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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. Matt Albers Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Bobby Wahl Jersey . 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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Jay Cutler has been here before, in more than one respect.The Bears quarterback has gone from a hero one week to zero the following week, as he did in the Oct. 31 win over the Minnesota Vikings and in their 36-10 loss Sunday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that left Chicago at a woeful 2-7.As the team prepares for a road game this Sunday against the New York Giants, Cutler will be throwing to a crew of backup receivers -- like he did much of last season.Winning fixes a lot, thats for sure, Cutler said Thursday. Ive talked to the receivers and well try to rally the troops. Its going to take more than just me to rally; it takes the whole group to make this thing happen. And the guys in the locker room know that.In that win against Minnesota, Cutler went 20-for-31 passing for 252 yards with a touchdown and one sack. In three losses this season, Cutler is 44 for 88 for 555 yards with two touchdowns, four interceptions and two lost fumbles. He was sacked 12 times in those games.He turned it over four times against the Buccaneers and said he expected criticism afterward. He declined to address reports that teammates have had enough of Cutler.If people actually start putting their names on it, we can have a discussion about it, Cutler said. Ive never felt like that in the locker room with those guys. But myself and the offense included, were definitely working to get better.Trying to turn things around against the Giants got more difficult this week because wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was suspended for four weeks by the NFL for violating its performance-enhancing substances policy. The Bears already were without their other starting receiver. Kevin White suffered a broken leg in Week 4. White missed all of last season with a shin injury and Jeffery missed seven games due to an assortment of injuries.Thiis all means Cutler will be throwing to wide receivers Josh Bellamy, Cameron Meredith and Deonte Thompson.ddddddddddddIts pretty much the same, coach John Fox said about his backup receivers. Its kind of the same set of characters actually, even as last year.Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said the Bears will miss Jefferys ability to go up for a back-shoulder throw or in a jump-ball situation.Theres things that he does better than the rest of them, Loggains said. Theres things that they do that will play into their strengths, and well try to put those guys in those spots.One difference from last year is veteran slot receiver Eddie Royal is available. He has played through a toe injury after missing time last season.Another possible plus is the return of Marquess Wilson from the physically unable to perform list this week. However, coaches arent sure what to expect out of Wilson because he missed all of training camp, part of the offseason work and the first half of the season due to a foot injury.Cutler expressed confidence in the receiver group.We know how to use those pieces, he said. We know what those guys do well. And bottom line: theyre going to have to make some plays for us.Game notes Starting nose tackle Eddie Goldman (ankle) missed practice for the second straight day with an injury. His backup, Will Sutton, is out for the year with an ankle injury suffered last week. . Right tackle Mike Adams returned to practice after being away a day due to illness. Adams could start Sunday because starter Bobby Massie suffered a concussion last week and has not yet cleared the NFL concussion protocol.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '