You have heard it for years.  The Cowboys are America's team.  You may have even heard the Yankees were America's team in baseball.  I wanted to find out what America thinks about this.  One factor I used to determine this is that the team could qualify in its particular sport if they have an equal or greater approval rating than the President of the United States.  According to Pollreporting.com the president's approval rating is right around 30%.

One thing needed to determine this was a lot of input from fans all across America.  I was able to gather over 700 responses to put this list together.  Most sports actually have what would be considered America's team.  Some sports were close but didn't have enough support.  Whether you like it or not America has spoken and here are their teams.

NFL-  Lets start with the most talked about and most obvious team.  In the NFL the Dallas Cowboys wear the crown of being America's team.  It has been said for years but with a 30% vote for, it was confirmed.  Only one other team even registered a number higher than 3% and that was the New England Patriots with 17%. 

MLB-  Here is another team that really was no surprise.  In MLB the New York Yankees were anointed America's team with 33% of the vote.  I thought maybe the Chicago Cubs might have a shot in this category but this one wasn't even close.  The Yankees winning ways have given so many fans a reason to keep watching.  They are a franchise that has been capable of putting together back-to-back Championships in almost every era.

The Yankees like the Cowboys have a love hate relationship with America.  Fans either love them or hate them.  There is always one or the other with these two storied franchises.

Now when you think of other sports they may not be as obvious but they are completely legitimate.  Who do you think of as America's teams in College football and basketball?  What about NHL and NBA?  Upon further review it is the usual suspects.  The teams we always see on nationally televised games because they get the best ratings.

NHL-  Currently the NHL has fallen almost completely off the sports map in most cities.  The NHL has its team though.  That team is none other than the Detroit Red Wings.  The Red Wings received the highest percentage of any team throughout the entire poll.  The Wings garnered 37% of the vote to be crowed America's hockey team.  The Wings were the team of the 90's and were able to put together Three Stanley Cups under "the Captain" Steve Yzerman.  They also play in "HockeyTown" which may help too.

NBA- well in the NBA this was a little bit of a surprise.  It was a huge 50% vote in this lopsided win that there is actually NO America's team in the NBA.  The only team that even registered a double digit number was the Los Angeles Lakers with 27% of the vote.  The Pistons were the only other team to get mentioned with 9% of the vote.  So in the NBA there is actually no team but we know who gets the most ratings when they are on TV.  That is why the NBA needs a Laker/Piston finals in 2008!

College sports the BIG 2-

College Football-   You know America's college football team isn't going to be a team from the Big Ten or the SEC.  You also know it isn't a team from the Pac 10 or the Big 12 right?  It is the team with its own network.  This was a no brainer.  Notre Dame is America's college football team with 37% of the vote.  This wasn't close at all with no other team getting more than Michigan's 9% total.  Notre Dame has every game as a Nationally televised game.  NBC is called the Notre Dame Network, if the games aren't on NBC they are on ABC.

College Basketball- This was somewhat of a surprise to me because I thought this team would be most hated.  That is also why so many of the other America's teams are thought of this way.  Duke Basketball is America's team in a landslide.  No other team even registered more than 5% of the vote.

If you didn't know, now yo know.  America claims a team for almost every sport.  It isn't just the Cowboys either.  Now when you see these teams on TV next time you will know why they are on, because they are America's Teams, Like it or Not!

  Roy Williams is the worst offender of the all talk and no walk since Kellen Winslow jr.  Last week as you know guaranteed victory at Chicago.  Roy also has not done anything in his career to warrant such a guarantee either.  Just like Kellen he needs to just SHUT UP!  Kellen last week said cornerback Leigh Bodden is the best corner in all of football and he was gonna shut down Chad Johnson.

  Roy on Sunday did the biggest thing I hate to see as well.  With my Detroit Lions down 24-0 he thought it was still appropriate to signal first down with his signature first down move.   You can see it here.  Notice the score on there as well.

  If Winslow and Williams didn't so many stupid things so often they wouldn't even be getting interviewed because they rarely do anything on the field.  Maybe they think they are gonna get their team fired up.  That isn't the case though.  They get the other teams fired up and they embarrass their own fans. 

  How about this, show some class and let your playing do the talking.  Establish yourself as a player and not a jack ####.  At least when Terrell Owens says something he can back it up, and he has over ten years of film to prove it.  That is probably the first and last time you will ever read someone saying to be more like T.O. but hey at least he has proven he is a great player.  Kellen has proven to be a good player in all 4 games of his NFL career and Roy, well he made a sweet catch once last year!

NFL fans have been forced into watching the T.O. show where ever he seems to play the last few years.  He has been becoming known for off the field antics and problems and he is becoming removed from the things he has done on the field.  Without looking, I don't even remember the last game he played in, it certainly doesn't get talked about.

If Owens was so dedicated, was the player he says he is, wouldn't he have come into camp prepared for running?  It is funny how all the players who may have been drafted this year or are undrafted, not matter what injuries they have, they can find a way to get on not only the practice field but into the games.

If he is truly worth all the money he says he is, he would have known that being out so long he would need to maybe attend every mini-camp, stretch a little longer or maybe not work out so much.  The more muscle mass you attain the more you have to maintain.

Now I am not saying that when he is on the field he isn't the best WR in football, but I will say he is the least dedicated. He should just come out and say that he does not participate in training camp or preseason games.  To me it shows he is not worth the money because of all the problems that he comes with.  Not only is he a headache, but what does this say to his teammates who are hurt pretty bad but have still practiced and played the games?

Bottom line, he needs talk to Allen Iverson about practicing.  You make your teammates better, you build comradery, and you get better as a player.  Besides T.O. we are talkin bout practice, not the games, not the games, practice, I mean cmon man were talkin bout practice. 

One can only hope that with T.O. in Dallas the fans of the Lonestar state will ride T.O. until he finally realizes, HEY ALL ALONG, MAYBE IT ISN'T THEM, MAYBE IT IS ME.  But I doubt it that would really happen.

  Conflicting interest?  When Dan Gilbert bought the Cleveland Cavaliers it did not come as a big shock.  He had been looking to buy a sports franchise for quite some time.  He was very close to buying the Milwaukee Brewers before he bought the Cavs.  He is the owner of Quicken Loans/Rock Financial.  Quicken is marketed to 49 states, Rock is marketed to one, Michigan.  As the owner of the Cavaliers he renamed the arena Quicken Loans Arena.  I was there with my family and witnessed one of the greatest company parties of all time.  It was held on the floor of the arena and had a concert performed by Black Eyed Peas with a late appearance from Kid Rock.  As I went through the night in awe of everything the owner had put together for the party at the newly named arena I had to wonder.  Why does he own the Cavs and sponsor the Pistons?  He sponsors his hometown team with Rock Financial, the same company he used to buy the Cavs.  Why would someone own a team and sposor the competition?  Gilbert also has a copycat the Pistons philosophy, he got an arena announcer like Mason of the Pistons, and recently hired the Pistons play-by-play announcer Fred McCloud.  NBA officials must question this conflict of interest and look into it. 

Conflict of interest?  Is it just me or is Terrell Owens reality T.V. show getting old.  I don't want to see him every time I watch something football on T.V.  This cuts out time on getting interviews and thoughts from so many other teams in the league.  The current conflict, T.O. and Bill Parcels.  To me it seems that the media asks too many questions that pertain to stirring up the two men.  I don't want to see T.O. working out in his driveway, Drew Roesenhaus screaming like Jerry McGuire or him riding that exercise bike.  Lets get away from this ASAP.  Lets get back to talking football and not soap operas.  I really have not seen any stories or very little about several teams and players like, the defending NFC Champs (Seattle), or Philly's WRs, Green Bay's RB situation, Detroit's new look, Tampa Bays chances this year, or Arizona's situation of looking toward the playoffs for the first time since 1998 (before that was 1982 when they were still in St. Louis), they did get a new stadium though!

Comebacks can come in all shapes and forms and I am about to take you through some that have come to mind. Comebacks are what we love about sports, among other things, but what does it take to have a comeback? Well lets see.

With a player it takes a complete turn of events from recent history, such as injuries or appearing to be finished as an athlete. In a game, it takes all the players on a team to stay focused and battle through all adversities that may come there way until the end when they comeback. I will show you some examples of comebacks and would like you to comment on one of your best/favorite comebacks. It can be recent, past, or most memorable.

Baseball- comeback players/team of the year

1. Magglio Ordonez - Maggs has comeback from a knee injury that ended his days in Chicago the season before they won the World Series. Magglio only played 52 games in 2004 and 82 games last year for Detroit. Not only is Magglio Ordonez tearing it up this season, he returned to the All-Star game as well as leading his team to the best record in baseball to this point with a whopping 10 game lead on any team in baseball. This year Maggs is hitting .298 with 16 hr and 79 rbi.

2. Jim Thome - He is somewhat similar to Maggs in the fact he making his comeback from an injury in which he only played in 59 games last year in Philly. Although the Phillies didn’t just let their star walk, they were able to trade him and get Aaron Rowand. This year he has been crushing the ball. He currently is hitting .304 with 34 hr and 85 rbi. Last season was the first season since 1995 in which Thome did not hit at least thirty home runs, last season he only hit seven. This year he has comeback to form.

3. Nomar Garciaparra - Nomar was going to be considered but he yet again has been sidelined with injuries again in 2006. When he has been in this year he has been lights out hitting .327 with 12 hr and 57 rbi. But the problem with Nomar, he hasn’t played in more than 81 games for anyone since 2003 in Boston. Will Nomar ever comeback?

4. Detroit Tigers - this is an epic comeback! The tigers were 43-119 in 2003, this year they have the best record in baseball by a full 10 games at this point. This is also the best start to any season for Detroit in the entire history of the franchise. In 1984(way back when Uncle Rico could still throw a football over those mountains, and still reeling from his coach not putting him in and his team not winning the state championship) the Tigers had their highest win total of 104. Right now they are on pace to win around 110 games.

 

NFL players and teams -

Terrell Owens - can he comeback healthy enough in body and mind and put together an actual season this year. He has Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells but he can always find a way to blow that too. He may have been right every time he exploded on the sidelines or ran his mouth to the media and other players with the words he was saying. But hey, if you can dish it out you better be ready to eat some too. If those players and offensive coordinators were so bad at making mistakes, you don’t call them out in front of the world. Because that is being a bad teamate. Terrell, comeback to reality and show the world who is the best receiver in football, not the worst teammate.

Jon Kitna - Jon gets another chance to finish off his career on a good note. When he was in Cincinnati he was part of the building block for the foundation they don’t call the "Bunguls" anymore. He was to hold down the team until Heisman trophy winning first round pick Carson Palmer was ready. Now he gets to run a new offense in Detroit led by Mike Martz as the coordinator. He was the comeback player of the year in the NFL in 2004. And if you don’t think he can get the best out of Kitna you don’t know anything about Mike Martz.

Javon Walker - He gets his shot this year in Denver to be the man. After blowing out his knee in the season opener last year in Detroit, Javon was sidelined for the whole season. Now he is going to comeback and he is ready to go. We just don’t know where he is going to go with Jake Plummer at quarterback.

Brett Favre - If Brett is poised for this honor. If anyone can be a comeback player it is him. He is a legend for a reason. The legends and true champions always find a way to come back in the end so it wouldnt suprise me to see Brett have one last comeback.

Seattle and Philadelphia, will they both comeback to the NFC Championship game this year and contend for the Super Bowl. Philly was absent after the whole T.O. debacle and Seattle is poised to make another run for the title. Seattle may comeback, Philly, they need to learn how to run the ball before they comeback.

     Three quarterback making a comeback or sorts. Carson Palmer, Daunte Culpepper, and Ben Roethlisberger are all coming back from serious injuries. NFL fans around the leaguwill be anxious to have their star players on the field. Everyone knows how much of a factor injuries are in the NFL.

Cycling -

Floyd Landis’ comeback at the Tour De France this year was epic after the kind of crash he had. It was almost as if he were helped in some way. Not really, knowing what little I do about testosterone, it takes a long time for you to get any results from what ever it is you are using. Floyd, stay strong if you are innocent because this whole thing is fishy year after year and it has already gotten old accusing so many of doping and the testing system having so many bad tests.

Comeback lines of the day -

Yo mama is so fat, when I yelled into her belly button I heard an echo!

Yo mama so stupid that she sold her car for gas money!

How about some go aways!

  How about all the NFL players getting in trouble on the Bengals and Bears. Daven Holly of the Bears and Chris Henry of the Bengals got arrested on weapons charges, Henry didn’t stop there though. Henry managed to get picked up for drunk driving, posseision of marijuans, and giving alcohol to underage women. This between these two teams is so long and you have probably heard all about it. Not to mention Barrett Brooks (OL) for the Steelers tried to out run cops on a motorcycle and got caught, after trying to ditch his bike, and then get back on and run again. Sean Taylor of the Redskins who recently was sentenced on gun charges was fined by the NFL $71,000 and has community service until he is of retirement age.

Do you think you know more about sports than I do?  Lets see, go to http://www.faniq.com/index.php?id=24942  



The changes made to foxblogs have cramped my blogging style the way you post pictures and links.  If anyone will give me insight into this change it will be appreciated, thank you!

  Ricky Williams lost his appeal of his suspension, and as a result, he will be out all of next season.  The appeal was heard April 10 in New York by NFL attorney Jeff Pash, who then gave his recommendation to league Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.  This means he will have missed two of three seasons when he comes back at age 30.  There is good and bad news with this all around for the Dolphins.  Lets take a look at a few things that are effected by this.

Lets start with all the negative stuff and get it out of the way right now.

Negatives:

1.  The team still holds a federal court judgment of $8.6 million against Williams for breach of his contract in 2004.

2.  He will have missed two of three seasons

3.  He has three kids and a fourth on the way with his long time girlfriend. He has nearly $9000 in child support each month. 

4.  The Dolphins will be without their best back once again.

5.  If Williams had won his appeal, the Dolphins had planned to offer Williams around the league in trade.  Can't do that now and his value only goes down more and more now.

Okay enough of the negatives.  Lets move on just like the Miami Dolphins should.

Positives:

1.  The Dolphins can now see exactly what Ronnie Brown is made of featuring him as the number one back.

2.  Ronnie Brown has one season under his belt so the game should dtart to slow down a bit for him. 

3.  The Dolphins can now see what they have in the post Ricky Williams era, which they have already kind of started but not really.

4.  At least they didn't trade away their whole draft to get him and then smoke a cigar afterwards!!

5.  He is one of the best running backs in the league, or at least once was.  Now they have a younger back with a whole lot less miles on him.

6.  They don't have Ricky Williams around anymore.  I guess he really needs to lose himself before he will ever really find himself.