For Ohio professional sports fans — especially ones in the Northern region — compounding the words to fully describe LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ spectacular NBA Finals win has been just as it was difficult to watch a Game 7 with so many lead changes and shifts in momentum.
Even LeBron himself didn’t give the most prolific of interviews last night, as emotion undoubtedly outweighed his senses.
Today’s headline news and blurbs are proclaiming the “Cleveland Curse” — a reference to the city’s 52-year drought in pro sports — has been lifted, thus putting a cease to fan’s longtime suffering.
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For Stalley, the Ohio native who has unflinchingly put on for his Buckeye State (even more specifically his hometown of Massillon; a quaint town that is located only 20 miles away from LeBron’s hometown of Akron) seeing King James make history by leading the first team to ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals has been a lifetime
While speaking to HipHopDX, he attempts to summarize the greatness he and the rest of the sports world has just witnessed.
HipHopDX: Try to put into words of the Cavaliers first championship. How can you describe it?
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Stalley: Man it’s surreal. It’s a feeling that, uncontrollable feeling as well. Emotions is everywhere. Like I don’t know what to feel. It’s like I played the game almost. Even people have been hitting my phone; like my phone blew up right after. And it was just everybody was congratulating me like I was apart of the team. But they know how hard I go and I rep for not only the Cavs, but for the whole state of Ohio. Just how proud I am about where I am from.
HipHopDX: The man who just showed out and got the MVP, he goes just as hard for the state. I remember when Ohio came out, he went out of his way just to post your album cover just to let people know it’s in stores.
Stalley: Yeah! And that was just a blessing too. I was in the store when that happened and I had been doing an autograph signing, signing cd’s I was in Cleveland at the Next store and I remember as I’m signing, somebody from the label just walked over to me and put the phone in my face. And I looked, and I was like ‘hold up, what’s that?’ and then I seen that it was LeBron and I was like ‘Oh that’s crazy!’
HipHopDX: To actually see him come back 3-1, do you think he’s the most deserving ever?
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Stalley: Oh yeah, I mean that’s the biggest way to ever win. It’s the greatest story in NBA history, period. A hometown kid who got drafted by the hometown team. Left, broke hearts; came back, won a championship. And not only did he win the first championship in Cavaliers history, but also the first championship in 52 years for the city of Cleveland. And then he did it by coming back, by being down 3-1, and that’s the first time that ever happened in the history of the NBA. So that’s the greatest story ever, I mean you can make a movie, write a book, tell your grandkids whatever. One of the best endings ever. I wouldn’t be mad if he came out tomorrow and said I’m never playing basketball again. He’s done it.
HipHopDX: I remember we were talking about this before and you said hands down LeBron is the best player ever from Ohio. Where do you think he ranks in NBA history?
Stalley: Man, he’s up there; especially after this performance in the Finals he’s definitely up there. And I like to say, just as being biased that’s he’s the greatest to ever do it. I know everybody argues Michael Jordan and some people argue Kobe, but his numbers are so proven. Just everything about his game, it’s like we’ve never seen somebody like him. Just like we’ve never seen with Jordan.
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HipHopDX: When you look at the teams Jordan had the teams Kobe had versus the teams LeBron, had it’s night and day. He really didn’t have a squad. But this might be the closest one.
Stalley: Not to cut you off, but that’s why I want to say he’s the best. Look at all the teams he’s had, and look at all the coaches he’s had. He’s never had a top coach since he’s been in the NBA. You know a superstar coach or a seasoned coach at that. And as far as the teams, I mean ya Kyrie balling out, but I mean besides Kyrie who did he really have? I mean in Miami he had Dwyane Wade, but he didn’t have primetime Dwyane Wade. So I definitely liked to say that too because Jordan had teams and he had one of the greatest coaches ever. LeBron is working with rookie coaches when he went to the finals the first time in Cleveland he had Mike Brown. And now, he got Tyronn Lue the first time in a young coach. I definitely want to say he’s the greatest.
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HipHopDX: You being a rapper from Ohio, there’s a lot of buzz centered around the area as of now. What’s your next move?
Stalley: I’ve been working recently on a lot of different things and different music. I have a lot of music on deck, I’m looking forward to dropping new music at the perfect time like you said. I like to say that there’s no one in the city or state that reps it the way like I do. Like me and LeBron, I always put us as the top faces of Ohio. When people think of Ohio, they think of LeBron and myself. And that’s just people telling me, that’s what I hear in the streets, that ain’t even me just saying it. It’s definitely my duty, being a rapper, being from Ohio, it’s my duty to put on and do what I gotta do. Definitely a lot of music coming.
