I am not much of a sports fan. I sort of follow my Mets, I sometimes read about the Jets and the Nets, Knacks, Rangers, Devils and Yankees, but I have noticed that some teams seem to have a winning magic about them, while others seem to play under a rain cloud.

For example, look at the Yankees. Even though they didn't win this year, they have a tradition of winning. They always seem to make the right moves, find the right player, hire the right coach and they win or come close. Contrast that with my Mets. No matter what they do, they can't seem to be able to get their act together. Even if they spend the money, when the player comes to the team, he stagnates, almost as if joining the Mets is like getting sick. Oftentimes, it seems, once this same player leaves the Mets he, once again resumes his winning way.

Look at the Jets. They made the playoffs, but, lost to the Steelers in a game that most any other team would have won. Even before the game, I knew what the outcome would be. The Jets would lose, that is the natural order of things.

I only cite these teams because I am most familiar with them. Once again, I am not much of a sports fan.

I used to think that the problem was either the teams willingness to spend money on good players or with the field coach and his staff. Lately, I've started thinking that the problem really is with the overall upper management and ownership of these teams. I think that the tone that the upper management and owners of the team sets helps to determine how they do. Whatever you think of Steinbrenner, you have to admit that he demanded a winner, and he got one. I think that winning is something that has to start at the top and permeate the entire organization.

What do you think?

 

Being a Bills fan I understand your thinking.

 

"Small city" teams have a much better chance of making it to the playoffs in the salary-capped NFL than in the ridiculous MLB.