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Weird Moments in Cleveland Sports: Bottlegate, Bedbugs, and Burying the Pennant

2022

Synopsis

Cleveland sports fans: If you can’t laugh about it, what else are you gonna do?

Cleveland sports teams have set records for futility in baseball, football, and basketball. But even beyond that, Cleveland sports fans have witnessed more than their share of weird, wild, random, and odd occurrences, from front office ineptitude to absurd losses to bizarre injuries and more.

Like the Cavs player who accidentally scored a layup in the wrong basket (and another who shot at his own basket on purpose) … The testy Tribe manager who got into a fight during an exhibition game with the Triple-A farm team … The Browns owner who took advice from a random stranger on the street and blew a first-round draft pick on “Johnny Football” … The rookie pitcher shot in the leg while riding on the team bus wearing a cheerleader outfit and go-go boots … The team owner once called “the dumbest man in pro sports” … One Browns star whose season-ending injury came while popping a wheelie and another whose eye was nearly put out by a referee’s flag … The Indians player who was traded for himself … A victory owed to a timely swarm of insects … The Cavaliers’ first draft, planned using bubble-gum cards … When Tribe mascot Slider fell off the outfield wall into live action during a playoff game …

Phew! And we’re just getting started. (We haven’t even mentioned 10-Cent Beer Night yet.) If you’re a Cleveland sports fan, you’ll enjoy this offbeat collection.

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