FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I love all my teams, I love every heart wrenching defeat and every beer soaked win. The fans that I share my passion with have been my brethren through every edge of the chair moment that I've experienced. No matter what ills have come through my life, sports and rooting for my team has always been something that I can count on. I know that I can find any watering hole and lament with like minded people. Maybe share laugh, a complaint, or watch history. This is not just an "Cleveland Sports Fan" experience. Every fan, in every city can appreciate this. We take our teams serious, they are like a close friend that we've known all our lives. I have all my friends around me, they are all doing well. ALSC, NBA Finals, Four Championship Appearances in two years. I know that NONE HAVE WON, so save it...I said my friends are doing well, not great.

While I know the joys from above, I also know what it is like to have that friend expunged from my life. When the Browns were ripped away from the Cleveland, it felt like someone had robbed me of something. I was angry, I was jaded, I was beside myself. I found myself on Sunday mornings clicking through the channels trying to figure out what team I wanted to watch...but no one matched what I lost. It was a confusing time. Baltimore, LA, Hartford, Winnipeg, Minnesota; all great sports cities. Now, you can add Seattle to that. The history of the Supersonics is one as an NBA fan I respect. Now that a cheap, backstabbing owner and his lapdog in the Commish seat is allowing this to happen. It is something that needs to be realized by every fan out there. If this can happen to great team in a great city, is anyone's team really safe?  

Being a TRUE fan of any team is like dating: It's like going out to the bar or club when you were younger, looking around for someone 'nice' to talk with, and it ends up being last call and you are alone. So you take home what you can get. Much to your surprise, it's a lot of fun. You never wanted to be committed, just out for some interaction, and see what happens. You aren't sure about this new person, and you are borderline to call is a 'relationship'. You are starting to care more and more, and getting a little more passionate about this person. Things can be rocky, and every once in while you have a falling out and swear the relationship off...but give it a week and your back. All the while your friends try to warn you that you better be careful, they've been through this before. Things go great, then suddenly you realize this might be it! You might see this all the way through!! You are excited, nervous, anxious it's the big moment!! Your friends still see what's coming, and they know you are just going to be screwed over. Then right as things are about to become 'perfect'...you get blind sided. You don't know what happened. The Last Call Pick ends up getting drunk and sleeping with your brother, and now they are moving in together. You are a shell of who you once were. You look at other people, but it's more painful then enjoyable.

Congratulations Seattle, you feel in love with the person at last call...and they are now hooking up with your crappy brother. That is exactly what happens when your team leaves your city, takes a tough loss in a championship game, or just plain kills you when you need them the most. I'm a Cleveland fan, I'm a pro at this feeling.