1. What Might Have Been
The Cavaliers’ nickname came out of a contest in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, where the winner would receive the now-dubious prize of season tickets for the team’s first season. The contest was first announced in mid-February 1970, and the five finalists were narrowed down in March of that year.
Besides the Cavaliers, the 11,000+ voting had the option of these four other choices: Jays, Foresters. Towers or Presidents. In truth, only two of those seemingly had a connection to Cleveland, since the city used to be known as “The Forest City,” and remains home of the Terminal Tower.
In the end, the Cavaliers was chosen on more than one-third of the 6,000+ ballots and became forever connected to basketball in Cleveland. What swayed the judges was the explanation of the local winner: “The name Cleveland Cavaliers represents a group of daring, fearless men whose life’s pact was never surrender, no matter what the odds.”
