14 April 2009

Best Sports Cities

We interrupt the deep philosophical/spiritual/political questions of the day to ask a really important question: what are the best sports cities in the United States? We all have different criteria (of which I'll have more to say) . . . I am curious to hear from all of you who live as far west as California and as far south Texas.

What are your top five sports cities?

Here are mine (NOTE: I'll provide detailed reasons in a later post).

5. Pittsburgh (not Dallas)

4. New York

3. Boston

2. Chicago

1. Detroit (I'm a homer, I admit it)

If you live west of the Mississippi River, you probably aren't happy with this list (don't forget though you got one city in Dallas). If you live in the Southeast (as many of my Nashville/Atlanta/Carolina friends will point out), you aren't happy with this list either.

Fire Away. What are the top five cities for sports fans?

17 comments:

preacherman said...

Josh,
Mine would have to be:
1.San Antonio (Go Spurs Go)
2.Dallas
3.Houston
4.Chicago
5.Boston

Great sporting towns that I enjoy.
I really enjoyed your post today.
Keep it up!!!!

Robin said...

Alright, I'm a Texan transplant in Tennessee, and I love football (because I'm a Texan), but I'll try to be as un-biased as possible.

5. Atlanta
4. Chicago
3. Dallas
2. New York (although I hate to admit that)
1. Boston (not a fan whatsoever, just stating facts)

Honorable mention: Philly, San Diego, Phoenix, and Houston (and Nashville 'cause I'm a Titans fan).

Josh Graves said...

Preacherman: good list. Though, you must really like the Spurs to put San Antonio #1 when they are the only formidable pro sports team (I guess, you'll have to add their WNBA team).

Robin,

Good list. I know Atlanta well. GO there lots these days for my doctoral work. I love Atlanta. It's one of my favorite cities. HOwever, I think it's weak on the "sports ratings." Just my personal opinion.

Your list is solid. We have four out of five of the same cities.

I hope to convince everyone why Detroit is a top city for sports.

Stay tuned.

Doug said...

Josh,
I know it may seem like a technicality to all who do not live in the Texas Metroplex sometimes known as DFW... but since I live in Tarrant County (specifically Arlington, TX) I think it is wise to point out that half of the pro sports franchises in these parts (Cowboys and Rangers) and the best college football team in the area (TCU) are not based in Dallas County. I also realize that the "pro" status of the Rangers is debateable!
Doug Peters
Arlington, TX

Josh Graves said...

Good point Doug. Boston has the same thing happening (the Patriots are 30 minutes from Boston proper). THe Detroit Pistons play in Auburn Hills--some 30 miles from downtown.

This is part of the great American phenomenon known as suburban sprawl.

Thanks for adding this to the discussion. So, what are your top five cities?

Josh Ross said...

1. Boston
2. New York
3. Chicago
4. Philly
5. Dallas & Detroit

How you like that?
LA would be close.

Josh Graves said...

Ross,

I love that you did not have your city (Dallas) #1. Wow you are going to take some major grief for that.

Good list.

L.A. is 10 on my list. They are "frontrunners" . . . they don't really love their sports. They just like to be on t.v. when they have a winning team. :)

Barecycles said...

OK, I'll weigh in with my list of five:

5. NY
4. Detroit
3. Boston
2. Miami
1. Chicago

I really would like to include my hometown in there (Dallas) but I just can't in good conscience do it. Perhaps number 6?

Kara Graves said...

Here is my list:

1. Detroit
2. Chicago
3. Morgantown, WV
4. doesn't matter
5. doesn't matter :)

Tim Perkins said...

1. Sacramento
2. Green Bay
3. Columbus
4. Oklahoma City
5. Portland


Why? They have only one pro team in town and that ramps up their rabidness (rabidity?).

Josh Graves said...

Kara: Great list. I knew WVU would make the cut.

Barecycles: good list. You too sold out Dallas (you and Ross).

Tim: I like the "one sport city" approach. Very interesting. You are on to something.

JG

Jason W. Steckel said...

I really think Cleveland should get honorable mention...
What other city has such a rich history but has not won a significant professional sports championship since the mid 60's? The Crunch doesn't count. (If you are asking, "Who are the Crunch?" my point is made.)
What other city has been so close so many times, only to be disappointed ('97 World Series, The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot...need I say more)?
Side note: All Cleveland sports fans should be required to learn the Heimlich Maneuver. ;-)
What other city tore it's football stadium apart with it's bare hands when it found out it's football team was leaving town?
What other city lobbied so hard that the NFL let them keep the team colors and history and gave them a new team a few years later. (btw...I love the irony that a Baltimore stole a team from Cleveland after years of whining and complaining about the Colt bolting town.)
Anyway, as a Steelers fan, I feel weird lobbying for the Brownies. However, you can be losers and still be a great sports town. (Especially when you're not a large market city.) Does it really count when you can outspend every team by millions (and still blow it some seasons)?

Josh Graves said...

I just got off the phone who convinced me that Pittsburgh should be on my list.

I think he's right.

Sorry Dallas.

JG

Stephanie Corp said...

I wholeheartedly agree with Jason...Cleveland must be on the list...if you have ever been to a sporting event there, you would see why...Cleveland aports fans are the most dedicated, diehard fans out there--we come back year after year despite constantly being disappointed...

--steph

Josh Graves said...

Cleveland is getting some love. It's a fine line between loyalty and blind obsession. Ha.

JG

PS I think the championship jinx is broken this year. Cavs beat the Lakers :)

Zack said...

1. Dallas, TX I'm a homer too:)
2. Gainsville, FL
3. Chicago, IL
4. Pittsburg, PA
5. Boston, MA

Josh Graves said...

Looks like I might have to reconsider my #1 ranking. The Pistons have laid an egg (and so have local Detroit fans).

JG