Title Town-Less: 12 Franchises That Are in Serious Need for a Championship
No matter how you spell it, the ultimate goal of a sports franchise is to win it all.
From the Super Bowl to the World Series, back around to the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup, postseason success is the exclamation point on a team's yearly campaign.
Whether it be a storied franchise, big spending team or a team in a passionate sports market, these 12 franchises are feeling the heat to bring home a trophy more than ever.
Chicago Cubs
1 of 12
There are maybe two sports followings that don't sympathize for the Cubs: Cardinals and White Sox fans.
From the Billy Goat to Steve Bartman, the Cubs can't seem to catch a break. And they've also found that money doesn't cure any problems.
But when you sift through all of the rubble and curses, you find that this bunch is nothing more than sporting world's biggest group of overpaid underachievers.
It's been 66 years since the Cubs made their last World Series and 103 since they last won it.
The city is restless and calling for justice, again...
New York Mets
2 of 12
How much longer can the Mets continue to play second fiddle to the Yankees? Time is running thin.
This team has die hard fans, a brand new field and new management, so in my opinion, this team is due for an upswing.
Will it come? We'll see.
They've been absent from the Fall Classic for 11 years, but if production doesn't come immediately, they WILL lose key players like Jose Reyes and David Wright.
The Mets window is closing quickly in Queens.
Cincinnati Reds
3 of 12
These five time World Series champions have been absent from October baseball for 21 years now. That's 21 years too long for the once great Big Red Machine.
It's vital for this young core of players to mold into a championship team quickly for two reasons.
1) You can't go picking fights and claiming blood with the championship-proven St. Louis Albert Pujols' because they will beat you.
and 2) You have an MVP and a rare balance of solid pitching and consistent hitting...the time is now.
The city of Cincinnati is praying for the Big Red Machine 2.0.
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New York Knicks
4 of 12
The NBA's new motto: If you're not buyin', you're not tryin'.
The Knicks got the memo and followed suit by going out and getting all-NBA players Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.
Along with these signings came a lot of expectation at MSG.
The "do-it-now" fans of New York City are ready for some success from the Knicks, who haven't been in the NBA Finals since 1999.
Not to mention, winning it all might give some credential to Spike Lee's antics around various sports circles.
Miami Heat
5 of 12
Ah, yes, the team that's been vilified since early June of a year ago. The squad comprised of "The Big Three," a group of all-stars calling each other up to come together and win championships.
Simply put, they're the team that everyone loves to hate.
Those reasons are exactly why the Heat need to win the NBA Championship or forever be donned as a group of worthless pioneers.
There's obviously the shot of a title this year, as they are in the middle of a deadlocked 2-2 series versus the Dallas Mavericks. But if this year comes up empty, there may only be one or two more opportunities before the rest of the NBA catches onto the "pay your way" epidemic.
Orlando Magic
6 of 12
Dwight Howard.
The supreme reason for why a title in Orlando is so vital. It's quite obvious that Superman will be 2012's most wanted free agent and will have every team available lining up to sign for his services.
The Magic have reached the playoffs each of the last five seasons, including a finals appearance in 2009 against the Lakers.
It's getting close to make or break for the underachieving Magic to win their first title in franchise history.
Montreal Canadiens
7 of 12
I'm going to throw out a few numbers here...34, 24, 18.
34: number of Stanley Cup Finals appearances in Canadiens history. 24: number of Stanley Cups won in Canadiens history. 18: years since the last Canadiens appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Eighteen years is far too many years for the greatest championship franchise in the history of sports to be absent from hockey's most coveted prize.
Habs fans have become beyond perturbed to the point that simple playoff appearances aren't going to cut it anymore.
Title number 25 needs to be in the near future for this once great Original Six franchise.
Boston Bruins
8 of 12
2011 very well could be the year. If not, they fought hard, but it's just another let down for the city of Boston's hockey fans.
Known for their recent mind-blowing collapses in the playoffs, winning the Cup would be the ultimate remedy for their classic letdowns.
As a member of the Original Six, the Bruins have a 5-12 record in Stanley Cups and haven't appeared since 1990 (before 2011).
Winning it this year would end a 39-year drought since their last championship. A much needed win for the city of Boston.
Washington Capitals
9 of 12
When you have the league's most dangerous scorer and player, all it should take to be successful is good goaltender and a solid supporting cast.
Well, the Capitals have all of those components yet seem to falter. And frankly, it's becoming a nuisance to the fans in D.C.
The Caps have had championship expectation for four to five years now and haven't even made a finals appearance.
Simply embarrassing for a team like Washington.
Dallas Cowboys
10 of 12
America's team and the Yankees of the NFL.
The 'Boys have a solid 5-3 Super Bowl record but haven't been present in February since 1995, and that's simply unacceptable for Jerry Jones and the fans in Big D.
They're too talented not to win, but with all that money being thrown around on fancy stadiums and high-priced players, the Cowboys need a championship soon to ultimately maintain credibility.
Dallas should really worry about getting to the playoffs firs, especially after last year's atrocity of a season.
Philadelphia Eagles
11 of 12
So, you ship off the best player in the history of the franchise in the most unreasonable fashion, then dispose of his highly touted replacement and a second-round draft pick when you benched Kevin Kolb for an electric talent looking to resurrect his career and reputation.
All of this in a hot bed for restless and viscous sports fans.
Simply put, this action better follow with some serious production, and that's what Philly fans will be watching anxiously for.
The offense is powerful, and the coaching is experienced enough for the Eagles to ultimately make a run at a Super Bowl. But the time is now.
San Francisco 49ers
12 of 12
New coach, young talent, strong defense and a weak division.
This should spell a recipe for success, but the 49ers seem to not live up to expectations every year.
Now while a Super Bowl title may be years away, that doesn't hide the fact that this once great championship city desperately needs one. The Niners are 5-0 in their trips to the big game.
It's easy to read. If the Niners young players don't start to win football games, this team could quickly fall out of relevance in the eyes of the NFL following.
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