# What is the WORST sports franchise of ALL TIME? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2000, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988 "2000-08-03T14:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![theuglytruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@theuglytruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theuglytruth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/1 "2000-08-03T14:55:33Z")
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=33211](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=33211) The above thread from the General Questions board got me thinking . . .what is the most pathetic, loser sports franchise of ALL time? I’m not talking about a team that has a really bad season. I’m talking about a franchise that year after year, sucks. And sorry, a stray fluke playoff appeaance once every 30 years does not get them off the hook! A broken clock is correct twice a day. Here’s a sampling of the truly cursed: BASEBALL: St. Louis Browns Chicago Cubs FOOTBALL: St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals New Orleans Saints BASKETBALL: San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers New Jersey Nets Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks HOCKEY: Hartford Whalers California Seals/Cleveland Barons Any more? ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/2 "2000-08-03T15:10:00Z")
Hockey: Tampa Bay Lightning …besides the consistent mediocrity (I can’t recall if they’ve ever made it to the playoffs, but sheeesh, every NHL team makes the playoffs eventually), they just flat out have the worst logo in all of professional sports (not including those which might be construed as racially-offensive)…looks like it was designed by a high school kid doodling in geometry class. Yuck. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/3 "2000-08-03T15:18:15Z")
Football - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Seattle Seahawks Detroit Lions These 3 teams rise to mediocrity and people think ‘wow, the \_\_\_\_\_ are hot this year.’ No, the just don’t suck as bad. A 9-7 record is barely above 50-50, it is not a great year for a team. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/4 "2000-08-03T15:27:20Z")
Australian football: St Kilda (the mighty saints) 104 seasons. 1 premiership. 26 wooden spoons. sigh. picmr ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/5 "2000-08-03T16:04:05Z")
Add these futile teams: Baseball: Kansas City A’s, Washington Senators (both editions), Cleveland Indians (1955-1993) Football: Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Oilers (RIP) Basketball: Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City-Omaha Kings/Sacramento Kings. This franchise hasn’t won anything since it played in Rochester NY in the mid 50’s. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/6 "2000-08-03T16:21:40Z")
CFL - The Stupid Bombers, I hate our team they suck so incredibly much, I can not describe. It’s like they get inspired for a few mins, start winning, then forget how to play. YUCK! ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/7 "2000-08-03T16:26:28Z")
Sports Illustrated recently named the LA Clippers the worst professional sports franchise ever, in any sport. And it was a front-page article… ---
**Author:** ![Zion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b5e925/32.png) [@Zion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zion)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/8 "2000-08-03T17:29:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Baseball: Kansas City A’s You mean the team that used to be located in Philadelphia, and is now in Oakland? The same team that has won 14 league pennants, and 9 World Series? > [@](#): > > Detroit Lions You mean the team that ruled the mid-50’s, winning 4 NFL titles? Just because the team is bad now, doesn’t mean it always was. That’s like saying the Celtics are the worst because they have sucked throughout the 90’s. Any team chosen in this list should be one that has never won any championships. I’d add hockey’s Vancouver Canucks, but they actually have had some decent teams, coming close to titles. Baseball’s Texas Rangers could be considered also. ---
**Author:** ![JosephFinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JosephFinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JosephFinn)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/9 "2000-08-03T17:32:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by picmr \* > \*\*Australian football: St Kilda (the mighty saints) > > 104 seasons. 1 premiership. 26 wooden spoons. > > sigh. > > picmr \*\* What’s a wooden spoon - the award for the worst record? ---
**Author:** ![Endora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Endora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Endora)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/10 "2000-08-03T17:36:51Z")
The Clippers. Ack. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/11 "2000-08-03T17:38:35Z")
The Clippers. Ohhhhh, the Clippers. ---
**Author:** ![Grendel69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7bcc69/32.png) [@Grendel69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grendel69)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/12 "2000-08-03T17:49:49Z")
Clippers or Lightning… The Clippers owner runs the team likes its a damn real estate business and the Lightning owners are really shady. They are purportedly mob members. ---
**Author:** ![Holy\_Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@Holy\_Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Holy_Avenger)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/13 "2000-08-03T17:52:44Z")
\>New Orleans Saints C’mon now. Jim Finks had that team poised for greatness. Since Jim Mora is wholly unable to win a playoff game in a league that does not feature a team from Birmingham the Saints beared the brunt of his conservative post-season play calling. He proved it was his shortcomings once again by snatching defeat from the Titans last year. And I propose that the Saints would have continued their run had Jim Finks not freaking _died_. Finks was able to produce solid teams wherever he went, and was only stopped by the long, spidery hand of the grim reaper. Who gets four linebackers into the Pro Bowl at the same time? Finks was a small god. Bless his heart. The Ravens haven’t even MADE the playoffs. While I have come to grips with the fact that five solid seasons in 31 does not bode well for the Saints, they still have scoreboard over Baltimore. I would also state that the Bengals will not win more than five games in a season for as long as Mike Brown is involved with the franchise. I know they went to two Super Bowls before he was involved years ago, but if he’s going to alienate guys like Ambrose, Pickens and Dillon (and let the former two leave without compensation) and require all future picks to sign a clause stating that they can’t criticize the organization then I suspect that they simply won’t be able to lock up and/or keep any playmakers on the roster. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/14 "2000-08-03T17:56:38Z")
> [@](#): > > (JosephFinn) > What’s a wooden spoon - the award for the worst record? Never occurred to me that this might be a local term. Bottom of the ladder. Cellar dwellers. The wooden spoon is the booby prize. picmr ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/15 "2000-08-03T18:08:31Z")
The St. Louis Browns had their heyday. The Sacramento Kings have made the postseason the past two years. How about the Winnipeg Jets? Or the Texas Rangers/Minnesota Twins/Washington Senators? For basketball, how about the Washington Wizzers? And for football, how about the Seattle Seahawks? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/16 "2000-08-03T18:18:25Z")
To hear my beloved Washington Senators berated like this is so painful. I mean, how many other teams have had a Broadway play written about them? ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/17 "2000-08-03T18:53:09Z")
I exclude recent expansion teams. **Baseball** - Cubs & Red Sox. - Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. **Hockey** - Remember the “California Golden Seals”? - How about the Cleveland Barons and the K.C. Scouts? The NHL’s Colorado Rockies were pretty brutal as well. **Football** Bengals - Poor Cincy fans. I am thinking of driving to Ohio to apply for a wide receiver’s job this year. I think I’ve got a shot at it! **Basketball** Clippers. Only choice here. Unless you count the Washington Generals, the team the Harlem Globetrotters beat every night. **World Soccer** Team Canada. (Although recently improved, but play it on ice and we’ll kick ass) **Golf** Has Phil Mickelson (sp?) won a major yet? **Motorsports** - The guy who drives the pace car. I dunno - I never watch it. ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/18 "2000-08-03T19:03:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*For basketball, how about the Washington Wizzers? > \*\* Wizzers? I’d hate to have courtside tix to see them! ---
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/19 "2000-08-03T19:25:16Z")
Another vote for the Clippers. I’m a Clipper fan, and they don’t call them Donald Sterling’s tax shelter for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![theuglytruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@theuglytruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theuglytruth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988/20 "2000-08-03T19:34:56Z")
As for some of the franchises mentioned: Tampa Bay Lightning. Yeah they are an expansion team, but boy, they did more to stink up the rink than the Rangers did from 1944-1954. They made the playoffs once I think, and that’s it. Good choice. ADD. Vancouver Canucks. No. Two Cup finals. Winnepeg Blue Bombers. Maybe they suck now (I’m not up to date on my CFL) but I know they won some Grey Cups. No. Rochester/Cincinatti Royals/Kansas City-Omaha/Kansas City/Sacremento Kings. Debatable. They made the playoffs the last two years, and weren’t the Cininati Rotals a good team with Oscar Robertson? Houston Oilers. No. Virutal playoff contender. They became the Super Bowl Tennessee Titans. Cininatti Bengals. No. 2 Super Bowls. Chokers, yes. Cursed no. Tampa Bay Bucs. N0. They were taken off the list in the 1997 season. Seattle Seahawks. Good choice. They need to make the playoffs one or two more years and I will take them off the list. They certainly have sucked. ADD. Detroit Lions. No. You are forgetting about the great Lions teams of the 50s. St. Kilda. Sounds pretty bad. But they did win a title. If they go on, so do the Philadelphia Phillies, who were a hell of a team in the 50s, 70s and 80s. 26 carpets IS pretty bad. Need more info. Kansas City A’s. No. I’m counting the Philadelphia A’s 4 Championships and the great Oakland team of the 70s. They might have sucked ass in KC, but not in other cities. Washington Senators. Interesting choice. Didn’t they win the series in 1922? But I do remember they were so bad they wrote “Damn Yankees”. Hmmmm. Need more facts. This team later became the Minnesota Twins who won 2 World Series though. There was a second Senators team that lasted like 2 years, and became the Texas Rangers, who have contended, but not do squat. I say NO. Cleveland Indians. World Series in the 50s and 90s. No. St. Louis Browns “heyday”. One World Series in 1944 during the WW2 years. They stay on the list, unless you want to link them to the Baltimore Orioles franchise. OK . . .I’ll take them off, begrudgingly. Washington Wizards. No. Used to be the Bullets who won 2 NBA titles. Winnepeg Jets. No. Had a great WHA team in the mid 70s. They really sucked in the 80s but became the Phoenix Coyotes, who are OK. Boston Red Sox. No. World Series appearence in 1976 and 86. Cursed, but not eternally pathetic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-sports-franchise-of-all-time/27988.md?page=2)