We Can't Be on Top of the Sports World Forever - 2/25/15

Every sports fan wants the same thing...to have the love given to his/her team given right back in the form of championships, star players, long-term success/viability, merchandise, and affordable ticket prices. In a world where not all is created equally, there are plenty of sports teams that hit some of the markers but only a select few that hit them all. Being a sports fan is a cyclical exercise. There will be times when your teams are at the top of the mountain; and there will be other times when your teams are at the bottom of the barrel. In an era where four of the five (I'll give you some recognition, MLS.) major North American professional sports leagues have 30 or 32 teams along with plenty of financial realities and constraints, sustained dominance is harder than ever. We view dominance and success through a much different lens than fans did years ago. For example, from 1921-1930 the New York Yankees were in the World Series five times (winning three). That means the Yankees were in the World Series (on average) every other year. Or from 1932-1965, the Yanks appeared in the World Series a stunning 20 times. That means for more than half of the World Series played in that 33-year stretch, the Yankees were on one side of the field. This phenomenal feat may have frustrated many, but when there were only eight or ten other teams in the American League, fans of those other teams still had something to hope for.

Besides, that type of run is simply not possible now. Salary caps, expansion, diluted talent pools, TV deals, free agency, and various other realities have taken that dominance away from professional athletics. The buzzword these days is "competitive balance." From an ownership point of view, this makes perfect sense. Sports is still a business, a multibillion dollar one at that. In order for all franchises to be financially viable and appealing to a fan base, there has to be at least the illusion of winning or contending. If there was a team like the Yankees in any sport in this day and age, there would be many frustrated individuals. Most sports fans enjoy dominance over short time periods (i.e. the 2011-2014 Miami Heat, the 1991-1998 Chicago Bulls, or the 1999-2004 Los Angeles Lakers) but most tire of this dominance after a while and want to see fresh blood at the top of the ladder, not the teams that they feel are being forced on them all season due to national television appearances and broadcast contracts (This is similar to the John Cena argument in WWE, a frustration I will voice some other time.). By the way, isn't it crazy to think that since 1991, only EIGHT NBA teams have been crowned champions: Bulls, Rockets, Spurs, Lakers, Celtics, Mavericks, Pistons, Heat?? Anyway, if you ask most fans, they would naturally respond that they want to see their teams at the top of the ladder every year. Basically, dominance is perfectly acceptable as long as it's your team.

On the other hand, dominance does have an intriguing quality about it. It is very impressive to see how an organization can manage so many variables and still be wildly successful over a lengthy period of time. There's also the standard angle of loathing the dominating team and pulling for every underdog that presents itself. It's always nice to have that built-in bad guy as the payoff at the end is rewarding for many fans of the underdog teams. Whether you like them or not, the New England Patriots always seem to pique fan interest in the NFL. What the Pats have done since 2001 is nothing short of incredible. They have appeared in six of the last 14 Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLII, XLVI, XLIX), won four Vince Lombardi trophies (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX), appeared in nine AFC Championship games, have not had a losing season since 2000-2001, and have only missed the playoffs twice in the "Brady/Belichick Era." When you consider the current NFL landscape, this is a run of absolutely historic proportion. It seems like the Patriots have ruled the NFL for a generation. And how about the Atlanta Braves? From 1991-2005, "Hot-Lanta" took home 14 consecutive National League East Division championships, five NL pennants, and a World Series title in 1995. The Phillies and Red Sox have had mini-runs in the 2000s but nothing like the Braves.

But when you step back for a moment, you realize life wasn't always so good in Foxboro and Atlanta. From 1971-1995, the Pats made just six playoff appearances and posted a winning record only nine times. The Braves have made just three playoff appearances in the nine seasons since their run. Bottom line, even the most dominant teams have down periods. Nobody likes to remember the Yankees of the 1980s and early-1990s. It's hard to believe that it was actually the Mets that ruled the New York baseball scene then. Or that both the Celtics and the Lakers have found themselves in the NBA Draft Lottery their fair share over the last 25 years.

And all of this brings me to my own personal sporting cycle. I love sports but I must admit where my true die-hard fan passions lie. I am a huge football fan and will watch as much of it as I possibly can. But I am not a die-hard fan of any particular NFL team as my allegiances have shifted a bit over the years. I could say the same thing about baseball. In both cases, I was brought up on the local teams and still root for them to do well...after some brief childhood runs with the Marlins (MLB) and the Patriots (NFL). Yes, I openly admit that I was a Pats fan for a bit as a child. I was a big Drew Bledsoe/Bill Parcells fan growing up. And even crazier, I will admit that I was a Marlins fan for a bit as well. I was heartbroken when they sold everyone off after winning (buying) the 1997 World Series. I have never had a die-hard NBA passion as my heart always belonged to college basketball. While I am becoming a Tottenham Hotspur die-hard, I did not grow up watching the Premier League so this is still relatively fresh. Although, I will tell you that I am already experiencing the heartbreak and frustration that comes with being a Spurs supporter. My die-hard passions have always been in three places: New Jersey Devils hockey, Syracuse football & basketball, and Florida State football. Those are the three (or four) teams that I have never wavered in supporting. From the very first moments I can recall watching and playing sports, these have always been my teams of choice in their respective sports. The fact that I am a Devils season-ticket holder and a 'Cuse alumnus only speaks further to that fact.

Looking at most of my sporting fandom life, I have been quite fortunate. From the 1989-1990 season thru the 2011-2012 season, the Devils only missed the playoffs twice while appearing in the Stanley Cup Final five times and winning Lord Stanley's Cup on three occasions (1995, 2000, 2003). Florida State was quite dominant as well. From 1991 to 2000, the 'Noles won double digit games and were ranked in the AP Top 5 every year, winning the national championship twice and appearing in two more national title games on top of that. Syracuse hoops also had great success. From 1993-2006, the 'Cuse won at least 20 games every season except one, only missed the NCAA Tournament twice, reached two Final Fours, and won the national championship in 2003. From 1991 to 2001, Syracuse football won eight or more games seven times, played in eight bowl games, and won three Big East Championships. When you look at all of this on a whole, my sports fandom life has been one full of tremendous success and plenty of victories. There were several collaborative high points as well. In 2000, Florida State was crowned the BCS National Champion to start the year, defeating Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Syracuse would appear in the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual national champion Michigan State. The Devils would defeat the Dallas Stars in six games to win the franchise's second Stanley Cup, after rallying from a 3-1 series deficit against the hated Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals. 2003 would prove to be a pretty solid year as well. The Devils would capture their third Stanley Cup. Syracuse, behind freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony, won the national championship, did not lose a home game all season, and trotted out the same starting five (McNamara, Duany, Warrick, Anthony, Forth) for all 35 games that season. Florida State would win the ACC title and earn a berth in the Orange Bowl. Syracuse football, although finishing at 6-6 and without a bowl berth, had a bright spot, pasting Notre Dame on national television at the Carrier Dome, 38-12. I, like any other fan, was on top of the world and feeling great.

Then reality...and the cycle...set in.

Syracuse football has been on a tremendous downswing. Since 2004, the 'Cuse has had just three winning seasons (two 8-5 finishes and one 7-6 finish), played in four bowl games, and won zero conference titles. The Devils have won just five playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2003. "Jersey's Team" suffered first-round exits in 2004, 2008, 2009, and 2010 while missing the playoffs entirely in 2011, 2013, & 2014. As of right now, the Devils are eight points out of the second wild-card spot with 22 games left to play. Syracuse hoops has been up and down. From 2004-2008, the Orange exited the NCAAs in the first round twice and failed to qualify for the "Big Dance" twice. 'Cuse basketball has recovered a bit, reaching the Elite Eight in 2012 and the Final Four in 2013. But now the program is operating under looming NCAA sanctions and a self-imposed one-year postseason ban. Florida State took a dip in Bobby Bowden's final few seasons, turning out a handful of 7-6 finishes. The 'Noles are back on the upswing, though, winning the national championship in 2013 and reaching the College Football Playoff this past season.

My reaction to this current state of affairs is much different than it would be if I were in my childhood days. Losing one solitary game was the end of the world at that point in my life. I'm still immensely frustrated if my teams lose a game nowadays, but I also understand that the season is a long and sometimes grueling stretch and that one loss doesn't necessarily spell the end of championship aspirations...except in college football where one loss can sink your dreams (unless you're Ohio State this season). As you watch more sports and experience more in life, you begin to realize that it's just not plausible for your teams to stay at the top forever. They can't win the championship every year. They might not even be able to make the playoffs every year. It's also harder to stand behind one squad when you have national viewing options. Growing up, it was all local teams on television. Now, with the internet and streaming television, you can be a fan of anyone because you have access to all of their games. For example, I find that I have a growing affinity for the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders (something I have covered in a previous blog post) and I enjoy watching all the NHL and college football I can. Also, children tend to be wishy-washy, changing opinions at a moment's notice. The trick is that you have to stand behind your team through all the ups and downs. Sports fandom speaks to a deeper connection. As I mentioned before, my MLB and NFL allegiances have shifted often but my ties to the 'Cuse, the 'Noles, and the Devils have never wavered. And I'm also now building unwavering ties to Tottenham Hotspur. I possess a much deeper connection to those teams. I went to my first Devils game back in February of 1992 (the 28th to be exact - a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders), at 8 years old and I was hooked instantly. They are "Jersey's Team" and I take great pride in that. Syracuse is the only school I ever wanted to go to after watching Marvin Graves (football) and Lawrence Moten (basketball) as a child and I am now a proud alumnus. Florida State was the first football team I truly watched with my father and that bond has stuck as well. Spurs were the first BPL team I was exposed to and I am all-in.

Regardless of where your allegiances may be, you must understand that you can't be number one forever. At some point, your teams will experience down cycles. It's your job to simply stand behind them in continuing support.

And yes, you are allowed to "boo."

-Meech