Fansided

The 29 most hopeless fan bases in professional sports

By Matt Whitener

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13, 2015: Cleveland Browns fans hold up signs reading 'HELP' during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 13, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 24-10. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13, 2015: Cleveland Browns fans hold up signs reading 'HELP' during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 13, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 24-10. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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May 25, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock looks on against the San Jose Sharks in the third period of game six in the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. The Sharks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock looks on against the San Jose Sharks in the third period of game six in the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. The Sharks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

7. St. Louis Blues

Last championship: never

Last winning season: 2015

Suffering for Blues fans does not stem from rooting for failures, because their team has been anything but. Indeed, the Blues once authored a 25-year playoff streak, stretching from 1980 to 2004. After a brief lull at the end of that run, they rebuilt themselves into a contender again by 2012, never finishing below second in the Central division and running their current postseason streak up to five years.

Yet, while those accolades look impressive, it all essentially breaks down to ordering a delicious steak dinner, but only ever being served the bread that comes before the meal. Because despite the playoff appearance streak and seven division titles they’ve accumulated since their inception in 1967, the Blues have not returned to the Stanley Cup Finals since the 1969-70 season. And even during those three appearances they made, they brought back an 0-12 record over three sweeps (two by the Canadiens and one by the Bruins). Overall, the Blues are, to date, the oldest franchise in NHL history to not win a Cup.

This has been a franchise defined by chronic underachieving. During the adorementioned 25 year playoff streak, only twice did the team reach the Conference Finals. In their most successful season in franchise history, when they built up a 114 points and the best record in the NHL, the Blues lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks (who also defeated them in this previous season’s Western Conference Finals as well).

To top the pain off, St. Louis’ struggles have been defined by bitter season-ending losses at the hands of their rivals — seven times to the Chicago Blackhawks, and five to the Detroit Red Wings.

Next: 6. Detroit Lions