The '00s: Worst Sports Decade Ever (10 Reasons Why)

By (Correspondent) on June 26, 2009

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 8:  A fan of the New England Patriots boos the Oakland Raiders before their 2005 NFL opening game at Gillette Stadium on September 8, 2005 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.  (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The '00s are nearing an end. Thankfully.

This has been, without a doubt, the worst sports decade ever. Sure, there were some good things. It was nice to see the Red Sox finally get over the curse. Watching Dwyane Wade and Lebron James is a thrill.

The "Greatest Show on Turf," followed by the high-powered offenses of Manning and Brady have been a blast to watch. But, overall, this decade has been... well... abysmal.

Here are the 10 biggest reasons why.

Reason No. 10: 2004 U.S. Olympic Mens' Basketball

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 31:  Head coach Larry Brown of the Charlotte Bobcats yells to his team during their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 31, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowle

Spoiled, lethargic, unorganized and immature USA stars...Larry Brown failure to give young talent sufficient minutes...a humiliating bronze medal.

We all loved the "Redeem Team." Redemption should not have been necessary.

Reason No. 9: NHL Lockout

TORONTO - NOVEMBER 20:  Toronto Maple Leafs players hockey sticks are shown before the game against the Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre on November 20, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

You have the least popular major sports league in the U.S. Here's an idea: don't let your labor issues make you even less popular! Seriously...what the puck?

Reason No. 8: Kobe Bryant

ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 14:  Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles in the final moments of the Lakers' win over the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 14, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida.  NOTE TO USER:  User expressly

So many people want him to be the "next Michael Jordan." Truth be told, he's not even close to the player Jordan was. Here's a fun project... look up their career shooting percentages in the NBA finals (hint: its not even close).

For all his skill, Kobe will always be a prima donna who has a bad fetish for young female hotel workers.

Reason No. 7: ESPN Overload

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01:  (L-R) The ESPN pregame show with host Mike Tirico and analysts Trent Dilfer, Steve Young and Ron Jaworski before Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Image

Are you old enough to remember when ESPN was a plucky, upstart cable channel trying to prove that an all sports format would work?

Do you recall fondly the days when Chris Berman's schtick was fresh, rather than moldier than a 10 year old loaf of Wonder Bread in a landfill? Ah, the good old days. Now, the E seems to be more important than the S.

Reason No. 6: Night Games

CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 25:  The Stadium lights are lit during the FA Cup 4th Round match sponsored by E.on between Cardiff City and Arsenal at Ninian Park on January 25, 2009 in Cardiff, Wales.  (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Why must every important sporting event end at 1:00 AM? (yeah, there's an East Coast bias here). It is really good for America to have entire workforces showing up to their jobs in a state of sleep deprivation throughout all major playoff times? Starbucks must be behind this.

Reason No. 5: The BCS

MIAMI - JANUARY 08:  Brandon Spikes #51 of the Florida Gators holds up the winning trophy after the FedEx BCS National Championship Game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Dolphin Stadium on January 8, 2009 in Miami, Florida.  (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Ge

Here's a complete list of the people who (a) have a brain, (b) are not on the BCS committee, (c) are not major bowl game sponsors, and (d) don't want a college football playoff:

I'm done.

Reason No. 4: Sports Radio

NEW YORK - JUNE 19:  Actor Romany Malco of 'The Love Guru'  is interviewed during XM's NHL live radio show as Romany visits the NHL Powered by Reebok store June 19, 2008 in New York City. Malco plays the Toronto Maple Leafs star hockey player in the Mike

Here's a clue: if you bang you monkey to give you a vine so you can have a take that does not suck that ends with "war (whatever), out!" you are either a Jim Rome fan or under the age of 12.

Sports is not rocket science, but does it have to be a pulpit for loud mouthed bores?

Reason No. 3: Bill Belichick

19 Nov 1995:  Head coach Bill Belichick of the Cleveland Browns on the sideline during the Browns 31-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.  Mandatory Credit:  Brian Bahr/Allsport

"Leadership is based on a spiritual quality; the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow."

-- Vince Lombardi

"It isn't cheating unless you're caught."

-- Bill Belichick

How far we've come.

Reason No. 2: Steroids in Baseball

WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 13: Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens (L) gets a note from his attorney Lanny Breuer while he testifies about allegations of steroid use by professional ball palyers before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Com

Greatest power hitters. Cheaters. Greatest pitcher of our era. Cheater.

For the life of me, I can't understand why anyone cares about major league baseball any more.

Reason No. 1: The Internet

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JANUARY 09: Chad Knauss, crew chief for the #48 Lowes Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson working on his laptop in the garage during NASCAR testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 9, 2008 in Daytona Beach, Florida.  (Photo

First of all... yes, I get the irony here. And yes, I do think the internet does add provide some great information and resources for sports fans.

But right now, when those benefits are weighed against the constant influx of misinformation, rumor publication, smack talk, twittering, tweeting, and other nonsense, I think the bad outweighs the good.

"Terry Bradshaw on line 1 for Mr. Florio...he'd like to report that he's still not dead."

Bring on the '10s!

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