Michael Silver
does the knowledge. I don't know, I think Detroit--on the strength of the perpetual reign of Matt Millen--really should be first among the least. Also Al Davis, who is a parody of himself, belongs among the great contenders. Remember "Just win baby?" I'm old enough to recall announcers bragging that the Raiders were the only team to win a Super Bowl in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Times change though. And Davis ain't changed with them.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
Um, the Raiders never won the Super Bowl in the 60's - just in '76, '80 and '83. They did get an AFL title in the 60's, but that was pre-Super Bowl. No team has won it in 3 different decades.
As a 25 year resident of the Metro-Detroit area I have to take offense....How dare we not be on top of that list! Barry Sanders was one of the best backs in modern times, and he never won a Super Bowl because he was saddled to our piece of crap team. At least we're good at hockey....
The Lions have won one playoff game in my lifetime, I think they have had only one Pro Bowl QB during that time and their drafting in the past decade has been one bust after another. They used an endless stream of number one picks on one position (WR) and got very little production out of those picks.
Millen is great example of how having strong opinions don't mean you have good opinions. This guy was a regular know-it-all in the booth, and found out that talking isn't doing.
On the good side, Billy Sims and Barry Sanders were great to watch.
Off topic: I don't know if you're watching Tavis Smiley right now on C-SPAN, but I'd love to hear you're thoughts about what he's saying.
I'll be honest. I don't think too much of it.
On topic: After the Bengals resigned Chris Henry, I don't see how anyone could have them anywhere but at the top of a list of worst run franchises.
The Giants (unfortunately) have won Superbowls in three different decades: 80's, 90's and 00's.
Anyway, funny how these things change. It doesn't seem that long ago that the Patriots were not just the worst franchise in football, but the worst franchise in sports.
As a born and raised Lions fan, I also take umbrage at the idea that we are not somehow the most pathetic franchise in the NFL.
One playoff victory in 50 years. Fifty freakin' years! I'm pretty sure no other football team can compare to that level of suckitude.
It's bad enough that the Lions posts on my blog are classifed under "Fire Millen". If you want more detailed reasons why we suck and will continue to this year, please check them out.
Thanks for the link to an interesting story. I must admit to being surprised that our D.C. favorite Danny Snyder didn't make the cut. I suppose he's considered successful because he rakes in profits, but profits alone is a misleading measure of a sports team's success.
I'm a football fan, but I've never paid much attention to the ownership/management stories. As I read the list, though, I was struck by how many of these multi-million dollar businesses are owned or controlled by a single family. And a fair number of those family members appear to be awfully incompetent. How do they stay in business? Is it because they're propped up by other owners? Or is it that they are a monopoly within their markets and can run up prices for tickets, parking, refreshments, and junk?
I guess this is off-topic. . . .
On second thought, I seem to recall that football is one of your topics, isn't it?
My Lions have won one playoff game in the last 50 years! However, the Cardinals have won one playoff game in the last 60 years. So we have competition.
Every time this discussion comes up, people decide that the Lions are nevertheless the worst franchise because, well, the Cardinals at least have potential right now, while the Lions completely suck. But the Cardinals supposedly have sleeper potential every single year, and it never actually happens! Much as I'd like to claim the crown, I think Arizona is the worst franchise of all.
As a native of Cincinnati I would have thought the Bengals were the worst NFL franchise. But at least we've been to two Super Bowls, losing both to Joe Montana San Francisco teams by a total of nine points. I didn't know that the Lions and Cardinals were as bad as they are.
Guess I should feel better but the last Super Bowl was in '89, so it's been awhile.
Arizona still narrowly edges the Lions for worst -- I mean, you guys can at least claim one of the most exciting players in NFL history in the last 20 years. The Cardinals have one rediculous press conference by Denny Green.
Not only have the Cardinals only won one playoff game in the last 60 years, they've only won two playoff games in their entire history - on in 1998 and one in 1947. That's it end of story.
as a native detroiter and a lifelong lions fan who remembers the original fearsome foursome kicking bart starr's butt, and joe don looney - do some research on him; no one has EVER been crazier or more talented! - i can testify authoritatively that the lions are hands down, no ifs and or buts the worst nfl franchise in the history of the league.
in fact, i'd say that they'd probably qualify as the worst sports franchise over the last 60 years. since bobby layne and buddy parker left.
and we have the ford family - the same folks who brought you the pinto and planned obsolescence - to thank.
frankie d: joe don looney! now that's a golden oldie!
when i was in college in the early '70s, i had a radio show and used joe don as my "nom de air."
more seriously, as jbentley4 suggests (as does the original writeup to which our host links), this is a marvelous demonstration of how important ownership actually is.
warren buffett likes to say that he likes to invest in businesses that even an idiot can run, because sooner or later, an idiot will.
football teams flunk that test: you can't be run by an idiot and put a good team on the field year in, year out....
howard,
the best comeback of all time was joe don looney's ressponse to his coach, harry gilmer, who wanted him to take a play into a game, late, after the game had really been decided.
"if you want a messenger, call western union," he told gilmer.
joe don was a prize. i miss him!
Until the day he dies, Bill Bidwill holds this title. Period.
Full disclosure: I am a St. Louis native who watched this man move my beloved 'Big Red' to Phoenix (where he promptly screwed over a whole new generation of fans).
No question - it's the Cardinals. Does that team even have fans?
Ah..... happy number 29 Tom Benson.
Love the Saints but I really don't like that car dealer.
Well, as a Pitt alum, I've a soft spot for the Cards as they've given Larry Fitzgerald a home wehre he done fairly well - on an individual level. I've also got a soft spot for Ken Whisenhnt as he was part of the Stillers. Now if only the whole team would gel.