MadmanLA

Clippers' Pacific Division title banners at their practice facility. Doc and the players refuse to have them at Staples, although they could at least go up where one of the "selfies" are located.

Personally, I think it's a toss up between TD Garden and United Center...all of the banners, for the most part, are clean and simple enough. The Bucks and Marquette re-did their banners at Bradley Center a few years ago, and look better than they did before.

Really? You're really moving the Redskins out of the NFC East? Away from their storied tradition with their rivals? You're really going to get rid of the Cowboys-Redskins rivarly; which in its heydey was one of the firecest rivalries in sports? And at this current point in time, has the potential for rebirth? I don't get this. At all. I've always thought that the NFL's divisional realignment should have been more geographically-aligned (the NFC North is probably most correct, followed by the NFC South), but for the rivarly reasons, I can certainly understand. In a more perfect world, I would swap the Cowboys and Panthers, but the current placements were probably more intentionally designed due to the market size of the NFC East (all four teams' home markets represent the top 10 largest TV markets in the nation).

This thread is great, unintentional comedy. Oh...I believe that Los Vegas is a little town in the California High Desert along Interstate 15, between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

+ =

You're absolutely correct about the mediocre and bad years, when a club exists for so long, those are practically impossible to avoid. The 19-aughts and 70s were outstanding, each decade had more achievement than the histories of many clubs today. From 1901 to 1992, the Bucs were winners roughly 66% of that span, an impressive record. The club also has the most batting champs in MLB history, and more primary hall of famers than teams like the Red Sox. Overall, even with the difficult times like the 1950s and the current losing streak, this is a storied franchise with a winning tradition. In the context of other MLB teams, it's accurate to place the Bucs about in the top third in overall franchise achievement. Even despite the consective years of losing, the Pirates still have a winning record overall (9940-9803, .503 as of today). The team has shown some competitiveness in the last couple of years, and if they can keep it together down the stretch, they could finish at least .500.

1.) There's precedent in the Washington/Baltimore situation. It's been done before. 2.) New York might be the one market where even a 40% stake in TV rights would be worth more than a 100% stake in TV rights elsewhere. 3.) If it's the only way to get a third team in the New York market and MLB/Yankees/Mets want it to happen (ie, it's profitable for all parties), they'll likely find a way to make it happen. In the Washington-Baltimore situation, Peter Angelos was very adamant that any team moving into "his territory" would have to compensate him in some way, thus the situation with the MASN ownership. From my understanding, the Nationals' ownership stake in MASN increases by one percent each year up to 20 percent. Seeing that Washington is a bigger television market than Baltimore, the Nats' MASN stake as it stands is very valuable. As to point 3...you should also count in Madison Square Garden in wanting a third NYC-area team, solely because they need the summer programming for their networks, besides Red Bulls and Liberty games.

Though I understand your "Football belongs outside" angle, domes are meant to house other events, too. Building the Georgia Dome was the smartest decision the city of Atlanta ever made, and the revenue that's been generated because of the Dome has been astronomical. It has allowed Atlanta to host the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the Final Four, the SEC Football Championship, the ACC and SEC basketball tournaments, and other national and international events. It has also enhanced the quality of play and fan experience for NFL games and the Peach (now Chick-Fil-A) Bowl. And of course, the Falcons' owners now says that they need a new stadium to compete. I don't see why the hell Arthur Blank is begging for a new stadium. They just spent money fixing the place up a few years ago, and it's less than 20 years old.