The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT March 5, 2011

In a recent article in Forbes Magazine, the publication polled some fans and based on that information, it determined the most miserable sports city in the country was none other than Seattle.

I can understand why they'd be in the top five - but to rank them the top is absolutely crazy.

IT DOESN'T surprise me that they're in the conversation - they've lost the only Super Bowl they played in thus far and lost in the MLB playoffs after breaking the team wins total in 2001 when a World Series was almost a complete lock.

And having the Sonics move to Oklahoma - definitely not the finest hours of a city that has long been searching for another professional championship.

But to say that Cleveland or Detroit aren't in this same conversation, is silly.

Cleveland is not even listed in the top five, instead an honorable mention, if making this list is an honor for you.

The Cavaliers sat back and watched as their star player LeBron James voiced his displeasure with the area he grew up in and ran to Miami to chase an NBA championship.

Cleveland also had to watch as the former Browns turned into the Ravens and then win a Super Bowl a few years later. They've since had an expansion Browns team come back, but those playoff games have been a long distance memory.

At least the Seahawks have found a way to bounce back and make the playoffs and win a game - as unlikely as it seemed in late December.

AND AS miserable as the Mariners played two years ago, there was some optimism when they convinced Ken Griffey, Jr. to return at the twilight of his career.

Unfortunately, the Mariners were unable to capture that lightning as he retired after Memorial Day last year after having his playing time disappear.

Later that summer, they fired coach Don Wakamatsu and traded Cliff Lee — leaving whatever World Series hopes that the team drummed up during spring training last year gone with Griffey in May.

At least Felix Hernandez held up his end of the bargain, winning the Cy Young Award, despite the Mariners finishing with one of the worst records in baseball.

BUT THERE is a silver lining to this alleged dark cloud over the Seattle area — things are looking better.

In his first year as coach, Pete Carroll took a Seahawks team that had gone 8-24 in the previous two years to a game away from the NFC championship game.

Steve Sarkisian, Carroll’s offensive coordinator at USC, has turned the Huskies football team into what was once a joke to a team that could contend for a Pac-10 title in the near future.

Miserable sports city — save that for somewhere else.

There’s no misery when you’re optimistic.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020, or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.