DC Area Professional Sports Teams are Notably Bad

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet

ESPN the magazine released an article ranking the 122 franchises in major American sports (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL). These rankings are based on the following criteria: bang for the buck, fan relations, ownership, affordability, stadium experience, players, coaching and title track. You can read more here: http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/teamrankings.

Prior to reading this article, I had always felt that DC area teams were constantly overlooked in conversations discussing the worst professional sports teams in one area. Many Philadelphia sports fans believe that they have it bad – that their teams are cursed. Wrong. Washington DC is safe haven to putrid sports teams, and this can now be quantified. DC area teams ranked as following:

11. Washington Capitals

94. Washington Nationals

102. Baltimore Orioles

105. Washington Redskins

120. Washington Wizards

I’ve included the Orioles because many people that root for DC teams also root for the Orioles as they were the only baseball team in the area prior to the Nats’ arrival.

As this list points out, aside from the Caps, Washington DC area sports rank near the bottom of the league in every major professional sport. The Washington Wizards are regarded literally as the third worst franchise in professional sports.

What’s most appalling is the Redskins’ embarrassing placement on this list. The ‘Skins are a rich and storied franchise with a fan base that sweeps across the Carolinas, yet they are easily one of the worst franchises in all of sports. It is clear that this is testament to Dan Snyder’s failures as owner of a once proud and distinguished franchise.

The only person in the DC area that may appreciate this list would be Ted Leonsis. He is the owner of the Washington Capitals, and he recently purchased the lifeless Washington Wizards. It will speak volumes of Leonsis, if the Wizards become a respectable franchise in the near future.

Finally, the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals may deserve a flier on their rankings. The Orioles have been mediocre or worse for over a decade now, which is unacceptable, but at the same time, they play in the AL East with the Yankees and Red Sox in a league that is uncapped. The Orioles do not work within an even playing field – but at the same time, the Tampa Bay Rays have clawed their way to respectability. The Nationals, on the other hand, do not face as much of an uphill battle, but they are still a new franchise. With Stephen Strasburg emerging in the league, the Nats’ future looks much brighter.

In any regard, this list is invaluable as it quantifies just how miserable the DC sports teams are, and it should be a surprise for many people to see.