Walk through East Fourth Street on a Saturday night and you could very well be in any popular city in America. It features some of the countrys best food, hip bars and trendy stores.For those who havent been in downtown Cleveland in a while, the question will invariably come up: How did this happen?Its a complicated answer, as is every related to how urban renewal manages to succeed. But in Cleveland, the answer includes LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and ... the chefs.Without LeBron, Cleveland -- which like many blue-collar cities gets its pulse from its sports teams -- might still be the Cleveland of old: the one known for its river being so polluted it caught on fire, for Earnest Byners fumble and for Michael Jordan over Craig Ehlo.Without the spectacle of LeBron, downtown Cleveland doesnt ever draw the crowds.Without the crowds, Gilbert doesnt gain the power -- he likely doesnt get a casino and perhaps never has the faith to move his company, Quicken Loans, to the city.But without the chefs, the speed of coolness that came to downtown Cleveland soon after LeBron left following the 2009-10 season would not have happened.LeBrons story youre more familiar with: High school phenom gets drafted by hometown team and turns it into a contender.In the process, the masses come to downtown and theres even a new type of visitor Cleveland never had -- a celebrity who flies into town just to see LeBron play.Economists have long argued that when sports teams get an economic boost, it comes at the expense of the community because every dollar is given to the team. But economists havent encountered sports owners like Gilbert, who not only is working on flipping the perception of Cleveland but has the countrys biggest renewal project on his hands in Detroit.LeBrons first seven years in the league built the foundation of the idea that downtown Cleveland could change. Thats when public money was first committed to revitalization.But in 2010, LeBron famously left. And the plans for what was to be built were in no-mans land. The Cavs returned to futility and the crowds dwindled.And then came the chefs.Michael Symon and Jonathon Sawyer are two native Ohioans who never forgot where they came from.A year before LeBron left, Symon won The Next Iron Chef. As Symons career exploded and he became a celebrity chef, he branched out to other cities but always made Ohio his home.On Fourth Street, he had high-end Lola and Lolita, and this year he debuted a BBQ place named Mabels.Sawyer, who worked for Symon, also made his splash in Cleveland. Among his four restaurants is The Greenhouse Tavern.While LeBron was gone, the chefs did their work. They continued the good name of the city -- winning national awards and impressing out-of-towners with their fare -- and when LeBron came back, they were ready to capitalize even further.The chefs, huge sports fans who also have a presence at Cavs and Browns games, and LeBron work in tandem. On game nights, Sawyer and Symons restaurants are packed. Sawyer says 80 percent of his customers -- judging from area codes left for reservations -- since May have been from outside greater Cleveland.Thats insane, Sawyer said. You dont get that without LeBron.There are the usual stats put forth by Cleveland authorities, which are just projections: that the Cavaliers playoff run last season was worth $35 million in new spending. But those numbers are compromised by past economic studies put forth by cities that dont come close to Clevelands reality.Numbers more specific to Cleveland speak to its real rise. In 2000, three years before LeBron was drafted, a person could get a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Cleveland for $550. That same place might cost triple today as millennials living downtown have grown 77 percent in the last 16 years.Prior to this year, the Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers played in 156 combined seasons that ended in a title. Only two of those were won by those teams (the Indians in 1920 and 1948).With the Cavs winning the title last season and the Indians on the cusp of one, it could mean two titles in five months for the city.A city that has seen a remarkable psychological transformation through sport, but also a remarkable financial impact that reaches outside the coffers of the local owners. Custom Arizona Coyotes Jerseys . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Vinnie Hinostroza Coyotes Jersey . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. http://www.officialcoyotesfanstore.com/authentic-alex-goligoski-coyotes-jersey/ . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Oliver Ekman-Larsson Coyotes Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jason Demers Coyotes Jersey . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. In the past year, Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote has been to Melbourne, Perth, Dubai and Hong Kong but he cant remember the last time he brought a horse to Sydney.Buffering, the horse he took to those places was retired last month, and his trainer is getting used to life without the multiple Group One winner.Alpen Rose will represent the stable at Rosehill on Saturday when she competes in the Club Marconi Hcp (1200m) with Tim Clark sporting the pink and black silks of Wilf Mula which were to the fore on Flying Artie in the recent Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.I cant remember the last horse I raced in Sydney, Heathcote said.Its been a while. It might even have been Buffering when he won the Roman Consul Stakes and that was six years ago.Alpen Rose is in good form and one of the reasons she is coming to Sydney is because there is rain predicted.If that happens then her chances are enhanced. Its also great for Wilf to have his colours on show in his home town.Alpen Rose is the TABs $26 outsider of the field with Daysee Doom the $2.80 favourite.Rain is expected overnight and early on Saturday morning with Alpen Roses record on heavy tracks three wins from three attempts.She comes into the raace off a third place to I Am Invincible who has won her past four starts in a row.ddddddddddddHeathcote might be a more frequent visitor to Sydney with Hopfgarten to be aimed at the Group Two Villiers Stakes in December.He came back to the stable today after a few days off after the Cantala Stakes and Im hoping to get him to the Villiers, Heathcote said.Theres a bonus for any horse which can win the Villiers and the Bernborough Stakes up here so thats attractive.Hopfgarten finished sixth in the Group One Cantala (1600m) at Flemington two weeks ago, less than three lengths from the winner Le Romain.And while he admits he misses having Buffering around the stable, it wont be long until he is back to be prepared for a guest appearance in Queensland after spending a few weeks at Living Legends in Melbourne.Theyve named a race after him at the Gold Coast on the 31st of December so hell be back for that, Heathcote said.But there are some lovely pictures out there that people can see of him and The Cleaner at Living Legends.Its great to see these horses enjoyng themselves. 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