Quote:IMO, part of baseball's steady decline in popularity has to do with big market teams constantly owning the league and having all the success. WHen markets like Pittsburgh & Kansas City have to go several decades between legit world series chances, and the NY & Boston markets have that basically every year, then you have a problem with your sport. 

 

If football continues the way its going, it will be following in baseball's footsteps. 

 

The NFL, despite measures put in to help create a level playing field, big market teams still rule...and don't let it fool you - the NFL wants it this way....its no "coincidence" that the Jaguars never get good air time by the networks and coverage - they save that for the big market moneymaking teams. 

 

There's no real "parity". 

 

The only reason small markets like Pittsburgh and Green Bay are tolerated/ endorsed even is because those teams have built up such a following. If those markets had teams like the Jags without the "history" and fanfare,,,,they'd be getting similar treatment, too. 

 

Its all corrupt. All about greedy moneeeeeeeey, and pulling the wool over the peoples eyes to give the guise of "parity" when there really is none. 

 

The NFL at one time - under the Rozelle leadership and many of the old-guard owners DID care about parity because they saw the bigger picture and parity helped elevate the sport to the height it has reached.....but now, all the new-guard cares about is the short sighted bottom line and big markets. The NFL will follow the same path as baseball in time if this continues, mark my words. 

The Pirates would have been more competitive in the 20 year drought, but the owner went the cheap route as far as roster goes. Any time someone developed he was traded so that they didn't have to pay him a big contract. As soon as the new ownership was put in place 2 years back, things changed quick.

 

Small market teams have figured it out. TB has mastered it. It can be done very successfully. Take a look at the Yankees. Steinbrenner Sr. was all about winning and spent his money to do it. His sons are not that way. They'd rather make a buck, and it shows on the field.

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