Marquee Pro Sports Franchises in Large States
 

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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