Chris Williams/Icon SMI
It wasn't hard to spot a Cubs fan in Los Angeles today. The day after the Cubbies finished off their 100th season without a World Series, many transplants and visitors who had come out to Los Angeles for the weekend to watch their season end gathered at Barney's Beanery, a local sports bar. They soaked their sorrows in pitchers of Bud and shifted their attention to the Bears, momentarily finding comfort in a predictable 34-7 blowout of the Lions.
The fact that many still sported Cubs jerseys, shirts and hats was respectable, but it once again showed why the Cubs will always be known as "Lovable Losers." Most of the fans I spoke with simply smiled, shrugged their shoulders and said it came with the territory of being a Cubs fan. The fact that the Cubs were swept out of the playoffs despite posting the best record in the National League this season was almost expected. How confident can you be when you have 99 years of history going against you?
In my column after last night's game, I argued that the Dodgers' 20-year playoff series-winning drought was more surprising than the Cubs' current 100-year World Series-winning drought. After all, the Cubs have always been known as the "Lovable Losers." "The Curse of the Billy Goat" is as synonymous with Chicago as the Sears Tower and Oprah Winfrey. The Dodgers, however, were always known as winners. Well, at least they were when the likes of Truman, Nixon and Reagan were in office. From 1941-88, they won 16 NL pennants and six World Series titles, never going more than eight years without appearing in a World Series. This was the longest they had gone without winning a playoff series since 1920-41. Their sweep of the Cubs was the Dodgers' first playoff sweep since 1963, when they beat the Yankees to win the World Series. That's incredible when you think of the Dodgers' place in baseball history.
So forget about the Cubs and other historical losers like the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Clippers, and let's focus on the winningest teams that are currently experiencing tough times.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs – The Leafs, one of the "Original Six" members of the NHL and the most valuable franchise in hockey, are often referred to as the Yankees of the NHL with their storied past and 13 Stanley Cups. The problem is the Leafs have not won the Cup or even appeared in the Finals since 1967; they haven't even been in the playoffs since 2004. Even Mike Myers' film (The Love Guru) about his Leafs' championship drought was doomed for failure.
2. Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates have been behind many major firsts in MLB history. They were the first team to win a World Series on a home run (1960), the first team to broadcast a game on the radio (1921), the first to adopt batting helmets on both offense and defense (1953), the first to host a World Series night game (1971), the first to field an all-black lineup (1971), the first to record an extra innings no-hitter (1997) and -- next year -- the first major professional franchise to go 17 consecutive seasons with a losing record. The Pirates may have won five World Series titles and nine NL Pennants, but they haven't been to the World Series since '79 nor had a winning season since '92.
3. Miami Dolphins – No team in the state of Florida is as beloved as the Dolphins. Even when the Marlins were in the midst of winning a couple World Series titles, they played in front of mostly empty seats as most in Miami were more intrigued by what the Dolphins did in Week 2 of the season. It makes sense. The Dolphins have won two Super Bowls, five AFC Championships and also completed the NFL's first and only perfect season in 1972. But the Dolphins haven't won the Super Bowl since 1972, haven't been in a Super Bowl since 1984 and haven't won a playoff game since 2000, finishing with the worst record in the league (1-15) last season.
4. New York Knicks – The Knicks are the most valuable franchise in basketball, according to Forbes, and play in Madison Square Garden, "The World's Most Famous Arena," but there has been little for Knicks fans to cheer about in recent years. The Knicks, who have won 2 NBA titles and 8 Eastern Conference championships haven't won an NBA title since 1973 and haven't appeared in the NBA Finals since the strike-shortened 1999 season when they became the first eight-seed to advance that far. They haven't had a winning season since 2001, which was also the last time they won a playoff game.
5. Notre Dame Football – No program in college sports is as storied as Notre Dame Football. The Fighting Irish have 11 national championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners and 178 All-Americans. But the Irish have lost nine consecutive bowl games, with their last victory was over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl in 1994. They also haven't won a national championship since 1988 and haven't had a Heisman Trophy winner since '87. Last season Notre Dame went 3-9, their most losses ever in a single year, which included the first six-game losing streak at Notre Dame Stadium.
What storied team do you think has hit the hardest times?
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The city of Philadelphia
The Pitt Panther is…
Telford, PA
Total Comments (11802)
philadelphia is pretty pathetic but cleveland has to be tops between the indians,browns and cavs the city hasnt won a championship since 1964 when the old browns won the super bowl. the indians havent won the world series since the 40s and the cavs have never won n r in danger of losing their franchise player in a couple of years. now thats rough
NYR08
Total Comments (267)
I guess you have to live in New York to truly apreciate the utter Hindenburg Disaster that is the New York Knicks. No team in professional sports history has spent so much to accomplish so pathetically little. Scott Layden was a overwhelmed stock room clerk and then, after much searching, the Knicks found the only human being on earth who could be a worse GM than Layden in Isiah. Got an overpaid sack of fat you want to get off your team? Call Isiah and he'll give you what remaining talent he has plus a 1st round draft choice for that sack of fat. The worse the team played the more optimistic Isiah's quotes were. "We can win championships with this team" was my favorite. You could be at any bar and as soon as the ESPN announcer said "New York Knicks" people would just start laughing....I could go on but I'm making my self sick talking about it.....
TeddySalad
Blue Point, NY
Total Comments (257)
I have put Cubs fan on a suicide watch.
Hank Hill
Arlen, TX
Total Comments (7392)
"No team in the state of Florida is as beloved as the Dolphins."
How about Florida, FSU and Miami? I would say they are more beloved by Floridians.
Hank Hill
Arlen, TX
Total Comments (7392)
I agree about Philadelphia, as a city. Also, here are a few more:
- San Diego (Chargers & Padres combine for zero titles)
- San Francisco Giants (1954 as NY Giants, none in SF)
- Dallas Mavericks & Texas Rangers (never won)
- Seattle Seahawks & Mariners (never won)
- (Former) Seattle Sonics (1979)
- Milwaukee Bucks (1971) and Brewers (never won)
- Cleveland Indians (1948) and Cavaliers (never won)
- Chicago Blackhawks (last title, 1961)
- Washington Bullets/Wizards (1978)
- Golden State Warriors (1975)
There might be a few more ... including some in college.
parimalrohit
Cypress , CA
Total Comments (10)
The Leafs are never refered to as the Yankees of the NHL.
That would be the Montreal Canadiens.
Kudos for including the Leafs on the list though. Hockey gets overlooked far too often by the SI writers.
YODA
Total Comments (15683)
From the college ranks I would add Tennessee football to the list.
rwatson
Sylva, NC
Total Comments (1)
I remember...I'd root for Ewing to finally win a championship every year the Lakers weren't there, and every time I'd be disappointed.
SafetyBlitz
Calabasas , CA
Total Comments (1091)
Hallelujah! Arash Markazi realizes hockey exists! Praise the Lord!
While I'd contend that the Detroit Red Wings are referred to as the Yankees of the NHL (sorry, Arash and YODA) while the Leafs are more the Evil Empire, very good decision to put them on top.
Redwing19: MARCH…
Ottawa, ON
Total Comments (3209)
Obviously nobody remembers the Super Bowl failures of the Buffalo Bills. Not to mention the Past success of the Sabres making back to back trips to the Eastern Conf finals only to fall short of the Stanley Cup Finals. The fans of Buffalo Pro sports teams have endured more heartache than should be allowed byt the sports gods. From Wide Right to No Goal to the Music City Miracle, The Bills and Sabres have collectively made a habit out of dissapointing the hometown fans. Just last year the Bills lost 2 games in the final second and the Sabres failed to make the post season one year removed from winning the Presidents Cup Trophy.
Wingdog
Buffalo , NY
Total Comments (47)
The point of the article isn't which team has it hardest, but which team with a proud winning history is now in the worst slumps. Like the Yankees in the 80s or the Montreal Canadiens between 1994-2007.
evosero
Toronto, ON
Total Comments (3)
You mean NFL championship. Super Bowl came about three years later SBI with Greenbay (of theNFL) beating Kansas City (of the AFL). But you are right Cleveland has been City of Losers. You can't say that about Philadelphia with the Phillies and the Sixers (ok it has been awhile) but not as bad as Cleveland.
Mr. Truth
Se Habla Ingles, FL
Total Comments (1339)
Let's add the pathetic, totally washed up Detroit Lions who haven't won anything since the 60s, even then always a bridesmaid to the Packers. When a player gets let go or traded, rumor is he kisses the ground when the plane lands in his next teams town
shiprock520
Apache Junction , AZ
Total Comments (262)
As a Pirates fan, I have a hard time feeling sympathy for Cubs fans. In Pittsburgh, we know we're going to be terrible year in and year out. It's only the blind faith of a baseball fan that keeps up going back to games and checking the box scores. At least Cubs fans know their team has a chance at post season play. Even if they get swept, they were there.
The J Crew
Total Comments (26)
I feel bad for the Cubs fans. This looked like their year. I was hoping the at least made it to the World Series but, alas, the Cubs are the Cubs.
"Wait 'til next year!"
Petey024
New York , NY
Total Comments (1661)
You just dont bail out on the team your a fan of, you just dont, so like I said every other year the Cubs fail, theres always next year. I cant give up on the CUbs, just cant find it in my heart to bail on them, so as always. Cubbies will be back next year and can only hope the season goes the same, til the post season of course.
Riggs (McDUDD)
Total Comments (2205)
Yep and when it comes down to it, only the World Series winner can brag, the rest of us fans just have to take it and hope next year brings hope to us losers of baseball..lol
Riggs (McDUDD)
Total Comments (2205)
Lions fan for sure have it tough, but the key is I still see fans in the stands cheering them on...so what goes around comes around, things get tough for any team, dont care what team your on, we are all human and cant win them all.
Riggs (McDUDD)
Total Comments (2205)
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