89 all. I was physically unable to watch the game. Seriously. I went and sat in my car and waited. I heard some noises from inside my friend’s house where I was watching the game. I ran in and saw LeBron talking to Doris Burke about how this championship means more than his two in Miami because “he’s home.”

My emotions overcame me. I started to tear up as I realized we were finally champions.

Of course, I later saw LeBron’s huge block on Andre Igoudala, and Kyrie’s miraculous step-back 3 over Steph Curry, both crucial points in Game 7.

With all that this team and city has been through, coming back from 3-1 to finally break the curse was the perfect way to finally end it.

June 2016 was one of, if not the most memorable month in Cleveland’s history. For me, it is a month of moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.

It started out on the night of June 2nd. The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by Akron’s own LeBron James, were back in the NBA Finals. They were in Oakland, California, to take on the Golden State Warriors. Not only did the Dubs beat the Cavs in the 2015 Finals, but the 2016 team went 73-9, a historic best, and had the first ever unanimous MVP in Stephen Curry.

Game 1 and Game 2 were tough to swallow. The Cavs faced two losses that seemed to put a championship out of reach. I was at the watch party inside the Q during Game 2, and it was extremely depressing.

After starting off Game 3 fast, the Cavs held off the Warriors for a 120-90 blowout. Game 4, however, was much different. The Warriors pulled away for a 108-97 victory in the final minutes. I was outside the Q, watching the game with the huge crowd, and everyone was devastated. As I rode home on the RTA, I felt I’d probably have to wait at least another year until the 52-year drought was over. Going back to the “Roaracle” down 3-1? No way we’d come back.

Yet the Cavs held on to win both Games 5 and 6, prompting the unlikely Game 7.

One win away. I’ve been a Cleveland sports fan my whole life. I saw the Cavs clinch the Eastern Conference Title in 2007. I’ve been to Indians playoff games. I am as emotionally invested in Cleveland sports as anyone. So, naturally, I was extremely nervous during the 2 days between Game 6 and Game 7.

June 19th, 2016. Father’s Day.

I spent the whole day doing nothing–I was too nervous. And then, it was game time. A close first half dominated by Green had the Cavs down at half.  Now, here it was. Crunch time. The biggest 12 minutes of my life. LeBron’s life. The City of Cleveland’s life. 2 minutes left. 89-89; this was when I went to my car. I came back, and it was time to celebrate.

I headed over to Dick’s Sporting Goods to get some gear, and it was like our country had just won its independence.  When the Cavs landed in the morning, a sea of wine and gold awaited them at Hopkins airport. LeBron, wearing a shirt that said “Ultimate Warrior,” hoisted the trophy as he exited the plane.

This was nothing compared to the parade. On Wednesday, June 22, I awoke at 7 AM to see an outrageous line at the Green Road RTA stop. I’d never seen the rapid as crowded as this. There was apparently a 3 hour wait. All parking spots at every rapid stop in Cleveland were filled, and the rapid wasn’t stopping at any other stations until it cleared out Green Road. So, realizing that I wouldn’t make it downtown in time for the 11:30 parade, I got a car ride there. I arrived around 9:00, and it was already packed.

Over 250,000 people were waiting on the Mall for the rally slated to start AFTER the parade ended hours later. I moved into the intersection of East 9th & Superior and waited there, with almost no personal space, for about two hours. The police were having trouble clearing out the parade route. People kept walking through it and back at the Q; the parade had not yet started.

But finally, after my legs had almost collapsed, the parade began. Many floats headed the front of the precession, including one for the Lake Erie Monsters, who are also champions, the Cleveland Gladiators, Cleveland’s own Machine Gun Kelly and many more. Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavs, eventually rolled through and gave an enthusiastic fist-pump to the crowd, exclaiming “We did it!”

JR Smith was the first player to come by me. He was still shirtless, as he had been since Game 7 ended. He and the rest of the Cavs were in awe. The crowd gave every player, from LeBron to Mo Williams, just as much love. It was truly a surreal moment. This was what the city had been waiting for for so long. That’s why 1.3 million people showed up on that hot and humid day.

There is no place like Cleveland. Even after decades of heartbreak, the support for our teams and players is unwavering. It still hasn’t hit me that the Cavs won. It still feels like a dream, which is similar to the sentiment that King James himself expressed after he won it all. Cleveland is finally a city of champions.

Now, it’s time to repeat, and who better to do it against than the Warriors with their new villain, Kevin Durant?