Thanks, Big Guy!

Today, Lebron James announced that he will stay with Cleveland for five more years..

Being from Akron, I knew of Lebron by his freshman year of high school. Jennie and I got to see him play a whole bunch of times at the JAR Arena at Akron U. I was the wide-eyed homer telling my friends from Grace and parts unknown about this high school kid from Akron who would one day be the best basketball player in the world.

Six or seven years later, Lebron is runner up for the NBA's Most Valuable Player. He's the All-Star MVP. He leads a lifeless franchise from obscurity to playoff victory. He is the first player since Oscar Robertson to average so many assists, points, and rebounds per game in one season.

He's giving back to the community. Investing in schools in Akron and Cleveland. Throwing charity basketball tournaments. Visiting hospitals, starting scholarships for kids... Keeping his life, attitude, words, and actions clean.

Finally... a hero Cleveland can be proud of. Finally, a hero who stays. Finally, a hometown hero that pretty much the whole world knows about.

And yes, he's only 21 years old.

(Disclaimer: Yes, I know he's merely human and makes mistakes. Yes, I know the Cavs have not won the championship yet. Yes, he will be a free agent in 2013 or whatever, and could leave Cleveland then.)

Today, he signed a contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland till about 2013. Can't wait to see what the next six years of Cleveland sports holds!

For fun, here's my TOP TEN CLEVELAND SPORTS HEROES of my lifetime...

10. Eric Snow. Cavs point guard who showed up with big-time defense and clutch play in the playoffs. He came to Cleveland way past his prime, but those-who-know-me are aware of my affinity for Snow. He's from near my stomping grounds in Canton... I played on his team at a junior high basketball camp in 1987. These are the ties that bind, people. Snow is one of my all-time favorite basketball players. To see him and Lebron on the court together, beating the Pistons in three consecutive playoff games... has to be one of my all-time sports highs.

9. Omar Vizquel. One of the best shortstops in baseball for the last fifteen years, most of which was spent in Cleveland. I lost count of his gold gloves, clutch hits, hilarious jokes, stolen bases, and surprise homers. Seems like sheer foolishness that the Indians didn't re-sign him a year or two ago. He's flirting with .300 again, playing incredible defense... and he's probably like 45 years old. Props to John Hart, who acquired Vizquel from Seattle for the legendary Felix Fermin.

7. (tie) Jim Thome. This slugging third baseman grew up in the Indians farm system, and became one of the most prolific hitters in all of baseball. Thome was huge on both Indians World Series teams, and now plays for some team in Chicago. Several years ago, Thome spurned Cleveland to play for Philadelphia for much more money than the Indians could afford. After several disappointing years in Philly, Indians fans were relieved we didn't spend to keep him. Still a much-loved legend by the Lake.

7. Earnest Byner. The heart, soul, and spirit of the Browns in the late 1980's. An undrafted rookie out of who knows where, he became a 1,000 yard rusher in the NFL. Unfortunately, he's remembered for one fumble in Denver in 1988. A tremendous player who many felt embodied the heart and soul of Cleveland, I met Byner at a baseball card show on Arlington Road. He's now an assistant coach for Washington.

6. Kenny Lofton. Yes, the 1990's Indians were tremendous. Lofton is still playing... but in Cleveland, he was the best leadoff hitter in baseball for several years. I got his autograph with Honus in 1995.

5. Mike Hargrove. Indians manager to two World Series appearances. But I got my first exposure to Grover as a five year old at old Cleveland stadium. Got his autograph. He was the "human rain delay" with all of his pre-at-bat rituals. I associate him both with the old era of losing baseball, and the more recent 1990's era of great Cleveland baseball.

4. Albert Belle. In 1994, this guy was the heart of the most feared lineup in baseball, and his power, nasty attitude, and sheer athleticism were unique to most any baseball player in Cleveland history. Some amazing memories with him in 1995, when I spent the summer at home and scalped tickets to a bunch of games. Tremendous clutch hitter. His life since baseball has taken a turn for the worse, but dude was amazing in left field for the Tribe.

3. Bernie Kosar. Yeah, his hair and his game were somewhat strange. But he was the face of the Browns in the late 80's, when they went to the AFC Championship three times. Count me as part of the generation that grew up on the Dawg Pound in C-town, and Kosar was at the helm. He was clutch. For the Wikipedia entry on Kosar, click here.

2. Mark Price. Shorter than me, an All-NBA point guard, leading some terrific Cavs teams, now a coach in Australia. Oh, and he went to my home church and interviewed the Wailer on his radio program.

1. Lebron James. Let's just get it over with right now. Isn't it obvious? He's from Akron. Like this shirt. Saw him at Outback Steakhouse in March, 2003. Dude is nice.


Honorable Mentions: Charles Nagy, Manny Ramirez, Brad Daugherty, Romeo Crennel, Larry Nance, Shawn Kemp, Terrell Brandon, World B. Free, John Hart, Orel Hershiser, Jose Mesa, Frank Minnifield, Hanford Dixon, Chip Banks, Webster Slaughter, Bob Wickman, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, Chuck Kyle, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Craig Ehlo, Ron Harper, Tom Cousineau, Joe Tait.