Of the four major pro sports Hockey, Baseball, Football, Basketball in the United States and Canada only eight teams actually have a color as part of the mascot. Soccer was not included because it is lower than bowling and poker on the sports food chain in America. Simply looking at the four sports and the 122 pro sports teams there is one thing obvious, if you are a team of color you better have "red" in the name.

  Teams with the name "red" include the Redskins, Red Wings, Red Sox, and Reds. These teams comprise 50% of the list known as the "A list". The Browns, White Sox, and Blue Jays represent the other 50% of the list known as the "B list".

  The Red teams have a combined 27 Championships between them. The Red Wings have won 11 Stanley Cups, the Red Sox have won 6 World Series, the Reds have won 5 World Series, and the Redskins have won 5 Super Bowls. This is why they are the "A list".

  The other #### teams have only 12 combined Championships. That is why they are on the "B list". They are not new franchises either. These teams have been around a long time. In fact every team of color has been around a long time. The newest team on the list is the Toronto Blue Jays whose franchise began in 1977 which is relatively young in comparison to the other teams on the list.

Teams of color are old school. You will probably never see another team name including a color as part of the name. But if your city gets one, they better make the name have "Red" in it!

 The entire list of most championships by pro teams of color:

Red Wings 11

Red Sox 6

Reds 5

Redskins 5

Browns 4

White soxs 3

Blackhawks 3

Blue Jays 2


The Breakdown:

4 teams were from MLB

Zero teams were from the NBA

Chicago has 2 teams on the list

2 teams with Indian names on the list and 2 about colors of Sox.

2 teams of color left off the list the St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets have never won a Championship.

Of all teams "Blue" only a combined 2 Championships

New York, Jacksonville, Detroit, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Kansas City, Washington, New England, and Denver


For some players in the NFL the next few months will determine if they make or break their career.  There are several veteran players who may be cut or benched this season early on.  The most important thing some players don't understand is how important the off season really is.  If you are a player on the apex of making a roster you better be at every off season meeting, mini-camp, and any injury treatments you need.  Some players just won't ever get it no matter how many chances they are given either.

  At least Lawrence Taylor had the thought to at least wait until his career was over to really get into his drug problem.  In his book he talked about the last six years of his career in which he said he could not wait to retire so he could smoke crack. 

A couple guys around the league will be cut, benched, or have their play reduced this season.  I will touch on a few around the league.


Jacksonville - Mike Williams OT The weight problems that prompted Buffalo to cut offensive lineman Mike Williams have followed him to Jacksonville, even threatening his chances to make the team.  Buffalo drafted him 5th overall in 2002 and cut him after last season.  If he doesn't make the team he will be picked up elsewhere.   Top five picks usually get a few more chances than most other players.


Green Bay - Ahman Green RB  He is only 29 years old but he was already slowing down before his quadriceps burst in Minnesota last season.  It remains to be seen when Green will return during training camp. And it's a greater mystery if he can fully recover from such a brutal injury.  Samkon Gado is a lock to make the team and this year it may be up to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport to get that final roster spot.  For fantasy owners, stay away from all of these guys because they still don't have a line to block for them.


Denver - Ashley Lelie WR  It has been rumored that he was part of a three way trade with New England for TE Daniel Graham and New Orleans RB Michael Bennett.  Lelie would go to New England, Graham would go to New Orleans, and Bennett to Denver.  With the addition of Javon Walker the Broncos have found Lelie to be expendable.  If they are really look to trade him, why not call Philadelphia?  I think they needs some WRs.  Besides why does Denver need more RBs?  Didn't they draft Maurice Clarrett?...........oh wait

Detroit - Mike Williams WR  He was dismissed from practice last week and may not be in the immediate plans for the Lions offense.  The Lions will have a three wide look that, at this point, is lined up as #1WR Roy Williams, #2 Corey Bradford, #3 Mike Furrey.  The Lions may be married to Mike Williams but he is not going to be a player you want to draft in a fantasy league as he may not even be activated some weeks.

Green Bay - Robert Ferguson WR  Ferguson had the chance of his life last season and proceeded to drop the ball. After Javon Walker went down in the season-opener, Ferguson had every opportunity to prove he was the No. 1 wide receiver he'd claimed to be for years.  But Ferguson was arguably the Packers' most disappointing player and might be out of chances in Green Bay.


Kansas City - Priest Holmes RB  his days may be numbered in Kansas city with the emergance of Larry Johnson.  Holmes has already said he still wants to play.  He may just have to do it elswhere.  He has said in years past that he may retire but has played on.  If the Chiefs do decide to trade or release him there will be plenty of teams looking to acquire his services.


Green Bay - Rod Gardener WR The Packers are in a transition stage right now that may take longer than the fans will like.  Coming off a 4-12 year they have Brett Favre returning for one more year.  They add Gardener to the list of players who may be out sooner than later.  A washout in both Washington and Carolina, Gardner looked like a former first-round draft choice during his brief stay in Green Bay last winter. Gardner, picked up on waivers with two weeks left in the regular season.  But Gardner irritated the coaching staff when he missed a large portion of the current organized team activities.  He has good size but does not run well.  The Packers drafted two recievers in 2006 so Gardener and Ferguson will be fighting for spots.


Washington - David Patten WR Patten may be cut by the Redskins this month.  With the additions of Atwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd also having Santanna Moss, Patten's days are numbered.  However New England is in need of a WR so he may go back to play in Foxboro with another possible former player Ty Law.


New York Jets - Chad Pennington QB  Coming off his second rotator cuff surgery in as many years the Jets have competition for him.  Patrick Ramsey was traded for from Washington for a sixth round pick.  This QB controversy will only heat up if Pennington is healthy.  If he is healthy then rookie head coach Eric Mangini has his work cut out for him.  He has already announced, and rightfully so, that the job is wide open.  Pennington told the Star Ledger newspaper in May,  that he's "full go" and "throwing every route in the playbook." But he recently toned down his comments -- saying simply that he's making progress.  Seriously, why can't they just find a decent quarterback named Benny?


Cincinnati - Chris Henry WR Henry pleaded not guilty this morning to providing alcohol to three underage women at a hotel on Covington’s riverfront.  This marked the fourth time in six months Henry had been arrested.  He finally made it into the third recieving spot last season and it may have been his last of his career.  He faces up to a year in jail on these charges.  He still has the other cases pending against him that he will later this month be in court for.  He will spend more time in court than the Miami Heat will play on this summer.

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.