Growing up in the DFW area as an avid sports fan, I have almost become numb to heartbreak. Sure, the Cowboys were good in the early 90s, but I was still young. The Stars won a Stanley Cup in 1999, but they have slowly gone downhill since then. For most of my life and in my most recent memories my teams have only caused pain and tears.
The Cowboys top this list in recent years. Everyone remembers Romo’s botched extra point snap against Seattle that would have tied up the game late. Dallas followed this performance by not showing up to play against the Giants in the next year’s postseason. The Cowboys would miss the playoffs the next season after a terribly loss to Philadelphia in the last week of the regular season.
Last season the Cowboys won their first playoff game only to get killed by Minnesota the next week. This season the Cowboys were picked to have a chance to make it to the Superbowl, but a 1-4 start is not looking promising. It’s the same story, same heartbreak.
The Mavericks’ postseason history isn’t much better. Dallas made it to the finals, went up 2-0 against the Heat and were in a perfect position to win its first NBA Championship. Then the series went back to Miami, and four games later Dallas was still without a title.
The Mavs followed this up by being the only No. 1 seed to lose a best of seven series, getting upset by the Golden State Warriors. Last season the Mavs lost the Spurs in six, despite being the No. 2 seed. It’s the same story, same heartbreak.
The Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999, and returned to the finals in 2000 only to lose six games in overtime. Since then the Stars have had the same problem with spotty post-season records. It’s the same story, same heartbreak.
In all these instances, I’ve become used to postseason failures. It doesn’t hurt as much because I’ve seen it before.
However, it was always different with the Rangers. They have always just been the Rangers. I always watched their games all summer, but it was okay if they lost or missed the playoffs because at least it was expected. They were bad, but they never broke your heart.
This season has been something special for them. They won their first postseason series and went up on the Yankees three games to one. Still, after losing Game 5 on Wednesday, that fear comes back into your mind.
The Rangers are in a great position: they lead the series 3-2, going back to Texas with two chances to close out the series. Cliff Lee is scheduled to pitch Game 7 if necessary. Please Rangers, you have never broken my heart before. It’s time for the heartbreak to end.
