When I started blogging almost three years ago, the Clippers were in the playoffs and writing about them was fun. As hobbies go, it was time-consuming, but quite rewarding. When my little blogspot hideout was 'discovered' by SBNation and I was recruited to the world of big time blogging (such as it is), I was at first bemused by the 'contract' that I signed. Nine posts a week? Um, yeah, I think I can handle that. Previews and recaps? I can write those in my sleep. No problem.
I'm guessing (hoping?) that it's not been the inception of ClipsNation.com that has caused the Clippers to revert to their horrible, terrible, no good, very bad ways. Still, the trend is hard to ignore - 27, 28, 37 and 47 wins in four years B.C. (before Clips Nation), 40, 23 and (so far) 18 in three years A.D. (after doofus here started a blog).
It's taken a toll on me - this season in particular. I realized when I was in Seattle last weekend, not watching games, not writing recaps - I felt different. I felt happier. I'm not going to say that the blog has been depressing - but being away from it for a few days was like a weight being lifted off my shoulders. Sleepy? Go to bed. No recap to write tonight.
The ClipperWidow (soon to be the ClipperWife again) has for years told me I needed to move on. She despises Donald Sterling and is completely convinced that karma will never allow a team owned by so vile a person to succeed on any level. She may have a point.
Sometimes you don't get to choose the team you support. I'm a Clippers fan, and it's hard to imagine that changing. But at the same time, I can't see myself devoting this much time to my 'hobby' for another three years. And if that's the case, then when is the right time to leave?
For me, I've decided the right time is now. This owner, this coach, last off-season, this team, these 'stars'... they've all conspired to sap my joie de vivre. Writing about the Clippers is no longer fun. It's work. I'm in grad school now, and blogging helped get me there. I've worked on my writing almost every day for three years, and that's been useful to be certain. Blogging helped me accomplish many things, but I don't know how much more I can grow with it.
I'm not sure what's going to happen to Clips Nation at this point. I haven't really thought this through. But I know I'm done with the blogging gig.
It's been fun citizens.