Worst franchise in pro sports

Craig S. · 09-11-2003, 10:28 AM

I thought of this while looking at the Tigers' and Rays' records, and after reading an analysis recently of the Golden State Warriors' offseason moves.

There are a number of franchises in the 4 major sports (I'm generously including the NHL) that never seem to reach the level of respectability for several reasons.

Who do you think is the worst, and why?

SmedIndy · 09-11-2003, 10:39 AM

I was tempted to vote for the NY Rangers - the Veruca Salt of pro sports - but the Arizona Cardinals are pathetic - even more so than the Bengals - based on their heinous overall track record since they were in Chicago.

LeGrandOrange · 09-11-2003, 10:46 AM

Has to be the Arizona Cardinals...there hasn't been a single ounce of competitiveness in them ever since they moved from the S-T-L. The ownership is moronic, the management is lame, and the players they have are worse. And would it have killed them to pick Terrell Suggs this year? Seriously now, that pick was supposed to be a no-freaking brainer. He played at Sun Devil Stadium, wouldn't you imagine that the fans would like seeing him stay in Phoenix?

That little tangent I went off on also ties into the fact that they have never drafted wisely with personal...it's been pathetic for the most part. Everyone good they had faded quickly...apologies to Aeneas Williams. They're lucky Emmitt Smith hated the Cowboys, otherwise it'd be tremendously faceless. And besides, if it were a legitimate organization, it would do a lot better than Larry Foster as the #1 WR. Boldin had a great game, but they still think of him as a #3...and if Larry Foster or Bryan Gilmore is the best you can do to start games with...tsk...the Bengals look like a world class organization in comparison, especially because they're interested in moving forward sometimes. (Although people say they've stepped back in their uniforms...but I have yet to find conclusive evidence that they wore brown uniforms like I've heard that retarded "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" column pointed out they did...but I'm going off on a tangent)

Of course, they'll still kick the s*** out of the Seahawks most likely.

Gosfgiants · 09-11-2003, 12:17 PM

I've got to go with AZ as well, although I'm was tempted by Golden State. They finally look like they may put a competitive team on the court and then blow it. They let the Wizards sign Arenas and then trade away most of the supporting cast, but still hold on to Dampier. I wonder when they're going to fire Gary St. Jean. Of course the Cardinals have pulled implosion in a more spectacular manner, so they have to be the worst franchise.

WiredTiger · 09-11-2003, 12:27 PM

I voted for the Bengals. Although the look like they are going in the right direction with marvin Lewis. The previous years it didn't even look like they were trying.

TGwynn19 · 09-11-2003, 01:56 PM

LA Clippers. Their owner openly admits that he is more interested in making money than winning.

sweaver · 09-11-2003, 02:00 PM

They all are, they just don't say it publicly.

gyb13 · 09-11-2003, 03:41 PM

which teams in the 4 sports have the longest droughts of being .500 and/or making the playoffs?

pwdennis · 09-11-2003, 04:48 PM

I picked the Bengals, based on the last decade, although from a historical perspective, it's probably the Clippers.

It's too soon (and unfair) to tag the D-Rays with that honor, and Lou certainly has them playing better ball than I would have imagined possible at the start of the season. I hope that Cincinnati comes out of its long tailspin this year because the fans of Cincinnati deserve better (I would say that of Clipper fans, if there were any)

pathogan · 09-11-2003, 05:31 PM

...the Clippers would win this by missing a salm dunk...futility is their MARKETING tool...

gyb13 · 09-12-2003, 10:03 AM

well, they've made the playoffs in the past 10 years...

Craig S. · 09-12-2003, 10:46 AM

For the NBA teams included on the list, these are their last winning seasons, along with the last time they made the playoffs:

Denver
Playoffs - 1994-95 (41-41)
Winning record - 1993-94 (42-40)

Golden State
Playoffs/winning record - 1993-94 (50-32)

LA Clippers
Playoffs - 1996-97 (36-46)
Winning record - 1991-92 (45-37)

rcartman28 · 09-12-2003, 10:55 AM

Arizona narrowly over the Clippers, only because Bidwell has been totally incompetant about twice as long as Sterling has, and because they have screwed up in three different cities.

Craig S. · 09-12-2003, 11:17 AM

In the NHL, the Calgary Flames actually have the longest streaks for not hitting .500, and for not making the playoffs. Their last winning record was 1993-94, and their last playoff appearance was made a year later.

In the NFL, both belong to the Bengals. Their last winning record was 9-7 in 1990, the last time they made the playoffs. The Cardinals made it in 1998, the year they stunned the Cowboys in the wildcard game. However, that was also their only winning record since 1984!

KCBOOMER · 09-12-2003, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcartman28

Arizona narrowly over the Clippers, only because Bidwell has been totally incompetant about twice as long as Sterling has, and because they have screwed up in three different cities.

I could not agree more.

View Poll Results: Which is the worst franchise in pro sports?
Arizona Cardinals	7	41.18%
Cincinnati Bengals	6	35.29%
Denver Nuggets	0	0%
Detroit Tigers	0	0%
Golden State Warriors	0	0%
LA Clippers	4	23.53%
New York Rangers	0	0%
Tampa Bay Devil Rays	0	0%
Other	0	0%
Voters: 17. You may not vote on this poll

09-11-2003, 12:17 PM	#4
Gosfgiants NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,136	I've got to go with AZ as well, although I'm was tempted by Golden State. They finally look like they may put a competitive team on the court and then blow it. They let the Wizards sign Arenas and then trade away most of the supporting cast, but still hold on to Dampier. I wonder when they're going to fire Gary St. Jean. Of course the Cardinals have pulled implosion in a more spectacular manner, so they have to be the worst franchise. __________________ It'll always be Pacbell Park Beat LA!!!

09-11-2003, 03:41 PM	#8
gyb13 NS Omnipresent Brasilian Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Crazy George's playground Posts: 10,903	which teams in the 4 sports have the longest droughts of being .500 and/or making the playoffs? __________________ Gustavo NDF Moderator Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

09-11-2003, 04:48 PM	#9
pwdennis NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 2,503	I picked the Bengals, based on the last decade, although from a historical perspective, it's probably the Clippers. It's too soon (and unfair) to tag the D-Rays with that honor, and Lou certainly has them playing better ball than I would have imagined possible at the start of the season. I hope that Cincinnati comes out of its long tailspin this year because the fans of Cincinnati deserve better (I would say that of Clipper fans, if there were any) __________________ "I would submit that if the world survives for a million years, perhaps its finest hour may be that in the last half of the 20th century, when the power to blow up the world rested in the hands of a few men in two very unsophisticated and suspicious countries, we didn't do it, and one American, Richard Nixon, moved the cold war away from permanent confrontation toward victory. How could any wrong that he did compare with that?" - John Sears

09-11-2003, 05:31 PM	#10
pathogan william Blake's Innkeeper Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 2,828	I thought ...the Clippers would win this by missing a salm dunk...futility is their MARKETING tool...

09-11-2003, 10:28 AM	#1
Craig S. Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,330	Worst franchise in pro sports I thought of this while looking at the Tigers' and Rays' records, and after reading an analysis recently of the Golden State Warriors' offseason moves. There are a number of franchises in the 4 major sports (I'm generously including the NHL) that never seem to reach the level of respectability for several reasons. Who do you think is the worst, and why?

09-11-2003, 10:39 AM	#2
SmedIndy NetShrine's Historian Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Zionsville, IN Posts: 10,569	I was tempted to vote for the NY Rangers - the Veruca Salt of pro sports - but the Arizona Cardinals are pathetic - even more so than the Bengals - based on their heinous overall track record since they were in Chicago.

09-11-2003, 10:46 AM	#3
LeGrandOrange Membership Suspended 4/11/04 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 3,783	Has to be the Arizona Cardinals...there hasn't been a single ounce of competitiveness in them ever since they moved from the S-T-L. The ownership is moronic, the management is lame, and the players they have are worse. And would it have killed them to pick Terrell Suggs this year? Seriously now, that pick was supposed to be a no-freaking brainer. He played at Sun Devil Stadium, wouldn't you imagine that the fans would like seeing him stay in Phoenix? That little tangent I went off on also ties into the fact that they have never drafted wisely with personal...it's been pathetic for the most part. Everyone good they had faded quickly...apologies to Aeneas Williams. They're lucky Emmitt Smith hated the Cowboys, otherwise it'd be tremendously faceless. And besides, if it were a legitimate organization, it would do a lot better than Larry Foster as the #1 WR. Boldin had a great game, but they still think of him as a #3...and if Larry Foster or Bryan Gilmore is the best you can do to start games with...tsk...the Bengals look like a world class organization in comparison, especially because they're interested in moving forward sometimes. (Although people say they've stepped back in their uniforms...but I have yet to find conclusive evidence that they wore brown uniforms like I've heard that retarded "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" column pointed out they did...but I'm going off on a tangent) Of course, they'll still kick the s*** out of the Seahawks most likely.

09-11-2003, 12:27 PM	#5
WiredTiger Guest Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The city of Kaline, Cobb and Greenberg Posts: 3,395	I voted for the Bengals. Although the look like they are going in the right direction with marvin Lewis. The previous years it didn't even look like they were trying.

09-11-2003, 01:56 PM	#6
TGwynn19 Guest Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 2,087	LA Clippers. Their owner openly admits that he is more interested in making money than winning.

09-11-2003, 02:00 PM	#7
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	They all are, they just don't say it publicly.

09-12-2003, 10:03 AM	#11
gyb13 NS Omnipresent Brasilian Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Crazy George's playground Posts: 10,903	well, they've made the playoffs in the past 10 years... __________________ Gustavo NDF Moderator Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

09-12-2003, 10:46 AM	#12
Craig S. Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,330	For the NBA teams included on the list, these are their last winning seasons, along with the last time they made the playoffs: Denver Playoffs - 1994-95 (41-41) Winning record - 1993-94 (42-40) Golden State Playoffs/winning record - 1993-94 (50-32) LA Clippers Playoffs - 1996-97 (36-46) Winning record - 1991-92 (45-37)

09-12-2003, 10:55 AM	#13
rcartman28 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Hudson, WI Posts: 1,408	Arizona narrowly over the Clippers, only because Bidwell has been totally incompetant about twice as long as Sterling has, and because they have screwed up in three different cities. __________________ I would have looked out for the water main. But that's just me..... Brett Favre

09-12-2003, 11:17 AM	#14
Craig S. Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,330	In the NHL, the Calgary Flames actually have the longest streaks for not hitting .500, and for not making the playoffs. Their last winning record was 1993-94, and their last playoff appearance was made a year later. In the NFL, both belong to the Bengals. Their last winning record was 9-7 in 1990, the last time they made the playoffs. The Cardinals made it in 1998, the year they stunned the Cowboys in the wildcard game. However, that was also their only winning record since 1984!

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