I Don't Know What's More Humiliating...

...well, I do know which is worse, but it just hurts so much (and I need to vent).

I'm talking about making it so far and losing. And while the heartbreak for my favorite sports teams is nowhere near that of the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, or Atlanta Braves, I am in a situation that's sort of the same. Let me tell you why:

1. Most recently, The University of Illinois' basketball team went 100 years without making it to the NCAA Championship game, then made it in 2005 and despite being ranked No. 1 practically three-fourths of the season, lost by a few inches on a couple of Luther Head jump shots.

2. The NHL season was a complete wash -- the entire season cancelled due to labor disputes....the first time one of the major sports has been entirely called off.

3. The Detroit Tigers have been the worst team in baseball over the past decade (two years ago even rivaling the worst record in baseball history), and are below .500 once again.

4. The Saints would have made the playoffs this year if the retarded New York Jets could make a field goal and/or the Vikings could beat the hapless Redskins...and lest we not forget the missed extra point that cost them a 'yoff berth two years ago.

5. The Fighting Illini football team recently acquired one of the most hated coaches in football history (mainly because he was initially brought to a fickle school in The University of Florida that's still obsessed with Steve Spurrier), and couldn't possibly do any worse than they have in the last 10 years.

So you just read those five points and said, "Quit you're whining, Siskow. At least your favorite college basketball team had a shot at the title," or "Whatever, the hockey team you root for has won three Stanley Cups in the last 10 years," or "I cheer for the Cubs." Those are all valid points. What I'm trying to say is, I've had a deceivably rough year in terms of spectator sports that could be one of my roughest ever if:

6. The Phoenix Suns are the best team in the NBA in 2004-05, and lose in the finals. And if my friend Jon is right, they will, and it will be to the Detroit Pistons.

Granted, my teams have had success. It's not lack of achievement that makes my year painful, it's the emotions involved. It's tough to get so far and then fall short. But I empathize with you Cub fans and the Bills fan out there. And I'm not asking anyone to feel bad for me, all I'm saying is, my sports year is shaping up to be a lot like getting to world 8-4 on Super Mario Bros. and getting through the maze, getting past the final Hammer Brother and then getting killed by a fireball right in front of Bowser himself. And many of you know how much that sucks.