http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/1387 ... -standings

These are always good conversation pieces, if not gospel.

#17 Blackhawks
#66 Bulls
#77 Cubs
#85 White Sox
#114 BEEAAAAAARRRRRSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

They find that the Spurs are the best franchise in North America, the Maple Leafs the worst. Trailing the Bears are the Chargers, Jets, Titans, Phillies, Nuggets, Redskins, Knicks, and finally the Leafs. Can't argue with the last three, but I'd slot the Bears at fourth-worst. I mean, at least no one is worshiping the false idol of the Denver Nuggets; they suck, but they deliver about what's expected of a team in their situation (middling to weak basketball town, absentee ownership more concerned with getting the Rams back in Los Angeles).

Pertinent numbers for the Beloved:



So ownership sucks, they treat customers like shit, their product is too expensive, the venue is a dump, and you don't get much for what you pay for. Sounds about right to me. BEAAAAARRRRSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

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How in the hell can there be 17 teams ahead of the Hawks?

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Because they're not the Boston/New York Blackhawks.

2005

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The White Sox are ranked way too high. Should be no higher than 115th.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

2005

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The past is for cowards and Bears fans.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

16, and it's because their calculations basically doom large-market franchises while lifting up small-market ones. If you win, your tickets will cost a lot, if you're in a big city, your tickets will cost a lot, and if you win a lot in a big city, well, hoo boy, and you can't really overcome that in terms of bang-for-buck no matter how hard you try. So really, the best thing to be is a team that's generally competitive and plays in a medium-sized city.

EDIT: to that end, the Bears are judged to be a lousier investment of time and money than the Edmonton Oilers. lol hard at Bears.

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The Memphis Grizzlies are #2???????? Did John Hollinger make this list? They are obviously using way too much off-court/off-field criteria IMO.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

cubs #77? do these people own TVs? the cubs are on a potential-WS-march right now, best future in baseball, best farm system in baseball, best manager in baseball, best GM in baseball, and parking is $100 to price out the losers who would occupy the "cheap seats" so what's not to love? you've got crowds of people 6 figures and up, which is the ultimate live experience or so i've been told by a perpetual winner!

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FYI....D Backs ranked 9th, on the back of amazingly cheap tickets....should tell you about this system.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Again, win enough but not too much, keep prices down, treat customers well, don't play where cost of living is high = success by these metrics. Your Spurs benefit just as much from that, don't they?

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I'm sure they do, but their on-court/on-field accomplishments are better than any team in sports over the past 20 years as well. If your sole criteria was wins/championships/promise of future success, they should still be #1.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

The unholy trinity of Packers, Cardinals, and Red Wings all outranked even the Blackhawks. Go figure. Chicago sports, I tell ya.

As for the Grizzlies,

There's your answer, fishbulb. They're not only running an NBA team in a dump of a city -- a lovable, cool-as-hell dump, but a dump nevertheless -- but working hard to ingratiate themselves with the market. That they haven't won a trophy yet takes a backseat to the hustle. Fine, I get it. What I don't get is this:



Gravy on ribs?!? What happened to a good old Memphis-style dry rub?

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You open a diner in a city of steel workers, you better not have a price menu of $40+ steaks.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

It's hard to be as wrong as this list is with such a subjective criteria.

Yeah, the Yankees behind the Sox and Cubs. I bet that Yankee fandom is filled with people saying "If only we were more like the Chicago White Sox".

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That is the goal for which a certain team vice president is applauded

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Like Ditka's in Merrillville?

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I thought everyone in the region worked at a medical facility or an auto body shop?

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Plus it was $40 pork chops, not even steaks.

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