According to ESPN, Seattle is the sports suffering epicenter of the world.
We've endured our share of heartbreak as a Seattle sports fan--the Mutombo game, the 116-win season that flamed out, the Super Bowl stolen by the refs, Mike Jensen--but we always assumed that folks in other cities went through the same shit.
But ESPN worked up a formula ("essentially, the formula is bad stuff minus good stuff divided by seasons without a title") and ranked the 122 MLB, NHL, NBA and NFL professional teams: Seattle has three teams in the top 20! The Sonics are at #9, the Seahawks at #14, and the Mariners at #19.
Here's what they say about the Sonics:
Soul-sucking moment: With Michael Jordan in retirement, the Sonics had the NBA's best record in 1993-94, going 63-19. They then blew a 2-0 series lead to the Nuggets, dropping the final three games (the finale in OT at home), becoming the first team to lose to an eighth seed.
Ahhh--that was a nice way to start the morning.
Only Philly can lay claim to more pain, with their Flyers at #3, the Phillies at #4, and the Eagles at #32.
The common factor? Seattlest David, who's lived in both cities. For the sake of this year's Mariners, someone find this guy a job in Anaheim, please!

Friendly Folk-Pop for the Kids: Hey Marseilles at Vera This Saturday


Has the Lord forsaken Seattle sports fans? We'll know for sure if Rey Ordonez survives the final Mariners roster cut.
The Cubs at #22? That's just stupid.
The meltdown in the 2003 playoffs, on top of all their other misery, should put them towards the top. Whatever....I'll just pretend I'm not a miserable Cubs fan...
I also lived in LA from 2003-2005. The three years prior the Lakers won the NBA Finals. In 2003 they lost in the playoffs, in 2004 they were upset in the Finals, then Shaq was traded, Jackson left, and they missed the playoffs (also Kobe had a bit of legal trouble). I leave and the Clippers make the playoffs.
This is a new glorious business opportunity for you. Auction off your place of future residence on E-Bay. Highest bidder takes you to a rival's city for a year.
Oh, and if you read the article on the 'Best' franchises, they have the Brewers at #14, about ten spots higher than the Packers. Their judgement is, to say the least, suspect.