Yankees offer Sabathia 140 Million dollars!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

yea the nfl has really struggled with that.

There's parity in the NFL? When? This is a league where a team went 16-0 and another team went 1-15.

Pats, Colts, Steelers, Chargers in the AFC playoffs every year.

NFC is bit more of a crapshoot but it's still Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, Packers are the big teams (and Seahawks for the last 8 years). Only the NFC South has been true madness.

Baseball is actually doing quite well. Every team is making money.
Whether they choose to spend it or not (ahem Pittsburgh) is another story.

Small teams actually love the Yankees spending this much because they get the luxury tax off of it and they can still beat the Yankees!

Originally Posted by HOOT

Then why have 30 teams why not 6? Maybe you will get the ratings...

30 teams is too many for any sport.

It's not the number of teams that get the ratings. It's the good vs. evil aspect.
You need an evil bad guy (like the red wings) and a Cinderella to get viewers.

In hockey when the Habs won 4 cups in a row, then the Islanders won 4 cups in a row and then the Greasers won 4 out of 5 (with montreal in between). When the Bulls won 6 titles. Did any of the other 18 teams complain? Did it make your fan experience any worse? The older generation may be able to answer this better.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

Hey Bill Simmons posts on CP (see #947)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/st...ine&id=3656833

Originally Posted by DMac

That's actually kinda creepy.

That's not creepy. That's plagiarism.

Good catch SoCalWingFan, you got me.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

There's parity in the NFL? When? This is a league where a team went 16-0 and another team went 1-15.

Pats, Colts, Steelers, Chargers in the AFC playoffs every year.

NFC is bit more of a crapshoot but it's still Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, Packers are the big teams (and Seahawks for the last 8 years). Only the NFC South has been true madness.

Baseball is actually doing quite well. Every team is making money.
Whether they choose to spend it or not (ahem Pittsburgh) is another story.

Small teams actually love the Yankees spending this much because they get the luxury tax off of it and they can still beat the Yankees!

.

Since the early 90's when they put the cap in. teams that do better are more compatent, not because they spend 3X more than the next guy.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

Since the early 90's when they put the cap in. teams that cheat better are more compatent, not because they spend 3X more than the next guy.

I think either way works. Salary Cap or not. In the long run it's about scouting and development. We'll take our Flames for example. I don't think they're any better or worse with or without the cap.

Yankees won all those World Series through trades and prospects. When they lost in 2001, Steinbrenner went nuts and for some reason starting spending boatloads of money. They haven't won since. High payrolls rarely win.

Baltimore, Cubs, Rangers, Dodgers.. these are teams that spend alot and suck. Twins, As, Phillies, Padres are teams that spend little and do well.

6 years 140 million for CC is actually a bargain. That's the same contract that Johan Santana has and CC a much more proven pitcher. Plus this is the first offer of the offseason which is usually lower than the ones that come later. Expect fireworks in the next month or so.

[The Ditch]

I love it, I'm a huge Yankees fan and I find it quite funny how they try to buy championships. They generate a lot of income, a lot more then most baseball teams so why can't they spend it? Man U and Chelsea spend ridiculous amounts of money every year in the priemere league.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Pats, Colts, Steelers, Chargers in the AFC playoffs every year.

NFC is bit more of a crapshoot but it's still Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, Packers are the big teams (and Seahawks for the last 8 years). Only the NFC South has been true madness.

Off topic, but 6 of the 8 teams you posted there may not make the playoffs this year. Only the Steelers and the Giants in that group are really looking good to make the playoffs.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Off topic, but 6 of the 8 teams you posted there may not make the playoffs this year. Only the Steelers and the Giants in that group are really looking good to make the playoffs.

Steelers, Giants, Patsies, Colts, Cowboys and Packers will get in.
Eagles and Seahawks will not.

You might get a new team into the wildcard around once in awhile but the final eight in football is almost always the same.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Steelers, Giants, Patsies, Colts, Cowboys and Packers will get in.
Eagles and Seahawks will not.

You might get a new team into the wildcard around once in awhile but the final eight in football is almost always the same.

It is?


Just since 1998,

Denver, Green Bay, Atlanta, St. Louis, Tennessee, Baltimore, NY Giants, New England, Tampa Bay, Oakland, Carolina, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Indianapolis and Chicago have all played in the Superbowl.

16 teams to the FINAL game in ten seasons...half the league.

If you include teams that didnt make it to the SB but merely into the playoffs you add

Miami, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Detroit, Buffalo, Arizona, Dallas, San Francisco, Washington, New Orleans, NY Jets, Cleveland, San Diego, Cincinnati, and Kansas City.

Thats 31 clubs that have made the playoffs in the last 10 years

The ONLY club that hasnt.....Houston.

But using the final "8" as you say, in the last 10 years...

Pitt, NE, KC, Denver, SF, GB, Minn, TB, NY Jets, Miami, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Arizona, Tenn, Indy, St lou, Wash, Oak, Balt, NY Giants, New Orl, Chi, Carolina, KC, Sd and Seattle....


26 teams have played divisional playoff games in the last 10 years.....fairly indicative of the complete parity of the NFL IMO.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by transplant99

It is?


Just since 1998,

Denver, Green Bay, Atlanta, St. Louis, Tennessee, Baltimore, NY Giants, New England, Tampa Bay, Oakland, Carolina, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Indianapolis and Chicago have all played in the Superbowl.

16 teams to the FINAL game in ten seasons...half the league.

If you include teams that didnt make it to the SB but merely into the playoffs you add

Miami, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Detroit, Buffalo, Arizona, Dallas, San Francisco, Washington, New Orleans, NY Jets, Cleveland, San Diego, Cincinnati, and Kansas City.

Thats 31 clubs that have made the playoffs in the last 10 years

The ONLY club that hasnt.....Houston.

But using the final "8" as you say, in the last 10 years...

Pitt, NE, KC, Denver, SF, GB, Minn, TB, NY Jets, Miami, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Arizona, Tenn, Indy, St lou, Wash, Oak, Balt, NY Giants, New Orl, Chi, Carolina, KC, Sd and Seattle....


26 teams have played divisional playoff games in the last 10 years.....fairly indicative of the complete parity of the NFL IMO.

Very nice!

Same could be said for baseball too. Only 6 teams have not made the 8-team playoff since 1998.

Toronto (1993)
Baltimore (1997)
Kansas City (1985)
Pittsburgh (1992)
Montreal (1981)
Cincinnati (1995)

And New Yankees, New York Mets, Atlanta, Arizona, LA Angels, San Fran, Florida, Boston, St. Louis, Houston, Chicago White Sox, Detroit, Colorado, Philladelphia and Tampa Bay have been in the last 10 World Series

So that's 15 teams. Half the league as well.

[Gozer]

Toronto & Baltimore are on that list, and Tampa needed 10 years of being the league's worst to build up enough talent to compete in the AL East.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by MJM

They are also preparing offers to AJ Burnette and Derek Lowe according to TSN.

This is why baseball sucks.

Baseball is becoming more and more like European soccer, where only the biggest franchises can seriously compete.

It is mostly the big markets teams that are doing well - BOS, both LA teams, both CHI teams made the playoffs. Both NY teams will usually comepete for a playoff spot. KC, OAK, CIN and PIT used to be power-houses, and don't have a prayer now.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

I love it, I'm a huge Yankees fan and I find it quite funny how they try to buy championships. They generate a lot of income, a lot more then most baseball teams so why can't they spend it? Man U and Chelsea spend ridiculous amounts of money every year in the priemere league.

Because a pro sports league should be a partnership. It boggles my mind that people will still buy tickets to support Sunderland or Portsmouth, when there is no chance for them. Why should all the other teams be development teams for the big four? Who are the big four going to play against if the rest of the EPL gets wise, and stops supporting this unfair class system?

[Gozer]

Wellington Mara understood how a sports league should work.

During the early 1960s, Wellington and his brother Jack, the owners of the NFL's largest market [NY], agreed to share television revenue on a league-wide basis, dividing the amounts of money available in cities like New York with smaller market teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. That concept of revenue sharing allowed the NFL to grow and is still being used today.

Too bad so few others do.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Steelers, Giants, Patsies, Colts, Cowboys and Packers will get in.
Eagles and Seahawks will not.

You might get a new team into the wildcard around once in awhile but the final eight in football is almost always the same.

the Steelers and the giants will almost certainly get in, but I'm not holding my breath for the Colts, Pats, Boys, and Packers. My guess is that of those four teams, two make it in, the Packers, and one of the Colts and Pats, but it still easily could be neither.

[The Ditch]

Originally Posted by troutman

Because a pro sports league should be a partnership. It boggles my mind that people will still buy tickets to support Sunderland or Portsmouth, when there is no chance for them. Why should all the other teams be development teams for the big four? Who are the big four going to play against if the rest of the EPL gets wise, and stops supporting this unfair class system?

I guess my mentality would be different if the Yankees were winning every year, but they're not, that's kind of why I find it funny.

I always thought the EPL lets them get away with it because they want a team from their league to win all the cups (Champions League and others).

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

Because a pro sports league should be a partnership. It boggles my mind that people will still buy tickets to support Sunderland or Portsmouth, when there is no chance for them. Why should all the other teams be development teams for the big four? Who are the big four going to play against if the rest of the EPL gets wise, and stops supporting this unfair class system?

It is a partnership. As in the big 4 make all the money and funnel it down to to the rest. More on that later.

Winning isn't everything. People support their teams no matter what. It's religion over there that if you support Sunderland you do regardles of what division they're in or what place in the table they are. Its a BIG thrill to take points off the big for. A Sunderland fan would relish the dates when one of the big four come to town. The big 4 will not exist forever, you see teams like Aston Villa and Everton challenge the big 4 all the time. Plus there are 2 cup competitions that everyone can gun for (won by Spurs and Portsmouth last year)

The big four will simply play the big four of other countries if the other teams drop out. A European Super League has been talked about before but they are scared it will kill domestic football. Each team in the EPL gets 30 million pounds a year for tv and endorsements. Without the big four buying the best players in the world, there would be no worldwide audience, or fans in China, Canada and Australia. There would not be 600 million pounds to divide up.

I understand your point Troutman and we as fans all want parity and 'our' team to have a chance to win. But people don't put the money where their mouth is. They all want parity but when the European Cup final is between Monaco and Porto or the FA Cup final is between Portsmouth and Cardiff, nobody gives a crap.

[Bobblehead]

It is just frustrating to watch MLB and think that every year you know the big market teams will be competitive and the rest of the league drawing straws to see who else gets to play in Oct. For a while if you come up with a superior drafting strategy or free agent strategy, you can compete (see Oakland) but even then as soon as one of your own players are developed they will get snapped up by a team with a big payroll (see Giambi/Jason, Tejada/Miguel, Zito/Barry, Hudson/Tim, etc).

Sure, a big payroll is no promise of success (see Rangers/New York), but that is cold comfort to the fans of the clubs who watched their stars disappear.

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

Hey Bill Simmons posts on CP (see #947)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/st...ine&id=3656833

ot: but number 949 is hilarious

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I think either way works. Salary Cap or not. In the long run it's about scouting and development. We'll take our Flames for example. I don't think they're any better or worse with or without the cap.

The Flames missed the playoffs 7 years in a row. Untill 2004 they had not won a playoff series since winning the Cup in 1989. I like the Flames chances a lot more with a salary cap when we can keep players like Iginla. Instead of no cap where we lost all the great players from the late 1980's and sunk to the bottom of the league for nearly a decade.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Winning isn't everything. People support their teams no matter what. It's religion over there that if you support Sunderland you do regardles of what division they're in or what place in the table they are. Its a BIG thrill to take points off the big for. A Sunderland fan would relish the dates when one of the big four come to town. The big 4 will not exist forever, you see teams like Aston Villa and Everton challenge the big 4 all the time. Plus there are 2 cup competitions that everyone can gun for (won by Spurs and Portsmouth last year)

There is a sucker born every minute.