Talking Points: Ranking pro teams

What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:

1

ESPN loves to make lists.

Their 10th annual Ultimate Standings 2012 is out, ranking all the pro franchises. The Oklahoma City Thunder top the list of 122 franchises. The Toronto Maple Leafs are holding things up at No. 122. The list is based on things like “Bang for the Buck,” “Fan relations,” “Ownership,” “Affordability,” “Stadium Experience,” among other categories.

As for our Northwest pro franchises, the Seattle Seahawks are the highest rated at No. 44 (up from No. 61 in 2011). They rank 7th for stadium experience thanks to its fans. The Portland Trail Blazers took a hit from 2011’s rankings, falling 50 spots to 81st. Wrote ESPN The Magazine’s Andy Kamenetzky: “In addition to being soulless, the Blazers also seemed headless.” Ouch.

The Seattle Mariners came in at No. 99. Wrote Scott T. Miller of ESPN The Magazine: “Well, at least the Seattle Mariners have a nice stadium.”

2

On this day in 2003, Andy Roddick won the U.S. Open for his first and only Grand Slam tennis title.

With his retirement from the pro tennis tour this past week, there are now no active U.S.-born men with a Slam title. There are some hopefuls out there in John Isner and Mardy Fish, but they haven’t had that breakthrough moment.

American men’s tennis has been in a lull since the rise of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Since the days of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, the Americans have been getting deeper into Grand Slam events. They just need that breakthrough moment.

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