Every Team Needs A Little Loving
| 6
|
by Gmaddux04
Media-wise, that is.
Since a good proportion of my television viewing is ESPN, I swear if I didn't pay attention to sports I would have a hard time believing some teams still played, or even existed for that matter. It just seems that ESPN and other outlets just don't care about certain clubs, and we never really hear about them unless your are inside the geographical region of that team's coverage. The issues usually stem from the squad being wretchedly awful, lack of star power, or just having overall bad media and public relations issues (read: Oakland A's).
Here's a list of teams that a good amount of us probably know nothing about (and with the exception of the first, I'll admit, I'm still a little in the dark):
Jacksonville Jaguars -
Coach: Jack Del Rio Stars: Byron Leftwich, Fred Taylor Rivals: Colts, Titans
I live an hour and a half from the heart of Jacksonville and still I can't keep up with the team because no one writes about them and ESPN seems to just peg them in as the "That team that's not so bad in the Colt's division" team. Besides Jacksonville being the largest city landwise in America, the team actually has some good things going for it.
Here are some quick facts about the team:
- In 1996, their second year of existence, they advanced all the way to the AFC Championship until losing to the Patriots 20-6. - In 1999, the Jaguars posted a league best 14-2 record and steamrolled the Dolphins 62-7 in their divisional round game (Dan Marino's last pro game). Auspiciously enough, both of their regular season losses came at the hands of the Tennessee Titans, the same Titans who ousted the Jags in the Conference Championship game that year. - In 2003, punter Chris Hanson had to be put down for the season for hacking into his leg with an ax in a freak accident. Coach Jack Del Rio had put a large piece of wood in the lockerroom specifically for players to chop at, representing to them to keep chopping away at the season. - In 2005 the Jaguars defeated both the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers. A few months later Seattle and Pittsburgh would play in the Superbowl.
Their defensive line is one of the most feared in the conference, with John Henderson and Marcus Stroud dominating the middle. They had one of the more explosive rookies come out this year in Maurice Jones-Drew, who still to this day lives in the shadow of Reggie Bush (Jones-Drew actually had a better punt return average in college than Bush).
However, if you are like me, you like your football on the offensive side, something the Jags lack desperately. I understand that watching Byron Leftwich play quarterback is like watching a manatee try and catch a walrus, but help is on the way.
Lately, the Jaguars have been getting a little publicity as the front-runner to land homeless quarterback Daunte Culpepper. So maybe things are moving in the right direction.
Too see them for yourselves, look no further to Monday Night Football in October, when the World Champion Colts come to play the Jags at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
Chicago Blackhawks -
Coach: Denis Savard Stars: Martin Havlat, Nikolai Khabibulin Rivals: Detroit Red Wings
Yeah, I know, Chicago is the one of the Original Six, but I have never seen this team do any good. It doesn't really do you any good to be a very old franchise if you haven't been a winner for a long time. I can see why this team is on my list: they have absolutely no star power and have been playing awful hockey for the past couple of seasons. I mean, the only reason Khabibulin is listed is because he won the Cup with the Lightning. And Havlat? While a good stat producer, his "star" really hasn't developed since leaving Ottawa. Hell, I can't remember a decent headline-getter since Eric Daze played for them.
Quick facts: - Have won three Stanley Cups, the last of which occured in the 1960-61 season. - Made it to the 1992 Stanley Cup final against Pittsburgh, but got swept. This match-up was featured in the film Sudden Death. - I'm fairly certain Garth from Wayne's World was a Blackhawks fan. - Last playoff appearance was a first round exit to the Blues in 2001-02.
That last fact, combined with the no-stars thing is probably why this team is off the map. In hockey, the playoff turnaround is so easy because more than half of the teams get in. Also, once you qualify for the playoffs, all bets are off in the NHL and anyone can win it.
The NHL, out of the four major sports is probably the most competitive across the board, but lately the Blackhawks have not been stepping up and making noise.
Colorado Rockies -
Coach: Clint Hurdle Stars: Todd Helton, Matt Holliday Rivals: Arizona Diamondbacks
I can't think of any other team that never gets talked about in MLB. Coors Field however is a separate entity in it's own because of the high elevation, with the team that plays there being second fiddle.
How could this happen to a team that features one of the best pure hitters in a decade in Helton and one of the best in the past couple of years in Holliday?
Because they don't win, they are in the Midwest and they are a relatively young franchise.
Quick facts: - One playoff appearance since their inception in 1993, a first round ousting in 1995 by the Braves. - Career .466 winning percentage as a franchise - Once managed by current Tigers skipper, Jim Leyland.
I also see a little Yankees-Red Sox syndrome that helps to drown out anything Colorado has going for it. You see, the west coast war between the Giants and Dodgers kind of silences the other NL West teams, much like the D-Rays, Orioles and Blue Jays just kind of get in the way of the Yanks-Sox war. However, the Diamondbacks have won a World Series recently and the Padres have won a pennant.
Which kind of leaves the Rockies in the dust. To top off my theory, Colorado is never really discussed when it comes to significantly bad teams or small market clankers. These are usually reserved for teams like the Devil Rays, Royals, Pirates, Twins, and Athletics.
Atlanta Hawks -
Coach: Mike Woodson tars: Josh Smith, Josh Childress Rivals: Wizards, Bobcats
I'm afaid this one is by default this time. I wanted to say either the Supersonics or Trail Blazers, but both of them have actually been hurdled into the limelight by this year's draft. The Raptors? They won the Atlantic division title this season.
Oh, and since Golden State became everyone's cinderella this past season, they were out of the question. I really just wanted to put an NBA team in here, and they fit the bill. Look for yourself:
- Formed in 1946, the franchise has won one league title in 1958. - Haven't qualified for the playoffs since the shortened 1998-99 season where they posted a 31-19 record. - Several Hall of Famers played for the Hawks at one time, including Dominique Wilkins, Pete Maravich, and Moses Malone. - In 2004-05, the team went 13-69, which is actually below the Mendoza Line.
The Hawks have become somewhat of a joke and seen by some as an exhibition on the schedule, but as T.I. would ask, "Whatchu know about that?"
Help is seemingly on the way. Atlanta is arguably the youngest team in the league with the two previously stated Josh's running the show, along with Marvin and Shelden Williams and their draft picks from this year, Al Horford and Acie Law.
Then again, I wouldn't know Jack about this team because right now they are just schedule fodder.
