It's a funny thing about sports. When you're watching your team lose in heartbreaking, bone crushing, head throbbing fashion, you're convinced that this time, the pain will be too great. No matter how many years you've been through it, you're convinced that this time, you won't be able to get over it.

But there's always another game. There's always another season. There's always another sport, another team, another chance.

The 1995 Philadelphia Flyers lost in the Conference Finals. They broke my heart.

I recovered.

The 1997 Philadelphia Flyers got swept in the Stanley Cup finals. They broke my heart.

I recovered.

The 1999 Boston Red Sox lost in the ALCS. They broke my heart.

I recovered.

The 2000 Philadelphia Flyers lost in the Conference Finals after holding a 3 games to 1 lead. They broke my heart.
The 2001 Philadelphia Eagles lost in the Conference Championship. They broke my heart.
The 2002 Philadelphia Eagles lost in the Conference Championship. They broke my heart.
The 2003 Boston Red Sox lost in Game 7 of the ALCS. They broke my heart.
The 2003 Philadelphia Eagles lost in the Conference Championship. They broke my heart.
The 2003-04 Philadelphia Flyers lost in Game 7 of the Conference Finals. They broke my heart.

Each time, I recovered. Because though it hurt at the time, there was always another game, sport, or season to turn my attention towards, another team to fall in love with, another dream in which to start believing.

It's an endless cycle, it seems, that all too often ends miserably. But every time, we keep coming back, because we love sports, and we can't fathom our lives without them.

Today marks the end of the 2004 Philadelphia Eagles' magical journey that once again fell short, though the ride was spectacular. An entire nation awakes this morning in a cloudy city to hangovers, headaches, and 'what ifs.' What if McNabb hadn't been so nervous at the start of the game? What if Andy Reid knew how to manage the clock down the stretch? What if Reid had played Adams intstead of Simoneau? What if the Eagles had given Akers a chance to show the world his skills instead of turning the ball over in the red zone in the first quarter?

And so, continuing the cycle, I will finish wrapping the bandage around my Eagles heart and, in time, throw myself into the Red Sox, headfirst. Because it's a new season and the Sox have a title to defend.

Here we go again.