Why Cleveland Sports Fans Are Inherently Pessimistic

With the Indians playing arguably their worst game of the young season and former hometown hero Lebron James beginning a 2nd straight NBA Finals, tonight seems an appropriate time to outline the  pessimism at the heart of Cleveland sports.

Lebron was far from the beginning. In fact, I would argue that the reaction to James' departure for Miami was and continues to be a symptom and not a cause of the pessimistic atmosphere that envelopes Northeast Ohio.

As I have mentioned before, Cleveland is a city that for whatever reason is stuck in a depression that is every bit as much a concoction of the collective mind as it is a necessary evil of modernization and the economic decline rampant throughout the Rust Belt.

That depression extends to the sports fan and manifests itself virtually on a nightly basis. Indians fans expect a 10-run lead to vanish in a few innings. Cavs fans wait for the 20-0 run that will erase a halftime lead. Browns fans in a weird way look forward to the fourth quarter drive that ultimately leaves their beloved squad a few points short at the end.

In short, losing in general and heartbreak more specifically, has been allowed to become a part of the Cleveland sports "experience". Fans of the Indians, Cavs, and Browns are so accustomed to defeat that they cannot accept success and seem to somehow yearn for what they feel is inevitable defeat to come at the bitter end.

Even more unfortunate is that of late this doomsday attitude has crept into the decision-making process on the front office level.

Take the Browns: Colt McCoy starts to struggle, immediately draft Brandon Weeden rather than waiting for the maturation process to take hold.

The Cavs: Spending two years so preoccupied with the inevitable loss of Lebron James that they inexplicably load up on old, highly salaried "talent" in an attempt to win immediately, forgoing a perfect opportunity to trade James for a plethora of talent available on a number of over-exuberant suitors across the league.

The Indians: Feeling inadequate after the loss of Cy Young winners Lee and Sabathia, they made an ill-advised move (the feeling AT THE TIME across the board) shipping their top TWO pitching prospects for Ubaldo Jimenez, a former ace that was widely regarded as the definition of a one-hit wonder.

Each of these moves resulted from a lack of long-term focus and an emotional pull to end the city's 50-lus year championship drought as soon as possible.

And in the process, each move has set hopes for an eventual championship back far longer than the doom they hoped to prevent.

Right now Cleveland is a sports town that, just as with its economy, is lost. There is plenty to be hopeful about in the coffers. Young talent on the diamond, a star in the making at the Q, and a solid defense (I think) out by the lake.

But Clevelanders still cannot get themselves to see beyond the heartbreak of the past, continuing to expect the careers of these young players to end up just like those of their predecessors: title-free until their free agency and inevitable exit from the shores of Lake Erie.

I get it: a city that has gone through the Drive, the Fumble, the Catch, Jose Mesa, and Eric Wedge's inexplicable decision to start Sabathia in Game 5 (I had to get my random '07 complaint in there) is going to have demons to get over.

But I think its about time that the fan base at least begin to make an attempt at getting over them.

Lebron is not coming back. Kyrie Irving, however, is. And he is a potential superstar that could be the catalyst for a not-too-distant playoff run.

Lee and Sabathia are gone. But Jason Kipnis is another superstar in the making and the Tribe have a ton of depth in their rotation, not to mention two still-young starters who have shown an ability (if not consistently) to dominate major league hitters.

And I guarantee you that Jim Brown will never have another carry in a Browns uniform. But Mike Holmgren has already built a title-winner in Green Bay and knows what it takes to do the same in Cleveland.

So instead of harping on the past, its time Cleveland sports fans (and jobless workers, but that is for another day) start working to make sure the future is everything it has the potential to be. Go to games, watch the television coverage, buy the merchandise. In short, support the teams that you so desperately want to succeed.

Sure, heartbreak will always be a possibility. But each and every season there is a championship to be given out. Northeast Ohio hasnt been the recipient of one of those since 1960. So lets turn this whole heartbreak thing around. After all, Cleveland is due for a title.