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Like many fans, I inherited my favorite teams from my father. I have his face, his eyes, his love of family, and his love of the Indians, Browns, Cavs and Buckeyes deep in my DNA.My love affair with my sweetest team began on a perfect Friday evening in Cleveland. I was 5 years old. Dad and I were two of the 12,084 in attendance for an Indians-Tigers game at the old and cavernous Municipal Stadium. Our seats were just behind the Indians dugout so we had a great view of one of baseballs all-time great brawls. In the eighth inning of an otherwise forgettable game, Tigers pitcher Bill Denehy decided to take back a pound of flesh for the three Tigers hitters already hit by Indians pitching. Denehy plunked Indians catcher Ray Fosse, who was having none of it. Fosse charged the mound. Denehy came flying at Fosse, spikes high, and caught him in the hand. Blood was everywhere. The benches cleared. Denehy, Fosse and Tigers left fielder Willie Horton were sent to the showers, and umpire Jim Honochick called it the bloodiest fight he had seen on a baseball field in 23 years. When the game finally resumed, Indians first baseman Chris Chambliss promptly belted a two-run homer and I was hopelessly hooked. My dad further cemented the relationship when he bought me an Indians replica batting helmet as we were leaving the stadium after the 7-0 win. That helmet left my head for church and sleep and not much else.That 1971 season the Indians lost 102 games, finishing 43 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the old AL East. But it was in that warm June moment that I dedicated my forever fandom to the Cleveland Indians, declaring to my doting dad, Ill only play in the major leagues for the Cleveland Indians. Never happened, of course, but my lifelong love affair still continues 46 years later with the same unabashed hope and passion.Through the years, Dad and I shared the many heartbreaks, and occasional highs, of Indians baseball. We listened on the radio on Opening Day 1975 when Frank Robinson, in his first at-bat as the Indians player-manager, homered to lead the Indians to a 5-3 win over the Yankees.We watched on TV in 1981 as Len Barker threw a perfect game against the Blue Jays. I still remember our phone call during my senior year at BGSU when Sports Illustrated made Cory Snyder and Joe Carter cover boys with the banner, Indian Uprising. They would lose 101 games and finish 37 games behind the Detroit Tigers.The mid-90s saw the true Indian Uprising. By now, I was working at WBNS-TV, the CBS affiliate in Columbus, Ohio. I was lucky enough to cover the final game at Municipal Stadium and the first game at Jacobs Field. Dad was still living in Sandusky, and we would occasionally meet in Cleveland for games. The Indians were very good. Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Sandy Alomar, Kenny Lofton and on and on -- those teams were dripping with talent.I was covering the 1995 World Series when the Indians lost in six to Atlanta. My first call after completing my late reports was to Dad. We lamented. We replayed Game 6. A 1-0 loss. David Justice homered. Tom Glavine and Mark Wohlers held the potent Tribe offense to a single hit.Two years later it was even worse. 1997. Game 7 of the World Series in Miami. The Indians led the Marlins 2-1 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning. Manager Mike Hargrove called on closer Jose Mesa to get three more outs. Thats all that stood between the Indians and their first World Series championship since my dad was 10. I had left the press box and headed to the doors just outside the Indians clubhouse to prepare for postgame interviews. Suddenly the stadium shook. The Marlins had tied the game. The clubhouse doors flew open. I watched in disbelief as carts of champagne were whisked out of the Indians clubhouse. Boxes of Indians World Series Champions shirts and hats were also carted out, headed instead to Third World countries. The Marlins scored again in the 11th to win Game 7 and the World Series. When I finally finished my postgame interviews and final report, I called Dad. It was in the early morning hours. He was still awake. Waiting for my call.Ten years later, 2007, the Indians are good again, but now Dad was fighting cancer, and for his life, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Indians led Terry Francona and the Red Sox three games to one in the ALCS. My father had loved Terrys dad Tito, who spent six of his best 15 big league seasons with the Indians in the 50s and 60s. I decided to jump on a plane and stay in Phoenix until the baseball season was over. I knew it would be my fathers last. When I arrived, my dad remarked, Too bad for Titos boy, Terry. Seems like a wonderful man, but this one is ours. I spent the next days watching the Indians lose their grip on what seemed a certain trip to the World Series. They would lose Game 5. Then Game 6 and Game 7. My last chance to watch the Indians win a World Series with my dad had slipped away. In the minutes after Game 7 ended, Dad broke the ugly silence with few words. He told me he wouldnt trade the past few days for anything. Even though our team had lost and we both knew wed never see a championship together, he somehow found the positive. He focused on the father-son time. Watching baseball together. As we first had 36 years earlier. He put sports in its proper place. He told me, Let sports enhance your life, not detract from it. They are games, meant to be fun. Dont lose sight of that. He assured me one day Ill experience a championship with my son, Corey. He told me to enjoy it as much as if it had been lived with him.When the Cavaliers finally ended Clevelands 51-year title drought in June, Corey and I were together. We were in Cleveland and we celebrated like children at recess. It took just seconds before thoughts turned to Dad.And thats where my thoughts will be Tuesday night when the Indians host Game 1 of the World Series for the first time ever. With my dad. And all of those backyard catches. And all of those games in old Municipal Stadium. And the late-night consolation phone calls. And that difficult 2007 ALCS. Ill be with Corey, just a few feet away from the Indians dugout and Terry Francona. Dad, you were right. Terry is a wonderful man. And this time hes on our side. Adidas Superstar Nz Sale . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Superstar Shoes Nz . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. http://www.discountsuperstarnz.com/ . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Adidas Superstar Wholesale Nz .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Adidas Original Superstar Nz . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Seattle SeahawksOverall: 12 Title track: T6 Ownership: 7 Coaching: T4 Players: 9 Fan relations: 15 Affordability: 101 Stadium experience: 17 Bang for the buck: 8 Change from last year: -7The Seahawks are no strangers to the top of these standings, and this year is no different: Top-10 finishes in title track, ownership, coaching, players and bang for the buck mark some of the categories most important to fans. All those pieces have been put together to impressive effect on the field: The Seahawks have gone to at least the divisional round in four straight seasons, have made the Super Bowl twice and brought home the Lombardi trophy once.Whats goodThe Seahawks have made the playoffs in five of six years under Pete Carroll, whom fans voted the fourth-best coach in sports (tied with Bruce Arians, behind only Bill Belichick in the NFL). At 65, Carroll is the oldest coach in the NFL, but he has created a culture in which players are encouraged to let their personalities show. He signed a three-year contract extension through 2019 and is focused on getting at least one more Super Bowl ring while in Seattle. The roster (ranked ninth overall in the Ultimate Standings) assembled by GM John Schneider isnt too shabby, either: Russell Wilson is only 27, and the defense has led the NFL in fewest points allowed for four consecutive seasons.Whats badThe Seahawks average ticket price -- jusst under $85 a seat -- is actually lower than the league average.dddddddddddd. So whats with the low ranking in affordability? Well, its not easy to get a ticket to a game at CenturyLink Field, and fans really have to open their wallets if they are trying the secondary market. According to TicketIQ, Seahawks tickets carry an average price of $466 on the secondary market, the highest number in the NFL. And while Seattles $3 hot dog is the cheapest in sports, the team also gets dinged here when it comes to affordable parking ($50) and other concessions.Whats newTheres not much room for the Seahawks to grow before they top these rankings, but the team did manage a five-spot improvement in fan relations, based on engaging fans through social media and connecting them to information they want online. The team account does a good job of taking fans behind the scenes. For example, last season after a win over the Baltimore Ravens, Pete Carroll climbed atop the lockers to deliver his postgame speech, and the Seahawks posted a photo. Carroll uses his own Twitter account to interact with fans and get their opinion on important issues like whether he should move on from his old-school sneakers. And players like wide receiver Doug Baldwin use their personal accounts to engage fans on social issues.Next: New England Patriots?| Full rankings ' ' '