his postseason bid fell away, Fowler planned to leave on the facial hair to support J.T. through the playoffs. But then he had to film a video, and off came the mustache.While Fowler and his pals

CLEVELAND -- Blinking back tears, LeBron James extended his right ring finger, the one sparkling with 400 diamonds, and touched the championship banner.As it rose from a golden, miniature Cleveland skyline toward the ceiling, Queens We Are The Champions filled Quicken Loans Arena and Cavs fans sang along with Freddie Mercury just as they did in June.And, incredibly, this was just the warm-up act for a night this city wont soon forget.Welcome to the center of the sports galaxy -- Cleveland, Ohio.On the same night the Cavs celebrated their historic comeback in the NBA Finals, winning a title that not only ended a 52-year drought in Cleveland but energized an entire region, the Indians hosted Game 1 of the World Series against the Chicago Cubs next door at Progressive Field.A perfect sports storm on the shores of Lake Erie.This type of thing never happened in Cleveland, where sports heartbreak was passed down from generation to generation like family heirlooms. But those days are over. This is a new Cleveland -- city of champions.The Cavs flipped that tired sports script, storming back from a 3-1 deficit to shock the 73-win Golden State Warriors and give Cleveland its first title since 1964, when the Browns won the NFL title. Before receiving their rings on Tuesday night -- about an hour before the Indians and Cubs got started -- Cleveland re-lived those special days earlier this summer when one its teams finally fought its way all the way to the top.James was the final player to be introduced and handed his 6.5 karat ring by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. After slipping it on his hand, James, the kid from Akron who delivered on his promise to win a title for Cleveland, looked at the jewelry with admiration and perhaps some astonishment.Yes, it really happened. Here.This is for you guys, James told the crowd, repeating a message he screamed after the Cavs won Game 7 at Oracle Arena on June 19. This is all for you.James paused and then reminded Cleveland that it remains underdogs -- even in victory.At this point, if youre not from here, live here, play here ... then it makes no sense for you to live at this point, said the three-time champion. Cleveland against the world.James made sure to wish luck to the Indians, who overcame adversity all season and won their first AL pennant since 1997. Theyre trying to end a 68-year Series title drought against the Cubs, those lovable losers 108 years removed from their last championship.Once the pomp and pageantry ended, James posted a triple-double as the Cavs opened the season with a 117-88 win over the New York Knicks. The Cubs-Indians game was shown on smaller scoreboards during timeouts and James, now 3-0 in ring ceremony games, applauded from the bench when he saw Robert Perezs homer give Cleveland a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.In the moments before they took the floor for the ceremony, the Cavs, wearing new white-and-gold warmups with 2016 NBA Champions written on the back, looked like little kids getting ready to storm the Christmas tree and tear open presents. Kyrie Irving did a little dance in the hallway outside Clevelands locker room and shared a big hug with Kevin Love before James joined them and the team headed into the darkened arena where 20,000-plus fans roared.Following a video that showed highlights from the epic Game 7 -- James huge block, Irvings 3-pointer -- Silver introduced Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who has spared no expense in building a super team. Clevelands starting five this season will make $100 million in salary.Gilberts gotten greedy, and Cleveland fans dont mind one bit. After all, most of them have waited a lifetime to see one title.Why not another.When this is all over and that banner goes up there, there is really only one thing left to do -- repeat, Gilbert said. And, go Tribe.There was still an opener to play, but that hardly mattered.In the hours leading up to the ceremony and Game 1, fans of the Indians, Cavs -- and a sizeable contingent of Cubs backers -- posed for photos around the two buildings. They were savoring a day many never dreamed possible.Indians outfielder Coco Crisp stopped and signed autographs on his stroll to work. For Crisp, in his second stint with Cleveland after the Indians traded for him in August, the chance to play in the World Series for the team he started with is beyond special.Its a dream come true, said Crisp, who also played for the Indians from 2002-05. To be here now in this situation is unbelievable. And for Cleveland, I mean, what a day. These fans have done a great job of keeping the faith.It was rewarded by the Cavaliers, whose championship transcended all three teams and connected Clevelanders like nothing else.Coach Tyronn Lue, who took over the Cavs midway through last season, shared the story of what it meant to a pair of fans he met after Cleveland won the title. The father and son approached Lue as he had dinner in Las Vegas.Lue said the man told him, You dont understand how much this means to the city of Cleveland. My dad is not alive but he supported all three sports every year. Its so sad hes not here to see this. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.Then he broke down and started crying, Lue said. That was one of the best moments I experienced this summer. Nolan Ryan Jersey Large .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. 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CHASKA, Minn. -- The first question Rickie Fowler was asked at the Ryder Cup was as good an indication as any of how his year has gone.Can you talk a little about facial hair in golf and your view of it?Fowler is one of golfs it boys, part of young generation of tour players who hang out and vacation together and are as knowledgeable about fashion as they are about flop shots. Theyre masterful at brand-building and are all over social media. Theyre comfortable in the spotlight, engaging and almost always in demand, even when they dont win consistently, which is another way of summing up Fowlers rocky season.He won in January at Abu Dhabi against a field that rivaled most PGA Tour events. A month later, he blew a two-shot lead in Phoenix with two holes left and lost in a playoff to Hideki Matsuyama and his tableau for the rest of his year was set. Fowler subsequently blew leads in Charlotte and New York, making him 0 for 4 when he held the 54-hole lead on tour and eventually costing him both an automatic qualifying berth for the Ryder Cup and a slot in the season-ending Tour Championship.It was a stunning reversal of fortunes, considering the momentum Fowler was building. He finished in the top five of all four majors in 2014, and won twice -- including The Players Championship, golfs unofficial fifth major -- only a year ago. Part of that skid could be the result of fatigue, especially the last two months or so, when Fowler traveled to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics and wound up playing on the road eight out nine weeks.Im feeling better about the game, having those two weeks off than I would have getting ready for the ... Tour Championship, he said. I was able to go relax, rest, recover and tthen use the week to practice.ddddddddddddIm rested and ready to go, he added a moment later. That was big for me after the summer we had.Somewhere in between, Fowler found time to grow a mustache in solidarity with pal Justin Thomas that they dubbed playoff `staches. When his postseason bid fell away, Fowler planned to leave on the facial hair to support J.T. through the playoffs. But then he had to film a video, and off came the mustache.While Fowler and his pals have eschewed the intimidation tactics and cut-throat approach to competition that was part of so many of the tool boxes the last generation carried around, the temptation to do so could prove tempting this weekend. The Ryder Cup is easily the most partisan event in the gentlemanly game, especially since Europe has won the last three and eight of the last 10. And almost on cue, some Europeans have already turned U.S. captain Davis Loves description of his squad as the best team, maybe, ever assembled into a rallying cry.Fowler insists he wont take the bait.It doesnt change for me. I may not be able to talk for everyone, but I dont feel that anyone is acting any differently toward each other, whether its between team or opposing teams, he said. Its an accomplishment just to be here.This will be Fowlers third try and some validation is in order. He was a captains pick this year and in 2010 and has yet to win a match in four-ball, foursomes or singles, losing three and halving three others.I dont think theres any trick to it, he said. At the end of the day, youve just got to go out and beat those other guys. ' ' '