Ranking the 3 Worst Owners In Major American Sports
At some point in every fan’s lifetime, they find themselves cursing their team’s ownership. Unfortunately, ownership is one of the few positions in sports that rarely changes and is immune to both fan and player opinion. Once an owner takes the reigns, fans are in for a long ride.
Some teams, such as the Yankees or Chicago Bears are handed down from generation to generation, while other teams are bought and sold as investments or as wealthy play-things. One thing all fans can agree on is that a bad owner can single-handedly run a franchise into the ground and alienate fans and players alike.
What follows are three examples of the worst current owners in sports:
April 14, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria before a game against the Houston Astros at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
3. Jeff Loria – Florida Marlins
From forcing Miami to build a taxpayer funded $600 million dollar stadium, to trading away all top talent midway through their first season with the team, Loria is a glaring example of a terrible owner. Loria’s arrogance has not won him any sympathy with fans, and he refuses to sign the team’s only starvplayer to a multiyear deal. Loria’s actions the past few season have made it clear he is in it for the money and if the team makes a profit winning, it is irrelevant.
2. Mike Brown – Cincinnati Bengals
Brown is another example of an owner who threaten to move his team if the city didnt build him a new stadium. He is also an example of the dreaded owner/GM. Brown’s team has preformed pathetically since his ownership began, with a win percentage of .361. His personnel decisions can be baffling, from poor drafting, to loyalty to poor-performing staff, and an inability to make effective trades and signings is cause for Brown to be included in this list.
1. Michael Jordan – Charlotte Bobcats
December 19, 2011; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan looks on as his team plays against the Atlanta Hawks at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
One of the greatest basketball players to ever play is also one of the worst owners in the history of the NBA. During his tenure, he has shipped out the best players on the team to create cap room and acquired draft picks, of which neither has made the team much better. Under MJ, the Bobcats had the worst NBA season in history only winning a total of 7 games. Their game attendance is one of the lowest in the NBA season after season and if he doesn’t turn the franchise around, the team may be up for moving to another city.