“We Believe” is becoming ridiculously overused. In just a span of one week, I’ve seen no fewer than 10 sporting events with fans holding up signs proclaiming their belief in their team. Now, I get it for Cubs fans or the fan of any team with a 100 year championship drought (I’m, admittedly, biased) but Apparently every team from the Mets to USF think that belief in their team will push them that extra distance.

Let’s do a quick check on how well this has worked:

Golden State Warriors’ fans believed in their team in the 2007 NBA playoffs. They lost in the conference Semis. The next season, they made an early exit.

Mets’ fans believe. In spite of their belief, they have managed to get eliminated from playoff contention in the last game of the season two years running. In 07, they did it in style with the most epic collapse in MLB history.

In one that hurts me; Ohio State fans believe. That belief has led to epic failures in three big non-conference games. (yes, it did lead to one NC in the 2002 season, but that is soooo yesterday)

Cubs fans believe. That belief has led to 2 straight playoff seasons for the first time in 100 years. Of course, it also led to a 100 year drought in the WS, a black cat circling Santo, Bartman and the Dusty Baker years.

Penguins fans believed in their young team last season. It led to a beatdown at the hands of the Red Wings.

So, keep on believing, sports fans! It appears to be doing us little good. But, in a world where the economy is shit, gas prices are skyrocketing, jobs are being outsourced causing unemployment to rise and we are in endless wars we have to believe in something.