OT: Most miserable Sports Cities

[Shane]

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/most-miserable-sports-city-in-america-022811?GT1=39002

Seattle #1
Phoenix #3

 

[SuperSpck]

I submit Minneapolis should be in the top 5 for the following reasons:
1) Snow. It makes life miserable.
2) The roller coaster that is his Farve-ness and the purple nurples that go with it.
3) The Timberwolves should probably be repealed by an act of Congress.
4) Snow. Again.

 

[TheHopToad]

Wow....how did Cleveland not win this thing? Have they ever won anything since the 1948 Indians? They have "The Drive", Jordan over Ehlo, and the extra inning loss in game 7 of the '97 World Series. And then there was LeBron. He should have earned them bonus points by himself.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

No matter what the subject is, it seems Seattle always wins when the poll starts out most miserable city.

I agree about Cleveland. At least the lake hasn't caught on fire recently.

 

[crisper57]

I never get the Phoenix references on this list.

First, we have the Suns, which consistantly put a decent product on the court.
Second, we have a World Series Championship in the D-Backs.
Third, the Cardinals have had a pitiful existence, but only a short portion of that was actually in AZ. Since then, we have been to a Super Bowl, at least.
Finally, we have one of the best golf tournaments in the Phoenix Open, and Spring Training every year.

This is a great place to watch sports and we have at least a limited amount of success that should put us ahead of a city like Cleveland.

 

[desertdawg]

I never get the Phoenix references on this list.

First, we have the Suns, which consistantly put a decent product on the court.
Second, we have a World Series Championship in the D-Backs.
Third, the Cardinals have had a pitiful existence, but only a short portion of that was actually in AZ. Since then, we have been to a Super Bowl, at least.
Finally, we have one of the best golf tournaments in the Phoenix Open, and Spring Training every year.

This is a great place to watch sports and we have at least a limited amount of success that should put us ahead of a city like Cleveland.

Plus we host Superbowls and All Star games, we have one of the dopest state of the art stadiums. Phx sucks but not because of it's sports.

 

[ajcardfan]

I never get the Phoenix references on this list.

First, we have the Suns, which consistantly put a decent product on the court.
Second, we have a World Series Championship in the D-Backs.
Third, the Cardinals have had a pitiful existence, but only a short portion of that was actually in AZ. Since then, we have been to a Super Bowl, at least.
Finally, we have one of the best golf tournaments in the Phoenix Open, and Spring Training every year.

This is a great place to watch sports and we have at least a limited amount of success that should put us ahead of a city like Cleveland.

The premise Forbes used was "most heartbreaking" teams to follow. So, based on THAT, I don't find it to much out of line, although Cleveland should be #1 because they lost the Browns and then have been forced to watch the "real" Browns excel in another city. On top of the other lousy teams they have, that's brutal.

Seattle ahead of us I can also agree with because they got hosed losing the Sonics. They loved that team every bit as much as this city loves the Suns.

 

[Mulli]

I submit Minneapolis should be in the top 5 for the following reasons:
1) Snow. It makes life miserable.
2) The roller coaster that is his Farve-ness and the purple nurples that go with it.
3) The Timberwolves should probably be repealed by an act of Congress.
4) Snow. Again.

Snow makes life miserable? Not. Sub-zero temperatures/ice are far worse.

 

[chickenhead]

If we're talking championships then maybe Phoenix does qualify: only three finals appearances including the Diamondbacks win. One chance for ASU football to win the national championship outright, which they lost, and a few other seasons where they went undefeated like later WAC/MWC teams and watched the title go to bigger programs with losses. I guess there are the Rattlers and Mercury...

But miserable? I don't know. Sarver aside, cheering for the Suns has been a true privilege for most of my life. And cheering for the Cardinals has certainly made me feel like a good fan.

 

[Southpaw]

If it weren't for the Bulls run, Chicago has to qualify.

White Sox 1959 pennant year and 2005 World Series. Other than that about 100 years of nothing.

Cubs. Nothing

Blackhawks finally last year after 40 something years of nothing.


Cardinals were so bad in Chicago they were run out of town to St. Louis.


Bears nothing since 1985.

 

[john h]

Wow....how did Cleveland not win this thing? Have they ever won anything since the 1948 Indians? They have "The Drive", Jordan over Ehlo, and the extra inning loss in game 7 of the '97 World Series. And then there was LeBron. He should have earned them bonus points by himself.

I really cannot think of anything I like about Cleveland. Not just sports facilities but the city itself. Who wants to live in Cleveland? Not me. I loved my 10 years in Chicago. Even the cold wind coming off Lake Michigan was a thrill. There is nothing like the 100 year old Wrigley even if your team is the Cubs. So much to see in Wrigleyville. If you are an opponent you will love the Bleacher Bums. Any sport you want you will find it. My kind of town.

 

[ARodg]

If the Packers aren't considered than Milwaukee should probably be there.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Chicago has has some success - especially if looking at the total history ..... the blackhawks are an original 6 franchise with a great history, you can't discount the bulls and even the white sox have had some good years and WS wins

The cubs are miserable - but their fans are too drunk to care, so it really evens out

I would go with cleveland though ..... the cavs were often that second best team in the east, the browns had heartbreaking playoff losses and then lose their team entirely (who then wins a SB shortly thereafter in their new city - providing the ultimate gut punch)

the indians never quite put it all together and losing a WS in extra innings to a 5th year franchise is pretty rough

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Mpls is also a decent contender ......... the t-pups lost in the 1st round of the playoffs for 7 straight seasons ... before finally getting to the WCF and losing

The vikings have 4 SB loses, the heartbreaking 15 win season and corresponding playoff loss, favre saga, etc

the northstars moved to dallas of all places

the wild finally broke their sell out streak this year - but the team really hasn't been able to put much together

the gophers are underacheivers

the twins 2 WS titles are pretty much holding all of that together

 

[English on tour]

In terms of heartbreak i always think Buffalo for football.

The Sabres havent done much i think since the mid 70's when the were formed but my depth of knowledge on the place nose dives after that...

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Buffalo only has the two major sports ... their minor league sports have been fairly successful though

dropping 4 straight superbowls is rough - as is firing the guy who built those teams just to watch him build a divisional rival into a power

the sabres are a well supported, but middle type franchise .... their biggest heartbreak is probably the stanley cup finals against dallas with the skate in the crease goal

between that & wide right there is definitely some heartache there

 

[chickenhead]

True, losing championships on Norwood's miss and Hull's skate in the crease is pretty miserable...

 

[MigratingOsprey]

also the music city musical as a playoff loss

but that can be countered by the frank reich comeback against the same franchise (albeit different locations)

 

[Southpaw]

In terms of heartbreak i always think Buffalo for football.

The Sabres havent done much i think since the mid 70's when the were formed but my depth of knowledge on the place nose dives after that...

Who can ever forget the old Buffalo Braves of the NBA? Guess where they are now and still stinking up the place?






San Diego Clippers Maybe it is a Bouef-a-l'eaux jinx.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Their upstate neighbor also has a miserable former franchise stinking it up in a smaller CA city

The former Rochester Royals (although the Royals won an NBA championship in the 50s and were the first franchise for one of the all time greats - oscar robertson)

 

[NJCardFan]

How does Philadelphia not make the list? Especially considering the criteria carries a lot of weight if a city's team lost in the finals. Going back to 1960, this is how the 4 top Philadelphia franchises have made out:

Phillies: Aside from the monumental collapse of 1964, the Phils didn't win much from 1960 to 1975. Starting in '76, the team won 3 straight division championships, only to lose in the LCS. 1980 finally brought a world championship but since then, the team has made the World Series 4 times, winning in 2008.

Eagles: The Eagles won the NFL Championship in 1960. After that, the team had a run of mediocrity rarely seen, so bad that they couldn't even lose right winning 2 meaningless games late in 1968 taking themselves out of the OJ Simpson sweepstakes. They didn't have a winning season until 1978 and didn't make their first Super Bowl until 1980, losing to the wild card Raiders. They made the Super Bowl 1 other time, 2004, losing to NE. In the Andy Reid era, the Eagles have been to NFC Championship 5 times, including 4 straight appearances, winning only once.

Sixers: The Sixers won the NBA title in 1967 and didn't reach the finals again until 1977, losing to the Trailblazers 4-2 after winning the first 2 games. In between that time, they have the distinction of having the worst record in league history in 1972-73 with a 9-73 record. After '77, the Sixers became one of the elite teams in the NBA reaching the finals in 1980, 82, & 83, winning in '83. Since then, just 1 finals appearance in 2001. Oddly enough, each of their finals losses have come against the Lakers.

Flyers: Probably the most consistent team missing the playoffs only 8 times in their history. They are also the only Philly team ever to win back to back championships. However, since winning the Cup in 1975, the Flyers have made the finals 6 times losing each time including last season.

So, there you have it. Yes, since 1960, there are 7 world championships and a whole lot of heartbreak, judging by the criteria of the article.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Most cities would love the heartbreak of 7 championships spread around all 4 major sports

 

[SuperSpck]

Most cities would love the heartbreak of 7 championships spread around all 4 major sports

And let's be honest. Philly has it coming karma-tically speaking.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

they also have had a really good minor league sports scene and a thriving college basketball scene

although it is too bad that the phantoms were sent to upstate NY due to the end of the spectrum

 

[NJCardFan]

they also have had a really good minor league sports scene and a thriving college basketball scene

although it is too bad that the phantoms were sent to upstate NY due to the end of the spectrum

I frequented Phantom games in the late 90's. They used to outdraw the Sixers.