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122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

French Connection was the nickname for their top line, not the team. That, along with the Rangers GAG line (for Goal A Game), were the top two lines in the NHL at the time.



Before naming rights were sold (when it was being built) it was known as the Crossroads Arena, not Crossgates. The arena opened up as the Marine Midland Arena, whose headquarters, where it was founded, was in Buffalo. When HSBC bought out Marine Midland, it changed to HSBC Arena. When HSBC sold off their entire Western NY branch system to First Niagara, it became First Niagara Center. KeyCorp then bought out First Niagara, changing the arena name to the KeyBank Center.

Just another reason why naming rights suck...

Oh, and you "forgot" about the JumboTron falling to the ice in 1996 when maintenance was being performed on it, minutes after practice ended, causing that night's game against the Bruins to be cancelled.

I got "Crossroads" the arena in Buffalo mixed up "Crossgates" the mall in Albany. Some sort of Erie Canal connection there, maybe.
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

After seeing many teams that have followed the Twins/Sens are still getting screwed. :D
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

77. Philadelphia 76ers

(a.k.a. Syracuse Nationals)

Why? I trust that this selection wasn’t too hard to process. But they were the only team to not make it to 10 wins in 1973, and this whole ‘Trust the Process’ stuff in which the Sixers intentionally lose so they can stockpile draft picks.

The Good. Yes the Sixers, have won three championships, one in Syracuse and two in Philadelphia. They had one of the best NBA seasons in history winning 68 games in 1967, and 65 games in 1983.

The Bad. Things fell apart after the ’67 Championship especially with a historic 9-73 season in 1973. Things fell off the wagon real quick in the 90’s after trading Charles Barkley and before Allen Iverson came into his own. After falling in the 2001 NBA Finals, the Sixers quickly turned into mid-card status for several years. While making it to the second round in the 2012 season, the 76ers started tanking.

The Ugly. Originally in Syracuse as the Nationals, the moved to Philadelphia in ’63 a season after the Warriors left Philadelphia for San Francisco. The Sixers have averaged 63 losses the past four seasons.

Where they play. Wells Fargo Center, it could be Paddy’s Pub for all I care.

Owner: Joshua Harris, bought the Sixers in 2001. Harris is an investor who also owns the New Jersey Devils.

Coach: Brett Brown, played at Boston University under Rick Pitino in an era where sexual assaults were very well covered up.

Top Current Players: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, JJ Redick

Hall of Famers…Wilt Chamberlain, Dolph Schayes, Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson


Up Next....The Minnesota Vikings
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

He gave the same warning in the previous entry. I think he’s screwing with us.
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

76. New York Mets

Why? An unholy marriage of New York Baseball Giant Orange & Brooklyn Dodger Blue fans, led to the marriage of the New York Mets, New York’s redheaded stepchild and second class citizens. Few people admit to being Met fans, but luckily very few of them leave Queens, Brooklyn or Long Island.

The Good. Two World Series Championship, they miracled their way past Baltimore in 1969 then Bucknered and snorted their way past Boston in 1986. Largely irrelevant for the most part, the Mets usually win the pennant once every 15 years. Since they got to the World Series in 2015, no one will have to care about his team till at least 2030.

The Bad. Expansion teams are bad, but the ’62 Mets 40-120 is the expansion team’s expansion team. Finishing at the bottom or very near the bottom of the National League until the miracle ’69 season. Traded Ace Tom Seaver to Cincinnati in 1976 then sucked for several more seasons. They are still paying Bobby Bonilla….25 years later.

The Ugly. An anecdote from the ’62 season. One of their more colorful players was ‘Marvelous’ Marv Thornberry. Thornberry knocked a ball deep into right field but not over the wall, Thornberry had just hit a triple. The rightfielder threw to first base. Umpire called him out. Manager Casey Stengel went up to argue but right before he got up the steps, one of his coached stepped and told Casey, “don’t bother, he didn’t touch second either.”

Where they play. Citi Field. Nicknamed Chiti Field, the Mets play in a bad neighborhood in Queens, many filmmakers actually film around the stadium when their budget is too low to film in third world countries.

Owner: Fred Wilpon, while not the worst owner in New York (jim Dolan), probably the stupidest. While falling for Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, Wilpon forces the Mets to play small market despite playing America’s largest city.

Manager: Mickey Callaway, just hired to start the 2018 season. Callaway played three seasons in Japan. He will wish many times next season that he was still in Japan.

Top Current Players: Jacob DeGrom, Jay Bruce, and Asdrubal Cabrera

Hall of Famers…Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza

Up Next....The Minnesota Vikings
 
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Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

76. New York Mets

Jay Bruce has not been on the Mets since mid-season 2017. The Bonilla trade, while funny, makes perfect financial sense in light of TVM. Wilpon actually made money off the Madoff Ponzi scheme -- our money troubles stem from other issues.

I assume this is the same quality of thought and analysis as you've done for the teams I don't know. (Although both Fred and Jeffy are door knobs. I'll give you that.)

But I do enjoy that you are obviously still butthurt about 1986. I was in Boston that night. Walking the streets (Comm Ave, in fact), looking at the slack-jawed, shell-shocked Sawx Nation losers, drinking their tears is among the most pleasant evenings I spent in that second rate sh-tburg. And every single one of them knew they had lost the series after game 6. There wasn't an ounce of courage or fortitude in them. Just like a city laid low by 3 deaths and still crumpled and whining, as compared to a city that got up and went on working after more than 3000.

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/nxu286r.gif" />
 
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Jay Bruce has not been on the Mets since mid-season 2017. The Bonilla trade, while funny, makes perfect financial sense in light of TVM. Wilpon actually made money off the Madoff Ponzi scheme -- our money troubles stem from other issues.

I assume this is the same quality of thought and analysis as you've done for the teams I don't know. (Although both Fred and Jeffy are door knobs. I'll give you that.)

But I do enjoy that you are obviously still butthurt about 1986. I was in Boston that night. Walking the streets (Comm Ave, in fact), looking at the slack-jawed, shell-shocked Sawx Nation losers, drinking their tears is among the most pleasant evenings I spent in that second rate sh-tburg. And every single one of them knew they had lost the series after game 6. There wasn't an ounce of courage or fortitude in them. Just like a city laid low by 3 deaths and still crumpled and whining, as compared to a city that got up and went on working after more than 3000.

1986 was the avengement for 1912 (Snodgrass's Muff).
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

75. Vancouver Canucks

Why? The only time someone won multiple championships in Vancouver were the Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, watching the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals turns into a riot.

The Good. The Canucks have been to the Stanley Cup Finals three times (1982, 1994, 2011). The first two runs being of the miracle variety. Best seasons were in the early 90’s and late 2000’s

The Bad. Not much regular season success, the ’82 team still had a losing record, the ’94 team had 40 losses. Generally a forgettable market that gets no attention unless the team is winning, which is rare.

The Ugly. The one time they hosted Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final and lost, widespread rioting, looting, destroyed what was left of Vancouver. Oh and that thing Tood Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore, yeah that’s bad. While not much success, the Canucks have had interesting logos from “Stick in the Rink”, “The Flying Skate”, “The Orca”, and “Johnny Canuck”.

Where they play. Rogers Arena, during the 2010 Winter Olympics, the arena was renamed Canada Hockey Place.

Owner: Canucks Sports & Entertainment led by Franseco Aquilini, bought half of the company in 2004 and then the remainder in 2006.

Coach: Travis Green, was named head coach in April, after coaching the Utica Comets for four seasons, also #39 for the Islanders during the 1990’s

Top Current Players: The Sedin twins seem have been playing together forever

Hall of Famers…Pavel Bure

Up Next...The Minnesota Vikings
 
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Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

The one time they hosted Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final and lost, widespread rioting, looting, destroyed what was left of Vancouver.

LOL. There's more violence in Southie on any Wednesday*

<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lD2TNIMChF8/TfuHG83h4yI/AAAAAAAADVc/79G3BbQE1-M/s1600/asians.jpg" height="300" />

* Start of the drinking weekend.
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

Remember, the riots in 2011 came after rioting from the loss in 1994 and police instituted a plan to prevent rioting again.
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

74. Houston Astros

(a.k.a. Houston Colt 45’s)

Why? While they are the current World Series champions, let us not forget that it took the Astros 55 years to get there.

The Good. Well, they are the World Series Champions led by a young exciting staff. The only team to make the World Series in both the American League and National League (2005).

The Bad. The Astros didn’t win their first division title until 1980. Did not advance in the playoffs until 2004. Tanked during the earlier part of this decade so they could get the current talent they have now. Averaged 108 losses between 2011-2013.

The Ugly. Their uniforms were so bright in the 1970’s and early 1980’s that they were declared the brightest thing in the whole State of Texas.

Where they play. Minute Maid Park, where fans get their dose of ‘Vitamin C you later’. The Park replaced the famed Astrodome in 2000. The Astrodome was the first major indoor stadium venue, hence the name change from the Colt 45’s in 1965.

Owner: Jim Crane bought the team from Drayton McLane in 2011, attached was a rider in which Crane agreed to switch the Astros to the American League West.

Manager: A.J. Hinch, a guy at the right place at the right time, Hinch took over in September 2014, just as the Astros were turning the corner to become a contender

Top Current Players: Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander,

Hall of Famers…Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Nolan Ryan

Up Next….The Minnesota Vikings
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

The Ugly. Their uniforms were so bright in the 1970’s

Those are the greatest uniforms in sports history:

<img src="http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/images/astros50/scott_630x494.jpg" height="300" />
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

Those are the greatest uniforms in sports history:

<img src="http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/images/astros50/scott_630x494.jpg" height="300" />

My Babe Ruth team knocked those off when I was 13-15. I wore my sanies ("borrowed" from the Twins' clubhouse) and stirrups as high as they'd go too.
 
Re: 122 Franchises Ranked Bottom to Top:

73. Colorado Rockies


Why? The thin air always made this team a little light headed.

The Good. One of the best months in baseball history. From September 16-October 15, 2007, the Rockies went 21-1. The Rockies went from their usual medicore self to winning the pennant.

The Bad. Not so much bad but mediocre, even in their expansion season, they finished better than other teams (Mets, Padres).

The Ugly. Because of the thin air, balls travel further, therefore, good luck ever finding a decent pitcher to play here.

Where they play. Coors Field, where the fans down a lot of silver bullets then forget whose playing.

Owner: Charlie & Dick Monfort received majority ownership in 2005, riding high on a taxpayer funded stadium.

Manager: Bud Black, finished his season managing the Rockies, Black had a successful pitching career and managed the Padres for several seasons.

Top Current Players: Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, and Mark Reynolds

Hall of Famers…Todd Helton will receive consideration when he comes eligible in 2019.

Up Next….The Minnesota Vikings
 
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73. Colorado Rockies


Why? The thin air always made this team a little light headed.

The Good. One of the best months in baseball history. From September 16-October 15, 2007, the Rockies went 21-1. The Rockies went from their usual medicore self to winning the pennant.

The Bad. Not so much bad but mediocre, even in their expansion season, they finished better than other teams (Mets, Padres).

The Ugly. Because of the thin air, balls travel further, therefore, good luck ever finding a decent pitcher to play here.

Where they play. Coors Field, where the fans down a lot of silver bullets then forget whose playing.

Owner: Charlie & Dick Monfort received majority ownership in 2005, riding high on a taxpayer funded stadium.

Manager: Bud Black, finished his season managing the Rockies, Black had a successful pitching career and managed the Padres for several seasons.

Top Current Players: Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander,

Hall of Famers…Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, and Mark Reynolds

Up Next….The Minnesota Vikings

Those were the top players for the Astros.
 
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