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Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
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Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
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Robiskie, Harrison inactive
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Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
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Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
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Will Health Care Reform Pass?
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Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
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TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
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Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
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George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
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Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
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A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Cleveland's domination in 2006-08 postseasons might indicate otherwise
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 09:18 p.m. EST, Nov 02, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: The Cavaliers-Washington Wizards rivalry has become one-sided in two ways.
The Cavs are winning when it counts, in the playoffs, and the Wizards are despising every minute of it.
''I think they would say it's a rivalry. It's a big game for us without question,'' Cavs point guard Mo Williams said.
It's easy to find Wizards players who are looking forward to coming into Quicken Loans Arena for tonight's game.
''As long as I'm on the court, Gilbert's [Arenas] on the court, Caron [Butler], Brendan [Haywood], Antawn [Jamison]. Until we all go away, it's going to be a rivalry,'' said DeShawn Stevenson of the Wizards. ''But it's a rivalry. I know it's going to be hard fouls and the fans booing. It's a rivalry. It's going to be a tough game.''
If you consider the evidence, however, Cavs-Wizards games have devolved into something akin to meetings between the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
How can there be much in the way of contention when one team always wins?
In basketball, the regular season can be forgotten, but in the playoffs, the Cavs eliminated the Wizards in three consecutive postseasons — from 2006-08.
Williams acknowledged that some players might feel differently, but as far as locker-room chatter, it has been nonexistent this year.
''I think there's been more talk on their part. I don't think anyone from our camp has said anything about Washington as far as when we play them,'' Williams said. ''They've got a good team and we know we have to come ready to play and go on from there. As far as talk is concerned, we don't talk. We play.''
Williams said it's too early to get completely wrapped up in the intensity of a game.
''We look at it as a big game. It probably has a little bit more edge to it than other games. They're going to be more intense,'' he said. ''We're going to be more intense because we want to win obviously, but rivalry? I wouldn't say [that]. Boston's more of a rivalry in my opinion.''
In that respect, Williams is looking at the situation as Cavs coach Mike Brown would — as the next game — although he doesn't mind the extra intensity.
''As long as it's done in the right context, I don't really pay attention to it and at the end of the day, if we win I'm OK,'' Brown said. ''If we don't [and] we're saying the wrong things, it could affect our team.''
In his first year with the Wizards, Flip Saunders can bring the perspective of a coach who has led two teams for whom the Cavs don't particularly care. He previously coached the Detroit Pistons.
''I treat it as another game,'' he said. ''You can't get too high for a game, or too low. I think we're just going to worry about ourselves and try to be at an even keel.''
Brown said the Cavs would do the same.
''We've had some good games in the past in the playoffs and stuff like that,'' he said. ''Maybe it is a rivalry and maybe it's not. It doesn't feel the same as it was in the playoffs a few years ago.''
Delonte West's return
Williams sounded excited by teammate Delonte West's return Saturday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
''Having [West] back is huge. He had a great game when he came back,'' Williams said.
LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal lobbied for West's return Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
By waiting until Saturday, it showed that Cavs management wanted to be absolutely sure that West would be able to handle his situation.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
INDEPENDENCE: The Cavaliers-Washington Wizards rivalry has become one-sided in two ways.
The Cavs are winning when it counts, in the playoffs, and the Wizards are despising every minute of it.
''I think they would say it's a rivalry. It's a big game for us without question,'' Cavs point guard Mo Williams said.
It's easy to find Wizards players who are looking forward to coming into Quicken Loans Arena for tonight's game.
''As long as I'm on the court, Gilbert's [Arenas] on the court, Caron [Butler], Brendan [Haywood], Antawn [Jamison]. Until we all go away, it's going to be a rivalry,'' said DeShawn Stevenson of the Wizards. ''But it's a rivalry. I know it's going to be hard fouls and the fans booing. It's a rivalry. It's going to be a tough game.''
If you consider the evidence, however, Cavs-Wizards games have devolved into something akin to meetings between the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
How can there be much in the way of contention when one team always wins?
In basketball, the regular season can be forgotten, but in the playoffs, the Cavs eliminated the Wizards in three consecutive postseasons — from 2006-08.
Williams acknowledged that some players might feel differently, but as far as locker-room chatter, it has been nonexistent this year.
''I think there's been more talk on their part. I don't think anyone from our camp has said anything about Washington as far as when we play them,'' Williams said. ''They've got a good team and we know we have to come ready to play and go on from there. As far as talk is concerned, we don't talk. We play.''
Williams said it's too early to get completely wrapped up in the intensity of a game.
''We look at it as a big game. It probably has a little bit more edge to it than other games. They're going to be more intense,'' he said. ''We're going to be more intense because we want to win obviously, but rivalry? I wouldn't say [that]. Boston's more of a rivalry in my opinion.''
In that respect, Williams is looking at the situation as Cavs coach Mike Brown would — as the next game — although he doesn't mind the extra intensity.
''As long as it's done in the right context, I don't really pay attention to it and at the end of the day, if we win I'm OK,'' Brown said. ''If we don't [and] we're saying the wrong things, it could affect our team.''
In his first year with the Wizards, Flip Saunders can bring the perspective of a coach who has led two teams for whom the Cavs don't particularly care. He previously coached the Detroit Pistons.
''I treat it as another game,'' he said. ''You can't get too high for a game, or too low. I think we're just going to worry about ourselves and try to be at an even keel.''
Brown said the Cavs would do the same.
''We've had some good games in the past in the playoffs and stuff like that,'' he said. ''Maybe it is a rivalry and maybe it's not. It doesn't feel the same as it was in the playoffs a few years ago.''
Delonte West's return
Williams sounded excited by teammate Delonte West's return Saturday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
''Having [West] back is huge. He had a great game when he came back,'' Williams said.
LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal lobbied for West's return Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
By waiting until Saturday, it showed that Cavs management wanted to be absolutely sure that West would be able to handle his situation.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CavsABJ
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 07:39 AM, 11/03/2009
Wizards win easily and establish themselves as 3rd best team in the East.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:45 AM, 11/03/2009
KBADM....seriously...move out of Cleveland
Kookville, Oh
Posted 08:17 AM, 11/03/2009
The Wizards (like the squealers) SUCK. Get real you loser !!!
Marietta, GA
Posted 09:32 AM, 11/03/2009
only a rival. when the wiz win when it counts. thus far they have not. Yes health has been an issue and they are a talented team. but still get real.
RichRodforOH2010.com, .
Posted 10:17 AM, 11/03/2009
Deshawn Stevenson is coming to town. Fathers, lock up your underage daughters.
It's so cute that the Wizards think this is a rivalry.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:10 PM, 11/03/2009
its also cute when browns fans claim the steelers suck...get over it guys
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 12:12 PM, 11/03/2009
Like he said, kinda like Browns/Steelers are a "rivalry" or "Ohio State/Michigan" recently is a rivalry
Posted 12:49 PM, 11/03/2009
Correction: Steelers don't suck. But every loyal Ohioan should despise the Squeelers. All of the fair-weather fans who jumped on the Squeelers band wagon cuz they are winning are exposed as the dis-loyal traitors they are.
Akron, Oh
Posted 06:35 AM, 11/04/2009
@KBADM: I'm not sure which game you watched last night, but you might want to go back and edit your post if that's possible:)
