OT: The Best/Worst Organizations in Pro Sports

Submitted by Steve Breaston… on

I was debating this topic with friends this weekend and thought it would be a great one to get in front of this community. Simply put, which organization in all professional sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS & willing to include Euroleages as well) is the best and which is the worst?

Hard to define the parameters of both categories because the qualifications are subjective and many fans will tie emotions to each. However, let's assume being the best or worst is loosely defined by excelling or failing in categories such as wins, brand recognition, stability, sustainability, history, coaching, current players, fan loyalty, positive/negative press and so on. 

I'm not sure who I believe is the best, but I am a Browns fan (by birth, and not by sane choices) and they are definitely the worst organization in all of professional sports.

Achilles

April 14th, 2015 at 11:02 AM ^

stole my thunder

 

The Browns are my NFL team, but I'm to the point that I just don't give a fuck if they lose a lot. The only sports teams that make me really happy are Michigan football, Michigan basketball, and the Red Wings. The Browns are the worst franchise in all pro sports by a mile.

Wolverine Devotee

April 14th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^

There are almost too many to chose from in the NFL. Raiders and Expansion Browns are the two worst. At least the Lions have been to the playoffs recently.

Go Blue in MN

April 14th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^

The most successful NFL franchise in the Super Bowl Era.  A model of stability, both in terms of ownership and management/coaching.  Rabid fan base and every game is sold out, even in down years.  End of thread. 

Go Blue in MN

April 14th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^

but what you say about the Packers having fans everywhere can also be said about the Steelers.  You can find a Steelers bar in any decent sized city in this country.  And I seem to recall the Packers had a pretty significant stretch of mediocrity before Farve showed up.  The Steelers have had 3 coaches in 46 years.  The Packers are in the running, to be sure, but I think the Steelers get the edge here.

gwkrlghl

April 14th, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^

It's amazing how consistently good the Steelers have been for so long. They're almost always in the playoffs and the worst season I remember them having is a 6-10.

On digging a little further, they've had a few 6-10's, but the last time they won 5 or less was 1988. That's pretty incredible for a pro franchise, which naturally sees ups and downs over time

flashOverride

April 14th, 2015 at 11:57 AM ^

What they did was suck ass for a decade that happened to end right when the cap was implemented and having a shit load of high draft picks due to sucking ass became the best way to build a team. Not saying their management aren't good, but being Johnny on the Spot is hardly revolutionizing anything. 

justingoblue

April 14th, 2015 at 12:18 PM ^

That seems like you're arguing against your own point. I don't have any ill will towards the Blackhawks, but five years of excellence is a much shorter run than the elite pro franchises can claim.

To use your Michigan example, TCU isn't all of a sudden a better program than Michigan because they've had a better five year run and are the better team this season.

SF Wolverine

April 14th, 2015 at 12:44 PM ^

Agree that the Bowman's have done a nice job in Chicago, but they are looking a lot like Pittsburgh with all the $$ wrapped up in two top players.  I think they will have a trajectory much like Pittsburgh from 2010 on.  Will make playoffs, but lack the depth to be a consistent contender.  And, if one of Kane/Toews gets hurt, trouble.

flashOverride

April 14th, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^

I would think a Blackhawks fan who is also a Michigan fan would be better equipped than other Blackhawks fans to understand the dislike, which would be due to the strong resemblance your collective behavior bears to a certain fanbase in East Lansing. 

Hannibal.

April 14th, 2015 at 11:00 AM ^

I would make the argument that over the past 25 years, the Red Wings have been the best organization in sports.  They have made the playoffs a whopping 24 years in a row and they just made the playoffs again in a year when last year's Stanley Cup champions and last year's Presidents Trophy winners didn't make it.  Staying above average in a league that bends over backwards to flip the standings upside down on a regular basis is a great achivement.  And then there's the four Stanely Cups in those 24 years.  I feel like parity is catching up to them and a year without playoffs is going to happen soon, but it has been an amazing run.

Worst might be the Lions although there are probably some terrible West Coast NBA teams that could compete for that title.   

funkywolve

April 14th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^

While in the grand scheme of the discussion they are a bad organization, they also have 2 World Series titles.  There are way more organizations in professional sports with 0 titles then 2 titles since 1993 when the Marlins came into existence.

Michigan4Life

April 14th, 2015 at 11:46 AM ^

but otherwise, I'd agree with you considering they have their annual fire sale every few years.  They just inked up Giancarlo Stanton into a massive deal so we'll see. They do have a lot of great young players like Ozuna, Yelich, Fernandez, etc.  If they lock them up, maybe times are achangin!

ypsituckyboy

April 14th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^

Best/Worst over the last two decades:

Best - NBA: Spurs, NHL: Red Wings, MLB: Cardinals, NFL: Patriots

Worst - NBA: Timberwolves, NHL: Oilers, MLB: Astros, NFL: Lions

Terrible Ted

April 14th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^

with all of your teams except one: I'd replace the Oilers with the Maple Leafs. There's no excuse for how bad the Leafs have become. Like many from this area, I grew up watching them on HNIC. It's sad to see how far they have fallen.

jmblue

April 14th, 2015 at 3:08 PM ^

Yeah - I'm surprised the Maple Leafs haven't been mentioned until now.  They're the only NHL team in a huge area that lives and dies hockey, with a fanbase that never fails to support them, and they can't win.