OT: The Best/Worst Organizations in Pro Sports
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.
April 14th, 2015 at 10:53 AM ^
So what QB are the Browns going to draft in the first round this year?
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.
April 14th, 2015 at 12:11 PM ^
No way. The Browns have been great since they moved to Baltimore.
Too soon?
Does not bother me!
April 14th, 2015 at 10:56 AM ^
such as the Lions.
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.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^
HEY, who are you calling one of the worst....
April 14th, 2015 at 11:29 AM ^
The Irwindale Raiders.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^
Probably his finest victory to date.
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.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:25 AM ^
Plus, Packers own a whole state and parts of others, plus they seem to have some fans everywhere. Close call, but I give the edge to the Packers.
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.
April 14th, 2015 at 12:13 PM ^
Claiming the end of a thread with your own post is like upvoting yourself. Bad form.
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
April 14th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
Worst: Browns or Raiders
Best: Blackhawks, Packers, Red Wings, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
April 14th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
Don't think you can put Blackhawks on the best list just yet. They were a colossal tire fire for decades (including by not even broadcasting their games in Chicago). They have just become very good the last 5-10 years.
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April 14th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
But what they've done the past 5 years is amazing. Rocky Wirtz has made them relevant again, and right now they are a top organization.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:25 AM ^
that may be biased but no more so than you putting them on the list in the 1st place. Seriously, Fuck not only the blackhawks but all of Chicago sports
April 14th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
you mad bro?
April 14th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
But mostly the Blackhawks.
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April 14th, 2015 at 11:44 AM ^
Face the facts, just because they got better than your silly Red Wings doesn't warrant hate
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.
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.
until next year when they get in cap hell with paying kane and toews 10 mil a year
April 14th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^
They also got a ton wrapped in Towes and Kane. Once their deals sink in, it's going to be tough to surround them with talent.
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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.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
No Spurs or Pats? If we're talking this century, those two have to be at the top.
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April 14th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
You have a great point. Don't know how I forgot them.
I'd say wait and see on both of those, to be a great franchise you have to be more than just one coach. If they're winning ways continue after Pop and Belichick retire then you can put them on all time lists.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:33 AM ^
Blackhawk hockey, established in 2009.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
Lol
Wolverine Devotee wasting his life away on a Michigan Blog
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.
April 14th, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
Given your description, expecting a strong sense of self-awareness is perhaps too much.
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.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
The Timberwolves are a model of incompetence
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April 14th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
Drafted Rubio and Flynn over Curry. Rubio turned out okay and Flynn is a massive bust. That pales in comparison to Steph Curry who has become one of the best PG and player in the league.
April 14th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
I feel so strongly that the correct answer for worst franchise in sports is the Miami Marlins, that I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
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.
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!
April 14th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
Houston Astros for sure.
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
April 14th, 2015 at 11:20 AM ^
Best I agree. Worst - I have trouble with the Lions. The Browns and Raiders are beyond awful run, and the Redskins should be up there too. MLB the Marlins have to be added there.
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April 14th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
I was tempted to run with the Marlins, but they did win a World Series. The Pirates should also be up there, not necessarily for their futility but due to the fact that their owner repeatedly auctions off his best players to keep expenses low, knowing full well that they'll still make money even if they stink.
I can't honestly say the Lions aren't one of, if not the worst, franchises in pro sports. The last few years have been fun, sure, but we've never even been to a Super Bowl. The Raiders have. The Browns are a fairly new team, while the Lions have been around forever.
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.
April 14th, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
How are Canadian hockey teams so bad these days, while US teams in warm weather climates who have like 5 fans are so much better?
April 15th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
In the pre-salary cap days, you could have made the case for small market teams like Edmonton being at a disadvantage. That doesn't excuse Toronto, though.
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.
with McDavid and Babcock coming....
GO LEAFS GO!!!!