By DOMINIC KEARNS

COLUMNIST

Loyalty can lead to painful moments for sports fans, and nobody knows this better than Cleveland football and baseball fans. After all, Cleveland’s most famous sports moments are “The Decision”, “The Drive” and “The Fumble.” Thankfully, the Indians and Browns are finally giving Cleveland reasons to cheer.

Things looked bleak on Sept. 18. The Browns had started 0-2 and traded their star running back Trent Richardson for a 2014 first round draft pick. Long-suffering fans threatened to protest, while third string QB Brian Hoyer was named the starter after Brandon Weeden got injured.

Meanwhile, the Indians had just lost two of three games in Kansas City, falling behind Texas and Tampa Bay in the American League wild card race. Questions surfaced about Cleveland’s shaky bullpen and the inexperience across the Indians lineup. Despite manager Terry Francona’s brilliance, nobody would have been shocked if the Indians failed to fulfill their October dreams.

The turnarounds for both teams have been equal parts swift and uplifting. The Indians finished their season with a 10-game winning streak to surge past the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays in the AL playoff race. The game that exemplifies Cleveland’s season occurred on Sept. 24. The Indians entered the ninth inning with a 3-2 edge over the White Sox, but the lead evaporated after two Chicago homers. With two outs in the ninth, Francona brought Jason Giambi off the bench to pinch-hit, and Giambi drilled an improbable two-run shot for the 5-4 Indians victory. The Indians don’t have any marquee players but will cause problems for any opponent, especially the Red Sox.

Meanwhile, the Browns have risen to first place behind the heroics of hometown quarterback Brian Hoyer. With miniscule expectations, Cleveland visited Minnesota and rallied past the Vikings behind three touchdown catches by Jordan Cameron. Last Sunday, the Bengals came to Lake Erie seeking another win in the Buckeye State battle, but Cleveland’s defense dictated the game, forcing two turnovers in a convincing 17-6 win. Hoyer now has an eye-popping 590 yards and five TD passes in his first two NFL starts, and the defense looks better than it has in years.

For two nights, Cleveland will be the center of the sports world. Its Indians will be playing in front of a sellout crowd Oct. 2, and would advance to face the Boston Red Sox in the AL Division Series with a win. On Oct. 3, the Browns host the Buffalo Bills for sole possession of first place in the AFC North. This might be the biggest sporting week for Cleveland since 2007, the last year either team enjoyed a winning season. No city needs this athletic renaissance more than Cleveland, whose fans have suffered several lifetimes’ worth of heartbreak in the past 30 years. For all we know, the Indians and Browns may suffer gut-wrenching home defeats and return the city to its depressing equilibrium. In the meantime, Cleveland and its loyal fans get my shout-out because they deserve the love.