At least we didn't make this list http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/fans/worstfranchises.html This week we devote our top 10 list to those teams that are just heartbreaking and aggravating to cheer for. Take a look at Page 2's list below, then read how our readers ranked their 10 worst franchise to be a fan of. And be sure to vote in the poll to crown the No. 1 worst team to be a fan of. 1. Chicago Cubs Not only have they not won a World Series since 1908 -- most seasons, they're not even competitive, despite the fact they are a big-market team -- but they also have to listen to Boston Red Sox fans whine about how they are the most put-upon fans on the face of the Earth, even though it's "only" been since 1918 that the Sox last won a title. 2. Cincinnati Bengals Ought to be called the Cincinnati Birds, as in "Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!" 3. Los Angeles Clippers Under quixotic and capricious owner Donald Sterling -- biggest of many problems: an unwillingness or inability to re-sign any of the few good players that have, usually against their will, found themselves on the team -- and ineffective longtime GM Elgin Baylor, whose drafts have been uniformly dreadful until recently, the Clips have been one of the NBA's two perennial joke franchises, along with the New Jersey Nets. Coincidentally, they both seem to have a future right now, though it will be interesting to see if either team's stars will be willing to sign on for the long haul. 4. Arizona Cardinals Not only do they rarely win ... and never even get to a big game ... but they almost never have any interesting players or coaches. Bad and dull ... that's a rotten combination. 5. Kansas City Royals David Glass is the kind of baseball owner who gives the sport a bad name. Under the guise of small-market limitations, he takes and takes and takes whatever revenue-sharing handouts Bud Selig can arrange, and never even tries to re-sign his good players, let alone to put a competitive team on the field. 6. New York Islanders In recent years, they've been run like a minor-league team -- a cheap, classless and clueless minor-league team. They'd be higher on the list except for two things -- new ownership which seems to be trying to do something right and, of course, those four straight Stanley Cup titles in the 1980s. 7. New Jersey Nets Since Roy Boe sold Julius Erving to the 76ers, they've been cursed, and deservedly so. If they weren't leading the Eastern Conference this year in a mind-boggling turnaround, they might be as high as No. 3. 8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers What are those Glazers doing down there?! 9. Florida Marlins If they're not being broken up and sold off to the highest bidder, someone's threatening to move them. Or contract them. And it's always raining ... every single damn game. 10. Boston Bruins Once proud possessors of one of the most passionate fan bases in hockey, the Bruins have been ruined by owner Jeremy Jacobs' cheapness, lack of vision and total absence of people skills. He doesn't seem to care, and neither do the team's multitude of ex-fans. Also receiving votes Oakland Raiders (always moving ...or threatening to) Boston Red Sox (just so their fans won't write in and whine about them not being on the list, and because they have to put up with the Yankees every year) New York Mets (have to be in the same town as the New York Yankees) Chicago White Sox (Reinsdorf Fever, catch it!) Pittsburgh Pirates Toronto Blue Jays (they act like a small-market team, but once averaged 50,000 a game) Minnesota Twins and Montreal Expos (marked for death by Godfather Selig) Los Angeles Dodgers (we will never forget or forgive Walter O'Malley ... plus they always seem to overspend and underachieve) Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets (most despised owner in all of sports) Golden State Warriors/Cleveland Cavaliers/Atlanta Hawks/Tampa Bay Lightning (will they ever be any good?) Chicago Blackhawks (like the Bruins, another Original Six club alienating its hard-core fans)
Seriously, how did we not make it. I mean how many playoff heartbreaks does it require to get on the friggin list. I mean could the Oilers or Stros have racked up anymore. I guess the fact we get to the playoffs means we aren't complete jokes and our ownerships hasn't generally been viewed as exorbitantly cheap or horrible (yeah bud sucked but the outside world probably didn't really care). Anyways, the Oilers shoulda made it.
The Cavaliers and Royals deserve to be higher on that list. I can't think of two more "nothing" franchises.
In all fairness, they were graced by Bret Saberhagen and Tom Gordon, two players any franchise would be lucky to induct into their history.
Oakland Raiders? how dare they! The 3 time Super Bowl Champions are a bad franchise? I WILL NOT BE DISRESPECTED, BY 15,000 JACK-ASSES
Its friggin great to be a Raiders fan. That part of the poll is sh*t. Talk about no respect. 3 championships is way more than alot of teams.
If the Oilers were still around, they'd have to be on that list. I'm really surprised the Astros didn't get mentioned at all...over 35 years and still have never won a playoff series...and have had some monumental heart breakers.
The Royals have only recently become a crap team. They used to have a heck of a lot of good players, and be very competitive. Even won a world Series and have done more than the Astros ever have. I'm a 'stros fan now, but used to be a Royals fan. Also have a nicer stadium in KC as well. KC has had: George Brett Bret Saberhagen Frank White Dan Quizenbury Freddie Patek Paul Splitorff Bo Jackson Hal McRae Bob Boone Willie Wilson Amos Otis <i>"The Royals have been one of the most successful expansion teams in baseball history, posting a winning record in 14 of 19 seasons from 1971-1989. During a ten-year span (1976-1985) they won six division titles, made seven playoff appearances, earned two pennants, and won a world title. By 1976 the Royals best player - George Brett - helped form a great team, along with Amos Otis, John Mayberry, Freddie Patek, Hal McRae, Dennis Leonard, and Larry Gura. Later, Willie Wilson, Frank White, Dan Quisenberry, Darrell Porter, and Clint Hurdle added to the mix. In 1976 Brett and McRae were involved in a bizarre duel for the AL Batting title. The Royals were involved during those years in a rivalry with the Yankees, the two teams pairing off four times in the post-season from 1976-1980. In 1983 the rivalry took a strange twist in what became known as the Pine Tar Incident, propagated by Billy Martin. In 1980 Brett's feverish drive toward a .400 batting average led the team to their first pennant. In the Series the Phillies beat the Royals in six games despite the efforts of Brett and Willie Aikens. In 1985 the team won a tight division and pennant race, finally winning the World Series led by Brett, McRae, Wilson, and Bret Saberhagen - the best pitcher in franchise history. In an exciting seven-game come-from-behind win, the Royals defeated the Cardinals. In their 32 years, Jack McKeon, Whitey Herzog, Jim Frey, Dick Howser, John Wathan, McRae, Bob Boone, and Tony Muser have managed the Royals, who have one of the most stable front-offices in baseball. After the 1993 season Brett retired, severing the final link to the Royals glory days. In 1999 he was elected to the Hall of Fame. The 1990s weren't kind to the franchise: longtime owner Ewing Kaufmann died and the team posted just two winning seasons. The future looked a little brighter in 1999 with the arrival of Rookie of the Year Carlos Beltran, but the loss of Jermaine Dye and Johnny Damon via trade gutted the team. The Royals finished last in both 2000 and 2001. Best Trades Amos Otis and Bob Johnson from the Mets for Joe Foy, December 3, 1969 Hal McRae and Wayne Simpson from the Reds for Rich Scheinblum and Roger Nelson, November 30, 1972 Larry Gura from the Yankees for Fran Healy, May 16, 1976"</i> Right now, it does suck to be a fan of the Royals. But they are hardly a "nothing" franchise.
NugzFan -- what leads everyone to hate your owner there in Denver??? simply not winning??? or something else?
