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Top 10 Heartbreaking Moments for a City
Top 10 Heartbreaking Moments for a City
05.18.12, 09:30 AM CDT

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10. Tomahawk Chopped ››

There was The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, The Move and now The Decision. LeBron James leaving Cleveland is just the latest nightmare in the history of that tormented the city.

Cleveland hasn’t won a title since 1964 but when it had LeBron James at least it had hope. The hometown hero turned the franchise around instantly and it seemed like he could do no wrong. But after back-to-back MVP seasons that ended in disappointing playoff runs, James made The Decision to leave Cleveland and the state of Ohio for greener (or more sandy and bikini-clad) pastures.

James could’ve still remained in high-esteem with the folks in Cleveland. In just seven seasons with the Cavs he ranks in the team’s top five in rebounds, steals, assists, blocks, three-pointers and has almost 50 percent more points than the franchise’s second highest scorer. If he had just called a press conference or written a letter to the local newspaper expressing his regret for not bringing a championship to Cleveland and explained that he wanted to be in the best position to win a championship, while some fans would still hold him in disdain, the majority would’ve understood and still appreciated him.

Instead, James chose to set up an hour-long special on ESPN dubbed "The Decision" where he announced he was going to "South Beach" thus crushing the hearts yet again of Cleveland fans. The outrage was fierce. Fans were immediately shown burning his jerseys, and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert wrote a scathing letter that drew a $100,000 fine from the NBA. He ripped James for his “narcissistic self-promotional buildup” and added, “This shocking act of disloyalty from our homegrown ‘chosen one’ sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And ‘who’ we would want them to grow up to become.”

Well, Cleveland, RealClearSports is here to make you feel a little better. We’re here to let you know you’re not alone. You’re not the only city that has had moments of sports heartbreak (just the one that has had the most). So take a look at the Top 10 Most Heartbreaking Moments for a City, and maybe it will slightly brighten your bleak day.

 

Honorable mention: More than 10 cities have had their hearts broken through sports. Some cities that just missed the list: Seattle for losing its beloved Sonics in 2008 (not in the Top 10 because it dragged out so long it doesn't really qualify as just one moment), Orlando for losing Shaquille O'Neal via free agency in 1996, and Portland for the Blazers' Game 7 collapse against Shaq's Lakers in 2000.

10. Tomahawk Chopped ››