TOP 10 FRANCHISES IN DESPERATE NEED OF A SPORTS TITLE

Our Top 10 this week is reserved for the underdogs, sponsored by the unlikely Atlanta Braves. “America’s team” defied all odds by overcoming a losing record to become the 2021 World Series Champions this week. It wasn’t enough that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred politicized all of baseball by removing the All-Star game from Atlanta this past summer (no matter where you stand on this issue, it was safe to say he punished the wrong people by doing so). Or that the Braves lost their two most proficient hitters, Ronald Acuna and Marcell Ozuna, by early July. While most teams would have thrown in the towel and traded core players for future stars, Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos doubled down and masterfully added a historically defying team of winners. In so doing, the Braves shattered a lingering curse that has plagued the city since 1996 — when the Braves squandered a 2-0 series lead against the New York Yankees. From there, Atlanta teams would continue to make big games. Take big leads. And then defiantly snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Even for the sports novice, there is a collective understanding that Atlanta teams have a tendency to choke and blow leads. And not just any leads. Major leads … and at the worst possible moments, which, over time, tend to sting longer and louder than the mere futility of losing in general. After all, it takes a winning culture to consistently make the playoffs, but for Atlanta-based teams, a looming ceiling of mediocrity and “pretty good teams” have seemingly  been a fate carved out by the most sinister of the sports gods.

The proof of Atlanta sports futility is overwhelming and well-documented. Ask any fan in the Peach State, and they’ll reluctantly admit they’ve had their collective hearts ripped out by Atlanta teams on so many occasions their souls have become numb to the repetitive pain. No other team in any other moment has suffered more than during the Falcons’ infamous collapse from a 28-3 lead with only a quarter and a half remaining in Super Bowl LI. And yet other scars remain in A-town, including a fresh scab from the Braves’ 3-1 NLCS  series lead, which was squandered at the hands of the L.A. Dodgers just a season ago. Or the 16 straight playoff appearances by the Braves without a World Series win (let alone a title). Or the other dozen or so games when the Atlanta Falcons have blown leads in fourth quarters, including yet another epic 17-point collapse to the 49ers in the 2012 NFC Championship (that was only overshadowed by the aforementioned historical 28-3 meltdown). And for good measure, just dig deeper into the state’s beloved Georgia Bulldogs, who will argue a few bad calls here and a few cursed bounces there have deprived the Athens faithful from adding to their first title since 1980.

And while we could peel the scabs off dozens of other blundering meltdowns and almost scripted comebacks against Atlanta teams, the Atlanta Braves did something remarkable late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. They won. And they didn’t just win the World Series, they did it in convincing fashion — downing the Houston Astros 7-0 to take a four-games-to-two series victory. To say the least, it was the most “un-Atlanta-like” moment since the Braves won the city’s only other major title in 1995 (with the exception of a recent MLS title, if you dare work that into a barroom debate). In fact, even with a seven-run lead in the bottom of the 9th, and with Joe Buck and John Smoltz all but declaring Atlanta the winner, every Braves fan across the nation was still calculating how this epic meltdown could be worse than the last. That was until the final out was official — and for most Atlanta fans, what should have been an ecstatic celebration seemed more like a long sigh of relief.

With the win, the Braves single-handedly removed a dark cloud from above the state of Georgia, even if temporarily, while fans now turn their attention to college football’s current number-one ranked and undefeated Georgia Bulldogs. Our congratulations go out to the 2021 World Series champion Atlanta Braves. 

The team’s remarkable turnaround at the All-Star break could very well be one of MLB’s most improbable storylines in history. And who knows? Perhaps the rising Hawks and mediocre Falcons will get the memo, but for now, Atlanta fans can actually take pride in a gutsy and historic feat that deemed the city “champions” (without the connotations of “choke” and 28-3).

With all that in mind, here are our…

Top 10 franchises in desperate need of a sports title

10. New York Jets — a tradition of losing since 1970.

9. Buffalo Bills — over 55 seasons without a title. 1966 to present day. Like the Arizona Cardinals, they are currently one of the NFL’s top teams.

8. Los Angeles Chargers — 1964 to present day without a title. A young, superstar quarterback could change this very soon.

7. Tennessee Titans — haven’t won since 1962. A recent season-ending injury to their star running back will likely keep this streak alive.

6. Texas Rangers — 1961 to present day. They do have one of the league’s biggest stars, but no rings or opportunities since 2010 and 2011 Series losses.

5. Atlanta Hawks — reached just their second conference finals in team history last season. But no rings since 1958.

4. Detroit Lions — Nothing doing since 1958. And for lack of a better word, they suck again in 2021.

3. Cleveland Browns — over 50 seasons without a title, and yet they still boast some of the most loyal fans.

2. Atlanta Falcons — 28-3. Need we say more?  (1966 to present without a title).

1.   Arizona Cardinals — have never won, from 1949 to present day. But they look great in 2021. Could this be their year?

Other teams receiving votes: Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Sacramento Kings, San Diego Padres.

Britt Myers traded in a life of monetary success, a chiseled body and intellectual enlightenment for a piece of the pie of the Keys Weekly newspapers. He is also the proud parent of an incredible six-year-old and a sucker for Michael Mann movies and convenience store hot dogs.