Cleveland sports fans have suffered more than any other cities sports fans and it isn't even close.  With that said, if one city's sports fans feel like kindred spirits it is Seattle fans.

Cleveland has not won a title since 1964 with the Cleveland Browns.  Seattle has not won a title since 1979 with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Cleveland lost the NHL's Barons after a short lived existence when they merged with the Minnesota North Stars.  Seattle lost MLB's Pilots after one season when they moved to Milwaukee to become the Brewers.

Growing up both cities have been known for some of the longest championship droughts and for losing short lived franchises.  A connection existed, but it wasn't an extremely deep one.  That was until Clay Bennett stole the SuperSonics from Seattle just like Art Modell did with the Cleveland Browns.

From that point on I felt like Seattle sports fans were kindred spirits.  I felt their pain because I knew just how bad losing your beloved team can feel.  From that point on I vowed to never root for the Oklahoma City Thunder regardless of who they were playing.  It was really a crying shame because the Seattle SuperSonics had just gotten a one year taste of Kevin Durant who I knew would become one of the best players in the NBA.

Fast forward to the present day and I find myself in a dilemma.  The Oklahoma City Thunder are pitted against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.  I promised my kindred spirits that I would never root for the Thunder.  I also promised the basketball gods that I would buy the jersey of the star player that kept LeBron James titleless every year after The Decision and then wear that jersey at least once a week for the next year.

I am a man of my word.  I never break promises as my word is gold.  I must now ask Seattle SuperSonics fans to forgive me for what I am about to do.  I am about to root for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Big time.  My only hope is that Sonics fans forgive me and understand where I am coming from.  I can't under any circumstance root for LeBron James and the Miami Heat to win the NBA Championship.  There isn't a Cleveland Cavaliers fan on earth that would do that.

I am not only rooting hard for the Thunder to win, but I have to presumably buy a Kevin Durant jersey and wear it frequently for a year as well.  Each time I would put that jersey on I would feel like I was stabbing my kindred spirits in the back.

I know if the Thunder win just how painful that will be for Seattle fans.  I had to endure watching the Ravens win the Super Bowl just five years after Modell stole the Browns from Cleveland.  If the Thunder win it all this year it would be just four years since Clay Bennett stole the Sonics from Seattle.  I know how gut wrenching that was and how I haven't fully recovered as a sports fan.

So here I am begging any Seattle SuperSonics fans that may see this for forgiveness.  If it was anyone other than LeBron James and the Miami Heat I would be rooting against the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Please forgive me - I can only hope you understand the position Cleveland fans have been put into.  I am so sorry for what you are going to have to go through this next week or so and beyond.