Sports Cities Rankings - Cities with 4 Teams

OK, now that we are past that Oakland/SF fiasco, hopefully location will be less of a lighting rod in this post, unless of course people think the "city" of New England shouldn't be considered the same as Boston. We now move onto cities with 4 teams. These are the true sports cities, they have 4 professional teams (well, some might not consider the Lions a professional team) in 4 sports. They aren't missing any sports and they don't have the overload of having 2 teams in a sport where you have to decide. Decisions are for suckers. So here we go, and some may be shocked by my #1 choice, with me being a devoted and sometimes delusional Minnesota fan.

1. Philadelphia (Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, 76er's): Other than last years Phillies championship, this has been a city without a champion in a long, long time. But, that hasn't wavered their support for their teams, and that's what separates them and #2 on this list from #3. There isn't a more passionate or mustached fan base, with their leader, "Yes, I could use another Taco" Andy Reid. Eagles are king, which is weird as the other teams have Dr J, Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski, Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent. The Eagles have Ron Jaworski and...ummm well, Freddie Mitchell. I guess any fan base that can support Freddie Mitchell deserves to be #1 on this list. Their teams are almost always contenders, but rarely make it over the hill (with a huffing and puffing Andy Reid leading the way, that's no surprise) and yet they still love them, though the same can't be said for Santa Claus.

2. Minneapolis (Vikings, Twins, Wild, Timberwolves): I think the top 3 compare or are better than that of Philadelphia in terms of fan support. It's that #4 team where Philly takes over the #1 position. The T-Wolves are, and pretty much always have been a joke. Other than KG, every draft has been a huge mistake and disappointment. Enough about them. This isn't only a city of Vikings, Twins and Wild fans. It is 3 1/2 states. The Vikings have a history of falling short, including 0-4 in the Super Bowl and a Gary Anderson missed Field Goal in the NFC Championship with our best team ever, dang kickers. Either way, every Sunday the fans come out to tailgate (mind you, not in the lot of the crappiest football stadium, but surrounding parking lots) wearing their purple and making it the loudest stadium around. The Twins fans are the best around and have many heroes to follow. From Killebrew, Oliva and Carew to Hrbek, Puckett and Morris, to Hunter, Mauer and Morneau. They played in the greatest World Series ever in 1991 and survived throughout the Griffith and Pohlad years, guys who not only pinch pennies, but steal them from children so they can pinch them. Minnesota is the State of Hockey and the Wild fans do not disappoint, filling the Xcel with a college football like environment, well if that college team wasn't the Gophers at the Metrodome.

3. Boston/NE (Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, Bruins): I will start with, Boston fans who were Boston fans before the year 2000, are some of the best fans around. But, I cant in good conscience rate them any higher than #3 when half their fan base has only been around less than 10 years. Its not the real Boston fans fault their success has brought out the worst of the worst bandwagon fans, but it can't be overlooked. This is still a Red Sox and Celtics town. Their fans dropped off the face of the earth during the 70's and 80's when the Pats sucked and the 90's and 00's when the Bruins sucked. They still draw huge numbers on the road, as the bandwagon fans come out of the woodwork and thumb their noses at their hometown team in their pink Red Sox hats and KG jerseys, all in the name to try and look cool (they don't). History suggests they can't be lower on this list though. (and it kills me not to put them at #10 after reading several years of ESPN chats with the whiny Boston fans complaining about everything from the Giant's Super Bowl loss should be replayed to see who wins to how they are disrespected, even though they have won several championships this decade).

4. Detroit (Red Wings, Tigers, Pistons, Lions): Yes, I think even a city that has the Lions, can be ranked this high. Detroit is proclaimed "HockeyTown" (which is less than "The State of Hockey" by the way) and the Red Wings do not disappoint. They are in the middle of a little dynasty right now. The Pistons have been good for about 20 years now and had the classic battles of the 80's/90's with Michael Jordan and the Bulls, as well as the battle of Ron Artest and his sanity in the 2000's. Tiger fans are knowledgeable and hopeful. They have sports heroes such as, Yzerman, Trammell & Whitaker, Jack Morris, Isiah Thomas (before he destroyed several teams/franchises/leagues/perception of kissing another male), and well, I guess I have to mention the Lions, Barry Sanders, the greatest sports athlete in Detroit, if not NFL, history.

5. Denver (Broncos, Avalanche, Rockies, Nuggets): All of these teams are beloved in Denver, even if they don't have the history of some of the other teams on this list. I have never seen so many car flags as when I have visited Denver (not necessarily a good thing). I guess being at that altitude sometimes makes you delusional as to what is a good decision and what is not. Like I said, not much history other than Mr. Ed and his comeback drives, but something is to be said about the newness of franchises and them starting their own history. Who knows, maybe 50 years from now we will be looking back at Denver and fondly remembering Peter Forsberg, Todd Helton, Carmelo Anthony and Lyle Alzado. Ok, probably not.

6. Dallas (Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars, Rangers): This was the hardest city to place on this list. I mean Cowboy fans, even if the team is owned by Lo Pan from Big Trouble in Little China, are some of the best around. They supported Nate Newton and Michael Irvin, they must really like pot. Maybe that's why they can't see that Jerry Jones is an evil sorcerer from another dimension? Hmmm, something to look into. Anyways, Cowboys are almost always good when TO isn't dropping passes or jealous about his QB's interest in throwing to someone who catches passes. Otherwise, you have Mark Cuban, a hockey team in the South and about half the population of Dallas unaware that the Rangers even exist.

7. Miami (Dolphins, Heat, Panthers, Marlins): Obviously, the Dolphins rule here. Larry Csonka, Dan Marino, Ace Ventura, Ricky Williams, Turquoise uniforms. OK, we went a little downhill there. The Dolphins have a long, successful history. The others, well you have Dwayne Wade and Hanley Ramirez (for the 139 fans who attend games). What's that? You want to head to South Beach? Let's go...and that summarizes the Miami sports experience.

8. Atlanta (Braves, Falcons, Hawks, Thrashers): Another one where one team in the city rules, but the Falcons are making a comeback. After Vick getting an F in posse selection, they have had an incredible turnaround and have a bright future. Lets hope they don't hire Eugene Robinson as their PR rep. The Braves rule here though, and despite my dislike for their name, the fans are passionate for this team and they have responded by being pretty dang good for about 20 years or so and it didn't hurt that Halle Berry was around for part of their run. Other than Dominique Wilkins, the other two teams are throwaway's in the scheme of this list.

9. Washington DC (Redskins, Wizards, Capitals, Nationals): The Redskins fan base is one of the craziest around and their support is never-ending, despite having an owner that thinks this is a fantasy football team. You have, the Hogs, John Riggins, Art Monk and Clinton Portis (who is actually 12 different people). That is enough to keep them out of last on this list. The Nationals are non-existent, the Wizards have a "star" who plays 8 games a year and changed their name from one of the classics and the Capitals are rebounding with a star with few teeth and many ladies. That's enough to keep them from the bottom of the list and forget about the fact that they live in Washington DC with the other creeps and criminals.

10. Phoenix (Suns, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Coyotes): There is some success here. But there isn't much else. And really, if you were in Arizona, wouldn't you rather be golfing than at an indoor baseball game?