Marquee Pro Sports Franchises in Large States

[Swaggs]

I thought this might be a fun thing to do.

The idea will be to establish who the marquee (ie: the pro team most representative of its state through success and popularity). I have (hopefully) listed the states with 5 or more pro teams in the four major sports.

California
NBA: LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Golden State (SF) Warriors, Sacramento Kings
NHL: San Jose Sharks, LA Kings, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
MLB: LA Dodgers, SD Padres, SF Giants, Oakland A's, Anaheim Angels
NFL: Oakland Raiders, SF 49ers, SD Chargers


Florida
NBA: Miami Heat, Orlando Magic
NHL: TB Lightning, Florida Panthers
MLB: Florida Marlins, TB Devil Rays
NFL: Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, TB Buccaneers


New York
NBA: New York Knicks
NHL: NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Buffalo Sabres
MLB: NY Yankees, NY Mets
NFL: NY Giants, NY Jets, Buffalo Bills


Pennsylvania
NBA: Philadelphia 76ers
NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers
MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies
NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles


Ohio
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers
NHL: Columbus Bluejackets
MLB: Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds
NFL: Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals


Texas
NBA: SA Spurs, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks
NHL: Dallas Stars
MLB: Houston Astros, Texas Rangers
NFL: Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans


Missouri
NBA:
NHL: St. Louis Blues
MLB: Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals
NFL: Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams


Illinois
NBA: Chicago Bulls
NHL: Chicago Blackhawks
MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox
NFL: Chicago Bears


If I missed any--let me know.

[Swaggs]

California -- This is a tough one. I think the Lakers, Dodgers, Giants, Raiders, and 49ers could all be considered. I'll go with the Lakers, because the others have not excelled in their own sports beyond some of the other in-state franchises.

Florida -- I'll give this one, fairly easily, to the Miami Dolphins. Most of the other other franchises in Florida have had some success, but the Dolphins have won championships and own the best single-season record in their sport.

New York -- The Yankees. Easy.

Pennsylvania -- This is a tough one. I think the Phillies and Pirates both have great histories, but neither stands out beyond the other. I'll take the Steelers over the Eagles in this one, based on their success in the 70s.

Ohio -- Another tough one. I think this one comes down to the Cleveland Browns vs the Cincinnati Reds. A lot of folks in Ohio are rabid Browns' fans, but I'll choose the Reds based on the fact that they are the oldest existing franchise and have won several titles.

Texas -- I think this one goes pretty easily to the Cowboys. Widely recognized and very successful.

Missouri -- I'll take the Cardinals and their long, rich history over the competitors.

Illinois -- The Bulls, Blackhawks, and Bears have both had a lot of success in their histories, but I will take the Cubs here. When I think of the fans of Chicago, I really think of them as being very loyal to the Cubs and Bears, but especially the Cubs.

[Huckleberry]

I am eliminating any team that did not originate in the state because I feel like it. :D

California -- My above criterion eliminates the Lakers, Giants, and Dodgers. That pretty much leaves the 49ers.

Florida -- Dolphins, especially considering the Marlins may not be long for Florida.

New York -- The Yankees.

Pennsylvania -- The Steelers.

Ohio -- I agree. Tough choice. I, too, go with the Reds.

Texas -- Cowboys.

Missouri -- Cardinals. Easy.

Illinois -- Cubs.

[SackAttack]

I thought this might be a fun thing to do.

The idea will be to establish who the marquee (ie: the pro team most representative of its state through success and popularity). I have (hopefully) listed the states with 5 or more pro teams in the four major sports.

California
NBA: LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Golden State (SF) Warriors, Sacramento Kings
NHL: San Jose Sharks, LA Kings, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
MLB: LA Dodgers, SD Padres, SF Giants, Oakland A's, Anaheim Angels
NFL: Oakland Raiders, SF 49ers, SD Chargers


I think as far as the NBA goes, it has to be the Lakers. Hockey, well, none of these three teams have really lit things up, although the Kings and Ducks each have a Stanley Cup appearance, don't they? MLB, I go with the Dodgers partly because I'm biased, partly because they're the only team in the bunch to routinely draw 3 million fans a year, and partly because they've got 5 champiionships. NFL, eh, I think the 49ers have gotta be the pre-eminent franchise there.

I wouldn't call either of the hockey teams pre-eminent above the 9ers, Dodgers, or Lakers, so it's really down to those three overall. You can make a case that the Laker fans are bandwagon-jumpers, but it's hard to argue with the success that franchise has had. The 49ers, on the other hand, have more Super Bowl rings than any other NFL team, if memory serves. The Lakers are second to the Celtics, and while the Dodgers as a franchise (both in LA and Brooklyn) are 2nd to the Yankees in total pennants won, they're closer to 5th or 6th all time in World Series championships.

Just from a historical perspective, I'd have to go with the 49ers (even though my heart says Dodgers all the way).

[Raven]

California - Id say the Lakers. Probably because of recent success, otherwise it might be closer between them and the 49ers.

Florida - easily the Dolphins. probably because the other teams don't have much history of success.

NY - Yankees. hands down.

PA - Tough call between the Phillies and the Steelers. I can't really pick one there. I consider the Phillies more popular (historically) than the Pirates. Steelers more so than the Eagles.

Ohio - tough one. no recent success for any of these teams since the Indians were making the playoffs in the mid-late ninetiies. I guess I'd give this one to the Big Red Machine.

Tex - Cowboys. Emmit, Aikman, Deion, Irvin and a few rings. over The Admiral, Nolan Ryan, Hakeem, and Tim Duncan.

Missouri - Tough call here. I don't know that I consider any of them popular. Even though the Cardinals are winning now, I am a AL fan, so don't follow them too closely. Royals suck, The Rams recent run vs Priest Holmes recent success kind of even each other out in my mind. Toss up here.

Illinois - Bulls/Cubs/Bears in a three way tie. All three with a rich history, and considered widely poplular at some point or another.

[Kevin]

If you include the Giants ans Jets as New York, why not the Devils and Nets? Don't all four play in New Jersey?