25 Whiniest Fanbases in Sports

Calling someone a whiner usually has a pretty negative connotation—with good reason. Nobody wants to listen to Lindsay Lohan complain about stiffer sentences for celebrities or Mel Gibson bellyache about being ostracized for a decade of psychotic behavior. It's just flat-out irritating.

Calling a sports fanbase "whiny" isn't exactly the same thing. Whining from fanbases usually comes from the most passionate fans and often from some of the best franchises.

Note the word usually. There is no way to quantify the collective crybabying of an entire fanbase without years of research, which means there is room for interpretation.

So what's my point, right?

Well, my point is that nobody should feel insulted for being included on this list. Whining is part of the sports fan experience. It means you care. It means you're enthusiastic. It means you've got something worth believing in. It means you haven't given up hope!

You're not going to find the St. Louis Rams, the Pittsburgh Pirates or the "Brooklyn" Nets on this list. Fans of teams like that gave up complaining about bad calls, coaching and winning records years ago.

25. Minnesota Vikings, NFL

So what's all the whining about?

Times are tough in Minnesota. Two seasons ago they were one Brett Favre interception from the Super Bowl, which they followed up with a 6-10 season last year. Today they are 1-6, and their latest aging quarterback experiment has failed miserably.

Is it legit?

Yes, absolutely. Vikes fans have plenty of reason to moan and groan, and the biggest reason is that there is at least an outside chance their team is going to relocate. San Diego might be the front-runner for the Los Angeles franchise, but Minnesota will be in jeopardy until a decision is made.

Reasons not to whine

Well, at least San Diego is said to be the front-runner. Plus, Christian Ponder impressed in his first start against Super Bowl champion Green Bay.

24. Orlando Magic, NBA

So what's all the whining about?

Well, sometimes fans take their cues from their team and their coach. Superstar Dwight Howard and coach Stan Van Gundy are two of the most well-known whiners in the NBA. It's one thing coming from a player, but Van Gundy's never-ending public outrage about "unfairness" is really getting old.

Is it legit?

If fans were just whining about missed calls and an NBA conspiracy against them, it wouldn't be. But they are finally starting to seriously question Van Gundy's clownish behavior and lack of results, which is totally legit.

Reasons not to whine

Despite its issues, the team remains competitive, and Dwight Howard is one of the biggest stars in the game.

23. Washington Capitals, NHL

So what's all the whining about?

The Capitals are like the Mr. September of hockey. They always come up short when it counts, and their coach is always big on explanations and short on solutions.

Is it legit?

Yes. This team is one of the most successful regular season teams of the last decade, but every year it falls apart in the playoffs. The Capitals have dominated heated rival Pittsburgh in the regular season over the past few years but have a long history of embarrassing playoff collapses, particularly against Pittsburgh. Clearly something is wrong.

Reasons not to whine

Alexander Ovechkin is one of the most dynamic players in the history of the game, and the Caps have one of the most talented rosters in the NHL. It only takes one season to wipe out a history of playoff collapses.

22. University of Georgia, NCAA

So what's all the whining about?

Georgia fans tend to think of their team as a national powerhouse because for the first half of the last decade, they were. After making it to the SEC championship game three times in five years, the Bulldogs haven't been back since 2005.

Is it legit?

Not really. Georgia fans have sky-high expectations, and they are aggressive about their fandom. Unfortunately, in the ridiculously stacked SEC the road to the top is pretty bumpy, and even the best teams are going to end up near the bottom every now and again.

Reasons not to whine

Adorable actual bulldog "UGA" would be reason enough for me. Plus, they may be down, but thanks to Vanderbilt, they'll never be in the basement of the SEC East.

21. Chicago Bears, NFL

So what's all the whining about?

Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world with some of the most dedicated and passionate fans you will ever meet. Unfortunately, the Bears haven't been worthy of their undying devotion since the 1980s.

Is it legit?

Yes, because even when the Bears are winning, they are still underwhelming. Lovie Smith is underwhelming. Jay Cutler's leadership is underwhelming. The Bears' performance in the playoffs is underwhelming. And for some reason they refuse to give Matt Forte the contract he deserves. Those fans deserve better, and nobody should blame them for complaining.

Reasons not to whine

Cutler might not be a vocal leader, but he's a good quarterback and seems to be respected in that locker room. Eventually ownership is going recognize that Smith doesn't have the goods, and they have to finally address that offensive line at some point.

20. Detroit Pistons, NBA

So what's all the whining about?

The Pistons won the NBA championship in 2004 and returned to the NBA Finals the next year but lost. Since then their team has steadily been declining and finished well under .500 the last two seasons.

Is it legit?

Yes. They've fallen far in a painfully slow fashion and are now in full-fledged rebuilding mode.

Reasons not to whine

Things have been bleak, but there's no reason to lose hope. Two years without a playoff performance certainly isn't the end of the world.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL

So what's all the whining about?

The overwhelming opinion in Steeler nation is that the NFL, particularly commissioner Roger Goodell, has been unfairly targeting the Steelers with excessive fines for illegal hits.

Is it legit?

Yes and no. The Steelers have become the poster child for the newfound emphasis on player safety, but they have been reticent to change their game. The new rules are the rules, and if you want to take a chance with a questionable hit, you've got to be willing to pay the price.

Reasons not to whine

The Steelers are one of the most successful franchises in all of sports, and really down years are few and far between. There are fans with a lot more to complain about.

18. Ohio State, NCAA

So what's all the whining about?

Well, Ohio State has definitely had better years. At 4-3, the Buckeyes are on pace for their worst season in nearly a decade. They lost their coach and their quarterback, and after the NCAA investigation is completed, they're probably going to lose a lot more.

Is it legit?

Nope. Unfortunately, OSU got what was coming to it. Maybe players should be compensated, but right now it's against the rules, and there were a lot of people in Columbus who looked the other way for a very long time.

Reasons not to whine

Well, at least they have the memories of a decade of dominance to get them through the next couple of seasons. Plus OSU will recover, because Columbus is surprisingly baller.

17. Oakland Raiders, NFL

So what's all the whining about?

Honestly, Raiders fans haven't been whining as much as they used to. They've seen some flashes of greatness over the last couple of seasons, and it seems to have quieted the painted, spikes-adorned masses.

Is it legit?

Their decades of complaining up until now haven't really been legit. They embraced Al Davis' renegade style for a very long time, no matter how questionable (and eventually insane) his decisions became.

Reasons not to whine

The organization has seriously mortgaged the future in hopes of winning now. Perhaps that'll pay off.

16. Boston Red Sox, MLB

So what's all the whining about?

Old habits die hard. They are one of the most passionate fanbases in the entire world. They are also kind of insane.

Is it legit?

No. Put a cork in it, kids. Two World Series in the 2000s officially make their blessed Red Sox the most successful team of the decade.

Reasons not to whine

See above.

15. Philadelphia Eagles, NFL

So what's all the whining about?

The Eagles are one of the most successful and stable franchises in the NFL. That has got to make it even worse for fans that their team has never won the big one. They're oversensitive to criticism, overreact to a lot of situations and are known as some of the loudest and most aggressive fans in the NFL.

Is it legit?

Yes. This team is built to win. It's built for long-term success. Despite the fact that it seems like the Eagles are doing everything right, something always goes wrong. Fans are already asking for Andy Reid to be fired, and if the "Dream Team" doesn't make the playoffs, they are going to demand it.

Reasons not to whine

Sometimes it takes a while for new players to gel in the NFL, and it's not too late to turn this season around.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL

So what's all the whining about?

Excessive violence against Sidney Crosby has come perilously close to ending his career, and people like retired underachiever and noted alcoholic Jeremy Roenick routinely trivialize the matter publicly.

Is it legit?

Yes. Unfortunately the team has to deal with some hypocrisy issues while employing noted goon Matt Cooke.

Reasons not to whine

The Pens can win even without superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. If those guys are both healthy come spring, they are going to be a force to reckon with in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

13. People Who Hate Manchester United F.C., EPL

So what's all the whining about?

Fans of every team in the English Premier League that isn't Manchester United only agree on one thing: They all despise Manchester United.

There are endless complaints about the league's most well-known team: Their fans leave games early, they attract fame-whore talent, their fan chants are "sickening" and "not creative," their owners are evil American billionaires, their fans are mostly "foreigners" and they are by far the most successful team in the league.

Is it legit?

Not really. Yes, Manchester United seems to be the New York Yankees of the Premier League, but this level of hate is just weird. Plus it's kind of xenophobic and definitely has an anti-American flavor to it.

Reasons not to whine

Because it makes you look like jealous babies.

12. Dallas Mavericks, NBA

So what's all the whining about?

It's really hard to tell if it's Dallas fans constantly complaining about officiating and league conspiracies or if it's just Mark Cuban. Cuban has a long history of vocally screaming about referees, and after a while people just start associating that with the entire franchise and the fanbase.

Is it legit?

Not anymore. The Mavs won the championship, and everyone outside of Miami celebrated with them. Nobody is out to get you.

Reasons not to whine

See above.

11. St. Louis Cardinals, MLB

So what's all the whining about?

Cardinals fans have done their share of complaining over the years, but just wait and see how out of control it gets if they lose the World Series to the Rangers because Tony La Russa doesn't know how to use a phone.

Is it legit?

If they lose the World Series because someone in the organization doesn't know how to operate a phone. Seriously. It's the World Series! You think people would be waiting by the phone for a chance to get in the game!

Reasons not to whine

Whine away, Cards fans. I'm not even much of a baseball fan, and I've been complaining about this for days.

10. Boise State, NCAA

So what's all the whining about?

Quarterback Kellen Moore has had one of the most successful tenures in the history of college football, but Boise State remains the longest of long shots to see the BCS championship game.

Is it legit?

I wasn't always a believer in giving Boise State a shot at the big show, but in 2009 the NCAA had a chance to silence the Boise State (13-0) and TCU (12-0) chatter for good by matching them up with legit and proven competition.

What did they do? They had them play each other.

Reasons not to whine

Everyone should keep whining. The BCS is BS.

9. Ottawa Senators, NHL

So what's all the whining about?

Despite top-tier talent and impressive finishes in the regular season, the Ottawa Senators have an impressive history of choking in the playoffs.

Is it legit?

Yes, definitely. The Sens are epic chokers.

Reasons not to whine

They can whine all they want thanks to the dreaded rebuilding year.

8. Baltimore Ravens, NFL

So what's all the whining about?

Baltimore is going through an identity crisis. The NFL is a passing league, and the Ravens have by far the best quarterback in their franchise's history, yet they are working hard to drive him out of town.

The organization is constantly complaining about the referees costing them games, players are publicly calling out coaches, coaches are publicly yielding to players and it's become increasingly clear that 36-year-old Ray Lewis is the man in charge.

Is it legit?

No, because fans are mostly upset about Joe Flacco. Keep it up, though, because Steelers fans would love to see nothing more than you drive him out of town for another Kyle Boller.

Reasons not to whine

The Ravens are a solid organization and will almost always field a competitive team. Their statement win over Pittsburgh in the season opener was impressive, and right now they are tied for the division lead.

7. Philadelphia Phillies, MLB

So what's all the whining about?

It's Philadelphia. They're passionate. They're loud. It's just what they do.

Is it legit?

No. It's exceptionally difficult to get to the World Series, and the Phillies, recent World Series champions, were just short of that this year.

Reasons not to whine

How about because we're all sick of hearing it? That and you've got one of the best pitching lineups in the history of Major League Baseball.

6. Notre Dame, NCAA

So what's all the whining about?

Notre Dame (the school and the fans) has had a hard time accepting the fact that it's not the dominant national program it once was. The embarrassing coaching carousel, unimpressive records and a couple of recent scandals (resulting in two deaths) involving the team and coach Brian Kelly have all given the Irish reason to weep.

Is it legit?

Irish fans definitely have a legit reason to complain, but anyone defending soulless coach Brian Kelly at this point needs to reevaluate their priorities.

Reasons not to whine

How about that lucrative television deal...

5. Montreal Canadiens, NHL

So what's all the whining about?

Nobody really knows because it's all in French. What we do know is that Habs fans are amongst the most hostile and bloodthirsty fans in sports, and they've always got something to whine about. Or riot about.

Is it legit?

No. When you show up to games in blackface, all credibility is officially lost.

Reasons not to whine

It doesn't even matter. They will whine, riot, jeer their own players and just generally behave like escaped mental patients under any circumstances.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA

So what's all the whining about?

LeBron James. The Cavaliers were 61-21 in 2009-10 with LeBron and 19-63 in 2010-11 without LeBron. It hurt that LeBron ditched Cleveland, but the way he left is going to sting Cleveland for a very long time to come.

Is it legit?

Yeah, LeBron was way too LeHarsh.

Reasons not to whine

The NBA season is probably going to be called; at least you won't have to deal with this at all.

3. Seattle Seahawks, NFL

So what's all the whining about?

The Seahawks are abysmal, but it seems that most of their fanbase whining has to do with the perceived injustices of Super Bowl XL.

Is it legit?

It's sad, but legit—only because the Seachickens will probably never again see a Super Bowl.

Reasons not to whine

Seattle is a very lovely city.

2. Texas A&M, NCAA

So what's all the whining about?

The Aggies defected to the SEC because they were sick and tired of playing second (or third) fiddle to Texas in the Big 12. Texas' lucrative deal (which they had a chance to partner in) was the last straw. Now they can go play second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) fiddle in the SEC.

Is it legit?

No. It's annoying. If you wanted to be a big dog, you should've gone to Texas.

Reasons not to whine

You got what you wanted...but remember what they say about getting what you ask for.

1. Chicago Cubs, MLB

So what's all the whining about?

A century without a World Series victory. Goats. Bartman. Curses. Having one of the highest payrolls in Major League Baseball but finishing below the Pittsburgh Pirates. There's a lot of whining going on about a lot of different goings-on.

Is it legit?

Yes. Except for the goat—and Bartman—this is all legit.

Reasons not to whine

It seems the Cubs have hit bottom and cleaned house. Everyone knows what Theo Epstein did in Boston, and everyone knows Boston's story was eerily similar before his tenure. Buck up, Cubbie fans! Even though I'm in no way qualified to make this assessment, I think your time is coming.