Congratulations Cleveland, Congratulations LeBron

Fitting.

That's the only way I can describe the ending of the NBA Finals. It was fitting. The best player won. The team with the heart to come back from down 3-1 won. The city that had been tortured won.

Cleveland is a great American city. It's history is rich, and filled with stories of hard-working, blue-collar people. Their fans had not seen any championship since 1964, not by the Browns, the Indians, or the Cavaliers. LeBron had once left them, and won two titles while away, and their other teams had tortured them with let-downs in big moments throughout their history. A city that had taken such a hit from the end of the industrial age in our country, people in Cleveland truly knew how to suffer. In fact, I'd venture a guess that most of them thought the Cavs would let them down, somehow, in game seven. I couldn't be happier to see a city that had been tortured so often finally get to call a team of their own CHAMPIONS. Enjoy the parade, Cleveland.

As for LeBron- redemption is a powerful thing. After he bolted Cleveland for Miami, he was one of the great villains in all of sports. I cheered against him, every chance I got (including boo'ing him every time he touched the ball once at a playoff game in Philadelphia). Even when he won titles in Miami, his detractors noted that he was playing with first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Dwyane Wade and regular All-Star Chris Bosh. The only way he could right his legacy was to come back to Cleveland and win a title. In his first year, he played out of his mind good in the Finals, but he lost. When his team fell behind 3-1 in this series, a lot of people began criticizing him for meddling in personnel decisions, coaching decisions, and everything else he could get his hands on, in regards to the Cavaliers. LeBron was facing failure, and he stepped up to the plate and pushed it back. He won the last three games of the finals, seeming to will his team to victory. He won twice in an arena that the Warriors were 39-2 in this season. He won three straight games against a team that went 73-9 this season. He dethroned the reigning champions. He broke a 52 year curse on Cleveland. He did all of this as the young man who grew up in the shadow of the city, with all the expectations in the world. I'm done calling him very good, or even being mad at him for his younger-years' arrogance. LeBron James is an all-time great, an epic athlete that we should all enjoy.

So, people of Cleveland, enjoy. You earned this moment. LeBron, bask in the praise, you earned it. Respect is a hard-earned thing, and the Cavaliers of 2015-2016 should get it, from all of us.