The Dark Ages of Bay Area Sports

A reflection on sports-induced depression and Super Bowl 58

After enduring the horror flick that was Super Bowl LVIII, nightmarish memories from the past decade in Bay Area sports resurface at the forefront of my mind. 

2016 Game 7. Two fumbled punts by Kyle Williams. Richard Sherman’s postgame comments. Two crushing Super Bowl defeats. Jaquiski Tartt's drop. Kevin Durant’s Achilles. Two heartbreaking NLDS losses. The Raiders relocation. The Sharks’ perennial playoff choke fests.

However, in the tapestry of heart-wrenching moments, this Super Bowl loss weighs heavier on the soul of the Bay Area diehard. 

As the Giants descend deeper into the abyss of mediocrity, the signing of Shohei Ohtani feels like a final nail in the coffin. The Raiders are gone, and A’s are destined for a similar fate. Stephen Curry approaches 36 and Father Time remains undefeated. The Sharks are ass. And the 49ers, boasting the deepest roster in their franchise’s history, lost in “‘98 Jazz fashion.” 

We may have witnessed the last, dying breath of the golden age of Bay Area sports last Sunday. What was born on the backs of Bruce Bochy, Steph Curry, Patrick Willis, and Joe Thornton may die in the arms of Kyle Shanahan, Farhan Zaidi, Mike Dunleavy, and Patrick Mahomes. 

Yet, this overblown pessimism stems from the privilege of being accustomed to the Golden Age.

In a mere decade, we witnessed the rise of two dynasties, claimed 7 rings, and made 12 championship appearances - victories most fans don’t experience in a lifetime.

So maybe the Dark Ages will serve as a humble reminder. Maybe it will cheapen tickets and weed out fair-weather fans. And just maybe, it will reinvigorate the hope and joy of local sports, allowing us to savor each win, freeing us from the shackles of a championship-or-bust mindset.