One subject that many, including myself, have done for so long is give top ten lists of pretty much everything under the sun. Sports fans really like to make these lists. But what many readers don’t realize, unfortunately, is that 99% of top ten lists are nothing more than an opinion.  Some of the writers don't realize it either though.

Some of the more popular lists I have done would include the top ten baseball players of all time, top ten hottest WNBA players, and the big one, the top ten most overrated sports moments which I wrote earlier this year.

A marketing firm compiled data and fan feedback from all 122 pro sports franchises. With this list it is based on many items. This list is not my list. This list was done by two companies as well.

The list is called the "Ultimate Standings" by Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon and Markitecture INC. The list was published in the May issue of ESPN the Magazine.

The data used to figure all this out was put together with these factors included. Most of these factors included: Ownership, Coaching, Players, Fan Relations, Affordability Stadium Experience, and ####-for-the-Buck.

So who are the Top Ten Franchises and who are the Bottom Feeders? Here are the lists.

Top Ten Sports Franchises:

10. Arizona Diamondbacks

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

8. Detroit Pistons

7.Detroit Tigers

6.Los Angeles Angels

5. Anaheim Ducks

4. Green Bay Packers

3.New Orleans Hornets

2. San Antonio Spurs

1. Indianapolis Colts

 
The Bottom Feeders:

113. Memphis Grizzlies

114. Baltimore Orioles

115. Cincinnati Bengals

116. Seattle Supersonics

117. Oakland Raiders

118. Minnesota Timberwolves

119. Atlanta Falcons

120. Detroit Lions

121. Toronto Maple Leafs

122. New York Knicks

 Notables and other numbers:

The city of Detroit had three teams in the top 12 and one in the bottom. The Detroit Red Wings came in at 12th.

No New York team ranked higher than the Giants at number 48. New York has seven pro sports franchises which is more than any other city.

The New England Patriots were ranked as the 11th best franchise.

The Chicago Cubs were ranked 95th. I guess without any living fans from the last World Series it is hard to rank higher. The Cubs have only won two World Series’ and they were back-toback in 1907-08.

The number 100 team is the New Jersey Nets.

The Indiana Pacers just missed the Bottom Feeder list at number 112

In MLB the Boston Red Sox ranked 89th while the New York Yankees ranked 65th. The Tampa Bay Rays ranked 75th while the Toronto Blue Jays ranked 67th and the Baltimore Orioles were ranked 114th. The AL East is not a good franchise division apparently.

Surprises on the list were the Milwaukee Brewers who were 13th and the St. Louis Blues were 14th.

  I still think that Roger Clemens is one of the top five pitchers in baseball.  It does not mean he is a top pitcher I want.  I think he should only pitch in Houston so he can spend more time with his family, which is what caused him to go there in the first place.  Roger has lost a little respect in my eyes though on the way he plays each year now.  Just make up your mind already.  How about showing a little dedication to the sport like you used to when you were only making $2 million a year.  All or nothing.  It isn't fair to the Astros, Yankees, and Red Sox to leave everyone hanging for nothing.  Maybe the Astros would not have lost a few more games earlier in the season when he was sitting out and made a run at the playoffs.  This year they brought in Carlos Lee to get some offense which is what really cost the Astros a playoff run.  But come on Roger, go all out, show dedication and some desire.  Your team will feed off it.  Give all you can to a game you took so much from monetarily.  You made enough money for the next five generations of Clemens' to live off.

  Attention Brian Cashman, the player you need to bring in is not the Rocket, it is Ichiro.  Not that I want the Yankees to trade for him, it is just that they never spend all those millions on the right guys.  If the Yankees are such a great team to play for why do they always have to overpay for EVERYONE they sign?Anyway, Ichiro is in the last year of his contract.  He has said that he will become a free-agent next year if the Mariners are not a winning team.  He is in that part of his career that he sees the end of the road coming and wants to win a championship.  He is an elite baseball player and is a franchise player as he is called Mr. Mariner in Seattle. He will get traded by the Mariners if they can not put together a playoff run before the trade deadline.  Ichiro could be a great fir on many teams.  His name will be rumored to be traded to Boston, New York(s), Detroit, Minnesota, and Los Angeles.

Gary Sheffield will be just fine in Detroit.  He will be out of the media spotlight.  Detroit is not a small market team but the media is not nearly as over bearing.  Sheffield leaves a locker room of individuals and soap opera type reporting to a team that has as good of team chemistry and attitude as any team in MLB.  He also doesn't have to be the best hitter either.  So he doesn't have a lot of pressure and he is comfortable with Jim Leyland as a manager.

The main reason I said Sheffield and Ichiro are worth it, to have on your team is because you know that they are going to be there for the whole season and are dedicated to the team.  I question Rogers desire at this point beyond money, and that used to be Sheffield's game.

Juan Gonzalez is ready to make a comeback. Juan “Gone” is now 37 years old and ready to make a return to MLB in search of 500 home runs. Juan Gonzalez hasn't played in the Majors since getting injured in his first at-bat of 2005. Gonzalez has 434 career home runs and has driven in 1,404 runs in his 17-year career with Texas, Detroit, Kansas City and Cleveland.

Juan being gone was actually the best thing to ever happen to the Detroit Tiger organization in its club history. Former GM Randy Smith offered the slugger an eight year $156 Million contract. Gonzalez declined the contract and the rest is history. For Tigers fans it is good history, for Gonzalez it was the worst mistake of his life. With Juan the Tigers could have never signed Pudge and the rest of the player changes because they would have been handcuffed by a salary for a player that was hurt more often than not. He was quoted saying "I still can play and I couldn't before because I was hurt," said Gonzalez, who will be 38 in September. "I can't do anything about that anymore because that is history. I have a goal and that is I want to hit 500 home runs and maybe then I will retire. Maybe. We'll see what God has planned for me." Maybe he thinks he is Hall-of-Fame material. Does Juan think that if he achieves 500 Hrs that he will be a shoe in for the Hall?
According to a report on MLB.com: Gonzalez said at least four Major League teams are interested in signing him for the 2007 season............................................
....................you can read the rest of the story at Tigerscentral.com

Chicago White Sox trade Brandon McCarthy to Texas and it appears they have started consulting with Matt Millen of front office moves.  They have now traded away two starting pitchers this off season.  McCarthy was not a starter last season but is a starting pitcher.  After trading away Freddy Garcis it appeared that MCcarthy would then move into the rotation, not so.  If I were a White Sox fan I would be upset at this deal because of the five players that were included in this deal.  The Sox traded away a minor leaguer from thier Venezualan team who hit .338 last season and is only eighteen, but they get back a minor league pitcher in Jacob Rasner that in his minor league career thus far is 7-21 with a 6.14 ERA.

Yaouch - Yao Ming is done for at least six weeks after fracturing the bone under his right knee in Houston's game against the Clippers.  After he was finally starting to make some noise in the NBA and making a name for himself as one of the best all around centers in the game today, he gets hurt.  He will be back though.  Before he got hurt he was averaging 27 points and nine rebounds, both career bests, and had topped 30 points in four consecutive games before scoring 22 in Friday's 97-78 victory at San Antonio.

Lions fan walkout against the Bears should get some more national attention if they can get it on Fox.  CBS carried much of the Lions/Bengalks game last year when the fire millen chants were loud and security tackled a fan that had a fire Millen sign.  He was tackled because Lions officials said his sign created a safety issue and it was not pre approved by the Lions organization.  More to come on this as a local congressman is working on a bill for stadium and fan rights and in Michigan the alchohol to be sold five hours earlier on Sundays, but like I said more to come on this.  We wil have to see if any results come of the walk out and national media attention in Detroit. 

So, Happy/Merry (insert your holiday here) to everyone - except Matt Millen

  In a dramatic swing Magglio got the Tigers into the World Series and the A's skipper gets canned.  Now I know most think that getting a team into the playoffs should be good enough.  But it isn't.  Look at the Yankees nearly firing Joe Torre after have the best record in the league.  However both should have been fired.  And hear is why.

1.  Joe Torre should have been fired for losing to the Tigers because he had the best hitting line up we may ever see in our lifetime.  That line up looked like one of a kid playing in season mode on MLB 06' on X Box.  If you can't figure out a way to get those guys to hit, you have to go.

2.  Torre and Macha both decided to just sit back and watch their respective teams get their #### handed to them by the Tigers by not EVER being aggressive.  As a Tigers fan I was shocked neither team bunted or stole a base in any game.  Without them doing either of those things you know they never once tried a hit and run.

3.  They didn't show any confidence in certain players that they would step up.  Instead Torre hit A-Rod 8th in a game and Macha just let Frank Thomas slump his way through and abismal series.


Out of both American League series the Tigers won, only one player seamed to even show up and try and that is Milton Bradley.  He is the guy no one wanted because he is a cancer in the dugout.  Maybe he doesn't like losing or being around players that sit back and don't ever show any emotion.  Without emotions there can be no momentum, and I know you saw the Tigers players showing emotion.

 

Both the Red Sox and the Yankees have both been a staple of the playoffs the last few years. One team will win the American League East and the other gets in via the Wild Card. This year it looks as if only one of them have a shot. But to be that team they are going to have to win their division because right now the White Sox have a seven game lead on New York in the Wild Card standings. The two teams (Yankees and White Sox) play each other right out of the box following the All-Star Break in a three game series at Yankee Stadium. This has the potential to either move closer and almost put out in July. If the Yankees were swept they would be possibly ten or more out in July depending on how both teams finish going into the All-Star break. They would then need to solely focus on catching Boston.

 
 As for Boston coming out of the break and the rest of July. They get a steady diet of west coast teams in a eight game home stand that includes Oakland, Seattle, Kansas City, and Texas before going out west for six games back in Oakland and Seattle.

  The White Sox also have a huge July. After playing in New York for three games, they then head to Detroit, the best team in baseball right now, the team they are also only one game back of currently for a three game home stand.  They play a three game series with Boston this weekend as well.  So July is going to be a big month this season and the trade deadline is getting closer as well.

  Detroit will be playing the divisional teams all month with the exception of a three game home stand with the Athlectics, a team that just took 2 of 3 from the Tigers. With Detroit playing divisional teams they may just separate the teams a little more or bring it a little closer. They need to take advantage of Chicago in by winning the series with them. Chicago has already taken 5 of 6 on the season.  Detroit really needs to win that series, they aren't must wins, but they need to prove they can beat the White Sox in a series.  They may have to steal Bobby Abreu from Philadelphia to do it though.

  This seasons trade deadline in Major League Baseball will have yet again, several big names trading uniforms.  One move I always hate to see is when any player gets traded during the All-Star break from his team.  The Royals Mark Redman may be that guy this season, a player who has seen more locker rooms than Lisa Guerrero has given her phone number out in.

The Yankees and Mariners are just two teams of many looking to make a change for the better before the trade deadline.  The fact that the Yankees make more moves than anyone is the reason why any team that trades with them should make sure they aren't giving the Yankees anyone.  If the Yanks had stood pat on many occasions they would't be looking to add $12 - $15 million in payroll again this season just to finish second to the Red Sox.   The Yankees have been rumored to be trying to acquire Washington's Alfonso Soriano and José Guillen, Milwaukee's Carlos Lee, and Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu.  The move the Yankees need to make is getting healthy.  Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui are on the 15 day DL along with second baseman Robinson Cano and pitcher Carl Pavano.  That is four players they will have back but may not be able to contribute in time to make the playoffs.  It may be time for the Yankees to actually keep some of their prospects and see them come to fruition in the big leagues.   If they kept players longer it may them not the White Sox enjoying a 17 game winning streak by Jose Contreras.  They traded Contreras for Estoban Loaiza WITH CASH to the White Sox and it was also right after his family got here from Cuba.

The Seattle Mariners are trying to recoup a pitcher this season in a deadline trade.  They have been rumored to be looking for a starting pitcher.  It is kind of funny since just two seasons ago it was them who traded Freddy Garcia with Ben Davis to the White Sox for Jeremy Reed, Miguel Olivo, and Michael Morse.  It may be Karma but it is just aother case of a team making a move when they had zero patience and zero thought of actually being a contender in another year or two.  They should only be so lucky to get a pitcher like him back in the fold after botching that trade so badly.

NFL


Tennessee Titans- Former San Francisco 49er first round pick Ahmed Plummer has played only nine games in the past two years after a succession of injuries. Twelve-year veteran Ty Law picked off 10 passes for the New York Jets in 2005, but also comes with a high price tag and, even more troubling, a warning label. They have had both in this month to see what interest each player has in Tennessee and a decision will come soon.

Detroit Lions- Warren Sapp a Lion?  The Lions released Dan Wilkinson yesterday in a move that suprised some.  He has talked about retirement all off-season.  He also has pending law suits in Maryland from a restaurant deal he had going from his Redskins days that didn't work out.  Ironically his lack of working out is what got him cut from Detroit. New head coach Rod Marinelli wants players who want to play and put in the extra effort needed to turn the franchise around.  Since Wilkinson was paid pretty well, that money can be used to pursue other free agents, if any players become available who might interest the Lions. There has been speculation in Oakland that the Raiders might part company with Warren Sapp, who had a strong relationship with Marinelli with the Buccaneers.

Pittsburgh Steelers- Joey Porter missed the first week of the Steelers' voluntary workouts, and now the question is whether he will participate in any of them.  Porter, a Pro Bowl linebacker, attended the team's mandatory three-day minicamp May 13-15 but was the only veteran absent from all four of their follow-up voluntary sessions last week at their UPMC training facility on the South Side.  He has two years left on a contract he signed in February 2004. He is scheduled to earn a salary of $3.85 million this year, and earn $5 million in 2007, which includes a $1 million roster bonus.


MLB


New York- take your pick which New York team picks up Dontrell Willis.  Both have had scouts following him the last two weeks.  He has had a slightly down season on a team that sold everyone else off before the season even started.  He was kept because he is still very young and has not had his first big pay day yet.

Kansas City- The Royals are now 19 games back of Detroit in the AL Central.  It is only May 23rd.  Yes their season is done and they will be unloading some players.  They made several off-season free agent signings and nothing has worked for them this year.  The biggest reason is they didn't sign pitching.  They have several veteran players they can trade off that may bring them plenty of young prospects for a team that has traded off every prospect that has every come to fruition for them.

Washington Nationals- Alfonso Soriano may also be headed out of town very soon.  He has been rumored to be traded since the time he was traded to Washington.  He may be headed toi the Mets, White Sox, Philadelphia, or St. Louis.

Los Angeles- If Morales struggles, the Angels will turn to the trade market, with Arizona first baseman Tony Clark considered a possible target. Clark is an attractive short-term option because he is signed only through this season and, because he's stuck behind young first baseman Conor Jackson, wouldn't cost as much as some of the front-line players the Angels are pursuing, such as Alfonso Soriano and Shea Hillenbrand.  The Angels are 11 games below .500 and in last place, a perfect fit for Tony Clark.  Ask any Detroit Tigers fan.

 

  Tuesday, The Governator said that he had a meeting with several NFL owners Tuesday and told them he was there to make sure "we're getting not only one NFL team to the Los Angeles area, Southern California, but to actually get two teams. That's why I came. Why limit it?"  I do have to say that I wasn't and do not support him as a governor, but it is hard to not root for a guy that would try to get me two NFL teams.  Besides it is a traveshamockery that there in no NFL football in L.A.

  Yes Arnold why not?  why limit it?  You are so business and pro sport savy anyway.  Actually I am guessing you don't know a very much about that fancy math that is put together when you are wanting to accomplish something that has never been done in pro sports.  Just expand the NFL by two or move two teams to L.A.  That makes a lot of sense considering how well the city handled two NFL teams in the past. (terrible)

    It is however rediculous that L.A. does not have a NFL team.    Two teams is not and should not happen ever again there.  But they do however deserve one team. Lets look at a couple options they may actually have eventually as ways to get a new NFL team(s) there.

1. Expansion - may be the best option, at least to get two teams in southern California.  They could put a team in Aneheim and one in Los Angeles.  That is the best chance to get two teams.  This is actually one of the proposals they are going to put together.

2. Move an existing franchise - (a) How about the Saints?  They still have the Superdome under renovation and is a possible reopening by next season.  This franchise has a lot of new talent and upside and just drafted Reggie Bush.  I think he would sell a lot of jerseys back in southern California.  (b) There are two teams that I would not have any personal issues with them moving.  One is the Baltimore Ravens, they lost a team to Indianapolis and stole the Browns from Cleveland, then won a Superbowl them and just digs the knife a little deeper.  The other team would be the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Florida does not need three NFL teams.  So by order of inception, they gotta go.

3. Move Oakland or St. Louis back.  Oakland is the better choice because that is best place for them anyway.  Renovate the L.A. Colesium into a brand new looking place and use the same field and outer layer to keep the original theme.  St. Louis (won a superbowl shotly after leaving as well) needs to stay put as they lost the Cardinals they took from Chicago to Arizona.