Don't want to just limit this to Baseball but not sure what category it would fit. We can all agree that the Cubs and Red Sox are snake bit -- what other teams get this designation?

I'm going to use the criteria of close but no cigar or a really, really long time since they've won squat.

Football:

Vikings-4 Super Bowl losses plus recent NFC Title game meltdown.

Bills-Also 4 losses in the big game.

Eagles-Numerous playoff appearances with nothing to show.

Browns-A couple of crushing losses to Broncos in AFC Tirle game and no Super Bowl appearances ever. The Ravens' winning doesn't count.

Basketball:
Pacers-Had the misfortune of having their best chances during Bulls run.

Knicks-Same as Pacers and they came even closer. They won in early 70's but that's a long time ago.


Baseball:

You already mentioned the all time snake bit teams in the Cubs and Red Sox, so I'll pick a couple that are minimalized, more current versions.

Athletics (recent incarnation only)-Their recent success is amazing given their payroll and small market issues. But they do seem to gag come playoff time.

Mariners-Considering who has been a Mariner, amazing they've not made at least 1 WS. Have had a couple of gag jobs in postseason.

Indians-All those playoff appearances in the 90s and they made it to what, 2 World Series without winning one. Not won a WS since 1948.

White Sox-No WS ring since 1917, haven't been to one since 1959.

Braves-Only one ring even though they've been in postseason 12 straight years.

Hockey:

Blues-Seems like they've won their division so many times and even finished as the #1 seed but no Cup to show.

Rangers-Winning Cup in '94 didn't get the monkey completely off their back.

WUSA, XFL, USFL-The entire leagues!

[ October 18, 2003, 10:46 AM: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

Yes, those of you that pick on the success of my Yankees, just remember that I have had to live with this my entire life! frown

Well, I'd like to thank the New York f**king Rangers for one of my worst-ever sports moments.

I'd been a huge Canucks fan since ca. 1972. In 1994, they rode the hot goaltending of Kirk McLean to the finals. They had it in the palms of their hands---and tossed aside to the Rangers.

A week later, I go to New York for Gay Games. My hotel is right down the street from The Garden. So, every time I went somewhere, I'd see the marquee with "NY Rangers Stanley Cup Champions" and bunches of fans with Stanley Cup t-shirts.

Thanks, Rangers. Bastards.

[ October 18, 2003, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

Both Texas baseball teams, the Astros and the Rangers. Despite good talent on each, neither team seems to get anywhere. But then, when you're paying Rodriguez and Kent salaries, there's not much left to go around. Hint: Read "Moneyball"

I wouldn't call that "snake bit", I'd say that management in both cities isn't what it could be -- Drayton McLane and what's-his-name in Texas who's paying that obscene sum of money to A-Rod (more money than he paid FOR THE FRANCHISE) will never be accused of being Mensa members, now, will they? (in a baseball sense, anyway)

In baseball, guys, the facts are irrefutable. The most snake-bitten teams, the biggest losers, are, in order:

1.) Cubs
2.) White Sox
3.) Red Sox

People can whine all they want about the Red Sox and their so-called "curse," but they have been to the World Series much more recently than the White Sox, who made their last appearance in 1959. While not a native of the Windy City, I can tell you this much: That city is more starved for a World Series appearance/win more than ANY other baseball city in the major leagues. Period.

Well, GEE! Wasn't that my point! Could I make it any clearer for you? :confused:

Umm...being snakebit (where things go wrong, usually for reasons out of our control) and being stupid are two entirely different things. The Rangers and Astros don't have bad things happen to them because they're snakebit. The Rangers and Astros have things go wrong because their management is bad. Now for franchises which have problems because their management is incompetent, barring none, the Chicago/St.Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals would be it (they NEVER played a home playoff game in ALL the years they were in St. Louis). Bad as McLane and Tom Hicks are, they've got a LONG way to go to catch up to the Bidwell family.