Believeland

by Stephanie Alexander Raleigh

I sat down to watch “Believeland” – ESPN’s latest 30 for 30 documentary on the dichotomy of hope and despair that has fueled Clevelanders and their sports teams for longer than anyone cares to remember.

Yes, watching the documentary brings to the surface many repressed, memories to be painfully experienced again. I don’t think we need to go over them. We all know the monikers given to each and every nightmare. But what it also did was bring back some great memories. Where I was, who I was with, the excitement we all felt over what could be, and the ultimate mourning we went through together. Those recollections help to serve as my proverbial “silver lining.”

Does a community become closer by nursing the agony of defeat, or by celebrating the thrill of victory? A case can be made for both sides of the argument. Could the failures bring about a greater resolve, an instinctual need to defend and protect your city or your team? I believe so. You have to dig deep to find that love. I will embrace the bad with the good. We will come together to celebrate victory one day, but we have become a stronger community without it. At least that is what I tell myself! #Believe