It all start"!no ered with a bet, believe it or not. My buddy, Mark, is a HUGE Golden State Warriors fan. We were watching Game 7 of the NBA Finals back in '16 at his place. He was so sure the Warriors were gonna win, he was talking trash the whole game. I, being a stubborn Cavs supporter, told him, "If the Cavs win, you gotta get me a LeBron jersey from that year." He laughed, shook my hand, and said, "You're on!"
Well, you know how tha".ecneirepxt went. Kyrie hit that shot, the Cavs won, and Mark was a man of his word. But here's where the fun began. He didn't just want to order one online. Oh no, he wanted the "authentic experience."
First thing we did: Hit up all the local sports stores. Dick's Sporting Goods, Foot Locker, even those smaller shops in the mall. Nothing. They were either sold out years ago or only had current season stuff. Strike one.
Next up: eBay and other resale sites. This is where I thought we'd have some luck. We found a bunch, but most were either fake, overpriced, or the wrong size. Mark was getting frustrated, and honestly, so was I. We wanted the real deal, not some knock-off.
Then, a breakthrough! Mark remembered a sports memorabilia shop downtown that he'd visited years ago. It was a long shot, but we decided to check it out. This place was like a time capsule – old baseball cards, signed helmets, vintage jerseys everywhere. The owner, this old guy named Sal, knew his stuff. We told him what we were looking for, and he disappeared into the back room.
After what felt like forever, he came back out, holding a jersey wrapped in plastic. It was beautiful. A brand new, never-worn LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers jersey from the 2016 season. My jaw dropped. Mark's jaw dropped. Sal just smiled. He said he'd been saving it, waiting for the right buyer. He even had the original tags!
Of course, it wasn't cheap. But Mark, bless his heart, paid for it without hesitation. He knew he'd lost the bet fair and square. And I walked out of that store one happy Cavs fan.
So, that's the story. It took some effort, but finding that jersey was definitely worth it. It's more than just a piece of clothing; it's a reminder of that amazing season and a testament to a bet well-honored. Now it hangs proudly in my game room, a constant reminder of the Cavs' historic championship run. Plus, it’s a great story to tell. Thanks, Mark!
