Cleveland Curse: Believe It Or Not, It Is Real

If you are a Cleveland fan in either football, baseball, or basketball, and can honestly say that there is no curse hanging over the entire city of Cleveland sports:

You're in complete denial. Which is fine. But honestly—just because you don't believe there is one certainly doesn't change the fact that there actually is.

You just started watching Cleveland sports. Which, again, is fine. Welcome aboard. The first thing you need to know about Cleveland sports is our slogan: "There is always next year"

You ignore the facts. And the fact is: Cleveland is a cursed city when it comes to sports. The facts, pictures, videos, stats, anything you need to look up to prove this curse is real. They are all available.

What I'm about to do is give you pretty much the entire rundown of everything that has happened to Cleveland over the years. This is a curse that surpasses anything that Red Sox fans claim they had, or that Chicago Cubs fans still cry about. This is truly a curse that may never be broken.

1. 1954 World Series: "The Catch"

If you are a baseball fan, you have seen "The Catch" replayed on ESPN, or some other sports program. It is called by many the greatest catch to ever be made in the Major Leagues.

"The Catch" was made in the top of the eighth inning, with Indians runners on first and second. The ball was said to have been hit 450 feet straight to center field, when Willie Mays made the over the shoulder catch that prevented any runs form being scored.

The Catch set the tone for the rest of the series. It was made in Game One and the Cleveland Indians preceded to be swept by the New York Giants.

2. 1981 AFC Playoff Game: "Red Right 88"

I'm so sorry, Cleveland Browns fans—but this is just the beginning of the football side of this curse.

In 1981 the "Kardiac Kids" started off their season a lousy 3-3 but hit a hot streak and finished the season 11-5. Brian Sipe, the MVP of the 1980-1981 season, had led the Browns to all kinds of miracle wins in this awesome year.

But in the first round of the 1981 playoffs, he was unable to pull off the miracle against the Oakland Raiders. The play he called was "Red Right 88." The play was meant to be a touchdown pass. Instead, it was thrown for an interception—which put the nail in the coffin for the '80-81 Cleveland Browns.

3. 1987 AFC Championship Game: "The Drive"

I don't need to say a whole lot about this one. If you have never heard of "The Drive," then I'm not sure what you are doing on a sports site to begin with.

What happened here was Elway working some magic—something Cleveland teams do not have.

With the Browns leading 20-13, Elway and his Broncos took over on their own two-yard line with 5:32 remaining in the game. Elway led his team all the way down the field and tied the game with little time remaining. The Broncos ended up winning in overtime by a field goal.

The funny thing was that sources say that when the drive first started—on the two-yard line—Broncos offensive guard Keith Bishop said of the Browns, "We got em right where we want em."

4. 1988 AFC Championship Game: "The Fumble"

One whole year after Elway led his team the entire length of the field in "The Drive," the Browns again found themselves in the AFC championship against the Broncos.

Down 38-31 with less than a minute to play, Earnest Byner fumbled, turning the ball over on the three-yard line, giving the game to the Broncos. For the second straight year, the Browns came home after a devastating loss to the Broncos in the AFC championship game.

5. 1989 NBA Playoffs: "The Shot"

Another classic that Cleveland sports fans can't seem to forget. Jordan hit a jumper with six seconds left to give the Bulls their first lead at 99-98. Following a Cleveland timeout, Craig Ehlo inbounded the ball, received a return pass, and scored on a driving layup to retake the lead with 3.2 seconds left.

Chicago then called a timeout. I am pretty sure most Cleveland fans already knew what was about to happen next. The inbound pass came to Jordan at the foul line, where he then shot the ball, sinking it, and sending the Cavs and the whole city of Cleveland home in complete agony.

6. 1995 World Series

Cleveland had arguably the greatest lineups of all time "on paper." After years of rebuilding, the Tribe finally made the World Series after winning over 100 regular season games, and winning their division by 30 games.

The series went to six games—and the Atlanta Braves took it.

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