I had the privilege and was lucky enough (not really lucky, I just had eight dollars in my wallet) to watch the Cavaliers break their 26-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Clippers last week. Now I’ll be honest and tell you two things.

The first thing is that I have barely watched any of the Cavalier games this season. It’s too painful, it’s too embarrassing, and frankly I have much better things to do with my life than watch the Cavs fall by 20 each night. Call me a fair weather fan, but that’s how I feel.

Secondly, I went to this game for the sole purpose of seeing Blake Griffin dunk on the Cavs and watch an amazing player in person. I can’t say I thought the Cavs would win because, let’s be honest, what have they done to give me any indication they would have what it takes to defeat, well, anyone?

When I get to the arena, people are actually there, and it was electric for the first time all season. As the Clippers were being introduced, you could see fans waiting to cheer for Griffin, and once his name was called, there they were, cheering for a star and the most electrifying player in the NBA.

As the first half came to a close, “Blake Superior” finished off the half with a buzzer-beating layup, giving the Clippers a one-point halftime lead. The third quarter began, and the Cavs were still in it. The third quarter ended, and lo and behold, we were leading by two. With the fourth quarter beginning, “The Q” felt like a playoff game’s atmosphere.

At this point, fans are chanting, and meaning what they chant: “Let’s go Cavs.” As the game came down to its final possession in regulation, J.J. Hickson provided one of my most memorable moments as a sports fan. Baron Davis, driving the lane with four seconds left, hoists up a layup and out of nowhere comes “Jumping, J.J.” to block the shot as the buzzer sounds. Goaltending or not, holy cow was that awesome!!!

As a referee, how could you call goaltending? Cavs have lost 26 straight, they’re at home, the fans and the city of Cleveland believe in this team this night, and if you decide the outcome of the game on your whistle, you better have written your eulogy in the pregame warm up, because you’re not leaving “The Q” without a body bag. Those fans would have been irate. You think Cleveland fans were mad when the Browns left?

Overtime comes and Antawn Jamison takes an inbounds pass from Mo Williams, who had 16 points and 14 assists in his return after an injury. Jamison buries a three to give the Cavs a four-point lead with under a minute to play. The atmosphere after that bucket went in and after the final horn sounded as the Cavs won 126-119, it was one of the most amazing feelings I’ve ever had. You could almost hear Cleveland take a sigh of relief. Confetti fell, four Cavs players were interviewed as the players of the game, and no one left until we heard the words, “Drive safely and have a good night.” Trust me, it was a great night!

I’m a Columbus boy all the way. To the Cleveland fans, I crack jokes, I laugh at the fact every year you believe your teams will win the title and I chuckle after you say, “Well there’s always next year.” But that night, I was one of you. I was so happy; I was elated we got that heavy monkey off our backs. The Cavs still may be the laughing stock of the NBA, as they are down by 19 as I sit here, but I have a feeling every Cleveland fan will remember that night for a long, long time. Now let’s start celebrating a winning streak!