Stephanie Tubbs Jones: “I rise today as a proud sports fan from the City of Cleveland, Ohio. Yes, I have said it. What about those Indians? It…”

“I rise today as a proud sports fan from the City of Cleveland, Ohio. Yes, I have said it. What about those Indians? It has been years since Clevelanders can stand up and say they are proud of their professional sports teams and can actually point to success. Yet just this year the Cavaliers made the NBA finals for the first time in franchise history and on the back of our young superstar, Lebron James. After a strong draft in the spring, the Cleveland Browns looked competitive for the first time since the franchise returned in 1999, save one season. But the main reason I stand today is to congratulate the Cleveland Indians for their first trip to the ALCS since 1998. Cleveland fans have been through a lot of disappointment in our sports history. Two losses for the Browns in the 1980s in the AFC championship by a drive and a fluke fumble. Losses to Michael Jordan's Bulls by the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals in the early 1990s, and most recently in a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series in the 9th inning to the Florida Marlins. As a lifelong Clevelander, it has been difficult to live through so many near misses, and it makes you yearn for the days of Jim Brown and Bob Feller.”