Current Sports Teams That Don't Know How to Suck
As a Cleveland sports fan, I can tell you that there are a lot of times where I just can't take it anymore. I sometimes find myself so frustrated at the constant rebuilding and futility that I just want to give up.
Of course, most sports fan can relate to that, though, as teams that are starving for a championship always find themselves in an uphill battle.
Then again, some fans live the good life as their favorite franchises always seem to be in contention and never have to use that rebuilding word.
Regardless of how they achieve it, here are the sports teams that never seem to suck.
UConn Huskies Women's Basketball
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Maybe the addition of the UConn Huskies women's hoops team to this list is a bit of a cop-out since they've been the most dominant squad in all of sports over the past eight years.
That's because in that span, the lady Huskies have reached the Final Four in each of those eight seasons, five of them ending with national championships.
For that reason, maybe this program is too good to be a part of this list because let's face it, they never sucked in the first place.
If, by circumstance, everything falls apart and UConn does have a down year, though, I'm pretty confident that head coach Geno Auriemma would have things back to normal in no time—you know, based off of the team's history and all.
San Jose Sharks
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After being introduced to the league during the 1991-92 season, the San Jose Sharks have become one of the most consistent teams in all of sports, let alone the NHL.
Making the postseason just twice in its first six years, San Jose has gone on a streak of 15-of-17 playoff appearances since, recently missing out last year.
With key offseason moves to return themselves to a familiar place this upcoming season, blending new and old players together, hockey fans shouldn't expect the Sharks to be watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs from their couch again this year.
Dallas Mavericks
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There was a time when the Dallas Mavericks were the laughingstock of the NBA, going an entire decade without a playoff appearance through the 1990s.
Funny how just one man—a talented German by the name of Dirk Nowitzki—can change an entire franchise's fortunes, though.
Since making a draft-day trade to acquire Dirk in 1998, the Mavs have become one of the staple organizations in the league, missing the playoffs just once since the 2000-01 season—which includes two Finals trips and one championship.
Even as Nowitzki gets closer to the end, the Mavs and their fans should feel confident that ultra competitive owner Mark Cuban will do anything he can to maintain his reputation as a winner.
The Mavs aren't expected to be heavy title contenders this year, but they should be playing meaningful hoops once again come April.
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Baltimore Ravens
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The Baltimore Ravens might currently be 1-3 and in real trouble of having a lost season, but if history is any indication, they'll find a way to turn things around.
That's because not since 2007 have the Ravens had a losing season, winning at least eight games in every year since. So don't fret just yet, Baltimore faithful.
With a Super Bowl win in the bag under the guidance of head coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco, the Ravens have built a good formula to help them maintain a winning atmosphere.
Even as other players change at wide receiver and on defense, Baltimore remains competitive and will stay that way until it decides to make drastic and significant changes—which aren't expected anytime soon.
Boston Red Sox
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Want to know how competitive the Boston Red Sox have been over the years? This season marked just the first time the team had back-to-back losing seasons since the 1965 and 1966 campaigns. That's just ridiculous.
In that time, the Red Sox have seen themselves go from lovable losers to building a nation of high-priced players with a payroll that often rivals the New York Yankees.
Since breaking the Curse of the Bambino in 2004, the BoSox have added two more championships to their history, leaving them starving for more.
No longer the team that almost could, the Red Sox consider themselves title contenders each and every year, so one can't be surprised if they end up playing meaningful October baseball once again next season.
Detroit Red Wings
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Strictly known as Hockeytown, USA, the Detroit Red Wings not only have a great history, but also a great responsibility to stay competitive year after year.
Thus is the life of anyone associated with the franchise, player, coach, fan or otherwise.
Much like the New York Yankees in baseball or the Los Angeles Lakers in basketball, the Red Wings are the most popular and most recognizable team in their sport, which is why for the past 24 seasons, Detroit has reached the playoffs.
Not having won a Stanley Cup title since the 2007-08 season, though, the team hopes to get back to the level it's expected to by reaching the conference semis and/or finals—especially after being bounced in the first round the past two years.
Like the Yanks and Lakers, each season for the Red Wings is measured by one thing: the ending. Anything less than a title is considered a failure. That just comes with the territory.
Florida Gators Football
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After two straight dreadful and embarrassing seasons for the Florida Gators football team, I'm sure people doing the Gator Chomp felt like it had been an eternity since the squad had been competitive.
Come on now, guys, that was never going to happen.
With a reputation of excellence on the gridiron, the Gators cleaned house prior to the 2015 season, firing head coach Will Muschamp and hiring Jim McElwain—who has instantly turned the culture around.
Following an upset victory against previously ranked No. 3 Ole Miss, Florida has now found itself in the national title picture and relevant once again—even though it wasn't long ago that they were the toast of the college football scene.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Although the Oklahoma City Thunder missed out on the playoffs last season, we can go ahead and call that a fluke.
Had it not been for superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook being banged up, OKC would have likely been sitting in its familiar spot towards the top of the Western Conference standings.
Having made the postseason in the five years prior to last year, the Thunder should rebound in 2015-16 with a healthy Durant and an even more deadly Westbrook, making them a serious contender for an NBA title.
With a new coach in Billy Donovan and young talent all over the roster, none of us should be surprised that the Thunder will bounce back with great results—as long as they stay healthy.
St. Louis Cardinals
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Although the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers often receive grief for always winning, it's actually the St. Louis Cardinals who fans should be jealous of.
Not missing the playoffs in back-to-back years since 2007 and 2008, the Cards led the majors in wins with 100 in 2015 and look primed for another deep postseason run.
That's sort of become their calling card as they've reached the World Series four times in 11 seasons, winning two of them.
Balancing great pitching with solid, clutch hitting, the Cardinals have become the most consistent team in baseball—whether fans recognize it or not.
New York Yankees
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Some may say it's easy for a team that has a history of overspending to stay in contention year after year, but until this season, the New York Yankees hadn't reached the postseason since 2012.
More than that, it's now been six long seasons since the team's last World Series title, meaning those fans in the Bronx are starting to get restless.
Still, with a payroll that was tops in the majors in 2015, a history of greatness thanks to 27 championships, the allure of those damn pinstripes and pressure to stay competitive, a season that ends without October play isn't repeated very often.
That's the damn Yankees for you.
New England Patriots
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Not having a losing season since the 2000 campaign, the New England Patriots have built the model franchise in the NFL and arguably, all of sports.
With a Hall of Fame player-coach duo in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, as well as an engaged owner who craves winning, the Pats are constantly competing for Super Bowl titles, which they've accomplished four times since that last losing season.
Averaging 12.6 wins in the past five years, New England has seen star players come through its doors, yet somehow, have established a winning formula that allows them to take lesser-known names and continue to thrive.
San Antonio Spurs
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While the aforementioned New England Patriots have bottled up the recipe for the most perfectly run franchise in the NFL, the NBA's San Antonio Spurs can argue that they have the most perfect formula for winning, too.
With five titles since superstar Tim Duncan came into the league prior to the 1997-98 season, the Spurs haven't won less than 50 games in the past 16 seasons.
Even as the core of Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker ages, the Spurs bring in new blood—like LaMarcus Aldridge—to help take over for whenever those three do finally call it quits, so don't expect too much of a drop-off, NBA teams.
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