Sport organizations you admire

[HouWarrior]

I am a fan of "my teams" but I admit I like, and often grudgingly admire various other sports organizations...for various reasons.

Examples:

Packers: ownership by the people is so cool ( I am a shareholder), they make consistent quality moves and have a great fan friendly environment; sustained winning

Steelers: I can remember when they were bad...but since the 70s wow...only 3 coaches (loyalty is cool), very consistent winners, and family run

Twins/A's: Small market teams who have generally overachieved with cobbled lineups thereby usually turning out better teams than their fans/relative money position would expect.

Spurs: Every year for a few decades they were supposed to get old and be forced to strip it down and rebuild...somehow Pop, management and Robinson/Duncan (classy players) have them right there every year.

Cardinals: There has hardly been a year in my life when they were really bad. A few ups and downs with management and managers, but a truly loyal multi generational fan base.

Duke: Hard for me here, but I have to concede huge consistent success, generally good "quality" people/players, good academics, and fervent fans

Barcelona: run by season ticket holder voting (I like teams owned/run by other than rich guys) an amazing internal academy farm system in Espanyol, and esp during Pep's years, a beautiful style of play.

I am sure there are many more for me and you...but this is a sample


Especially among teams that aren't your home or personal rooting interest favorites, whose organization/program do you admire or give props to (even grudgingly- lol)....oh yeah...and why?

[HouWarrior]

MODS: my mistake ....this should have been started in superbar

...could you please move it there before we get 20 posts reminding of what fool I was, here..My wife already has that job well in hand

[wadesworld]

Spurs. Packers. That's about it.

[DegenerateDish]

I have the utmost respect for the Pack, but the "shareholders" do not own the Packers. Anyone who ever bought a "share" is donating money to the Packers without the tax benefit. Quite honestly it's one of the greatest marketing moves in sports history.

[Skitch]

I have the utmost respect for the Pack, but the "shareholders" do not own the Packers. Anyone who ever bought a "share" is donating money to the Packers without the tax benefit. Quite honestly it's one of the greatest marketing moves in sports history.

I'm one of the biggest Packer fans I know of but one of the lamest things in sports is seeing a grown adult wearing "owner" on a shirt or god forbid cheesehead.

[brewcity77]

Denver Broncos: They have done a remarkable job sustaining success, often quietly so. While they've had QBs like Elway and Manning, they've also won with guys like Plummer, Cutler, and Orton.

St. Louis Cardinals: I hate the Cards, but they just win, year after year, and do so without a Yankee budget. Ever since winning the 1982 Series I've admired that team. Really amazing how consistently good they are.

San Antonio Spurs: Much of their success came from the "good fortune" of David Robinson's injury that led directly to Duncan, but they have found unexpected stars like Ginobli, Parker, and Leonard to sustain their success. Pop is probably the best basketball coach on the planet. Seems like a good franchise that does it the right way.

Chicago Blackhawks: Okay...this is a team I cheer for, but when I was younger, I really hated the way the team I loved was managed. From the abysmal television situation to the empty stadium to constantly shipping out their best players, it was really tough to be a 'Hawks fan. The past few years have been amazing. Not just the winning, but building a franchise that can sustain success while retaining their core of Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, and Hjalmarsson. In the modern day NHL, that's near unheard of.

Stoke City: Since earning promotion in 2007-08, Stoke has grown into a reliable, mid-table team without the budget of teams like the Manchesters, Liverpool, Arsenal, or Chelsea. They've had some success in Europe, turned the Brittannia into a fortress, and really become a formidable team in the EPL. For a team everyone expected to be relegated a decade ago, they've done rather well for themselves.

Villanova: I know, they haven't had as much March success as we'd like, but Jay Wright has sustained a great program. What I really admire is that after landing some top tier classes and watching results suffer a bit despite that, Wright has put a focus on getting guys that fit his system. He runs that 4-out/1-in and seems to have a stream of developing players. A classy school that seems to do it right, and repeatedly.

[brewcity77]

I have the utmost respect for the Pack, but the "shareholders" do not own the Packers. Anyone who ever bought a "share" is donating money to the Packers without the tax benefit. Quite honestly it's one of the greatest marketing moves in sports history.

+1

Amazing how much value Packer fans place on that meaningless piece of paper. It's basically a $250 price tag to be a member of the Packers Fan Club. Hilarious how well that scam worked.

[Galway Eagle]

I have to throw Golden State in there. That team is filled with classy athletes who aren't out talking trash about other great teams (96 Bulls) but just love competing and want to make their mark on history. 

Beyond that I'd agree with the Spurs.

I love the modern Blackhawks and think it's really impressive that they've kept the core of a team with 3 Cups and 2 more Western Finals appearances together. But man I really hate Kane off the ice, and didn't really like Sharp either so I don't want to include them on my list. 

[Celtic Truth]

Are we talking present day or historically? Historically what the Celtics accomplished was simply amazing. Red Auerbach was something else.

But what the Patriots have done since the turn of the century is absolutely amazing. It is waaaay harder to win consistently in the NFL than in other sport. Brady and Belichick have had quite the run.

 I don't understand how I'm the 1st person to mention these 2 teams on this thread tho.

[forgetful]

Are we talking present day or historically? Historically what the Celtics accomplished was simply amazing. Red Auerbach was something else.

But what the Patriots have done since the turn of the century is absolutely amazing. It is waaaay harder to win consistently in the NFL than in other sport. Brady and Belichick have had quite the run.

 I don't understand how I'm the 1st person to mention these 2 teams on this thread tho.

You'll notice most of the teams in here are ones that are respected, not that are necessarily successful.

The Patriots will never make most peoples list because of their long history of cheating.

For me the teams I respect (in no particular order).

The Packers, Spurs, Duke, Gonzaga, and I'll agree with you on the old school Celtics (Also really liking them under Brad Stevens).

Oh and who can forget the Jamaican Bobsled team.

[Celtic Truth]

I guess I missed the part about listing teams that I don't chear for.

Yankees: hate them but they have 27 rings. They have quite the list of legends too. fortunately tho since 2004 the Sox have had more success....and boy was 2004 sweet. The old Yankees stadium was great and the fans were always rowdy but unfortunately they have been priced out by a disinterested corporate crowd. Anyone who watched last year's 1 game playoff against Houston knows what I'm talking about. The fans showed up in the 3rd and left by the 6th and didn't make any noise. There are plenty of legit fans, it's just a shame they have been displaced.

Lakers: similar to the Yankees. 16 rings is impressive, and the Celtics/Lakers rivalry is awesome. I'm so glad that Pierce and Kobe brought it back.

Kansas: 12 big 12 titles in a row I believe.... That's just absurd. I've never been but Allen field house is arguably the best place to watch a college game. Great fanbase. And I love the history dating all the way back to Jim Naismith and Phog Allen. A history of great basketball minds that continued with Roy Williams and Bill self.

I also agree with what people said about the Steelers, cardinals, Spurs and the Dukies. Have to mention UNC as well.

[Celtic Truth]

You'll notice most of the teams in here are ones that are respected, not that are necessarily successful.

The Patriots will never make most peoples list because of their long history of cheating.

For me the teams I respect (in no particular order).

The Packers, Spurs, Duke, Gonzaga, and I'll agree with you on the old school Celtics (Also really liking them under Brad Stevens).

Oh and who can forget the Jamaican Bobsled team.

It's just such a shame that the media has ruined the Patriots reputation so much. They are a 1st class organization all the way. I don't know how anyone could warrant more respect than Tom Brady. We've had a great group of guys over the years who worked their tails off. Most of those guys were overlooked by every other team in the NFL. I'm not going to get in any debates on here about the patriots "cheating". It's better that way for all of us. But Tedy Bruschi said it best: don't believe what everyone says, just believe the greatness that you have seen on the field for the past 15 years. Cuz that's real

[HouWarrior]

+1

Amazing how much value Packer fans place on that meaningless piece of paper. It's basically a $250 price tag to be a member of the Packers Fan Club. Hilarious how well that scam worked.

I did not intend to trigger cynicism with my parenthetical reference to Packer Shareholder. I know my place. Heck I am first a Texans fan (very painful, too...lol)

What I reference by people owned is....and Unless something has changed .....those real original shareholders with shares subject to VFW rights ...those are just regular folks- yes? Its to  this "people ownership" that I reference...I just like that there isnt any single megawealthy jerk owner, and that the Pack remains in the smallest major league town in the USA..kind of neat.

I have/intended No personal  pretense as to my "fun" certificate I gave them $250 for. In my defense...its framed here..its a fun conversation piece (and in light of my respect for the other "real" owners)...I was happy to kick over the money knowing I get nothing of real value...actually in lieu of her annual Xmas $, I told my mom I would enjoy "blowing" her cash on this, instead.

To compare ...the NYTimes online shop will charge you well over this amount for a certificate of long cancelled shares of famous companies..or of defunct companies, like Vanderbilt Railroad, Inc. A corporate lawyer friend actually decorated his office with those. But like my Pack certificate he likes the decoration of it and says also its a good conversation piece

Skitch, Dish, Brew..I feel Properly chastised... I am not a Packer shareholder, but rather a fool who simply enjoyed blowing the $250 for the fun its brought. OK?

PS...BTW...sorry to you all for  my above thin skinned digression. Personal posts like this are real thread killers. My apologies.

Please return to the regularly scheduled thread topic. These teams you're adding to the growing list are great. Other "historicals" could include Wooden UCLA, Dean Smith's UNC and Walsh/Seifert 49ers...although these are not all that "admirable" today.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Those who can't remember the St. Louis Cardinals being consistently bad must not have been watching much baseball in the 1990's.

[GGGG]

+1

Amazing how much value Packer fans place on that meaningless piece of paper. It's basically a $250 price tag to be a member of the Packers Fan Club. Hilarious how well that scam worked.

By definition, it isn't a scam.  It wasn't dishonest.  It wasn't fraud.  Legally they are owners but their shares have no real marketable value.  Everyone knew that when they bought one. 

[GGGG]

I have/intended No personal  pretense as to my "fun" certificate I gave them $250 for. In my defense...its framed here..its a fun conversation piece (and in light of my respect for the other "real" owners)...I was happy to kick over the money knowing I get nothing of real value...actually in lieu of her annual Xmas $, I told my mom I would enjoy "blowing" her cash on this, instead.

I have one too.  I have never viewed it more than a piece of memorabilia.  No different than a jersey, helmet, etc.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I've had to deal with just about every team in the nation over the last 17 years, every league, every major college conference.   Many have quality people, smart leadership, some do not.  None are perfect, nor should they be.  Different missions, different complexities that many fans don't understand in my opinion.

There are also those organizations that are amazing at doing one thing, and inept at others.  The Cowboys fit this bill.  One of the smartest organizations I've ever dealt with on the business side.  These guys can turn so much to gold it is incredible....but their football product is anything but spectacular...l would call the football side a failure the last 15 years from a W's and L's, but an amazing force in other areas.

My point being it depends on what the criteria is, what resources they have to bear, the market they are in, so on and so forth.

[wadesworld]

I've had to deal with just about every team in the nation over the last 17 years, every league, every major college conference.   Many have quality people, smart leadership, some do not.  None are perfect, nor should they be.  Different missions, different complexities that many fans don't understand in my opinion.

There are also those organizations that are amazing at doing one thing, and inept at others.  The Cowboys fit this bill.  One of the smartest organizations I've ever dealt with on the business side.  These guys can turn so much to gold it is incredible....but their football product is anything but spectacular...l would call the football side a failure the last 15 years from a W's and L's, but an amazing force in other areas.

My point being it depends on what the criteria is, what resources they have to bear, the market they are in, so on and so forth.

That's why the topic is sports teams you admire.  Whether they should be admired or not is a different story.  This is a matter of opinion.

[Benny B]

I have the utmost respect for the Pack, but the "shareholders" do not own the Packers. Anyone who ever bought a "share" is donating money to the Packers without the tax benefit. Quite honestly it's one of the greatest marketing moves in sports history.

I dare you to send a $100 check to Halas Hall and then write it off with the IRS.

[GooooMarquette]

Any college sports team or program that is non-scholarship.

[brandx]

FIFA

[🏀]

The Ricketts' Family Chicago Cubs.

[JWags85]

Those who can't remember the St. Louis Cardinals being consistently bad must not have been watching much baseball in the 1990's.

I can respect the Cardinals sustained success in the 21st century, but HouWarrior mentioning their fanbase in his original post is where he lost me.  The absolute worst.

Stoke City: Since earning promotion in 2007-08, Stoke has grown into a reliable, mid-table team without the budget of teams like the Manchesters, Liverpool, Arsenal, or Chelsea. They've had some success in Europe, turned the Brittannia into a fortress, and really become a formidable team in the EPL. For a team everyone expected to be relegated a decade ago, they've done rather well for themselves.

Mid-table is generous when they were consistently in the 12-14 range.  Tony Pulis' team also played a reckless, borderline dirty style of soccer.  I was far from a fan.  HOWEVER, the current iteration helmed by Mark Hughes is much different, much more enjoyable to watch and acquiring Shaquiri was a massive coup.  I think Stoke and Palace are the 2 "non-traditional" squads of the last 10 years that have a bright future.

[DegenerateDish]

I dare you to send a $100 check to Halas Hall and then write it off with the IRS.

The McCaskey's would ask for $50 on top of the sawbuck.

[HouWarrior]

I can respect the Cardinals sustained success in the 21st century, but HouWarrior mentioning their fanbase in his original post is where he lost me.  The absolute worst.

When our Astros were still in NL central I saw traveling Cards fans, and they seemed to handle themselves very well...but for sure...I have never been to a Cardinals Game in St Louis...so this may well be my bad...from afar. I had the impression, (admittedly partially created by announcers) that the fans are knowledgeable,  known to clap for an opposing pitcher if he had a great game, etc...they seem intensely loyal.

What makes them the worst actually (or are you simply a rival cubs fan-- lol) ?