Professional Losers: Best Teams with No Rings
Playoffs! One of the best times of the year, the NHL and NBA playoffs happening simultaneously. With 16 teams from each league vying for that one championship that means that the expectations of the other teams will come up short. That is where we come in.
Every time playoffs come around, in any league, you cannot help point out the teams who have been put up on a pedestal, but have consistently been the butt of every championship/playoff joke.
We will take a look at the teams that were picked to win it all, but were unable to win it all, and not just in the NHL and NBA, but all professional leagues. We will go through the reasons why and what the future holds for those teams, if any.
To the slides!
NFL: San Diego Chargers
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By now we all know about the NFL lockout, and the uncertainty of an NFL season looms. However, that does not mean that the experts have stopped picking their Super Bowl favorites.
We must start with the San Diego (Not) Super Chargers. San Diego, which in German of course means, No Rings (I know, harsh). San Diego has been picked the last few years to make it all the way. Why is it that every year is their year?
Is it because Phillip Rivers consistently leads the league in passing yards with no outright No. 1 receiver? Possibly. Or how about a defense that is constantly overrated and consistently underachieves? Yes. But, the real answer why they are the constant favorites is because of their ridiculous record in December of 21-1 under Rivers, which gets the NFL thinking, "Hey, they can make a run."
However, they are not what you call clutch:
2010: Missed playoffs
2009: Lost in divisional round
2008: Lost in divisional round
2007: Lost in conference championship
2006: Lost in wild card round
Bottom line, early predictors have already picked San Diego (I will not mention names to save them from the embarrassment). The Chargers are not getting better, but seem to be getting worse. Don't worry, San Diego, you will still be picked to win the Super Bowl, so you always have that going for you.
Honorable mention: New York Jets. The HBO stars have reached the AFC Championship the last two years and have come up short both times. Is the third time really a charm? Only time will tell.
Dallas Cowboys: The best stadium money can by, America's team and Tony Romo? How can you go wrong? Well, apparently that does not work out all too well. Jerry Jones has a lot more problems besides the CBA and the upcoming draft. Dez Bryant. Enough said.
MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Los Angeles Dodgers. Hmmm. A team not only in a funk on the field, but in disarray in the front office as well. It is tough to put a finger on this team, a team many have high hopes for especially when Joe Torre came to town and even when Mannywood was in town. However, they have come and gone with the same problem: no rings.
2010: finished last in division
2009: lost in NLCS
2008: lost in NLCS
2007: finished last in division
2006: lost in NLDS
2005: finished last in division
2004: lost in NLDS
Between the McCourts battling it out in court over custody of the team, the soon-to-be lawsuit after the San Francisco Giants fan attack and the rough start to the 2011 season, the Dodgers have a lot to manage this season.
The up and down season that you see above will make anyone turn blue. Is Clayton Kershaw the answer? Is Matt Kemp going to be the leader? As I said before, only time will tell.
Honorable Mention: Chicago Cubs. Poor Cubby fans, their is not much to say that they do not already know. All I can say is, just keep waiting?
NBA: Dallas Mavericks
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The Mavericks have made the playoffs every season since the beginning of the new millennium. However, they have only made it to the finals one time and lost to Dwyane Wade and the Diesel. The Mavs have had incredible regular seasons lead by the big German Dirk Nowitzki, but have faltered quite consistently when it meant the most.
When Avery Johnson took over the team the Mavs came close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
2004-2005: lost in conference semifinals
2005-2006: lost in finals
2006-2007: lost in first round
2007-2008: lost in conference semifinals
2008:-2009: lost in first round
2009-2010: lost in first round
2010-2011: ?
The Mavs are currently playing the Portland Trailblazers and even though they are up 1-0, it could be a long series, let alone a playoff run.
Honorable Mention: Denver Nuggets. The team has made the playoffs every year since the '04-05 season, but have lost in the first round every year except for one where they made it to the Western Conference Finals, only to lose to the Lakers. With no more Melo, we will see how the Nuggets fare without a big-name player.
Orlando Magic: The now three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard is searching for that elusive ring, but even though he towers over everyone, he still has come up short.
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NHL: San Jose Sharks
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To my fellow Northern Californians, their is not much to say. All-Star players, amazing regular seasons, but your playoff performances are colder than the ice the Sharks skate on.
2006-2007: lost in conference semifinals
2007-2008: lost in conference semifinals
2008-2009: lost in conference quarterfinals
2009-2010: lost in conference finals
2010-2011: ?
Like every other team that we have shown thus far, the Sharks have not been able to put it all together in April and May. The reasons why? Goaltending was not what it should have been, stars did not show up in big games and flat out bad luck.
Currently the Sharks are in a big battle with the Los Angeles Kings and already the questions are being asked. Again? The Sharks have had yet another rock solid regular season, but already they look shaky in two games with the Kings.
Honorable Mention: Washington Capitals. Ovechkin seems to not be enough for the Caps, but they do look strong early on against the Rangers.
Boston Bruins/Philadelphia Flyers: Two teams who always go at it, but both seem to never make it over the hump. They both will try and change that this month.
MLS: New York Red Bulls
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The New York Red Bulls have to be the first choice due to the fact that all the teams that have high expectations have won a cup. The Red Bulls have not taken the cup, but they have been dominant. They have names such as Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez, Juan Agudelo and Dwayne De Rosario, just to name a few. This is a strong, experienced team with high expectations.
2004: lost in quarterfinals
2005: lost in quarterfinals
2006: lost in quarterfinals
2007: lost in quarterfinals
2008: lost in finals
2009: did not qualify
2010: lost in quarterfinals
Though it is early in the season, the Red Bulls are the team to beat this season. Everyone has picked them to be making some serious noise in the playoffs.
Honorable Mention: Seattle Sounders. They are a very young squad coming into their third year of existence; however, their following is one of the best in the MLS.
New England Revolution: They have gotten close plenty, but no cigar.
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