Last weekend while in New York City for Blogs with Balls, I met hordes of Knicks fans. As a Lakers fan, I actually feel sorry for Knicks fans even though I utterly loathe the Knicks. After all, I am a Chiefs fan who has been starving for a Super Bowl for 30 years and counting. I know the pain and agony of a championship drought better than any sports fan ever should. Knicks fans are just completing Year One of their latest  rebuilding effort, while my Chiefs enter Year One of their latest. How did things get so bad for these proud franchises in KC and NYC?

Owners who didn’t know how to rule their kingdoms (Clark Hunt and James Dolan).

General managers who had become has-been hunters (Carl Peterson) and lousy gatherers (Isiah Thomas).

Coaches who became laughingstocks and were ousted by their tribes (Herm Edwards and Thomas).

Star players who couldn’t stay away from forbidden fruit (Larry Johnson and Stephon Marbury).

Historic coliseums (Arrowhead and MSG) full of mighty fans who were turned into miserable slaves.

After hitting rock bottom, things are starting to look better for each of these franchises.

The Knicks found a coach (Mike D’Antoni) they believe invented, or at least reinvented, the wheel when it comes to modern offensive basketball strategy. They also found a GM (Donnie Walsh) who just might be the most underrated gatherer of talent in the league. Now, they’re clearing away foot soldiers in order to bring in a true gladiator. In 2010, the Knicks will dangle forbidden fruit, the Big Apple, to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. If one of them actually bites, then a new Caesar will lead this once-proud basketball empire’s resurgence.

The Chiefs found a coach they believe can harness fire offensively, which would allow the Chiefs to keep up with their enemies (the Broncos and Chargers). They also found a GM (Scott Pioli) who is possibly the best hunter in the game, a man who has few rivals when it comes to scouting and snatching whatever he’s after. Now, they’re hoping  they’ve finally discovered what has long been forbidden fruit. If Matt Cassell ends up chucking spears like no tribesman has since Lenny Dawson — pretty much every QB in between has been either Can’t or Unable — the angry red mob will go back to being the supportive Sea of Red.

But what if it these rebuilding processes take longer than expected or — GULP! — never materialize? And what about the fan bases of all the other rebuilding professional sports franchises? How do the legions of fans who are suffering through these processes survive, whether it be Year One or year 100? As a rebuilding survivor (Chiefs, Royals), here are my tips:

“Rebuilding Process” Fan Survival Guide

Rule 1: Don’t let your team club you over the head — club them over the head back.

Not only has dissent been the heart of democracy since Year One, but it’s also fun. Don’t let your team pillage away your passion. Instead, call for the powers that be to be stoned, taken to the guillotine or drawn and quartered. Do it on blogs, message boards and talk radio programs. When you are at the arena or stadium, boo like you’re getting paid a fortune to do so. Your team’s struggles are anybody’s fault but your own. Get your anger off of your chest by making your team your whipping boy, not vice versa, and make sure to have fun while doing so.

Rule 2: If your current tribe isn’t bold enough, form a new tribe.

I’m not suggesting you stop rooting for your team. I’m suggesting you find and align yourself with other fans who are ready to stop being such homers. Fans who are willing to act. Fans who are ready to stand up to the tyranny that is taking place inside that arena or stadium. Fans who will not rest until they are cheering on the mightiest army in the land. Find or even forge your own “muscle tribe of danger and excellence.” They can help you take that club away from your team and knock some sense into them. Enough stones from the Davids will even cause the Goliaths to eventually take notice.

Rule 3: Crack jokes about your team that make even rival fans blush.

This is probably my favorite step, including the next two, which shows how sick and twisted I am. Catapult one boulder of an insult after another right at your team. Get medieval. Absolutely bombard and crush those worthless bastards. If you have a way for a lot of people to hear those insults, even better. Laughing away your pain is easier when in the presence of other jesters and jokers. Turn your fandom into a comedy routine that would make even Jack Black and Michael Cera proud.

Rule 4: Eat. Drink. Feast. Continue to do so until you pass out.

Going all barbarian on food and, more importantly, booze is one of the most effective ways to forget about your team’s troubles. Devour that turkey leg. Gulp down that bottle of Jack. Annihilate a slab of ribs and wash it down with a twelve pack. Drink an entire bottle of wine with lamb that is just as skewered as your favorite franchise. Just do me a favor and don’t pull a Donte Stallworth. Please don’t attempt to drive your chariot drunk. Not cool.

Rule 5: Find a man or woman you can take back to your cave and make grunt noises with.

Without this step we would’ve been figuratively screwed, without being literally screwed, from Year One. Not only is breeding something that has aided mankind’s evolutionary process, but it’s also man’s oldest leisure activity. This strategy has been helping people move past disappointments forever. So, throw on some caveman rags or a toga and chase your partner-in-grunts around. If this final failproof step doesn’t work for you, maybe you should take yourself to the guillotine.

For more Chiefs coverage visit Arrowhead Addict. For more Knicks coverage visit Buckets Over Broadway.

(Adam Best is the senior editor of the FanSided.com Sports Network and the twisted mind behind Fan Addict. Follow him on Twitter.)