Sports Jubilation: The 8 Easiest U.S. Cities to Be a Professional Sports Fan
Yesterday, following the release of Forbes' most miserable sports cities list, I came up my own list of the toughest U.S. cities to be a professional sports fan. I took more factors into consideration for my list, and feel it is a more accurate depiction of true heartache.
In case you happened to miss the article, click the link to check it out: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/623314-heartache-the-toughest-10-us-cities-to-be-a-professional-sports-fan.
Today, I would like to take a look at the eight easiest cities to be a professional sports fan. Although some readers won't agree with some of my guidelines or selections, only cities who have at least three professional sports teams will make this list.
That means I apologize in advance to fans of the Green Bay Packers. You may have the Super Bowl champs, but they are still only one team.
This list, much like yesterday's, considers success and progress as the two main factors. Again, this is not a list of the best fans in the country, but rather a list of the cities whose professional sports teams enjoy the most success in comparison to others.
You may be asking yourself why there are only eight cities on this list opposed to 10 on yesterday's heartache list.
It turns out that the big market teams have something else over the small market ones.
Championships.
Enjoy, and as always, feel free to comment on who you feel I hit or missed.
8. Tampa, Florida
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I need to remind you all once again that Tampa makes this list because their teams are enjoying some success. It has nothing to do with the fans, because even though this will upset many people, fans in the Tampa area are absolutely awful.
I think they are the reason why the term "fairweather" was coined.
But I digress.
The Rays have made the playoffs in two of the past three seasons. Yes, they lost a lot of talent this past offseason, but they grow their own players in their farm system as well as any other team today. This team will still be competitive, but a return trip to the postseason is likely not in their near-future.
The Buccaneers did not make the playoffs last season, but when I watch this team, I see so many good things in their future.
Josh Freeman is a great quarterback in the making and LeGarrette Blount looks like a workhorse for years to come, provided he doesn't punch anyone else in the face. The defense is solid and Raheem Morris has the team headed in the right direction.
The Lightning may be the surprise of this list, but they should not be anymore. They have some great young talent and remain in contention for the top overall seed in the NHL's Eastern Conference.
They don't have any recent championships, but the success and progress remain positive.
7. Atlanta, Georgia
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This will undoubtedly upset many people.
Sorry.
Forbes had Atlanta on their list, mainly because the city has not won a major championship since 1995.
While that is true, so many of the teams are perennial playoff-contenders.
Obviously, I am not talking about the Thrashers.
But the Hawks have made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and remain on track to return this season. The Eastern Conference has become so much more competitive in the last few years, but Joe Johnson is leading this team most likely to the fourth or fifth seed.
The Braves just lost their iconic manager, Bobby Cox, but the hopes remain high.
Fredi Gonzalez will be a solid manager for this club, and with youngsters such as Jason Heyward and Tommy Hanson leading the way, the Braves should make it back into the playoffs this year. The addition of Dan Uggla will be huge.
The Falcons were the top seed in the NFC playoffs, and while they were eliminated by the eventual champion Green Bay Packers, this team is building for a Super Bowl. Matt Ryan continues to develop into one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the game and Roddy White is quickly turning into the top wide receiver in the league.
They haven't won any championships recently, but that could change on a couple of fronts in the near future.
6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Blitzburgh is familiar to showing up on lists such as this one and it comes as not a great surprise.
Aside from the Pirates, the city has two top contenders.
The Steelers failed to capture their seventh Super Bowl last month, but this team will be back with a vengeance. Mike Tomlin will make sure of it as Pittsburgh is as good as anyone at continually rebuilding and reloading.
The Penguins are battling for the top seed in the Eastern Conference as they look to get back into the Stanley Cup Finals. Even with so many injuries to key players, the Pens look primed to make another deep playoff run.
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5. Los Angeles, California
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Sure, they may show up late and leave early, but the fans in Los Angeles have plenty to root for lately.
No, they don't have a pro football team—yet. You know that will change soon, because after this inevitable lockout, many teams will struggle in their current city and at least one of them will relocate to Los Angeles.
At least one.
The Dodgers are still a decent team, although the messy McCourt divorce is quickly hurting their chances on the field. Still, they are a solid product.
Do we count the Angels on this list? Their name says Los Angeles Angels, but they want to be also known as hailing from Anaheim. Since you can't make up your mind, I'll move on to the top two teams in the city right now.
The Kings have been quietly moving up for a few years now, but it appears as if they have finally put it all together. They may not win the Stanley Cup this season, but provided they hold on for one of the final playoff spots, they could make some noise. After all, it is the NHL, and once you qualify you have as good of a chance to win it all as anyone else.
The Lakers are the team to beat in the NBA. Period. Like them or not, they are still the favorites. Forget about the regular season. Their experience allows them to win playoff series without home-court advantage.
4. Chicago, Illinois
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I have to say that I was very surprised that so many people commented yesterday that the city of Chicago should be on the tough list.
Really?
Really?
I know that the majority of those statements stem from the Cubs not having won a World Series since 1908. I know that has got to hurt.
But look at so many of the other successful teams.
The White Sox have a shot to get back into the playoffs with the addition of Adam Dunn, and they have had some moderate success as of late.
The Bears may have come up short in the NFC Championship, but they were in that game until the end, even with a third-string quarterback following Jay Cutler's injury.
The Blackhawks won last year's Stanley Cup, and although they were forced to trim some payroll, they are looking like they will be back in the playoffs again this season.
The Bulls are back as Derrick Rose is turning into one of the best players in the game—if he is not there already. This team is going to make some noise for many years to come.
So, remind me once again why fans in the Windy City have it so bad?
Try telling that to fans in Cleveland.
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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I am not trying to pander to the fans in the top three cities, but all three are interchangeable as of this minute. All three could stake claim to number one.
It was difficult to put Philadelphia in the third spot. They almost made number two. Heck, they almost made number one.
But for now, the City of Brotherly Love ranks third. That could change over the next few months.
The 76ers are going to get back to the NBA playoffs. They will get quickly swept in the first round, but they will get to play more games this year than last. It is something.
The Eagles were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs but the optimism is there with Michael Vick (although I still feel that they better hold on to Kevin Kolb just in case). LeSean McCoy could be the second coming of Brian Westbrook, and the defense is always strong.
The Flyers may have come up short in last year's Stanley Cup Finals after their improbable run, but they are even hungrier this season. The top overall seed is well within grasp, and just imagine what a home-ice advantage could have done for them last year.
The Phillies have made it to the World Series two of the last three seasons and it would be quite an upset if they do not return again this year. They may have the best pitching staff in well over a decade.
Philadelphia is number three right now, but they could just as easily be number one next time around.
2. New York, New York
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This may be upsetting to some, but how can you leave out the greatest city in the world?
The Rangers and Islanders are not going to win the Stanley Cup, but the Rangers could make some noise if they can get into the playoffs.
The Knicks are going to assemble the newest superpower in the NBA, and you will be hearing a lot from them in the coming years. Just wait until they land a huge point guard in 2012.
Oh, and by then, the Nets will be in Brooklyn, so that will make the Knicks even more competitive as they will be forced to fight for space on the back page of the newspapers.
The Giants missed the playoffs last season, but not by a lot. They won a Super Bowl just a few short seasons ago and the talent is still relevant.
The Jets, led by one of the most hated men in the NFL in Rex Ryan, are a very tough team once the playoffs roll around. That will not change any time soon.
The Mets are in for a long season. They have too many financial issues to compete for the next couple of seasons.
The Yankees have financial issues as well, but they boil down to how much over the luxury tax will we be each season? They are not the favorites this season, but can you truly ever count them out when talking about contenders?
There is a reason why so many stars want to play in the Big Apple.
1. Boston, Massachusetts
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Again, remember that the top three are interchangeable, but Beantown is on top right now.
The Bruins are in the hunt for the top seed, but regardless of where they finish, they are built for a strong playoff run. They have one of the best goalie tandems in the league.
The Patriots were upset by the Jets last season, but how can you count out a team led by Bill Belichik? The Pats will be back, and with Tom Brady resembling the quarterback from a few seasons ago, the offense will be incredible again.
The Celtics are the best team in the East, and the favorites to represent their conference in the NBA Finals. Trading Kendrick Perkins could come back to haunt them, but can you really tell me that any other team in the East can defeat them in a seven-game series?
The Red Sox have been a powerhouse for the past seven or eight years now and this may be their best season yet. If they get anything at all from John Lackey and Josh Beckett and finally trade Jonathan Papelbon while he still holds some value, this team will reach the World Series.
They certainly have the lineup.
Boston is number one for now, but can they remain on top?
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