Pictured are Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-11) of Ohio (wearing blue-green suit), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-13) of California, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (wearing white headband), and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors
By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog, Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com.
Kathy Wray Coleman is a community activist and 22- year investigative journalist who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper.
(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com).
(WASHIINGTON, D.C.) – On Wednesday, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), a Cleveland, Ohio area Democrat, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a Oakland, California Democrat, announced a friendly wager over this year's NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, which are an Oakland NBA team.
Up for grabs are local favorites from the respective cities of the two Black federal lawmakers. But more importantly, likely Fudge, and possibly Lee, will gain bragging rights for the next year, if their team can win the NBA Finals and bring home a national championship. (Editor's note: Game one of the NBA Finals between the two teams, Cleveland representing the Eastern Conference division, and Golden State , the Western Conference, is Thursday, June 4 at 9 pm EPT).
If the Warriors win, Congresswoman Fudge will offer her colleague from California chocolates, peanuts and pastries made in the heart of Cleveland. If the Cavaliers win the series, Congresswoman Lee will supply her colleague from California with the East Bay’s finest, namely Clif bars, Ghiradelli chocolates, Peet’s coffee and an autographed photo of Stephen Curry in an Oaklandish tote bag.
Curry leads the Warriors, and LeBron James, 30, who has been to the NBA Finals four times, and who led the Miami Heat to win two of its three NBA championships, leads the Cavaliers.
“The Golden State Warriors are a strong team, but it’s time to end our city’s 50-year championship drought,” Fudge told Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's leader in Black digital news. "The Cavaliers will be victorious."
Fudge said that James, a native of Akron, which is a city some 35 miles south of Cleveland, has been an all star to the hilt, and that she is proud of him.
“Led by Akron’s own LeBron James, the Cavaliers have been relentless in their pursuit of victory and all of Northeast Ohio is ‘all in’ and proud of their determination to bring the championship home," said Fudge, who leads Ohio's largely Black 11th congressional district, which includes the majority Black major metropolitan city of Cleveland. " While confident in our victory, I proudly wager chocolates from Malley’s, peanuts from Peterson’s and pastries from Davis Bakery."
Congresswoman Lee said that Fudge's stance is merely wishful thinking and that her favorite team , a West Coast team in fact, will surely win the NBA Finals, a best of seven championship series.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers are a good team but the Warriors will win this, hands down,' said Lee. "With the strong support of the East Bay and leadership of MVP Stephen Curry, I am confident of a Warrior’s win!”
Lee said also that "I look forward to enjoying the sweetness of a hometown victory along with Cleveland treats from my friend, Congresswoman Fudge.”
(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com).
