Hawken grad, board chairman makes nat`l headlines

Hawken Board of Trustees Chairman Kip Horsburgh`s support of the Cavs as the team attempted to bring home Cleveland`s first-ever NBA title landed the 1965 Hawken grad in papers across the country on Tuesday, featured in an Associated Press article. Here`s what he had to say as the Cavs readied to face the Spurs in Game 3 of the finals. Cavaliers fans relish first taste of finals JOE MILICIA Associated Press CLEVELAND - For Cavaliers fans, the wait has ended. After 37 years - including some very long, losing ones, the NBA finals have pulled into town. There are some Cleveland fans who haven`t had to endure nearly four decades of suffering. After all, LeBron James has attracted more than a few latecomers to the party over the last four seasons. But for those who remember players like Bingo Smith, Jim Chones, Jim Cleamons and Craig Ehlo, the city`s first NBA finals game on Tuesday night will be something to savor. \"It`s magical,\" said Kip Horsburgh of Gates Mills. \"It`s a bonus. I don`t think anyone thought we would make the finals. I would rank it up there with watching the Indians` first World Series game in `95.\" The 59-year-old Horsburgh has been a season-ticket holder since 1981 and hasn`t missed a playoff game this season. He and his wife and two sons have certainly paid their dues, attending games even during the lean years, like the 17-win season in 2002-03 that was followed by the Cavs winning the NBA draft lottery and getting to pick James. \"We would see seven to eight games a year in the bad years. And they were pretty bad,\" he said. The fact that the Cavaliers are 0-2 heading into Game 3 is hardly dampening anyone`s spirits. \"This is something I`ve waited a lifetime for,\" said Stuart Glassman, 46, of Beachwood, whose family has held season tickets since 1972. \"I`m optimistic. There was a pretty clear understanding of what we`re going against with a team that`s been there before. As a fan, I`m thrilled they`re playing tough to the very end and optimistic that staring tomorrow they`ll turn it around.\" Fans who sell their postseason tickets for big bucks infuriate Horsburgh, who said part of the joy has been sharing the Cavaliers playoff success with the season-ticket holders who sit near him in his corner section. While Horsburgh was looking forward to Game 3, it won`t be his ultimate thrill. \"The longtime fans want to win the championship,\" he said. \"We`ve lost the first two (games) and we want to make progress toward that goal. We want to win now. We may not get back right away.\"