Nachbar comes in.  The guy popped a few from the outside in the first game and looked to be the only Nets player in any sort of rhythm.

Hughes gets a good look on a three, but it doesn't fall.   On the Cavs next possession LBJ actually drivves to the hoop for a lay-up.   They need to do more of that and look for Zydrunas Ilgauska more in the paint and closer to the hoop. 

The New York-New Jersey media grumbled about Nets Coach Lawrence Frank giving his team Monday off.  In this first quarter that move paid dividends. They're less lethargic and own a four point lead after the first quarter by a score of 28-24.

Cavaliers lose the shooting battle in the first quarter 61.1 percent to 55.6 percent.  Both teams shooting at a blistering clip.

Every possession, every play.  Boobie Gibson's steal and subsequent assist to Anderson Varejao who slams sends the crowd into spasms.

For now Vince Carter only has three points as the score stands at 35 all.  The Cavs continue to send a neverending stream of bodies in his direction, the last time forcing a turnover.

39-35 Cavs up.  They go up after some serious rebounding and Drew Gooden already has five of them. 

Cavs up 43-42 and it looks as if Pavlovic has his stroke leading all the Cavs in scoring with nine.  LBJ assumes a commanding leadership role in taming what could be viewed as some wild action.  He calms things down, pops a three.   Overall you can see a big difference in the playoff version of the Cavs.  Every possession matters and they're palying like it.

OUCH!!!  All I can say about that knee injury to LeBron.

For the Cavaliers opening series against the Washington Wizards you could walk around Quicken Loans Arena and it was if it were the regular season.  That could have been because the Wizards were outmanned.  It could have been because expecations are higher this season for the Cavs.

However, the atmosphere has changed.   There's a discernible buzz in the air for this series.  It could be the Jason Kidd factor.  The guy only averaged a triple double in the New Jersey Nets series against.  But there  are other worries like…ohhh…I don't know…Vince Carter.  Then there's Richard Jefferson who appears to have his explosiveness back.

This is going to be a tough series - no cakewalk.  The Cavs will need their new-found balance for this one.

I was sitting in the press area at Quicken Loans Arena Sunday, I looked up and suddenly realized that Larry Hughes had dropped 27 points on the Washington Wizards.  Normally that would be LeBron James, but this afternoon, Hughes was on display.  Maybe that $2 million bonus he got for the team's 49th win put a little pep in his step.  Or, perhaps, there's something else.

In his second season with the Cavs, Hughes suffered through an injury plagued first season and the tragic death of his brother.  There exists some validity to the argument that he never got into any kind of playoff groove last season because of that.  If his performance today is any indication of what the playoffs could be, then Cavs fans will be saying "Welcome, Larry." 

Since being moved to the point guard position, Hughes and LeBron James have played in harmony - certainly a little out of tune on occasion - but for the most part it seemed as if they are on the same page.

Dare we think that Hughes might be LBJ's Scottie Pippen?  No one is likely to go that far, but if Hughes can continue the consistent play, the Eastern Conference Finals are certainly attainable.

Everything's all right in Northeast Ohio because fans have a playoff team in the Cleveland Cavaliers to give their hearts to in the second season known as the NBA playoffs.

But I have to wonder if everyone would be giddy had the Chicago Bulls knocked off the New Jersey Nets Wednesday night to take the second seed in playoff bracketing.  You see, that seed is the key to the Eastern Conference Finals.  With the Cavs' win against Milwaukee last night, the team ensured that they won't have to face the bad boys in the East - the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.

Instead they get the relative ease of the Washington Wizards and the winner of the Toronto-New Jersey series should they advance past the first round.  Owner Dan Gilbert is looking forward to the playoffs as you can hear in this little sit down he had with the media Wednesday night.  That was before all of the associated fanfare related to the night's events.  I wonder if he'd been as keen if he'd known that the Cavs would be taking on the defending champs.

That brings me to what worries me about this team.  Anyone who reads the sports section knows that we have a superb beat writer in Brian Windhorst, but I've had plent of chances to be around the Cavaliers during the course of the season and the one aspect of this team that I always questioned was its carefree attitude.  Perhaps it's a reflection of Coach Mike Brown and taking every game "one at a time."  No, that's not a bad mantra, but when does that turn to complacency?

It shouldn't have been necessary for the Cavaliers to rely on another team to complete their job last night.  There were at least six or seven games this season that they should have won, but bumbled.  Charlotte Bobcats anyone?  New York Knicks? Boston Celtics?

Fate shined upon them last night.  I just hope they realize just how fickle a lady Fate can be.

So I arrived at The Q tonight and I'm greeted by one of the Cleveland Cavaliers' public relations staff with the news that LeBron James is out with back spasms for this evening's festivities against the Sacramento Kings.  Of course I react with disbelief because James' play has been as close to perfection as you get in recent weeks (33.3 points per game since Feb. 11).  He obviously knows what time of year it is.

Most fans would expect that given play like that the Cavs would fall flat tonight.  Some could have considered it a test.  I considered it more like a quiz.  If the team is indeed in full playoff mode than they should have been able to knock of the Kings who owned a record of 28-34 coming in. 

It's a quiz they passed with ease and left an impression.  Someone needed to step up tonight and instead everyone in the starting line-up did so, as each rang up double figures.  Larry Hughes had 25 points, Sasha Pavlovic dropped a career high 25, Z ripped off 19 and 10 boards for a double-double and Drew Gooden also contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  But the most impressive job of them all may have come from the guy given the unenviable task of stepping into James' shoes.

Ira Newble, whose named has been associated with the letters D-N-P for much of the season, came up with 12 points (including 3-for-3 shooting on three pointers) and seven rebounds.

Was it a perfect win?  Nope.  The team looked sluggish for much of the first half and they hoisted treys as if they were soon to be banned by the league.  Still, what they accomplished without James bodes well for the continuing run to the playoffs.

The Super Bowl is finally over and I have to admit that I'm glad it's over.  The hype over the two African-American coaches is done.  We should never have to address the issue of a coach's ethnicity again.  By the way, anyone remember how much media coverage there was of Tom Flores, the first Hispanic head coach to win a Super Bowl, and his ethnicity when the Raiders beat the Eagles in the early '80s.

I was extremely happy to see Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning finally get what they richly deserved, but there was a moment that made me cringe.  When Dungy was talking about being the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, he said that it was more important that he and his friendly adversary Lovie Smith were Christians and there were several mentions of the Almighty and the Lord. 

Yes, I consider myself a Christian, but one thing I don't do is put that on display for everyone to see.  I would never deny anyone the fundamental right to worship as they choose fit, but by the same token, I don't expect to have to listen to them testify about their beliefs either.  Religion - like politics and sexual preferences - is a private matter. 

Besides with the problems in this country and on this planet, I don't think God much cares about football.

This is why there's no off-season in the NFL, there's always some semblance of drama unfolding with America's favorite sport.

In this case, it's Marty Schottenheimer and the ringing endorsement the San Diego Chargers have given him in a statement from COO Dean Spanos.  Yup, they're willing to allow Marty, the third winningest coach the past three season and fifth winningest active coach in the NFL to work next year and they even offered him a whopping one-year extension.  Yee Haw!!!  Betcha Marty's turning somersaults over that one.  Actually, he turned the Chargers down, according to reports.

At this point in time San Diego, the fans of Cleveland would be perfectly willing to take him.  This isn't a knock on current Browns coach Romeo Crennel - he's only had two seasons - but should the Browns not make significant strides on the field next year, I can't envision a scenario in which Crennel stays.  That makes things very interesting with respect to coaching vacancies next year.

Yes, we all know the knock against Schottenheimer.  Hell we'd better considering it started here - he can't win the big one.  He can't kick it to the next level.  We all know it was Marty who was playing defense when John Elway engineered The Drive.  We all know that he was carrying the ball when its loss soon became known as The Fumble.  Hell, Marty's the reason the Cuyahoga River caught fire decades ago.  We also know that last weekend it was Marty on the field when his Chargers committed four turnovers and at least two idiotic penalties that I can recall.

With all fairness, I'm hoping that the Browns make the playoffs next year.  That's a big hope at this point.  You know - like hoping for world peace and actually getting it.  But allow me to look forward in my mental time machine for a second and the Browns have muddled through another year of mediocrity. 

Schottenheimer and former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher are out there - who do you take? An intriguing possibility isn't it?  When Schottenheimer left the Browns unceremoniously after the 1988 season, I was always under the impression that he left feeling the job was unfinished and he took a lot of flak for what happened in two AFC Championship Games.  As for Cowher, he's a Marty disciple who played here and coached here under him.  Should the Browns find themselves in the unenviable position of searching for yet another coach, either would suit me just fine thanks.  The year of intrigue has begun.

Another reason I stayed away from this space - I'm on vacation.  It's late at night currently and I have no life, this is why I am blogging.

But last night - as a reveled in a stellar hoops display by the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers - I hung out at my local watering hole.  Now as I've mentioned before I rather enjoy having a couple of beers in my off hours.  It's a scary proposition that I have many off hours coming up in the next couple of weeks.  At any rate, the conversation between the bartender, myself and a few other guys turned to who we wanted to see win the Super Bowl.  Having been done in by the curse of Marty Shottenheimer once again (I was pulling for Marty to get his championship), I said that I wanted the New Orleans Saints to win.  Right now, I believe the Saints will go all the way.  No, this isn't based on any inside knowledge.

But the stars are aligned in a funky way in my estimation.  The Saints will be a sentimental choice for a lot of folks and we all know why.   The Saints would be like a do-good from God.  It's as if that omnipotent being is saying:  "Yeah, well, I owe you one for that little storm that leveled the city last year." No, I'm not making light of the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, but it feels as if everything is lining up that way.

That lead one person in the conversation to utter the phrase:  "Maybe Ohio could get a tornado so one of our teams can win one."  Such is the discontent on the North Coast that we have to wish for agony before enjoying a little ecstasy.  Is this what it has come to?  Maybe?  Or perhaps, just perhaps, our sense of propriety has gone by the wayside in the quest for sports nirvana.

A lot of my friends knew that I was in Phoenix covering the championship game.  They also know that I am a Buckeyes fan (primarily because I spent a couple of years in my college career there).  I can maintain my objectivity and still be a fan.  They all thought that I'd freak out about the fact that the Buckeyes lost.  No, I did not.  I didn't play the game. And that is one of the reasons I can maintain a level head when writing about the Buckeyes - I remember that it's just a game.