To grow up a Cleveland sports fan had to be rough. This fanbase has faced more disappointments and embarrassments than most others, managing to lose time and time again and having to go through miserable events such as “The Drive,” “The Fumble,”  “The Slip,” and “The Decision.” These heartbreaking losses will remain in the minds of Cleveland sports fans forever, making them the passionate, devoted fanatics they are today.

Cleveland went through a 52 year championship drought, coming so close many times. The city’s history contains many memorable losses. One of the most famous being the Browns loss to the Denver Broncos in the 1987 AFC Championship. The Browns were up 20-13 in the fourth quarter with five minutes and thirty two seconds left on the clock, but Denver had possession of the ball. Denver’s quarterback John Elway led one of the most famous drives in history, tying the game and forcing it into overtime. Cleveland started with the ball but fell apart and ended up having to punt, which started Elway on a 60 yard drive ending with the game winning field goal. This game was very heart wrenching for Cleveland fans watching, and it soon became known as “The Drive.”

Soon after “The Drive,”  the Browns had a chance to redeem themselves the following year in the 1988 AFC Championship; however, they suffered yet another loss from the Denver Broncos. The score was tied in the fourth quarter 31-31 with 3:53 left on the clock. The Browns’ quarterback Bernie Kosar showed similarities to Elway as he led a 75 yard drive bringing the ball down to the 8 yard line. The ball was handed off to Earnest Byner where he ran through to the three-yard line. However, the ball did not come with him. He was stripped by Jeremiah Castille from the Broncos, forcing a turnover and causing the Broncos to continue onto the Super Bowl over the Browns, once again. This event is now known as “The Fumble.”

In 1997, the curse continued with the Indians during the World Series in Game Seven. The Indians were leading 2-0 with pitcher Jaret Wright, when Florida hit a home run in the seventh making it a one run game going into the ninth inning. The Indians put in their closer Jose Mesa, whose confidence was shakier than when he was younger, and everything went downhill from there. This was perhaps the closest Cleveland ever got to a championship, making this extremely disappointing. It is now known as “The Slip.”

Out of all the possible disappointing Cleveland losses one of the most recent and painful is known as “The Decision” was broadcast on live television for the whole world to witness the embarrassment of Cleveland, Ohio. In 2010 LeBron James was a free agent and had the decision of returning to the Cavaliers or going off to a stronger team and pursue his dream of winning an NBA Championship. The previous season LeBron led the Cavaliers to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals putting hope into the hearts of many Cleveland fans, so it came as a surprise once LeBron announced he was signing with the Miami Heat to play alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The heartbroken fans of Cleveland didn’t react nicely. They rushed onto the streets, rioting. They even went as far as burning his jerseys in a fit of rage.

In the past Cleveland has had decades of misery. So, when will it get better? Whenever it does, how will it feel? Well, both questions have already been answered. In 2014, after winning two titles with the Miami Heat, LeBron James “returned home.” Cleveland fans rushed to buy more of his jerseys, and they were once again filled with hope. The Cavaliers went against the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Finals. With 1:50 left on the clock and both teams with 89 on the scoreboard, Golden State’s Andre Iguodala goes for the open layup when James comes full sprint down the court, jumps, and blocks his shot, stopping the Warriors from getting the lead. Still tied with 56 seconds left, the ball is given to Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving where he pulls up a three point shot, proving every doubter wrong. He makes the shot. However there were still 50 seconds left in the game and the ball was left in the hands of Golden State’s Stephen Curry, who leads the league in 3 pointers. Kevin Love played the best defense of his life and forced Curry to take a shot not even he could make. The Cavaliers became the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win the championship. This became Cleveland’s first championship in major sports since the 1964 Browns, putting an end to the curse. The feeling was incredible, and thousands shared the moment with one another during the Championship parade. Cleveland soon became known as “Believeland.” “The Drive,” “The Fumble,” “The Slip,” and “The Decision” were soon being replaced with “The Block,” “The Shot,” and “The Stop.”