The Greatest Night in D.C. Sports History

I just feel empty inside.

That’s it. That’s all there is: a feeling of emptiness after the greatest night in D.C. sports history failed to materialize.

I haven’t checked my timeline. I haven’t checked my wall. I don’t want to see the angry pixels. I don’t want to see the sad pixels. I don’t want to see the depressed pixels. I don’t need to read about how half the Capitals fanbase is “done” with the franchise. I don’t need to read how all the brilliant general fanagers out there are going to trade Ovie for a duffel bag full of hockey pucks or leave him exposed for the expansion draft. I don’t need to read about how people who were just starting to get excited about the Wizards are now going to bail. I don’t need to pay attention to any of it because I simply have a ball of emptiness in the pit of my stomach.

We should have known this night wouldn’t end well as soon we started to get excited about it. We should have known because we are D.C. sports fans. By now, we should know that we don’t get the nice things in a fan’s life. When it comes to sports, Washington, D.C. will break your heart and kick it in the gutter. 

D.C. is the town where President’s Trophies are won. D.C. is the town of Tommy John surgeries, innings limits, and shutdowns. D.C. is where an 8 2/3-inning shutout turns into an 18-inning loss. D.C. is the town of shredded knee ligaments on a dirt-patch-excuse-of-an-field. D.C. is the town of where t-shirts are made celebrating finally making it to Round Two. D.C is finger guns and actual guns. D.C. is “Winning off the field.” And that’s just the last decade off the top of my head.

So why after enduring all of that and more did we think last night would be the moment when things changed? Why did we believe this Capitals team was different? Why did we expect the Wizards to dominate the Celtics? Why did we get our hopes up? 

Because it’s what you do. It’s stupid and ridiculous, but it’s what you do when you’re a fan.

Last night, as time ran out on this season for the Capitals and as the Wizards were losing by 20 in a game they never really had a chance to win, Jayson Werth battled through an 11-pitch at bat and hit a home run. Bryce Harper followed with a double. The Washington Nationals, the afterthought on the greatest night in D.C. sports history, mounted a ninth inning comeback against the hated Baltimore Orioles. And when Matt Wieters hit a two RBI single to win the game for the Nats, there was a much needed moment of joy for this town on a depressing night.

So last night was bleak. This morning was gray and rainy, and the rain hasn’t let up as the day has gone on. There is still an empty feeling when thinking about how depressing last night turned out. But it is a little less bleak when I think about how the Nats fought back. It’s a little less bleak when I realize the Wizards are coming home to play on the court where they are the best team in basketball. It’s a little less bleak as I realize that while last night was a wash, great things are going to happen here in D.C. It may take a while, it may be blind optimism, but it’s going to happen. We are going to get to celebrate a victory parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. It’s going to happen, and last night, and all the other nights like last night, is the price you have to pay to make it all worth it.

Or at least that’s what I tell myself.