Now that the Celtics have won the NBA title I can say something I don't think I've ever been able to say before: The last championship in each of the four major sports was won by a team I hate. Sure, I've watched teams I hate win championships before, but I've always had other sports with champions I liked to cheer me up. No longer is that the case. Over the last eight months there's been a clean sweep of championships won by teams I make a point never to root for.

I knew it was going to happen once the Lakers and Celtics clinched their respective conference titles, as I despise both teams. I had a feeling back in December that David Stern was going to orchestrate a Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals, so I can't say I didn't see it coming. I didn't watch one second of the phony Finals, but I had to hear about the results of each game due to a co-worker who was rooting hard for the Celtics and couldn't stop talking about them. I tried to explain to him that most of the Boston fans you come into contact with on the internet are insufferable jerks who think the world revolves around them, but he cared more about seeing Kevin Garnett get a ring than the sickening idea that those loudmouthed New Englanders (and the bandwagoners they've picked up over the last six years) get to experience the height of success yet again.

At least one good thing came out of this NBA season: I finally got the courage to accept that the NBA was a sham and to stop holding onto it because of the love I had for it in my younger days. David Stern, you can engineer all the Lakers-Celtics Finals you want. I'm not wasting anymore time watching this façade o####enuine competition until you're out as commissioner. Any league where two teams have won half its titles has something wrong with it.

Then there was the NHL. This was my first year following hockey closely, and I think I've found the sport that will replace the NBA in my heart. Hockey has players that are passionate about the game and generally focused on the team first, which is more than I can say for basketball. The only downside to this season was that the Stanley Cup was won by the Detroit Red Wings, a huge rival of my Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the fact that I'm an all-Chicago fan, I don't really mind the Lions, Tigers or Pistons that much. It seems that the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry is taken most seriously of all the Chicago-Detroit feuds though, so the Red Wings are on my "always root against" list. Admittedly, I haven't developed a real hatred for them yet, as I'm still new to hockey fandom, but they're about as close as you can get in my situation.

How about that Super Bowl? I heard about the outcome, but like the NBA Finals I didn't watch a nanosecond of it (except to see that play everyone was talking about on YouTube after the fact). I hate both the Giants and the Patriots, so I decided to spare myself the agony of watching one of them win it all.

What? The Boston hater didn't want to see the undefeated Patriots lose and all the smiles wiped off the faces of the arrogant Beantowners? Sorry, but not if it had to be at the hands of the Giants. Not only do they represent New York and have plenty of obnoxious fans of their own, but their quarterback is Eli Manning. The guy whined his way out of playing for the Chargers and has now been rewarded for it. When someone like Eli Manning wins a Super Bowl after four years in the league it only perpetuates the idea that big market teams with lots of historical success are somehow more important and worth playing for than teams that haven't yet reached that level. It makes me sick. John Elway had to pay penance for doing the same thing with three Super Bowl losses and the question of if he'd ever win the big game for over a decade. Eli got off with only a few years of doubt from the New York media and some criticism from his former tailback.

Then, of course, we have the most important sporting event of them all: the World Series. I threw all my support behind three different teams over the course of the Playoffs, but the one that ended up holding the trophy was the Red Sox, the team the evil city loves most. I could try to recapture my feelings about it here, but I think my post from after the Series ended says it better than I could right now.

If we end up with a Cardinals-Red Sox World Series or some such abomination 2008 will officially be the worst year in the history of sports. Of course, I'll probably still watch the World Series even if it features two teams I hate just because I love the game of baseball so much. After the way the past year has gone though, a team I can be happy for winning the World Series would do a lot to keep me from sinking into sports depression.

The NBA just isn't what it used to be. While baseball has always been my favorite sport, basketball used to be my second-favorite by a wide margin. That was in the 90's, an era when my Bulls were winning titles and the other teams and players seemed more likable. Lest you think I was just a homer who enjoyed watching my team win, I still loved the NBA after Michael Jordan retired and the Bulls became a cellar-dweller. I followed the game religiously and enjoyed the Spurs' 1999 title run. At the time I didn't see my love of the NBA ever dying.

When we reached this current decade things began to change. Phil Jackson, the man at the Bulls' helm during their six championship runs in the 90's, signed on to coach the Lakers. The Lakers had been a good team throughout the previous decade, but they were never a serious title contender. I loved watching them get eliminated in the Playoffs every year, as they were more style than substance. That all changed under Jackson. The Lakers dominated their way to a 67-15 record, Shaquille O'Neal won the MVP and they could no longer be taken lightly going into the Second Season.

There was some hope that the Lakers would lose in the Playoffs, as the Spurs had beaten them in three of their four meetings that year. If the Spurs had gotten past the First Round they would've had the chance to upset them in the Semifinals. Unfortunately, Tim Duncan missed the Playoffs due to injury, leaving the Suns as easy fodder for the Lakers. The Blazers took them to seven games in the Conference Finals, and had a 15-point lead in the 4th Quarter of Game 7. The Blazers suddenly went cold, and the Lakers staged a comeback that won them the West. Despite their impressive record it always seemed like the Lakers were dodging bullets. The longsuffering Pacers, making their first NBA Finals appearance, were the Lakers' opponent in the ultimate round. I badly wanted those Pacers to win the title, but they came up short despite a good effort. I was unhappy about the Lakers winning the 2000 NBA Championship, but I accepted it because I knew that you can't always see the teams you like win. Still, it seemed like things worked out too perfectly for the Lakers, and the NBA now had another marketable team for all the bandwagoners to root for. My life as a fan would never be the same.

In 2001 the Lakers weren't quite as dominant during the regular season, which gave me some hope that the media favorites wouldn't overshadow everything this time. Then the unexpected happened. The Lakers finished the season with eight straight wins and wouldn't lose again until Game 1 of the NBA Finals. I couldn't believe it when they swept both the Kings and the Spurs in the Playoffs, as those teams should've at least put up good fights. Allen Iverson, that year's MVP, led the 76ers past the more well-balanced Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals with David Stern visibly rooting for Philly in the stands. As the 76ers were basically Iverson and a bunch of scrubs, the Lakers disposed of them in five games in the Finals. Instead of being nipped in the bud, the hype surrounding the purple and gold only grew.

2002 was the year things could've been different. The Kings, a team I had pulled for on the side for several years, had the best record in the NBA and looked like they could at last win the title. The Lakers and Kings met in the Conference Finals. It was a close, hard-fought series that will be remembered most for the fact that the Kings, holding a 3-2 series lead, were called for a bunch of questionable fouls in the 4th Quarter of Game 6 that allowed the Lakers to force Game 7. After that I couldn't bring myself to watch the seventh game, because I knew what the outcome would be. I didn't bother to watch the Finals either, because I knew there was no chance of the Eastern Conference Champion Nets beating the Lakers. The knowledge that the Lakers had "three-peated" disgusted me, since I didn't think they were anywhere near as good as the NBA's past three-peaters. The Lakers' dominance seemed to be a result more of luck and favorable calls than true greatness. It was hard to watch.

In 2003 the Lakers struggled, and their run finally ended when the Spurs beat them in the Semifinals. Those same Spurs ended up facing the Nets in the Finals. I was rooting for the Nets, but just like the year before they were no match for the West's representative. The Spurs won their second NBA Championship, and while they were a deserving team the result didn't excite me. At the very least though, I was glad that the title was won by a classy group of players.

In 2004 things briefly started looking up. The situation appeared bleak early on when the Lakers added two veteran stars in Gary Payton and Karl Malone. The plan was that they'd have a memorable title-winning one-year run together. While they didn't dominate as much as some people expected them to, they managed to win the West. Along the way they upset the Spurs in the Semifinals (aided by a miraculous Derek Fisher buzzer-beater) and took down the injury-hobbled Timberwolves in the Conference Finals. Their Finals opponent was the Pistons, a team with no big-name stars that got by mainly on tough defense and a balanced attack. Most people assumed that the Lakers would romp to another title, but the Pistons had other plans. The tenacious team from the Motor City thoroughly outplayed the Lakers in the Finals and exposed them as a selfish, overrated group. To me, the Pistons' defeat of the Lakers stands as the single greatest NBA moment of this decade. It was enough to rejuvenate my love of the game for a while.

2005 was another year where I really enjoyed the NBA. My Bulls were back in the Playoffs, the Lakers dismantled their team and missed the Playoffs, and the NBA Finals ended up being between the last two champions, neither of which were star-driven or egomaniacal. The Finals went seven games, with the Spurs pulling it out at the end. While I had been rooting for the Pistons to repeat, I was at least glad that it had been a good series.

Just when the skies seemed to be turning blue, the dark clouds came back in 2006. The NBA Finals ended up being between the Heat and Mavericks, two former expansion teams making their first Finals appearances. I was rooting for the Mavericks, as the Heat seemed to be just another glitz-and-glamor team full of overrated big-name players. The Mavericks were a well-built, well-run team that had been waiting longer than the Heat had. The Mavericks won the first two games before the referees started giving Dwyane Wade every call and basically handed the Heat the NBA title. It made me angry, because the Mavericks deserved it that year. All of a sudden star power once again preceded good team play.

My favorite part of last year's NBA season was my Bulls sweeping the overhyped Heat in the First Round. It was disappointing when they lost to the Pistons in the Semifinals, but it was still a treat just to see them there. The Cavaliers, who happened to have the most promising young star in the NBA, beat the favored Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. Their NBA Finals opponent was the Spurs, who at that point had gotten boring. Before you get offended Spurs fans, I say the Spurs are boring because they win all the time. I like to see new teams win it, not the same teams adding to the championship pile. Last year the Spurs started to become more widely known as a dirty team full of whiners, a contrast to the clean-cut, likable image they once projected. When the Spurs swept the Cavaliers for their fourth NBA Championship it was as anticlimactic as you'd expect.

This year the Lakers, last year's 7th seed, have the West's top seed, and the Celtics, who only won 24 games last year, have the East's. How perfect is that? Two teams that once had a prominent rivalry suddenly shot to the top. Somehow all the right players fell into their laps and the possibility of them meeting in the NBA Finals this year is being floated left and right. The NBA sure got lucky with such a marketable prospect, huh?

Since baseball was the first sport I fell in love with, my approach to basketball was mostly the same. I liked learning about the teams and their histories. I liked looking up the statistics. I liked learning about the great teams of the past and seeing how the combination of players they had made them successful. When I discuss basketball with other fans though, it seems that most of them are only interested in talking about star players and arguing over who's better. I suppose that's a key difference between the two sports: a single player can have a bigger impact in basketball than in baseball. While I like the game of basketball itself, I don't like the way the NBA is marketed and subsequently the way many fans think about it. The only franchises that are stars in their own rights are the Lakers and Knicks, while all others take a back seat to their most recognizable players.

I've also discovered that most NBA players don't truly love the game, and I can understand why. As I mentioned, basketball is a sport where one player can make a big difference, so it'll naturally attract guys who just want to show off. Also, when size provides as much of an advantage as it does in basketball, tall guys can use basketball as a moneymaking opportunity. When you can get a big contract coming out of college and don't have to prove yourself in the minor leagues why wouldn't you give basketball a shot? Still, these aren't the types of players who are going to draw me in and make me want to watch.

I've begun to think about my younger years as an NBA fan. Was it always this way? Did it always seem like everything predictably went the way that would make the most money for the NBA? It's a fact that the NBA Finals always featured big-market teams with superstar players during the 90's. Were stars always more important than the teams? I was too busy analyzing teams and appreciating lesser-known players to drool over individuals or worry about how they compared to each other. I knew that certain stars got preferential treatment, but I was able to convince myself back then that it didn't have any major effect on the game results. I felt bad about those blatantly incorrect calls that helped the Bulls clinch in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, but I wrote them off as an anomaly at the time.

Maybe the I'm the one that's changed, not the NBA. When I look at the NBA today I mainly see a bunch of chest-thumping and glorification of the top dogs. Perhaps I've matured to the point where I can now see it for what it is. Mere greatness doesn't impress me anymore. I've seen plenty of it. I want to see franchises win their first titles, or at least their first in many years. I want to see humble players get their first rings. I want the teams to be more important than the players. I want to see stories I can be happy about. Unless I have a sense that I might see those things the NBA holds little appeal to me.

I want to love the NBA the way I used to. I fear though, that it won't happen until there are some major changes. I'd like to see an end to the star-driven marketing. All it does is breed bandwagoners and minimize the fact that basketball is a team sport. I realize that stars attract bandwagoners in every sport, but basketball is the only one that practically encourages it. I'd also like to see David Stern replaced as commissioner. It was on his watch that the NBA became this star-fueled machine with a cloud of corruption hovering overhead. The final straw for me was Stern's response to the discovery that most of the NBA's referees had violated the league's gambling rules. Rather than punishing the referees Stern simply changed the rules. Great move, Dave. That really dispels the appearance of shadiness. When many people already suspect your league is fixed a move like that does you no favors. Stern can't retire soon enough in my opinion.

I can no longer bother to get too emotionally involved in the NBA Playoffs. This year I'm basically rooting for anyone but the Lakers, Celtics or Spurs, but one of those teams will probably be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy this June. I still check the NBA scores every day, but I have no desire to watch the games. Even though I'm new to hockey fandom I've actually watched more Stanley Cup Playoff games than NBA Playoff games this year. At least with hockey I know that the players are passionate about the game and that the focus will always be on the team first, not the stars. With basketball I feel like I'm just enjoying the last few weeks of false hope before the inevitable Lakers-Celtics Finals that I can treat the same way I treated the Super Bowl.

I wish I could think that there were others out there who felt the same way, but I know I'm likely in the minority on this issue. I'll probably never stop following the NBA altogether, but I have a feeling that my love will never be what it once was.

One of television's longest-running hits is professional basketball. The concept is one of the most brilliant ever conceived. There are 30 teams, and they can be divided into two categories: "The Lakers" and "Other". The main question each season is whether the Lakers can play together, deal with injuries and get past the villainous "Other" teams to win the championship. It makes for compelling drama and it's all filmed in front of a live audience.

The ensemble cast of characters is part of this show's appeal. There's head coach Phil Jackson, who's constantly trying to uphold his reputation as a genius. He's a good character study, as it's not always clear whether he's as arrogant as he acts or if he's insecure about the fact that he's clearly not invincible, as he was once thought to be. There's star player Kobe Bryant, who's constantly trying to prove that he's the best in the league. He's had trouble with Jackson in the past, so the question of how long they can peacefully co-exist adds some tension to the mix. There's Derek Fisher, a cast member who left the series for a while to do some untelevised roles. He returned this season, much to the delight of longtime fans who like the chemistry he brings. There's also Lamar Odom. He was one of the guys brought in four seasons ago to replace the top-billed Shaquille O'Neal. While some fans had a hard time accepting him at first, he's established himself as a key element to the show's success.

As the Lakers are the focal point of the entire program, it always seems wrong when the protagonists get eliminated from the Playoffs and one of those "Other" teams succeeds. Part of the show's genius is that they sometimes televise a game where the Lakers aren't one of the two teams playing. The reason for this is to give the viewer an idea of how tough the competition will be when the Lakers play those teams. You can't fully appreciate the antagonist without proper background, and this show cares about character development. As is common knowledge, almost nobody actually roots for those "Other" teams except a few contrarians. Just look at the front page of the FoxSports Blogs. Every post in the pro basketball section is usually related to the Lakers. You occasionally get those intellectual types that want to analyze the bad guys, but most people just want to talk about the success of the good guys.

There are several notable villains on this series. First and foremost, there is LeBron James, the supervillain who plays for the Cleveland team. Kobe and LeBron are always competing for the title of "Best Player in the League". While Kobe is the hero, some believe that LeBron could defeat him if it came down to just the two of them. It's a scary thought, but so far we have yet to see it reach that point. Until it does the debate will continue and the threat of it happening will be an undercurrent to each season. Another villain is the aforementioned Shaquille O'Neal. He used to be one of the good guys, but he eventually went to the dark side. Fans have had to watch bitterly as he won a championship playing for the Miami team two years ago, and more recently as he joined the Phoenix team that has eliminated the Lakers from the Playoffs the past two seasons. You also have the San Antonio team that wins with machine-like efficiency and the Boston team that used to be an annual rival back in the 80's. The Boston team has been getting many of its games televised this season, so perhaps the producers are trying to foreshadow an NBA Finals matchup between them and the Lakers. Of course, you have to watch, because you never know when they'll flip the script on you.

There have been a few cases where one of the "Other" teams got its own spinoff. Back in the 90's the Chicago team developed sort of a cult following and even got more media attention than the Lakers. Some even thought that they could supplant the Lakers in terms of overall fan popularity (similar to the way "Family Matters" went on to be much more popular than "Perfect Strangers"). Still, people eventually lost interest in the Chicago team (mainly due to excessive cast changes) and once again the Lakers had the spotlight all to themselves.

The Lakers are looking like a threat to win the championship this season, but the race is so close right now that there's no telling what will happen in the Playoffs. If the Lakers should lose in the postseason, it's a safe bet that 99% of pro basketball fans will be disappointed. The remainder of the Playoffs, which will only be televised for curiosity's sake, will most likely be a total bore. If this program's decision-makers know what they're doing, they'll cheer the fans up this year and let the Lakers capture the title. If they're not careful, the villains might become more popular than the heroes again.




(Note: I realize it's somewhat subtle, but this is a satirical piece. I am not a Lakers fan. At all.)

Only a select few ever get to play professional sports; even fewer ever get to experience the ultimate reward: playing on a professional sports championship team. Many great players have come up short in their attempt to reach that goal, but there's something especially heartbreaking about cases where the team wins a championship immediately after a longtime player leaves or is traded. One can only wonder what might have been.

With our most recent Super Bowl champion having lost its star player to retirement last offseason, I thought I'd compile a list of the top ten pro athletes who just missed getting to be part of the celebration. The focus of this list will be players who spent a considerable amount of time with the team before they left, not players who were only there for a few seasons preceding the championship. I'm also excluding players who ended up getting a ring with another team and ones who are still active. Now that we've established those criteria, let's get to the list.

10. John Vanbiesbrouck

Detroit-born John Vanbiesbrouck played his first full season as a goaltender for the New York Rangers in 1984-85. He wasn't the biggest goalie in the league, standing only 5'9", but he made up for it with his quick reflexes and aggressiveness. He had the best year of his career in 1985-86, when he won the Vezina Trophy, was named to the All-Star First Team and helped the Rangers reach the Conference Finals despite their losing record during the regular season. The popular goalie (known as "Beezer" to the fans in Madison Square Garden) required surgery for a lacerated wrist during the 1988 offseason. It was thought that he would miss several months of the 1988-89 campaign while recovering, but he ended up playing in the season opener. In the early 90's he teamed with Mike Richter to give the Rangers one of the league's best goalie duos.

Believing Richter could handle the goaltending duties on his own, the Rangers traded Vanbiesbrouck to the Canucks after the 1992-93 season. Just four days later he was taken by the Florida Panthers in the expansion draft. While Vanbiesbrouck helped the new team in Florida to a respectable inaugural season (and was named to the All-Star Second Team in the process) the Rangers went on to win their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. Vanbiesbrouck's popularity continued in the Sunshine State, and he played in three All-Star Games while a member of the Panthers. He helped the fledgling franchise reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, but they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche. He made it back to the Finals in 2001 as a backup for the Devils, but once again his team fell to Colorado.

Vanbiesbrouck retired in 2002 holding the NHL record for most victories by an American-born goaltender with 374. He also tied Frank Brimsek with 40 shutouts, most among American NHL netminders. In 2007 he was inducted into the American Hockey Hall of Fame.

9. Billy Cox

You've heard of the famous Brooklyn Dodgers infield, right? Hodges-Robinson-Reese-Cox? All were great players, but one of them never got to be part of a World Series winner, and that was Billy Cox. A shortstop with the Pirates, the Dodgers acquired him after the 1947 season and moved him to third base. He was a dazzling fielder at the hot corner who once inspired Casey Stengel to say: "He ain't a third baseman. He's a [bleep]ing acrobat." The World War II veteran wasn't much of a hitter (lifetime .262 batting average, 66 home runs, .698 OPS), but he had a reputation for coming through in key situations. Cox played in three World Series with the Dodgers, but each time they lost at the hands of the New York Yankees.

The Dodgers traded Cox and Preacher Roe to the Orioles after the 1954 season (coincidentally, the same trade that had originally brought Cox to the Dodgers was the same one that had brought Roe). In June of 1955 the Orioles traded him to the Indians, but he chose to retire rather than report to his new team. Four months later the Dodgers finally beat the Yankees to win the franchise's first World Series title.





8. Paul Reinhart

In 1979 the Atlanta Flames used the 12th overall pick in the NHL Draft on a young defenseman named Paul Reinhart. Though defense was his primary job, Reinhart was also a strong puck handler who was versatile enough to play any position on the ice, and he developed into one of the best all-around defensemen in the game. With the Flames (who moved to Calgary after his rookie year) he had two Playoff hat tricks, made an All-Star appearance and helped them to the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals. For all his success, he might have accomplished even more had he not struggled with injuries throughout his career.

The Flames traded Reinhart to the Canucks before the 1988-89 season. At the time of the trade he was the last remaining player from the franchise's days in Atlanta, and he held most team records for defensemen. Despite playing in pain, he made his second All-Star appearance that year and helped the Canucks to a first-round Playoff matchup against his former team. The underdog Canucks stunned the Calgary crowd by winning Game 1 in overtime, with Reinhart scoring the deciding goal. The two teams battled their way to seven games, but the Flames ultimately weren't going to be denied their first Stanley Cup that year. Reinhart played one more season in Vancouver before his back problems forced him to call it quits at age 30. He finished his career with 133 goals and 427 assists in 648 games.

7. Wilbur Cooper

Wilbur Cooper was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the Dead Ball and early Live Ball Eras. He once played for a minor league team owned by future U.S. President Warren G. Harding, and legend has it that Harding himself recommended Cooper to the Pirates. The left-hander had great control, a good pickoff move to third and was a solid hitter as well. The Pirates weren't a very good team early in Cooper's career, but as Cooper developed and the team around him improved his numbers got better. For eight straight seasons he won at least 17 games. The Pirates were annually in the first division, but the NL pennant always eluded them.

After the 1924 season Cooper was traded to the Cubs. The move was unpopular in Pittsburgh, and Cooper himself was disappointed to be leaving the Pirates. After winning 20 games the year before, he was nothing more than an average pitcher for the last-place Cubs, which translated into a losing record. Meanwhile, his old teammates took up residence on the opposite side of the standings, eventually winning the pennant by an 8½ game margin and overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Washington Senators to win the World Series. 1926 was Cooper's last year in the Major Leagues, but he continued his career by pitching in the minors for several years after that. He remains to this day the Pirates' all-time leader in wins with 202.

6. Tiki Barber

Tiki Barber was a running back drafted by the New York Giants out of the University of Virginia. For the first three years of his career he was used mainly as a return man, a third-down back and a receiver out of the backfield, so his rushing numbers weren't particularly impressive. When he became a full-time starter in 2000 however, he emerged as a star and helped the Giants reach the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. It would be Barber's only Super Bowl appearance. He built up an impressive résumé over the next six seasons, which included three Pro Bowls, three All-Pro selections and the franchise record for most rushing yards.

In 2006 Barber announced that he was retiring at the end of the season. Though still in his prime, he said that his passion for the game had decreased and that he was ready to move on. It came as a surprise to many fans, but he was committed to his decision. The Giants had an up-and-down year in Barber's last season, but their Playoff hopes were still alive going into their final game against the Redskins. With his team needing a win, Barber rushed for a franchise-record 234 yards to lead them to a 34-28 victory. After the Giants lost their Wild Card matchup with the Eagles and he made his final Pro Bowl appearance, Barber hung up his cleats just like he said he would.

The Giants went 10-6 and qualified for the Playoffs the next year. Though most observers didn't see them as a threat to take home the Lombardi Trophy, they did just that, winning three Playoff games on the road and then upsetting the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl.

5. John Franco

The Cincinnati Reds were a perennial second place team during the mid-80's, but those teams are mostly forgotten today. One of the players who helped them stay in the race every year was closer John Franco. After two years finishing games part-time, Franco became the Reds' main closer in 1986. For the next four years he was one of the best in the game, finishing in the NL's top five in saves each time and being selected to three All-Star teams.

After the 1989 season the Reds traded Franco to his hometown Mets for Randy Myers. Myers would join with Rob Dibble and Norm Charlton to form the "Nasty Boys" bullpen corps, and the Reds would win the World Series. Franco would spend the next 15 years in a Mets uniform, and he finally experienced his first postseason nine years after the trade. The Mets made it to the NLCS in 1999 and the World Series in 2000, but both times their season ended with a loss. Franco signed as a free agent with the Astros in 2005, but he was released in July of that year and hasn't returned to the Majors since. His 424 saves are currently 4th all-time.

4. Don Mattingly

Don Mattingly was called up by the New York Yankees in September 1982. Despite coming off a pennant-winning season the Yankees were struggling. The next year Mattingly would get some significant playing time and the Yankees would improve to third place. In 1984 he took over as the full-time first baseman and a star was born. For the rest of the decade he would be an All-Star every year, win five Gold Glove Awards, finish in the top 5 in MVP voting three times (winning it in 1985), finish in the top ten in batting average five times (including the 1984 batting title), lead the league in doubles three times, and win three Silver Slugger Awards. 1987 was notable for two accomplishments: he set a record (later tied by Travis Hafner) for most grand slams in a season with six, and he tied a record held by Dale Long with home runs in eight consecutive games. The Yankees were usually in contention during the 80's, but they always fell short of the Playoffs.

1990 was when things started to go downhill for Mattingly, as he started suffering from back problems. He had the worst year of his career and the Yankees finished in last place. Though he (and the Yankees) rebounded over the next few years, he never reached the levels he did in the previous decade. The only awards he won during the 90's were four more Gold Gloves.

In 1995 the Yankees made the postseason for the first time in Mattingly's career by virtue of the Wild Card. They had a hard-fought five-game series with the Mariners, but in the end Seattle prevailed. Mattingly's .417 batting average and 6 RBI made him one of the hitting stars of the series, but it ended up being his last hurrah. Mattingly decided to sit out the 1996 season due to his recurring back problems and the need to spend time with his family. It was poor timing, as 1996 was the year the Yankees finally got over the hump and won the World Series. In 1997 he officially announced his retirement from baseball, and the Yankees retired his #23. He is the only Yankee with his number retired not to play for a World Series winner.

3. Bruce Armstrong

Can you name the only player who wore the current Patriots uniform design as well as the classic red uniforms with "Pat the Patriot" on the helmet? The only Patriot to play for both Raymond Berry and Bill Belichick? That would be offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong. Armstrong was New England's first-round draft pick in 1987 out of Louisville. He started his career at right tackle and moved to his more famous spot on the left side in his fourth season. He was a warrior, committed to playing every game he could. He started all 12 non-strike games his rookie year despite sustaining a shoulder injury in training camp that required surgery after the season. In fact, the only affliction that ever prevented Armstrong from playing came in a 1992 game when he tore three of the four main ligaments in his right knee. He was out for the entire second half of the season and his career appeared to be in jeopardy, but he came back next year and started all 16 games. Recognized leaguewide as one of the best, Armstrong was named to 6 Pro Bowls and 7 All-Pro Teams between 1988 and 1997.

After the 1999 season Armstrong was released by the Patriots due to his declining skills and his refusal to accept a pay cut. It was seen by many as a classless move, as Armstrong had played through the second half of the previous season with torn ligaments in his right knee, but new coach Belichick saw it as necessary. Armstrong eventually agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots, but it was clear his time in New England was running out. Though Armstrong wanted to play one more season after 2000, the Patriots didn't re-sign him and he officially announced his retirement in September 2001. The Patriots honored him by retiring his #78 and inducting him into the team Hall of Fame. He remains New England's all-time leader in games played. A few months later the Patriots would win the franchise's first Super Bowl and begin a run that would lead to them being considered the Team of the Decade.

2. Nate Thurmond

One of the most underappreciated big men in NBA history, Nate Thurmond was considered the best defensive center of his era by many opponents. A backup to Wilt Chamberlain as a rookie, he helped the San Francisco Warriors make it to the NBA Finals in the 1963-64 season. The Boston Celtics were unstoppable in those days, so needless to say it wasn't the Warriors' year. Still, Thurmond played impressively enough to earn a spot on the All-Rookie Team. The Warriors traded Chamberlain in the middle of the next season, making Thurmond the new starting center. He finished the year averaging 18.1 rebounds per game and set an NBA record in February with 18 rebounds in one quarter. Over the next five seasons he would never average fewer than 17.7 rebounds per game, including two years averaging more than 20. He helped the Warriors get back to the NBA Finals in 1967, but once again they ran into an unstoppable team, this time the 68-win 76ers. Though Thurmond never reached another NBA Finals with the Warriors, his personal accolades with the team included two All-Defensive First Teams, three All-Defensive Second Teams, and seven All-Star selections.

After the 1973-74 season the Warriors traded the aging Thurmond to the Bulls for the younger Clifford Ray. While Ray didn't quite put up the numbers Thurmond did, he was valuable to the Warriors for his defense and his unifying effect on the team. Thurmond joined a Chicago team that had made it to the Conference Finals the previous season. They were an aging bunch, but they still had one good year left in them. In Thurmond's Bulls debut he racked up the first quadruple-double in NBA history (22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks) and set the stage for the franchise's first division title that season. The Bulls made it back to the Conference Finals and ended up facing Thurmond's old Warrior teammates. The series went seven games with the Warriors emerging triumphant in the end. The underdog Warriors went on to sweep the Bullets in the NBA Finals to win the franchise's first Bay Area title. Thurmond was traded to the Cavaliers in the middle of the next season, where he was part of yet another run to the Conference Finals, this one ending against the Celtics. He retired after the 1976-77 season with career averages of 15.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. His #42 was retired by both the Warriors and the Cavaliers, and he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1996 he was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players.

1. Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers out of Seattle University with the #1 pick in the 1958 NBA Draft. The Lakers franchise was struggling at the time, but Baylor gave them a superstar that restored their fortunes. With averages of 24.9 points and 15.0 rebounds per game, he easily captured the Rookie of the Year Award. The Lakers had been the NBA's worst team the year before, but he took them to the Finals that year, where they lost to the Celtics. In 1960 the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, where rookie Jerry West joined with Baylor to form what would be one of the NBA's greatest duos for the next decade.

Though Baylor never won an MVP or scoring title, his list of accomplishments is long. He was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times, the All-Star team eleven times, and averaged more than 30 points per game three times. He finished in the top ten in scoring ten times, the top ten in assists six times and the top ten in rebounds nine times. In 1960 he scored a then-NBA-record 71 points in a game. About the only thing he couldn't do was win an NBA Championship. Baylor's teams made it to the NBA Finals a total of eight times, but they lost each one. The Lakers made it to the Finals in 1965, but Baylor didn't play because of a knee he injured in the first game of the Playoffs. The injury carried over to next season, as Baylor had the worst year of his career to date. Fortunately, he bounced back. While he didn't play at quite the same level as before, he definitely reclaimed his status as one of the game's best. Injuries limited him to two games in 1970-71, but he attempted to keep playing.

Early in the 1971-72 season, after Baylor got off to a slow start, the Lakers asked him to relinquish his spot in the starting lineup to a young forward named Jim McMillian. Rather than accept a bench role (and the fact that he wasn't the player he used to be), Baylor retired. As soon as he was gone the Lakers went on an NBA-record 33-game win streak. They finished the season with 69 wins, another NBA record which stood for 24 years. The Lakers made it back to the NBA Finals, but this time they did something they hadn't done during Baylor's career: they won. Baylor finished his career with averages of 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, and the Lakers retired his #22. He earned induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, and in 1996 he was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players.

Sometimes that elusive championship is so close and yet so far. These players may not have won championships, but none of them should ever be forgotten.

As some of you know, I've decided to boycott the Super Bowl this year. Don't try to talk me out of it; it's non-negotiable. I can't root for the Giants, because any quarterback that refuses to play for the team with the #1 pick has to suffer the same fate as John Elway: early success with an above-average team in the NFL's weaker conference, but no ring until at least his 15th year. I can't root for the Patriots either, because their team photo appears next to "evil" in the dictionary. No, nothing short of Cheap Trick being called in as a last-minute replacement for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as the halftime entertainment could get me to watch this Super Bowl. The question that remains though, is what am I going to do on Sunday night?

Let's see what's on the schedule for the other channels I normally watch.

Hmmm...it looks like the other major networks are showing news during the Super Bowl. Oh wait, NBC is showing "The Biggest Loser: Couples." That sounds like a good alternate name for Super Bowl XLII. ABC is also showing "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," A.K.A. The Show That's Half Commercials. They're following that with "America's Funniest Home Videos." No thanks.

Zoinks! The Cartoon Network is showing a Scooby Doo marathon. In all honesty, that might be the best option I've come across so far.

CMT is showing Fried Green Tomatoes. Sorry, I'm not into "chick flicks." After that they're rerunning episodes of "Gone Country" which I've already seen. Any show where the likes of Dee Snider, Sisqo and Marcia from "The Brady Bunch" attempt to become country singers is can't-miss entertainment. I don't know if I feel like watching them again though.

Versus is showing something other than hockey. Pass.

Hey, there's a Wizards-Lakers game on the local sports channel. The Lakers' resurgence this year has gotten me depressed though, so I don't know if I can stand to watch that game.

Scooby, you may have some competition for your spot at the top of the power rankings. TV Land is showing "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "M*A*S*H." I'm not a huge fan of any of those shows, but they're usually a nice way to pass the time.

TBS is showing some "Bridget Jones" movie. See my comment on Fried Green Tomatoes.

C-SPAN is showing "Road to the White House 2008." Hey, now there's an idea. I could get caught up on the current political race. I have a feeling though, that after it's all said and done I still won't like any of the candidates they're hyping.

How about my old hometown's local channel, WGN? Oh great. More "America's Funniest Home Videos," and then, if that weren't enough, it's followed by "Funniest Pets and People," which is essentially the same show. Hey, "American Idol Rewind" is on after that. The description says "Wildcard Show." Wow, there's a change. Whenever I checked out "AI Rewind" in the past it was always a compilation show of those oh-so-hilarious bad auditions. You know, the ones with poor deluded souls who think screeching at the top of their lungs is actual singing? Those are funny once or twice, but after a while you just want to hit the mute button. I might tune in if indeed they're showing an episode with real performances.

How about the movie channels? Oh look, the Beatles' movie Help! is on. I've seen it before though. There's Facing the Giants, a football movie. I've heard it's good, but I think I'm done with football (and any gridiron team nicknamed "the Giants") until September. Stop the presses! Howard the Duck is on! I'm sure Ed Hardiman would be proud if I watched that. The Flintstones is on too. Remember that masterpiece starring John Goodman and Rick Moranis? I actually saw that in theaters when it came out. I don't think I've seen it since then. I think that streak will continue. Then there's An American in Paris, which I've also seen before. While Gene Kelly is much more entertaining than Bill Belichick, I don't think I feel like watching that particular movie.

The NHL Network is mostly showing "NHL on the Fly," which, for anyone who doesn't know, is just a show that gives you updates on the day's NHL games. I'm not going to sit and watch the same highlights over and over. I'd rather watch one of their random lists like "The Top Ten Left-Handed European Defensemen of the 1993-94 Season."

NBA TV is showing "NBA Vault" and that same Lakers-Wizards game I'm avoiding. I suppose some retro basketball stuff could be interesting.

The Game Show Network is showing "Greed," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and "Lingo." Those shows are OK, but nothing I'd go out of my way to watch.

Finally, the Hallmark Channel is showing a "Murder, She Wrote" marathon. If they were showing one of their formulaic feelgood movies I might watch just so I could be cheered up from the dismal reality that two teams I hate are playing for the NFL's championship, but if Angela Lansbury is the best they can give me I think I'll pass.

The Super Bowl is the biggest event in American sports, and as such it leaves a big gap to fill. There are some decent options on TV, but most aren't so great. The more I think about it the more I'm leaning toward just reading a book.