By Lang Whitaker, SI.com
My favorite basketball team is the Atlanta Hawks. I realize this puts me in the minority for basketball fans but I understand why: The last time the Hawks won an NBA championship was 1958 -- 50 years ago. Still, I persevere. But yes, being a fan of the Hawks is torture, much like it must be for Mets fan today. Even though the Mets won the World Series in 1986, they've missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons by losing to the Marlins at home in the final game of the regular season. That's gotta be tough for a Mets fan to swallow (though as a Braves fan, I absolutely love it). Here are my top five teams with the most tortured fans.
1. Chicago Cubs: It's impressive enough that the franchise has been around since 1902, but at this point it's just laughable that the Cubs haven't won a World Series in 99 years. And yet, they still believe.
2. Los Angeles Clippers: Founded in Buffalo in 1970, the Clips are approaching their 40th anniversary and have still yet to win even a division title. Hang in there, Clipper Darrell.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Whenever a franchise is really struggling, many owners thing moving to a new city is a good idea, perhaps to shake the players from their malaise or, more likely, to find more cash from fans who aren't yet disenfranchised. Since winning an NFL title in 1947, the Cardinals have played in Chicago, St. Louis and, now, Phoenix. They still haven't won another title, though.
4. Boston Bruins: Even though they're one of the NHL's Original Six and they have a great arena and fanbase, the Bruins haven't celebrated with the Stanley Cup since 1972. Hey, at least every other team in Boston is a winner.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates used to be good ... in the '70s. But since losing a heartbreaker to my Braves in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS, the Pirates have yet to have even a winning season.
Which team has the most tortured fanbase? Let us know below ...
Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.com.
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