The agony of defeat

As I've lamented before, nobody is better equipped to complain about their sports franchises than Clevelanders. Our teams break your heart in ways that would kill Boston and Chicago fans.

Even in comparison with actual like sized towns, we kick ass at sucking as well. One needs only reflect on the comparable records of any of the sports teams from Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Detroit and Indianapolis over the past 40 years to get a sense of our inferiority and entire lack of winning legacy in NE Ohio.

And while it may be just a tactical defensive maneuver to protect my feelings, this is why I never get truly emotionally involved.

Sports is the only entertainment option that has this brand of visceral affect on fans. For instance, if you love movies, you're never going to sit and cry because Iron Man 2 wasn't good enough, if the latest Weezer album is not so good, you're not suicidal or if the most recent Dan Brown novel blows, you not going to boo him and ride him out of town. Whatever...you get the point.

All I'm saying, and I know that it's cold comfort, is there are other things in life that have greater value than whether "your team" won or lost. Go take a walk, read a book, listen to some tunes, you'll feel better soon. Cleveland is a tough place to live. We're a chronic reminder of a failed nation, a once great region and a forgotten city. That said, many of us love it here and for the foreseeable future, plan to remain here. Kinda puts me in mind of a great quote a guy gave me one time about living in Seattle.

Seattle is as scenic a place as I've ever been. The problem is that it's only really nice outside during the summer months and it is spectacular. The other 8 months of the year it rains. And rains. And rains. Anyway, this guy said to me, "Living in Seattle is like being married to the most beautiful woman in the world, it's just that she's sick all of the time". Heh.

Lastly, while Cleveland sports may occasionally crush your will to live, we're extraordinary at being fertile ground for talented and special musicians.*

Just sayin'.

*(hat tip to the Rooster)