The Cleveland Cavaliers are preparing for the Eastern Conference Finals and they're looking to bring their first ever title to Northeast Ohio and the first title for any sports team since 1964.

Dan Shaughnessy, a sports columnist for the Boston Globe joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the column he wrote in the Globe about the Wine and Gold and how the public needs to root on this talented collection of players to win it all.

Dan says because the NBA's best player, LeBron James is playing at his usual high level, and the team is healthy, it's a recipie for success.

"You need two or three really good players to win an championship, and when you have a healthy Kyrie and a healthy Love, you have a chance to win it," he said.

The Big three dynamic sets the table for everything, and the team is jelling on and off the court.

"I just don't think there's anyone that's infallable and you have the best player, so you have a chance to win any series."

 You can rean Dan's story here.

One of the most popular Browns in team history was known for wearing #19 and that begs the question: Should his number be retired?

Mark Podolski who writes for the News-Herald and the Morning Journal joined the Sam Bourquin show to offer his thoughts on the matter and what Bernie meant to Cleveland and the Browns organization.

To Podolski, he says it's an open and shut case.

"To me it's a no-brainer," he said.  "I just think there's an argument that can be made that he's the most beloved players in franchise history, he certainly wasn't the best player in team history, but to me that says a lot about a player's association with a team and what the fans think about him."

Mark's column can be read here.

As a Cleveland sports fan, you've seen it all and heard about it all: The Shot. The Drive. The Fumble. We can go on and on. One film captures all of it and will run you through the gamut of emotions.

'Believeland' will debut Saturday May 14 at 9:30pm as part of the ESPN 30 for 30 series and will document all of those Cleveland Sports moments and talk to some of the key people that were a part of those moments in one way or another.

Branson Wright from the Cleveland Plain Dealer co-produced the film and he joined the Sam Bourquin Show Thursday to talk about the film and what it means for all of the fans of Cleveland sports who have memories of these events and what place they have in our own personal history.

He says it was a thrill for him to co-produce the film, and as a Cincinnatti native and having worked in Cleveland for quite some time, he knows about what Cleveland sports fans have felt for their teams their whole lives.

"It's that passion that makes it second to none," Wright said. 

You can see the trailer for the documetary 'Believeland' here:

In the world of college football, realignment of conferences has been one of the hot topics, and the divide between the Power 5 and the Group of 5 conference schools will grow even wider.

Ryan McGee, senior writer for ESPN joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about some of the rumors and what conferences and college football will look like moving forward.

He says the Big 12 will be one of the conferences that will look to expand first.

"The movement is coming and I think it's going to start in the Big 12, and the dominoes are going to fall, like they did a couple of years ago," he said.  "Expansion means more money."

 Texas and Oklahoma, the mainstays in the Big 12 would have teams like SMU, Tulane and others in a 16-team conference, and he projects Notre Dame would be in a 16-team Big Ten. You can look at Ryan's article here.

This weekend, a local MMA fighter will be looking to bring a championship to Northeast Ohio, the heavyweight championship of the world.

Stipe Miocic, who fights out of Independence, Ohio, near Cleveland will be taking on current titleholder Fabricio Werdum in UFC 198 in Brazil on Saturday, May14.

He says that he's going make sure Werdum stays out of his comfort zone during their matchup.

"I'm not going to do what he wants, I'm going to dictate what I'm going to do in that cage, and I'm going to push the pace and I'm going to make him feel uncomfortable in every aspect of the game," Miocic says.

Stipe, a Northeast Ohio native, knows there hasn't been a Cleveland sports championship in over 50 years, but he says he's going to let it all hang out on Saturday.

"I'm going to give it everything I've got," he says.

This summer, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy will be giving young football players a chance to show their skills and improve upon them in front of former NFL players and coaches.

David Hill,  National Director of Player Development for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy joined Brad Russell in the Average Sports Show to talk about the Academy and what the players will expect while in Canton.

"It's going to be an opportunity for both some of the top prep players in the country and some of the top youth players in the country to improve their skill sets, and it's a training opportunity being done by some of the best coaches from all around the league," Hill said. "It's a fantastic opportunity for a young player."

The Academy will take place down at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium  in two sessions from July 10-13 and July 14-17 .

 Hill said the most important aspect of the Academy will be the character and life lesson development.

"I do think that the game offers those opportunities, it's always been that way, and it's going to be more emphasized there being a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

For more information or to nominate an athlete, visit here. 

This week, Brad decided to make his way out to Norton to visit Loyal Oak Golf Course for the latest edition of Tee it Up Tuesday.

Dan Sutter, the manager at Loyal Oak says the course prides itself on treating people that come in like they are family.

"It's a family-owned course, since 1963," Sutter said. "We have openings on the weekends that are open for tournaments, and you can still play in a league during the week if possible."

Loyal Oak Golf course is located on South Cleveland-Massillon Road in Norton and is also very involved in developing golfers at the youth level.

Sutter said that by getting the youngsters involved in the game early, it gives them a rewarding sense of spreading the love and appreciation of the game.

You can find Loyal Oak on the 2016 Players Golf Card.

For additional information on Loyal Oak, click here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been rolling in these playoffs, the players are really coming together both on and off the floor, and it couldn't come at a better time, as they await their Eastern Conference Finals opponent.

Chris Haynes, who covers the team for Cleveland.com joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the Wine and Gold and how they got to this point both on and off the floor.

Haynes says forward Kevin Love has come out of his shell and he's playing confident and loose basketball.

"This year for some reason, he's trying to get to know his teammates and get comfortable," he explained. "He's a homebody and he stays to himself, and last year it seemed like LeBron James kind of tried to force that team chemistry, because he's of the belief that if you get along off the court, you'll do better on the court."

Chris recalled when the team was in Atlanta, they were not cloistered in dark corners of restaurants, they were not closed off, but eating on outdoor patios and letting everyone see them.

He says that it's been apparent that the off court chemistry has been crucial to their success on the hardwood during these playoffs.

  Chris says the Cavaliers have been resting, getting treatment, and watching some game tape as of late, but he says with the long week off, they'll have to stay crisp in their offensive sets.

 "They're going to make sure they're not going too hard, but they're trying to keep their conditioning up."

The Massillon Tigers have a new head boys' basketball coach, and he says he's learned a lot in his previous stops on his journey to TigerTown.

Michael Cruz, the new head man for the Tigers joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about what he looks to bring to western Stark County, and some of the great mentors he's had in coaching that got him to this point.

Coach Cruz says he's ready to hit the hardwood.

"I'm very excited and very honored for the opportunity," Cruz said. "I got a chance to talk to the players yesterday, and I'm ready to get on the court and get to work."

Cruz came from Garfield Heights High School,  where he worked under Sonny Johnson, one of the better high school coaches in the Cleveland area. 

Cruz, 30, has also had stops at Lorain County Community College, UNC-Charlotte, Colerain HS, and most recently Garfield Heights.

He says he learned a lot at Colerain about the high school game and relating to the players.

"It taught me to be patient, it taught me a lot from a schematic standpoint," he said. "I truly believe I was meant to be at Massillon, and I'm just really excited to get started." 

The Ellet Orangemen are having a solid year at 13-7 overall and 9-0 in the City Series, and they plan on riding their pitching into the State Tournament.

Baseball coach John Sarver joined the Sam Bourquin Show Tuesday to talk about his club heading into tournament play, and he says they've been having some timely hitting to go along with that pitching this season.

"We've done very well in the City," Sarver said, referencing the team's undefeated record in league play.  "Our pitchers Derek Cook, Joe Williams, and Matt Cody have been good all year, so the pitching has carried us."  

Cook, a senior, and Williams and Cody, both juniors, have been at the top of the rotation for the Orangemen all year.

Ellet will take on the North Vikings in a league game before playing Austintown Fitch at home tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.

The Orangemen will travel to Kent on Thursday if they get past Austintown Fitch on Wednesday.

Sarver says he credits the players and the coaching staff for being mentally tough and paying attention to detail despite the weather causing games to be moved around and so forth. "You have to be a little mentally tough to play in this weather, and I think our young kids have that."