Call Him the 'Big Deal' -- That's Good Enough For Me

Shaquille O’Neal is coming to Cleveland.

I have no concrete idea what level of talent, at this point in his career, he will bring to the Cavaliers. The goal is to team with LeBron James to win a championship. Does he have the talent? Yes. Does he have the desire? Probably. Will that desire translate into the motivation necessary to demand at least one more All-Star caliber performance from his 37-year-old body? Stay tuned.

No matter. Shaquille O’Neal is coming to Cleveland.

Think about that. When was the last time a major star of Shaq’s stature came to Northeast Ohio?

LeBron doesn’t count. Neither does Jim Brown. Both were drafted, and arrived in Cleveland as young stars-in-waiting.

You have to go back to 1974, when the Indians obtained legendary outfielder Frank Robinson from the Angels. Robby was named player-manager – the first black manager in the history of the major leagues – during the subsequent offseason and punctuated it the following April by hitting a home run in his first at bat on Opening Day.

Is O’Neal the answer? Will he help bring Cleveland its first major pro sports championship since 1964? Maybe. He’s certainly larger than life – figuratively and literally – and will bring a whole new attitude to Cavs’ Town. If he’s motivated to get into better shape – even if it’s just for one final run at a championship – then look out, the Cavaliers could be scary.

Mike Tirico raved about the deal on ESPN radio Thursday. He later interviewed Danny Ferry, the Cavs’ general manager. As Ferry put it, the chance to add a player of Shaq’s stature, including the presence he brings to the court and the locker room, is too good to pass up.

Ferry also pointed out that he and other Cavalier executives watched a lot of game tapes of O’Neal, and were impressed with how well he played for the Suns. Indeed, O’Neal averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game in 75 games with Phoenix. Contrast that with the numbers posted by the Cavs’ Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 12.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per, in 65 games.

Don't write Shaq off just yet.

O’Neal is a 15-time All-Star and four time NBA champion. Add in the fact that there is no more consummate entertainer, and he promises to bring an attitude to Cleveland unlike any we’ve seen in these parts.

It’s called star power. It makes the trade worth it. That the Cavs only gave up Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic and this year’s second-round pick is gravy.

I mean, think about it: As I’ve written this, and as you’ve read it, LeBron James has been an afterthought.

That’s why Shaquille O’Neal is special. And it’s why he could be exactly what the Cavaliers – and LeBron – have needed.

Best Uniforms? Let the Debate Begin

On CBSSports.com Monday, Gregory Urbano named what he called the 10 coolest uniforms in sports history. In ascending order:

10. USC Football
9. Los Angeles Lakers
8. Dallas Cowboys
7. Boston Celtics
6. San Diego Chargers
5. Notre Dame Football
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. New York Yankees
2. University of North Carolina Basketball
1. Michigan Wolverines Football

Alrighty then. You’re no doubt already doing a slow burn at some of the names on the list. North Carolina’s basketball uniforms? Really? And, of course, the constantly overrated Boston Celtics garb. Ooh, they put “Celtics” across the front in block lettering. What’s so great about that? C’mon, the Bruins’ hockey unis are way better than those green monsters.

But that’s the nature of such lists. So I’m going to throw some of my own at you. Agree, disagree, whatever. It’s my blog. Note, however, that, unlike Mr. Urbano, I provide definitive visual evidence of my good taste.

I have also claimed one caveat: To make my list, a uniform cannot have made his. So there. Let the debate begin anew!

1. St Louis Cardinals. I’m shocked that this isn’t on Urbano’s list. It should be on every list. It is the classic baseball uniform of all time. Unique, colorful, attractive, historic. Has never gone out of style, never will.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers. Clean, simple, and stunning. The blue and red jump off the blazing white uniform, evoking patriotic sentiments, which I suppose baseball should do. The brilliant blue caps, the interconnected L and A…whoever did this got it right.

3. Texas Longhorns Football. The Longhorn logo is unlike any other in sports. Represents an entire state, moreso than any iconic logo I can think of. Even their opponents have to admit it’s the ultimate in cool. Slapped on that bright white helmet…perfect. And who else wears burnt orange? Great stuff.

4. Detroit Tigers. Another great uniform. The gothic D. The black piping around the collar and the buttons. The contrasting hat, with the same D. This hasn’t changed in decades, and never should. Understated and classic.

5. St. Louis Rams. Ram’s horns on the helmet. Ram’s horns around the shoulders. All matching the pants. I’ll bet every player who ever dressed in those things felt good about it. I still can’t decide if the gold of today is better than the yellow of yesterday, but either way, these get it done.

6. Chicago Baseball. OK, I’m fudging a bit, by giving a nod to both the Cubs and the White Sox. Again, however, their home pinstriped uniforms have held up over time. The Sox’ intertwined logo is unique in all of baseball, and the Cubs’ simple “C” gets the job done.

7. Virginia Cavaliers Football. Clean and classic. Distinctive choice of colors. Great logo. Evokes all sorts of regional emotions. Nicely done, hugely underrated by just about everybody.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins. Come on, it’s hard to make a hockey uniform look great, and these look great. Plus they have penguins on them, for crying out loud. Who else has the cajones to do that?

9. Green Bay Packers. What can I say? Green and gold can be a nasty combination if not used properly – but these folks used ’em properly. Better in the classic days of Lombardi as shown here, but still, they’re superb.

10. Baltimore/ Indianapolis Colts. Since the days of Johnny Unitas, this uniform has stood the test of time. Peyton Manning has been a deserving successor to the legacy. Who knew a horseshoe could help define a league the way this one has?

So there you have it. Now, about my Cleveland teams.

Right now, we’re in the hey-day of Cleveland uniforms. When the Indians went back to the classic script in 1994, it heralded the return of championship caliber baseball in Cleveland. New uniforms, new stadium, new era. I hope they never change. These are what baseball uniforms should look like.

The Cavaliers did a smart thing the year LeBron James was drafted. They returned to the classic burgundy and gold of their founding years, but with a beautifully updated approach. Mind you, I still love the original Cavaliers script uniforms, but I’m sentimental about their early days, when they were such loveable losers. But the lost era of orange, blue, black, powder blue? Ugh. No thanks.

And finally, the Browns. From the 1940s through the 1960s, when the Browns literally were the Yankees of pro football, people around the country professed love for their understated appearance, complete with no logo on the helmet. And, I must admit, I still love the look. Somehow, though, it had more of a classic feel all those many years ago. The team that has been on the field since 1999 has been mostly an embarrassment to the city of Cleveland and the NFL in general. So some of the luster has worn off. But, if they begin to win again, watch the orange and brown take this region – and other parts of the country, where Browns Backers clubs are large and plentiful – by storm.