Worst franchises in sports
May 8th, 2008FOX Sports gives you their top 10 of worst franchises in pro sports:
1. Pittsburgh Pirates
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Detroit Lions
6. Boston Bruins
7. Minnesota Twins
8. Atlanta Hawks
9. Memphis Grizzlies
10. Los Angeles Clippers
Hey, you remember that one time the Royals won the world series? Yeah, that was a good year.
j razz
I’ve never heard of Dave Golokhov, but he should get his facts straight. Commence rant:
The Twins constantly sell proven veterans for prospects and draft picks, but when those youngsters finally develop, they get shipped away to start the cycle again.
The Twins signed Joe Mauer to a multi-year deal before the 2007 season. They signed Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, and Joe Nathan to multi-year deals before this season. Johan Santana was offered $20 million a year and turned it down. This team’s problem isn’t a lack of proven veterans, it’s an overabundance of washed-up guys like Craig Monroe, Mike Lamb, and Adam Everett stealing playing time from younger, cheaper, more talented players.
Puzzling personnel plays: Trading Johan Santana and failing to re-sign Torii Hunter.
Johan didn’t want to be here. What were the Twins supposed to do, let him walk? We ended up with four good prospects, one of whom just hit for the cycle last night. Nobody around here misses Hunter, who mysteriously emerged as a star the last two years when he had a contract on the line.
The Twins have won four of the last six AL Central titles. They were Baseball America’s Organization of the Year in 2002 and 2004. Oh yeah, and there are two World Series banners hanging on the baggie. Yet they’re the 7th worst franchise in all of sports while teams like the Orioles, Blue Jays, Reds, Nationals/Expos, or Rangers are nowhere to be found? Not to mention the pathetic Timberwolves? Gimme a break.
I think you’re right, Peter. I did a double-take when I saw the Twins on the list.
And what about the Cubs?
Talk about a pathetic franchise and perennial loser.
Amen.
How are the Knicks not on this list? Talk about a total waste.
The focus of the article is on current, but if you think long-term, the football Cardinals take the cake.
The Cubs are at least competitive on a semi-regular basis, aren’t afraid of spending money, and have Wrigley Field going for them. I don’t think they belong here.
I think you could make a good case for the Reds though.
I agree with the other Brett. That list may be fine if you look at the last ten years, but if you go back 25-30 years or so you would have to put the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals at the top of the list and move the Clippers up to number 2. What a hopeless pair of franchises. I also agree that the Twins don’t belong on the list at all. They have won two World Series in the last 21 years and division titles in the recent past. The Texas Rangers probably should be on the list.
I stongly object to the Rays being on the list. I understand that the old ownership would be on that list, but under the new ownership the organization is going in the right direction.
I, too, agree with the other Brett. The Twins may be in a current funk, but to put them on the list is ridiculous and he Rangers have been pretty bad.
Worst 3 in order:
1. Football Cardinals
2. Clippers
3. Lions
The Twins may be in a current funk
In a funk? They’re in first place!
I couldn’t care less what goes on in the NBA, and my lack of current events there may show my ignorance, but why in the heck is Golden State not on the list?
I think I’d have to rank them like this:
Arizona Cardinals
LA Clippers
Detroit Lions
Chicago Blackhawks
KC Royals
Atlanta Hawks
New York Jets
Memphis Grizzlies
Oakland Raiders
Baltimore Ravens
“And what about the Cubs? Talk about a pathetic franchise and perennial loser.”
I’ll just throw some facts at you. Granted, the Cubs haven’t won a World Series in a 100 years, and you CAN make that argument. Otherwise, they are the only team to have 10,000+ all time franchise wins except San Francisco. The Cubs are 5th in all time franchise winning percentage at .514 behind the Red Sox, Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants, and Yankees. Interestingly, I noticed that the franchise ranked #1 worst franchise by FOX, the Pittsburgh Pirates, has a franchise winning percentage of .506 (9639 wins - 9404 losses). I agree ranking Pirates #1 if they are using only recent success as a measure. I just wanted to take a closer look at the numbers. Here is my source…
Complete Baseball Team and Baseball Team Encyclopedias
Interesting stuff for you baseball gurus.
Correction, 6th not 5th.
Ken Tremendous at FireJoeMorgan.com has a great take on this column.
I find it a great honor to have my Lions included in the top 5. Such a list is quite an exclusive club and being up there with the Royals and Rays is rare air.
However, I can’t help but think the Clippers should be number 1 had it not been for their relative success the last year or two. I Lions are a close #2 for consistency in futility.
The Bruins are much better than this list would have you believe as goalie Tim Thomas had a great year and they have some great young talent from the Joe Thornton trade from a few years back. The franchise of Bobby Orr is not worthy to be on this list. Big mistake on their part right there.
I object to my Pirates being a the top of this list. The last 15 years have been bad. Overall though? World Champs in 60,71, and 79. 3 NLCS apperances in the early 90’s.
How are the Bungles if Cincy not on this list? All the #1 draft choices that were a bust. All of the arrests in the past. How many Super Bowls? Only 1 winning season in the last 10 or so years.
Who the heck are the Clippers? Oh, that’s right, they’re L.A.’s other team. Just like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in the West Coast, third planet from the sun, and from the Milky Way Galaxy.
Go figure.
I would have to say my formerly beloved Atlanta Falcons.