Image via Complex Original
The debacle that's going on in LaLa Land between Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball got us thinking; which owners should be replaced? We're talking about everyone from owners that couldn't give two @#!*% about putting a good product on the floor like the Clippers' Donald Sterling to the others that try but fail miserably like Fred Wilpon of the Mets. Our rankings are based on winning percentage, overall value of the club, horrible personnel moves, and hatred from fans. So, as McCourt & Co. struggle to figure out how they're going to make the next payroll (start selling that white, son!), here are the 10 Pro Sports Owners Who Should Be Replaced...
10. James Dolan
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): New York Knicks, New York Rangers (1999)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 489-627 (.438)
COMPLEX SAYS: Not only has this man defamed the Mecca of basketball, but he has also managed to run one of hockey's most storied franchises into the ground. The Rangers have only won two playoff series since 1997 and the Knicks had a six-year drought before being swept in the first-round of this year' playoffs. Dolan's biggest flaw when it comes to the Knicks is his bromance with Isiah Thomas. The same Isiah Thomas that put the CBA out of business, put the Knicks in debt with ridiculous signings like Jerome James, and cost the Garden about $11.6 mil in a sexual harassment lawsuit. Luckily for Knicks fans, Dolan came to his senses and cut ties with Zeke...oh who are we kidding? With Donnie Walsh (you know, the guy that revived the franchise) out the door, we figure the re-hire date for Isiah is probably April 1 of next year (no foolin'). Stay nervous Knicks fans.
9. Fred Wilpon
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): New York Mets (1986)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 2,091-1,973 (.515)
COMPLEX SAYS: The Messropolitians have become known for bad signings, trades, firings, and just about every other front office fail since Fred Wilpon took over. After winning the World Series in 1986, the Mets have made just four playoff appearances and have had a few epic end of the season collapses. If that wasn't enough, in December of last year a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Bernie Madoff's victims claiming that Wilpon had actually profited from the Ponzi scheme. When bad meets evil, word to Em and Royce.
8. Dan Snyder
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): Washington Redskins (1999)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 80-96 (.455)
COMPLEX SAYS: We should all ask Dan Synder for some money. The man gives it away like it's going out of style. He wasted millions on injury prone Lavar Arrington, an over-the-hill Deion Sanders, and a down-and-out Bruce Smith. Then, Danny Boy decided to give massive amounts of skrilla to Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall. And let us not forget about the Shannahan/Haynesworth/McNabb controversies. It's a mad house in DC, Redskin fans need to attempt a coup.
7. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): Toronto Maple Leafs (1994)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 592-511-89-86 (.463)
COMPLEX SAYS: Richard Peddie and Larry Tannenbaum own the Leafs because, well, they could. These fools are filthy rich and have no regard for Maple Leaf hockey. One of the NHL's most storied franchises hasn't won a cup in 43 years and counting and have a winning percentage below .500 since MLSE took control. The Leafs also haven't made the playoffs since the 2003-04 season. Blame Canada? Nah, these dudes are the culprits.
6. David Glass
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): Kansas City Royals (2000)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 1,167-1,574 (.426)
COMPLEX SAYS: The former Wal-Mart president was the Royals CEO for seven years before becoming the sole owner in 2000. Under Glass' ownership, KC hasn't made the playoffs and been over .500 just once. His frugal tendencies have allowed stars like Johnny Damon and Carlos Beltran to slip away without making any blockbuster acquisitions in return. That cheap skate Wal-Mart shopper steez doesn't work in the MLB, fam.
5. William Clay Ford, Sr.
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): Detroit Lions (1964)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 289-398-13 (.413)
COMPLEX SAYS: The only thing William Clay Ford can lean on is drafting Barry Sanders...and the buck stops there. One playoff win in his nearly 50 years of ownership, and he stood by Matt Millen's incompetent, racist ass for seven years. Detroit set a record by going 0-16 in '08, plus America is subjected to watching the Lions stink up the joint while trying to digest Thanksgiving dinner every year. Although, with a couple of those new draft picks, Detroit's fortune can change; still get rid of him. #toolittletoolate
4. Peter Angelos
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): Baltimore Orioles (1993)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 1,282-1,402 (.478)
COMPLEX SAYS: Angelos is a Baltimore native, so you figure he'd put on for his city when he took over the local team. Not really. During his tenure, the Orioles have made the playoffs twice and had 14 losing seasons. When the Washington Nationals came into town, Pete complained they would take away from his "fanbase," and guess what? The Nationals just hired fan favorite, Davey Johnson, who was the last manager to lead the Orioles to the playoffs before being forced out by Angelos in 1997. Oh yeah, did we mention that '97 was the same year Johnson won the AL Manager of the Year Award? This shit is for the birds...
3. Mike Brown
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): Cincinnati Bengals (1991)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 113-204-1 (.355)
COMPLEX SAYS: Everyone knows the Bengals suck. For young'ns it may seem like they've always sucked, but that isn't the case. The Bengals made it to Super Bowl XVI in 1982, Super Bowl XXIII in 1988, and remained an AFC contender before Mike inherited the team from his father, Paul Brown. Like father, like son? Hell no! Since Mike's takeover, the Bengals have accomplished shameful feats like 14 consecutive losing seasons and only two playoff appearances over a two decade period. The Bengals have also become known for their rap sheets rather than their stat sheets, and Carson Palmer would rather retire than put on the stripes again. You blame dude?
2. Al Davis
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): Oakland Raiders (1966)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 381-283-8 (.567)
COMPLEX SAYS: This dude. It was all good for the Cryptkeeper Al a few decades ago when the Raiders won three Super Bowls in a seven-year period. The only thing that has stayed the same since then has been homie's wardrobe and his old school ways. Since 2003, the Raiders have had seven losing seasons and six different head coaches. Plus there's been his epic news conferences where he publicly bashes former head coaches and has been known break out the overhead projector. Commitment to failure? You already know.
1. Donald Sterling
TEAM (YEAR PURCHASED): LA Clippers (1981)
W-L (WINNING PCT): 830-1,594 (.342)
COMPLEX SAYS: Sterling is a terrible owner and person with a well-documented history that's grimey beyond belief. Racism, sexual harassment, and refusing to pay for medical bills of employees recently diagnosed with cancer? Yup, dude's done just about everything wrong in L.A.. The Clippers have been the laughingstock in sports for a couple decades now. Since Sterling's tenure, the Clips have made four playoff appearances, drafted in the lottery a whopping 19 times, and made notorious draft pick busts like Michael Olowokandi and Benoit Benjamin. Get out while you can, Blake!