Ranking The Sports Cities With Four Teams In The Major Professional Sports
It takes quite the city to accommodate four professional sports teams in the four major North-American sports: baseball, basketball, football, and hockey.
Most times one or two of the teams in the city will be having success; while the others are scrapping near the bottom of the rankings, and are pushed to the middle of the newspaper.
But, in some rare occasions these large metropolitan areas are lucky enough to have good teams in nearly all the sports, and are seen at the dominant power in the country in a sports sense.
I have ranked the cities based on the current standing and successes in the past few years, and present. I have only used cities that have sports teams in each of the four respective sports.
No. 12, Detroit
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The city of Detroit starts the list as the worst city for sports that feature a team in all the major sports. It's hard to no feel bad for the Motorcity at this point.
The Lions are improving with a good core of players such as Jahvid Best, Matthew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh, and "Megatron" Calvin Johnson. Even with all this talent they are a long ways away from being a contender in the NFC North with the Packers, Vikings, and Bears. Let's not forget they won 2 games in the last two seasons and have not won this year.
The Tigers had high expectations going into this season, but were riddled with injuries to key players like Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen. They do have some bright spots such as AL MVP front-runner Miguel Cabrera, ace pitcher Justin Verlander, should be perfect game pitcher Armando Galarraga. This team seems to be moving backwards, and it might not be time for Jim Leyland to think about hanging in the cleats again.
The Pistons are a team that in the last decade were one of the most solid and intimidating foes for other teams in the NBA. It brought back memories of the "Bad Boys" days, and they captured a title in this time. Now, they are rebuilding, although it is difficult to see the direction they are going in. Ben Gordon who they signed to a big contract must perform big to be a playoff contender.
The saving light for Detroit is their bread and butter in "Hockeytown". The Red Wings are the best team in the league year in and out. It was no doubt strange for the fans of the Wings to not be playing in the finals last season as they are the top example of stability, and strong organizational structure in the NHL.
No. 11, Washington D.C.
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Our nation's capital is the host of four sports teams that for the last couple of decades have not done much in the form of winning titles for its city.
The Redskins are the only franchise that has brought home the hardware for the city, but those Super Bowl titles are getting dusty as they haven't won the big prize since the first run with Joe Gibbs. It would be hard to find a worse organization in the NFL over the past five seasons. Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb look to restore some greatness to the Skins. I don't think Albert Haynesworth will be apart of that at all.
The Nationals will in fact be the team in 3-5 years to bring D.C. up on this list. With a top level talent in Ryan Zimmerman in the lineup along with young phenoms Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper they may be the cream of the crop in the NL East in the future. But, this does very little for the city now as they are a bottom dweller.
The Wizards have had on-court problems as well as in-locker problems over the past few seasons as they had meddled in mediocrity for quite some time. The ping-pong balls bounced there way as they got John Wall to lead them in the future along with much maligned guard Gilbert Arenas and acquired former Bull Kirk Hinrich.
The best team in town right now is without a doubt the Capitals. The Caps captured the President's Trophy for having the most points in the entire NHL last season behind star Alex Ovechkin. However, Alex and the Caps were shocked in the first round by Jaraslov Halak and the #8 seeded Montreal Canadiens. Redemption is what is wanted by this team this season.
No. 10, Phoenix
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The state of Arizona is going through a lot turmoil politically at the moment, and the performance of the sports teams really hasn't helped the morale that much.
The Cardinals super bowl appearance was a bright spot for the people of the desert a couple of seasons ago. They have Larry Fitzgerald who is considered one of the best receivers in league. But, Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner's retirement has made the usual lock to win NFC West Cardinals a question mark going forward. Derek Anderson and Matt Leinart have not shown that they are willing to step up and become the "man" to this point.
The Diamondbacks are in a state of rebuilding at this point which no one can deny. Getting rid of Dan Haren along with the constant changes in the manager role have made them a team in search of answers. They need Justin Upton to become the player that he is capable of being, and Stephen Drew to continue to be a top shortstop. They have a ways to go at this point, and will not be a factor in the NL for some time.
The Suns are a team that always is scary to play if you have cracks in your defense. But, as they would admit, they have had trouble getting over the hump, and getting that NBA title. They have played to the top level with many teams in the Western Conference with the league's top point guard Steve Nash. The door seems to be closing on their chance, and what better time than this season for them to come through?
The Coyotes were the surprise of the west last season in the NHL. With a top goaltender and some of the best young talent in the league they came out of nowhere to become a Cup contender. However, they still face the possibility of being moved to Winnipeg or Thunder Bay in the future putting Phoenix in danger of leaving this list.
No. 9, Miami/Fort Lauderdale
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Party in the city where the heat is on.
Will Smith was right. The Heat are on.
No, but all kidding aside the Miami sports scene has truly taken a turn for the better over the past couple of months with the happenings that ever sports fan is aware of with the Heat, but these moves do not cure all the ills.
For a good period of time the Dolphins seemed to be spiraling into oblivion during the Nick Saban years, until the great Bill Parcells righted the ship. Since than the team has been going in the right direction it seems like. Players like Ronnie Brown and Brandon Marshall lead the Dolphins in what they hope is a new era of success.
The Marlins will have a new stadium to call home soon, but they will be leaving a place that they won two world titles in there short existence. A new manager will be needed in this new run with Ozzie Guillen as a possibility with his home in the Miami area. Hanley Ramirez is one of the best players in baseball on a team that did not have a chance this season.
The Florida Panthers? Who are the Florida Panthers?
Dale Tallon who built most of the pieces of the champion Blackhawks is in charge of the team now, and looks to build a bottom dweller from the ground up. The brightest star for the Panthers the past few seasons has been announcer Randy Mueller. (See Video)
Last and certainly not least are "Miami Thrice" and the Heat. They are said by pundits such as the Van Gundy's to be a lock to break the Bulls record of 72 wins this season. Wade, Bosh, and Lebron look to get it done, even being the most despised team ever assembled before even taking the court. They will look to bring Miami a title, and they are the favorites. So we shall see.
No. 8, New York
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The Big Apple has its share of entertainment that is unrivaled.
So falling towards the lower portion of this list is not a devastating blow to the city that never sleeps.
The Jets and Giants are both getting used to their new "digs". Both teams have playoff expectations this season. The Giants coming off a super bowl win a few seasons ago look to solid quarterback Eli Manning to lead a team that has been overlooked by some in the NFC.
The Jets plain and simple have put their expectations on being in Dallas for the big one in February with a stingy mean defense, and a offense that has a lot of talent. They need to cut out with the off the field issues to be true contenders.
The Yankees are the best organization there is. New York embodies what the Yankees have represented for almost a century which is being the biggest and the best. Title after title have come to the Bronx Bombers, as they are looking to repeat this season, and are the cream of the crop.
The Mets have bought there share of players over the last five seasons, many of which have not panned out the way the team had hoped. K-Rod's issues have been the only real story for the Mets this season besides Jerry Manuel's incompetence.
The Knicks have been one of the worst teams in any sport over the past decade, but are looking to change things quickly. The addition of Amare Stoudemire will help the team right away, and they hope that they can pursued Carmelo Anthony to join his olympic teammate. Still, this team may not even make the playoffs with the lineup as is.
The Rangers have a lot of high profile players that are seemingly over the hill. They have a world class goalie in "King" Henry Lundquist who can put the team on his back for many nights.
No. 7, Atlanta
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Hot-lanta has had its share of sports moments for sure, but as of late has not seen its share of winning.
Arthur Blank as the owner has been truly changed the culture of the Falcons as they have gotten over the stigma that surrendered the organization after the problems with Michael Vick. They now are one of better teams consistently in the NFC, and are a threat to knock off the champion Saints in their division. Matt Ryan and Michael "The Burner" Turner are a combo that is a threat in any game.
The Braves team that reeled off 14 straight division titles under Bobby Cox has rebuilt themselves, and are now set to yet again be a great team for many years under a new manager next season. Brian McCann, Martin Prado, and Jason Heyward are young players that should be kept together for along time to have a great core.
The Hawks have gone from basketball obscurity to a top team seemingly overnight. Players like Al Horford and Joe Johnson have been key pieces to this growth. Like the other teams in Atlanta they have yet to take the next step from young talented team to title contender. This season should let people know where they stand in the East.
Finally, the Thrashers have brought down the status of Atlanta on this list by a few pegs. Many including myself believe that Atlanta does not deserve a NHL franchise. And, the performance of this team has not quieted by views in any way. The addition of Dustin Byfuglien will no doubt provide some level of excitement for ATL fans, but what will it make them that much better?
No. 6, Minneapolis
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The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" is looking for one thing and that is 1 title.
The Twins are playing in their inaugural first season in their new ballpark, and are looking to finally win another world series. They have been one of the best teams in the past ten years winning division titles, but have been unable to get it done when it counts. This season they have already won the division early, and are looking for Delmon Young and Joe Mauer to bring home the trophy.
The Vikings have one of the most talented teams in the entire NFL, as well as one of the publicized; largely due to Brett Favre. This season they have gotten off to a slow start, but they cannot be counted out with Brett, and perhaps the game's most talented player in Adrian Peterson. It would be a colossal disappointment if this team did not make a deep run in the playoff, let alone not make it. Heads will roll if that occurs.
The Timberwolves... Yikes
The Wild pack the house every game in one of the most beautiful arenas in North America. They are a team on the rise, and are trying to bring a winner to a state that is so passionate about the game of hockey.
No. 5, Denver
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The "Mile-High City" has some of the frenzied sports fans that side of the Mississippi, and deserves the best from their sports teams.
The Broncos are in the process of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together under the Josh McDaniels era. The spotlight is on third-string quarterback TIm Tebow much of the time which makes life easy for starter Kyle Orton. Neither Orton or Tebow along with Brady Quinn can hold John Elway's jock-strap, but this is a solid team.
The Rockies are one of the teams that can never be counted out. No team has more players that no one has heard of that produce amazing numbers every night. Troy Tulowtzski and Carlos Gonzalez are two guys the Rockies need to lock up before the Red Sox and Yankees come a-calling.
The Nuggets are a contender in the West every season, but they are unable to get over the hump. That hump in most cases proves to be the Lakers. The future direction of the team will be determined when the situation with Carmelo Anthony is resolved. I think they should make a deal with Chicago, and get Joakim Noah and a few draft picks back to build for the future.
Many young people growing up all over the country were Avalanche fans during the Peter Forsberg/Joe Sakic years. Those days are long gone, but the young group of players that the Avalanche are building are some of the best in the NHL. They could be one of the shocker teams in 2010.
No. 4, Tampa Bay/Orlando
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A very strong showing for Mickey Mouse and Central Florida.
The Buccaneers were written off by many before this season to be a top five drafting team next season. But, they have quickly gotten off to a 2-0 start under Raheem Morris, and look to continue these winning ways. The past few seasons for the Bucs have reminded football fans of the Pre-Tony Dungy days in Tampa when winning was rare and unexpected. The jury is still out on Josh Freeman and many of the other young players for the Bucs.
The Rays have gone from a joke in the world of baseball to being one of the best all-around teams in the game. Most of the key players that have made an impact including Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria came through the farm system, It cannot be said for many teams, but the Rays should win a world series within the next three years, if not this season.
The Magic led by the powerhouse center Dwight Howard have emerged to be the preeminent force in the Eastern Conference over the past three years. With the stacked new lineup for the Miami Heat, it looks like there will be quite the rivalry for the "Sunshine State" with two dynamic teams.
The Lightning are slowly, but surely working to get back to the Stanley Cup; which they won with Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, who are still with the team. Add scoring young phenom Steven Stamkos, and this could be one of the better scoring teams in the league.
No. 3, Dallas
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The stars and stripes shine deep at night...
The Cowboys are the pride and joy of the people of Dallas/Fort Worth which is no secret (along with the Longhorns). With the new state of the art stadium added with a team that has Super Bowl aspirations it is very nice to be a fan of the Boys'. Though they have gotten off to a slow start to begin the 2010 campaign; the expectations are still there with Tony Romo and Demarcus Ware leading their respective sides of the ball.
Also located in Arlington are the Rangers. This is a team that has finely broke through with tons of young talent; which is blossoming in front of our eyes. Broken ribs are hampering MVP candidate Josh Hamilton at the moment, but before his injury he was having one of the better season in all aspects of the game, not seen in a long time. The scariest part of the Rangers dynamic is they might not be clicking on all cylinders. The best may be yet to come.
The Mavericks are a team that most people ten years ago would have expected to win a couple of titles by now with Mark Cuban's attitude towards the team. Dirk Nowtizki is still a Mav; which means they can never be counted out. But, they have seen Steve Nash and Devin Harris depart from the point guard position. Is the window of opportunity closing on this team? Every so slowly it is, a big time (big D) size move may be on horizon.
The Stars have been slowly going down every year in the standings with few players from the glory years still around. In past seasons Brendon Morrow and Marty Turco have tried to carry on the winning ways of those seasons to no avail. It may yet again be a rough year in Dallas for the Stars this season.
No. 2, Philadephia
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It's always sunny in Philadephia... sports wise.
The Eagles have been and continue to be one of the best teams in the league. Despite not being in the top 15 in the draft picks for most drafts in the 2000's they have been better than 80% of the team's in the league during that span. Mr. McNabb most definitely was a major influence on a large part of that success, but other players and coaches played their own part. Michael Vick has been given the reins at quarterback, and hopes to keep the good vibes going.
Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins, Roy Halladay. These are some of the frontline talent that is apart of the immensely talented Phillies roster. They have been in the last two Fall Classics, and won one of them. They also have a chance to go back this season as they have caught fire behind their three aces in Hamels, Halladay, and Roy Oswalt.
The 76ers have had struggles over the course of recent years, but with the new A.I. in town Andre Igudola they look to change things in a serious way. It will be happen over night, but some of the pieces are in place to be a playoff team within the next two years.
The Flyers are coming off of a Stanley Cup appearance in which they gave the Blackhawks a run for their money in six games. They held onto many of the players that played such a big role on their unexpected Cup run. With the confidence that they accrued in the playoffs last season they should be a contender to get back to the finals.
No. 1, Chicago
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And last, but not least is the city of Chicago.
The Bears were not expected to do anything this season, but to many's geniune suprise they have begun the season 2-0. If revert to their usual losing ways as many predict they still have many elements that will serve them well going forward. Jay Cutler is a supreme talent at quarterback who has one of the strongest arms in the entire league, and Julius Peppers is a premiere pass rusher.
The Cubs and White Sox did not get to where they wanted in 2010, but there is hope for the future. The Cubs have established that they are rebuilding, and will try to find the manager who suits this style well. Players like Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro will be names that will be great Cubs for years to come no matter who is given the skipper position.
The White Sox had an historic comeback in the AL Central this season after a dreadful start. They ran out of gas at season's end trying to catch the Twins. Ozzie Guillen may or may not return next season, but a rotation of Buehrle, Peavy, Danks, Floyd, and Edwin Jackson will be.
The Bulls are a team on the rise that will could be a real threat in the Eastern Conference behind the Miami and Orlando. Over the past two seasons Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah have developed into All-Stars. The addition of Carlos Boozer will only make them better along with the three-point sharp shooting of Kyle Korver. Also, if the Bulls were somehow able to get Carmelo Anthony the consensus dominance of the Heat and Magic in the conference would not be go clear cut.
Lastly, there is the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks. The team ended the longest drought in the NHL, and sent the city into celebration. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have become household names, and should have a brilliant 2010-11 campaign.
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