Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous' started by pettyfog, Jun 27, 2006.

  1. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    and it looks like the jury has returned a verdict:

    Formerly was the KC Royals

    Now, is the New York Knicks.

    Say isnt that the same Isiah Thomas that Larry Byrd dumped out of Indy?

    What a winner!
     
    #1
    pettyfog, Jun 27, 2006
  2. ChicagoTom

    ChicagoTom Administrator

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    Chicago
    I agree with this one Petty. The New York Knicks are a complete joke. And the sad thing about it is that the owner, James Dolan, the new coach and former GM Isiah Thomas and the former coach, Larry Brown, are all to blame for this nightmare.

    Whether it be the owner allowing Isiah to spend his money wildly on ego-maniacs like Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry and Steve Francis, or for Isiah thinking the above mentioned names were good moves and finally for the "genius" Larry Brown stinking up the joint with his brutal coaching job this past season, the Knicks are a joke!

    As a Bulls fan, I have gladly enjoyed this demise. In fact tomorrow night the #2 pick the Bulls have is thanks to the Knicks and if the Knicks are pitiful again next season, the Bulls have the option to flip-flop picks again.

    Down, down, down, Knicks are going down!
     
    #2
    ChicagoTom, Jun 27, 2006
  3. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    I was explaining to a friend the other day, that the only reason US sports teams get away with year-after-year substandard performance in a system with a pro draft, is that there is no promotion/relegation in American sports. Think the Knicks would happily rake in all the money and suck as bad as they did if they had to play the following year in the USBL?
     
    #3
    HatterDon, Jun 27, 2006
  4. dcheather

    dcheather Administrator

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    Jul 29, 2005
    Yeah, I'm with you HatterDon. I don't get how fans tolerate this monopolistic and socialistic sporting system in the US. It's downright un-american. Where's the competitive drive?

    I explained the Premiership, Championship, League One, etc. to a co-worker one time and they were very intrigued by the system. The thought of having a team like the Toledo Mud Hens gaining promotion to the majors and the relegation of the freeloading KC Royals is very exciting. Wish I could see this happen.
     
    #4
    dcheather, Jun 27, 2006
  5. americanmike

    americanmike Administrator

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    Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    Petty, did you have to bring up the Knicks? I mean, really, the season is done and we have a 'coach' again.
     
    #5
    americanmike, Jun 27, 2006
  6. americanmike

    americanmike Administrator

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    Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    After reading your post and doing a bit of searching, I thought you and the rest might find this old article interesting. Fulham even gets a mention:

    http://img.slate.com/id/2103170/workarea/3/
     
    #6
    americanmike, Jun 27, 2006
  7. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    RE: Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    By the way, I got the book most of this article paraphrased, and it's a very good read. Naturally, it's cover price was cut about three times at B&N.

    How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization, By Frederick Foer.
     
    #7
    HatterDon, Jun 27, 2006
  8. ChicagoTom

    ChicagoTom Administrator

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    RE: Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    I might ask you to borrow that sometime Hatter. Sounds like a really interesting read.
     
    #8
    ChicagoTom, Jun 27, 2006
  9. RDG

    RDG Member

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    Jan 13, 2005
    I highly recommend this book. I've already given away my copy, and may purchase another one for a second readthrough.
     
    #9
    RDG, Jun 27, 2006
  10. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    Uh... sorry. But The knicks season was done around last Dec 15th.. and the point is that you DONT have a coach, again. Or is it you have an UN-coach..
    Check his record at the Pacers.

    Oh well, I dont really care one way or the other. ..I just find the brouhaha amusing, in a sport biz observer sort of way.
    * * *
    And, btw, there is NO way relegation is gonna come to a team franchise near you.. there are downsides to it as well.

    The BEST incentive is at the ticket window... and the biggest enemy of excellence in pro sport is the "____ till I die" sport fan, the fan who will show up, no matter.

    Just sayin'
     
    #10
    pettyfog, Jun 27, 2006
  11. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    That may work with baseball, but not with the NFL or NBA. Ticket prices have long since outpaced the real fan. There's so much revenue in business investment/client entertainment, that most NFL/NBA teams have all their good seats sold before the season starts.

    Quality on the field and reasonable ticket prices will only be possible when we taxpayers stop subsidising that through the ridiculous tax breaks that mega-buck businesses get for crap like this.

    Or would that be considered a tax increase and therefore sinful?
     
    #11
    HatterDon, Jun 28, 2006
  12. dcheather

    dcheather Administrator

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    RE: Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    HatterDon, I'm with you. The professional sport leagues in this country is getting away with so much crap, and we the fans tolerate it because we have no where else to go.

    Pettyfog, I underestand the sentiment, but you know what happens when fans don't show up to protest their displeasure. The team just gets relocated to another venue, usually attracted by tax dollars. The sports owners continually get a life raft and bailed out while the fans get tossed aside. I'm tired of that nonsense. I know the relefation system will probably never happen, but at least it force teams to have some ambition or suffer the consequences. And no public financing, I can't believe tax payers put with this in this country.
     
    #12
    dcheather, Jun 28, 2006
  13. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    RE: Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    I think you guys are overly focussing on the downside of the US system. And none of you can REALLY say that sports would be better off with the European template.

    The few non-performers that pop up from time to time are the exception, rather than the rule. And going to automatic relegation in leagues that are designed for parity simply wouldnt work... think of the effect of a string of injuries to top performers that can take a team from Champ contenders to near miss chalk-ups in the season.
    And that can happen to a team whose owner invested millions in marquee players and coaches and is filling the stands every game.

    In fact you are hearing rumors of the FA calling NFL in for consultation, not the other way around.
    If we used the FA paradigm, it would be the Yankees playing the Mets or Dodgers almost every world series

    Or, closer to home, just think NASL.
     
    #13
    pettyfog, Jun 28, 2006
  14. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    RE: Re: RE: Most Dysfunctional Pro Franchise

    Ah, the NASL.

    I remember going to the Rock Pile to watch the San Antonio Thunder with "Captain Bobby Moore." I remember seeing Pele play, and shouting out to all the ex Hatters in the league. I remember a Saturday night game beginning with the owner, Ward Lay, grabbing a microphone and saying that the rumors that the team was moving to San Diego were false. About 4500 of us cheered. Three days later the team moved to Honolulu.

    Ah, the NASL.
     
    #14
    HatterDon, Jun 28, 2006

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