Mac Aljancic | 10 memorable moments with former Cleveland athletes and coaches

In case you haven’t heard, Cleveland opens the season today against a very familiar face. Baker vs. the Browns is not only a NFL schedule maker’s dream, but also the inspiration for my latest "10-4 Good Buddy" list: 10 memorable moments with ex-Cleveland athletes over the last four-plus decades. Choose your soundtrack while reading this article: either Carrie Underwood’s "Before He Cheats" or Alanis Morrissette’s "You Oughta Know."

Cornered

A week before the start of the 2017 season, the brilliant Browns brain trust decided that they should cut their most popular player 12 days before playing host to Pittsburgh in the season opener. The Steelers quickly signed Joe Haden, who terrorized his former team of seven years that day with six tackles and a sack. Pittsburgh won the division that year. The Browns didn’t win a game.

Crowell's revenge

The Browns moved on from Isaiah Crowell after four solid seasons (3118 rushing yards, 4.2 yards per carry). The running back didn’t hide his feelings when he returned as a Jet on a Week 2 Thursday night in 2018. After scoring a touchdown, he squatted down and used the ball Charmin-style to clean his backside before chucking it into the stands.

Guard ghosted

After demanding a trade during the 2017 off-season, Kyrie Irving heard plenty of boos when he returned to Cleveland as a Celtic for the season opener. The maker of the biggest shot in franchise history didn’t play in Cleveland again until January of 2021, when the Cavs honored him with a tribute video. Irving waved warmly to the crowd and pointed to his ring finger symbolizing that memorable 2016 NBA championship.

Thome comes home

Tribe fans loved Jim Thome during his 12 seasons in Cleveland where he became the franchise’s home run leader with 334 dingers. They were thus steamed when he left in late 2002 for a bigger payday in Philly. Those wounds were healed nine years later when he re-joined the Indians in the final month of the 2011 season. During that brief reunion, the franchise announced they would honor the future Hall of Famer with a stadium statue.

Lofton's last hurrah

Those mid-1990s Indians were rock stars in Cleveland, and six-time All-Star center fielder Kenny Lofton was No. 1 in many fans’ hearts. After leaving in 2001, Lofton returned for the final two months of the 2007 season. Unlike Thome’s ceremonial tour, the 40-year-old Lofton proved to be a huge spark for Cleveland, batting .283 as the squad fell just one game short of making the World Series.

Classy coach

Over the last five decades, the Browns have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons just once. Marty Schottenheimer did in four straight seasons from 1985-88. Owner Art Modell rewarded that success by pushing his coach out the door with some over-reaching demands. Schottenheimer returned to Cleveland Municipal Stadium that November as the coach of Kansas City. The 4-6 Chiefs mirrored their coach’s determination by scraping out a 10-10 tie against the 7-3 Browns. Marty doubled the KC win total of four from the previous year, and finished his career with just two losing seasons in 21 years as a head coach. The Browns have had just five winning records since Marty left.

Terribelle

After eight turbulent, yet monstrous seasons in Cleveland (.295 batting average, 242 HR, 781 RBIs, .949 OPS), Albert Belle left after the 1996 season to sign a record five-year, $55 million contract with the division rival White Sox. When he returned to Jacob’s Field the following June, Belle was under a constant fan storm both at bat and in left field.

On the road with Baker Mayfield

I am guessing we won’t see any of those funny, familiar Progressive Insurance commercials during today’s Browns-Panthers game. But things will be plenty chippy on the field between the Browns' defense and their feisty, former QB.

Rotten return

"The Decision" by LeBron James to head to Miami in the summer of 2010 stirred up plenty of Heat hatred around Cleveland. Watching an internet video of his return to Cleveland that December, LBJ was showered with boos during his pre-game introduction. Ironically, the next Heat starter announced for the Heat was former Cav Zydrunas Illgauskas, who drew a huge ovation. The grumpy Cleveland crowd got even more irritated during the night watching the Heat roll to a 28-point win behind LeBron’s 38 points.

Righteous return

LeBron surprising flipped the script on July 11, 2014 by releasing a heart-felt written statement on the Sports Illustrated website announcing his return to Cleveland. Four straight NBA Finals trips — including the comeback 2016 title — proved to be quite a joyride for Cavalier Nation.

Sunday Mac Snack

On behalf of the entire Tuscarawas Valley, I want to give an enormous thank you to longtime Times Reporter sports editor Roger Metzger for his tireless service to our community as a journalist over the past 36 years.

Any words that I could write would be easily topped by the numerous tributes I read on Facebook. Two, in particular, struck me. One was by T-R contributor Jim Contini: “You were one of, if not the best at your job. The coaches respected you for your fair coverage and you always made the kids look even better than their performance.” The other was this spot-on gem by sports journalist Sam Blackburn: “Your legacy will live forever in the scrapbooks of every kid you covered.”

God bless, Roger!

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Memorable moments with former Cleveland pro athletes