The Top 5 All-Time Cleveland Sports Heartbreaks

Tears flowed easy last Wednesday night into Thursday morning as Indians fans endured the heartbreak of a game seven home loss to the Chicago Cubs in the 2016

Tears flowed easy last Wednesday night into Thursday morning as Indians fans endured the heartbreak of a game seven home loss to the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field.

It was a tough way to end what was a magical season, filled with so many memories as well as achievements as the team basically came out of the nowhere to win the hearts of fans everywhere as they trampled through the American League to make it to the Fall Classic.

Cleveland fans know all too well about the heartbreak that goes along with their sports teams falling in title rounds or big games. Despite the Cavs finally ending the title drought in June, fans are still craving more, and it looked like they would get it with the Tribe last week.

Today we take a look at a tough topic for most, that is the heartbreak of being a Cleveland sports fans. You may agree with these, or there may be even more on the list, but here goes the 'Top 5 All-Time Cleveland Sports Heartbreaks.'

5. Cavaliers Lose to the Warriors in Six Games 2015-16

LeBron James came home prior to the 2015 season, leaving Miami to return to the team that drafted him in the Cavaliers, and right away he said it would take awhile to bring home a title. Little did he or the fans know it was close to happening in his first season back, and James and the Cavs, despite a number of bumps in the road, cruised through the East and made it to the NBA Finals where they took on Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in a classic best-of-7 showdown.

The Cavs were already without Kevin Love, who was hurt in the first round against the Celtics, and then lost point guard Kyrie Irving in the first game of the Finals with a knee injury that required surgery. The 'never say die' Cavs fought to a huge OT win in game two, and then won game three at home, taking a 2-1 series lead. The tank though was about on empty by the time game four reached the fourth quarter.

Golden State led by three at the end of three in game four, and turned on the gas, eventually winning 103-82. Game five in Oakland saw the Cavs lose by 13, and game six in Cleveland was never much of a game it felt like, as the Warriors outscored the Cavaliers 28–15 in the 1st quarter, and while the Cavs closed it to two at half, the Warriors did more then enough for the 105-97 win and title. Of course we all know the conclusion of this story a year later, and it feels like there's yet another chapter to be written this season between the two.

4. The Fumble - Browns Lose to Denver 38-33 in the AFC Title Game January 1987

A year after the series known as 'The Drive,' the Browns and Broncos had a Mile High rematch for the right to play the Redskins in the Super Bowl. The Browns wanted revenge for the letdown a season ago, and the Broncos wanted another shot at the big game as they had lost to the Giants after beating the Browns in Cleveland in January 1986 in the the AFC Title Game.

Denver dominated early, and built a 21-3 halftime lead thanks to some poor defense by the Browns. The second half though turned into the Earnest Byner show, as the Browns running back couldn't be stopped, running over and through the Broncos to get the Browns back into the game from down 28-10 in the second half to tied at 31 early in the fourth quarter.

The Browns again though failed to stop John Elway and the Broncos, and trailed 38-31 as they marched down for the tying score with just 1:12 remaining. That's when the heartbreaking play known as 'the Fumble' took place, as Byner, after wide out Webster Slaughter missed a block, was stripped by Broncos DB Jeremiah Castille at the one-yard line. The Broncos recovered, gave the Browns an intentional safety, and eventually won by 5.

It was a game that Byner still has tears over to this day, despite the forgiveness of Browns fans worldwide.

3. Indians Lose to the Cubs in Seven Games - World Series 2016

The emotions and heartache of losing the World Series are still very raw to Indians fans, as the team had a golden opportunity to win their first World Series in 68 years, but up three games to one couldn't close out a Cubs team that many called a team of destiny when it was all over.

The Indians won game one easily 6-0 behind Corey Kluber, and after losing game two at home, won game three 1-0 in Wrigley Field and then took game four again with Kluber to take a commanding two-game lead in the series. Even when the Indians lost on Sunday night 3-2 behind a good outing by Trevor Bauer that saw the Cubs have one decent inning, Indians fans felt confident coming home with two games at Progressive Field to win the title.

Game six was a blowout though, as a first inning blunder by Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall in the outfield allowed Chicago to go up 3-0, and they never looked back forcing a 7th game. Even with Kluber on the mound, a Dexter Fowler homer in the first was a bad sign he didn't have his best stuff.

The gutsy Indians fought back from down 6-3 to pull off a miracle, as Rajai Davis' homer tied it at six in the 8th inning. While Progressive Field was on fire, it was not meant to be, as World Series MVP Ben Zobrist hit a double to give the Cubs the lead in the eventual 8-7 Cubs win.

It was tough to watch them celebrate after how hard the Indians fought, but again here's hoping that there's another chapter to this Indians team in 2017 with better ending.

2. The Drive - Browns Lose to Broncos 23-20 in the AFC Title Game in January 1986

Browns fans were quickly dialing travel agents (remember there was no internet back then) for a chance to get a trip to the Super Bowl, as a pass play from Bernie Kosar to Brian Brennan gave the Browns a 20-13 lead with less than 6 minutes to play in the 1986 AFC Championship game.

Instead, the legend of John Elway took a huge step forward for the future Hall of Fame QB, as with 5:02 to play, he led his team 98 yards in 15 plays to tie the game with 37 seconds left in regulation. It was play after play as the Browns defense, who had held the Broncos to 13 points for 54 minutes, looked helpless in stopping the Broncos and Elway.

The key play with 1:47 to play came when on 3rd-and-18 Elway hit Mark Jackson with a 20-yard pass to put the ball down to the Browns 28-yard line.

Five plays later the task was complete, as Elway hit Jackson with a five-yard TD pass that was just out of the fingertips of Browns defensive lineman Sam Clancy, tying the game after a Rich Karlis extra point.

Shell shocked, the Browns played for overtime, and in sudden death Karlis again crushed the Browns with a field goal that didn't look good on replay, sending the Broncos to the Super Bowl and Browns fans forever wondering 'what if.'

1. Indians Lose in Game 7 to the Florida Marlins in the 1997 World Series

The depression that Cleveland sports fans felt on the morning of Monday, October 27th is among the deepest felt by any sports fans in history. The Indians had it all set up to win a title, they had their closer on the mound, they were up 2-1, and the Marlins were down to four strikes with Charles Johnson down 1-2 with a runner on first. Instead, Jose Mesa left a fastball up, and he lined a single into right field, putting runners on the corners with one out.

Needing a double play, Marlins Craig Counsell lined a fastball to right field, scoring Moses Alou with the tying run, and putting the blood pressure of Indians fans through the roof. Still with a chance to win the game, the Indians did little on offense in the 10th and 11th, giving Florida a chance to win the game against usual Tribe starter Charles Nagy.

The end came after Tony Fernandez, with Bobby Bonilla on first, booted a what looked to be an easy ground ball to put runners on the corners. After an intentional walk, the Tribe was able to get Bonilla at home on a ground ball, leaving it up to Édgar Rentería, who lined a 0-1 pitch to center for the game winner, scoring Craig Counsell.

It was a loss that can't be defined in words, only tears and flat out pain, a loss that sticks with you for years to come. Indians fans were close this year as well, but still 1997 was tougher to swallow despite being up 3-1 this year in the Fall Classic.