February 28, 1983: The "M*A*S*H" Finale

February 28, 1983, 40 years ago: The final episode of M*A*S*H airs on CBS, after 11 seasons, even though the Korean War, which it depicted, lasted 3 years.

The episode is titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen." It was directed by Alan Alda, who played Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce, M.D., U.S. Army Reserve, a.k.a. Hawkeye. He also wrote it, with, among others, longtime series producer Burt Metcalfe.

In its 1st season, 1972-73, M*A*S*H aired on Sundays at 8:00; 2nd season, Saturdays at 8:30; 3rd, Tuesdays at 8:30; 4th, 5th and 6th, Tuesday at 9:00; and then, late in the 6th season, 1978, to the end, Mondays at 9:00. The finale aired a little earlier, at 8:30 PM on a Monday night, and ran for two and a half hours.

The episode got 106 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV show in American history, breaking the record set a little over 2 years earlier, when Dallas revealed "Who shot J.R.?" Since then, a few Super Bowl broadcasts have surpassed it, but no regular TV series episode has.

Synopsis: The war finally comes to an end, but not before Hawkeye, who so often had walked a fine line between genius and madness, finally cracks, and needs treatment from Army psychiatrist Major Sidney Freedman (Allan Arbus). Another surgeon, Major Charles Emerson Winchester III (David Ogden Stiers), sees his love of music shattered upon seeing the deaths of North Korean prisoners of war, who happened to be musicians.

The camp's chaplain, Captain Francis Mulcahy (William Christopher), loses his hearing after an explosion. And the formerly cross-dressing, formerly psychiatric-discharge-seeking company clerk, Sergeant Max Klinger (Jamie Farr), falls in love with a Korean woman named Soon-Lee (Rosalind Chao), marries her -- with Mulcahy barely able to conduct the ceremony -- and decides to help her look for her family among the refugees: "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm staying in Korea!"

The final scene shows a (mostly?) recovered Hawkeye taking off in the last helicopter to leave the now-packed-up 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, while his bunkmate and fellow surgeon, Captain B.J. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell), gets ready to leave on a motorcycle he'd recovered. He yells, "I left you a note!" Hawkeye gets the last word, the last word spoken in the series: He yells, "What?" As the chopper takes off, he sees that B.J. has spelled out "GOODBYE" in the rocks that had helped weigh down the tents.

Living In a Jersey Paradise

To the tune of "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio, although, in terms of lyrical style, it probably owes more to "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody, "Amish Paradise."

As I walk through the valley of the Raritan

I take a look at my life and realize this wasn't planned.

But that's just perfect for us Jersey Guys

because it taught us all how to improvise.

Woke up this morning at 6:30, grab my keys.

Have breakfast at the deli: Pork roll, egg and cheese.

I've been waiting on this platform for the train so long

that even my Ma thinks my mind is gone!

But still, at 9, I’m in there, ready for work

for a totally insufferable jerk-fool!

I'm the kinda guy the office trainees wanna be like

in their studio apartments, sayin' prayers for 'burb life!

Been spending most our lives

living in a Jersey Paradise.

Learn how to improvise

living in a Jersey Paradise.

Eat pork roll by the slice

living in a Jersey Paradise.

It's just an option to be nice

living in a Jersey Paradise.

Work is done, I take the Subway back to Penn Station.

The trains backed up, leading to commuter consternation.

My briefcase is so packed, on me the boss was chunkin'.

But at least I got myself an iced latte from Dunkin.

Finally get home, resume my life.

On the table is McDonald's, bought by the wife.

She's a real estate agent, Jersey keeps her in commission

I gotta keep her pleased, 'cause I know what I was missin'!

The lawn mower's broken, the snowblower, too

and I ain't had the gutters cleaned since 2002!

She takes the Subaru to the Home Goods store.

Where she'll put all the stuff she buys there, I just don't know.

Tell me why are we stuck on Route 3?

Is it more construction or the return of Chris Christie?

Been spending most our lives

living in a Jersey Paradise.

It takes some sacrifice

living in a Jersey Paradise.

Atlantic City's our vice

living in a Jersey Paradise.

Leave up our Christmas lights

living in a Jersey Paradise.

Shopping malls are crowded, traffic is a bummer.

We still get to go down the Shore in the Summer!

The Devils gave us three Stanley Cups in hockey.

So who needs New York's Warriors or Philadelphia's Rocky?

They say I gotta learn, but nothing they can teach me

is worth doing things that would make the cops reach me!

I guess they can't, but I wish they would all

give tickets to cars taking up two spaces at the mall, fool!

Been spending most our lives

living in a Jersey Paradise.

We pay the ShopRite price

living in a Jersey Paradise.

No pineapple on pies

living in a Jersey Paradise.

We’re all standup guys

living in a Jersey Paradise.

Tell me why are we stuck on Route 3?

Someone made a wrong turn into Cheesecake Factory!

Tell me why are we stuck on Route 3?

Somebody ticked off the wrong "family"!

*

Days until the next Arsenal match: 5, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time this Saturday, a Premier League match, away to Leicester City. The Arsenal remain top of the League, although Manchester City have closed the gap.

Days until the New Jersey Devils again play a local rival: 5, at 7:30 PM this Saturday, home to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Days until the next New York Red Bulls game: 5, at 7:30 PM this Saturday, away to Orlando City.

Days until the next game of the U.S. National Soccer Team: 32, on Friday, March 24, at 8:00 PM New York time, in the CONCACAF Nations League, away to Grenada.

Days until the Yankees' Opening Day: 38, on Thursday, March 30, home to the San Francisco Giants. This will be the 1st Yankee game to be both an Opening Day and an Interleague game. Under 3 months.

Days until the Red Bulls again play a nearby rival: 70, on Saturday, May 6, home to the Philadelphia Union.

Days until the Yankees' next series against the Boston Red Sox begins: 109, on Friday, June 9, 2023, at Yankee Stadium II. Under 4 months.

Days until the next Women's World Cup opens: 140, on Friday, July 10, 2023, jointly held in the neighboring nations of Australia and New Zealand. Under 5 months.

Days until the next North London Derby: Unknown. Arsenal have won both League games with Tottenham Hotspur, and will not face "Spurs" in any other competition this season. The 2023-24 Premier League season will begin on Saturday, August 12, which would be 173 days. But the season never begins with any derby matches, so it will probably be at least 1 week later.

Days until the next East Brunswick High School football game: Unknown, since we won't know the 2023 schedule for months. It could be as soon as Friday, September 1, which would be 193 days. A little over 6 months.

Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge game: Also unknown. It could be the season opener. At least, after this year's game was at the purple shit pit on Route 9, next year's game will be at home.

Days until the next Rutgers University football game: 194, on Saturday, September 2, home to Northwestern. A little over 6 months.

Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 271, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at a time to be determined, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Under 9 months.

Days until the next Summer Olympic Games: 522, on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. A little under a year and a half, or a little over 17 months.

Days until the next Presidential election: 624, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Under 2 years, or under 21 months.

Days until the next elections for Governor of New Jersey and Mayor of New York City: 988, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Under 3 years.

Days until the next Winter Olympics open in Milan, Italy: 1,082, on Friday, February 6, 2026. A little under 3 years.

Days until the next World Cup opens: 1,204, on Monday, June 8, 2026. Under 3 1/2 years. 

Tim McCarver, 1941-2023

Tim McCarver was one of the smartest men in baseball. All you had to do was ask him.

Alas, we can no longer do that.

James Timothy McCarver was born on October 16, 1941 in Memphis, Tennessee. Like James Paul McCartney Jr., born 8 months later, this James was best known by his middle name. He played from 1959 to 1980, and is the only baseball player to be thrown out of major league games in 4 different decades.

But he was also the catcher on the 1964 and '67 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, and Steve Carlton's "personal catcher" on the Philadelphia Phillies. He had also caught Carlton on the '67 Cards, and once joked that he and Steve will be buried 60 feet, 6 inches apart. Although he did not play in the 1980 postseason, and in fact served as a Phils broadcaster during the NLCS, he received a World Series ring when the Phils won.

But he is best known as a broadcaster, for the Mets, including their 1986 World Championship season; the Yankees, including their 1999 and 2000 World Championship seasons; and several networks, and has been awarded the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford Frick Award for broadcasters. He also wrote several books about baseball, and is a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

The weird thing about McCarver is that the ballpark in his hometown, which served as the home of a series of Memphis teams from 1968 to 1999, was renamed Tim McCarver Stadium in 1978, while he was not only still alive, but still active in baseball. It has since been replaced by a more modern facility, and was demolished in 2005. Like Helen Hayes with the 1st Broadway theater named for her, McCarver outlived the "playhouse" named for him.

No wonder that, when James Timothy McCarver joined James Paul McCartney Jr. as a recording artist, and recorded Tim McCarver Sings Songs from the Great American Songbook in 2009, one of the songs he chose was the one that Joe Raposo wrote about Ebbets Field for Frank Sinatra: "There Used to Be a Ballpark."

He married Anne McDaniel, his high school sweetheart, in 1964, although it ended in divorce. They had 2 daughters, Kelly and Kathy, and 2 grandchildren.

He died today, February 16, 2023, of heart failure in his hometown of Memphis. He was 81 years old.

With his death, there are now 14 surviving players from the 1964 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals: Roger Craig, Dick Groat, Bob Skinner, Mike Shannon, Julián Javier, Dal Maxvill, Bill White, Carl Warwick, Gordie Richardson, Ray Washburn, Ron Taylor, Charlie James, Bob Humphreys and Bob Uecker.

And there are 11 surviving players from the 1967 World Champion Cardinals: Shannon, Javier, Maxville, Washburn, Orlando Cepeda, Steve Carlton, Eddie Bressoud, Bobby Tolan, Ed Spiezio, Dick Hughes and Larry Jaster.

All-Time Rankings of North American Major League Sports Teams, as of Super Bowl LVII

All-time rankings of North American major league sports teams, as of Super Bowl LVII. This includes:

* Baseball: National Association titles, 1871-75; National League titles, 1876-81 and 1892-1902; postseason series between the NL and American Association Champions, 1882-91; and World Series wins, 1903-2022.

* Football: NFL Championships, 1920-1965; and Super Bowl wins, 1967-2023, for the seasons of 1966-2022. An NFL Championship win before Super Bowl I counts just as much as a Super Bowl win.

* Basketball: NBA Championships, 1947-2022.

* Hockey: Stanley Cup wins, 1893-2022.

* Only titles won by current teams are included.

* Not included: The WNBA, soccer, and "rebel leagues" like the various AFLs, the ABA and the WHA.

* Titles won in previous cities/metro areas are not counted. For example, the Los Angeles Dodgers cannot count the 1955 World Series won by the Brooklyn Dodgers.

* However, name changes -- such as Cleveland Indians to Guardians, Washington Redskins to Commanders, and Washington Bullets to Wizards -- can include all titles won in that metro area.

* Ties broken by most recent.

Rankings overall, and by sport.

1. 1. New York Yankees, 27 World Series wins.

2. 1. Montreal Canadiens, 24 Stanley Cups.

3. 1. Boston Celtics, 17 NBA Championships.

4. 2. St. Louis Cardinals, 13 World Championships (2 pre-World Series).

5. 1. Green Bay Packers, 13 NFL Championships.

6. 2. Toronto Maple Leafs, 13 Stanley Cups.

7. 2. Los Angeles Lakers, 12 NBA Championships.

8. 3. Detroit Red Wings, 11 Stanley Cups.

9. 3. Boston Red Sox, 10 World Series wins (including 1904 when the Giants "forfeited").

10. 2. Chicago Bears, 9 NFL Championships.

11. 3. New York Giants, 8 NFL Championships.

12. 4. Chicago Cubs, 7 World Championships (4 pre-World Series).

13. 5. Pittsburgh Pirates, 7 World Championships (2 pre-World Series).

14. 6. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6 World Series wins.

15. 4. New England Patriots, 6 NFL Championships.

16. 4. Chicago Blackhawks, 6 Stanley Cups.

17. 5. Boston Bruins, 6 Stanley Cups.

18. 5. Pittsburgh Steelers, 6 NFL Championships.

19. 3. Chicago Bulls, 6 NBA Championships.

20. 4. Golden State Warriors, 5 NBA Championships.

21. 6. Pittsburgh Penguins, 5 NBA Stanley Cups.

22. 5. San Antonio Spurs, 5 NBA Championships.

23. 6. Dallas Cowboys, 5 NFL Championships.

24. 7. San Francisco 49ers, 5 NFL Championships.

25. 8. Washington Commanders, 5 NFL Championships.

26. 7. Edmonton Oilers, 5 Stanley Cups.

27. 7. Cincinnati Reds, 5 World Series wins.

28. 9. Philadelphia Eagles, 4 NFL Championships.

29. 8. New York Rangers, 4 Stanley Cups.

30. 8. Oakland Athletics, 4 World Series wins.

31. 9. Detroit Tigers, 4 World Series wins.

32. 9. New York Islanders, 4 Stanley Cups.

33. 10. Cleveland Browns, 4 NFL Championships.

34. 11. Detroit Lions, 4 NFL Championships.

35. 12. Kansas City Chiefs, 3 NFL Championships.

36. 10. Colorado Avalanche, 3 Stanley Cups.

37. 11. Tampa Bay Lightning, 3 Stanley Cups.

38. 13. Denver Broncos, 3 NFL Championships.

39. 10. San Francisco Giants, 3 World Series wins.

40. 6. Miami Heat, 3 NBA Championships.

41. 11. Chicago White Sox, 3 World Series wins.

42. 7. Detroit Pistons, 3 NBA Championships.

43. 12. New Jersey Devils, 3 Stanley Cups.

44. 12. Baltimore Orioles, 3 World Series wins.

45. 13. Houston Astros, 2 World Series wins.

46. 14. Atlanta Braves, 2 World Series wins.

47. 14. Los Angeles Rams, 2 NFL Championships.

48. 8. Milwaukee Bucks, 2 NBA Championships.

49. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2 NFL Championships.

50. 15. Kansas City Royals, 2 World Series wins.

51. 13. Los Angeles Kings, 2 Stanley Cups.

52. 16. Baltimore Ravens, 2 NFL Championships.

53. 16. Philadelphia Phillies, 2 World Series wins.

54. 17. Miami Marlins, 2 World Series wins.

55. 9. Houston Rockets, 2 NBA Championships.

56. 18. Toronto Blue Jays, 2 World Series wins.

57. 19. Minnesota Twins, 2 World Series wins.

58. 20. New York Mets, 2 World Series wins.

59. 10. Philadelphia 76ers, 2 NBA Championships.

60. 14. Philadelphia Flyers, 2 Stanley Cups.

61. 17. Miami Dolphins, 2 NFL Championships.

62. 11. New York Knicks, 2 NBA Championships.

63. 21. Cleveland Guardians, 2 World Series wins.

64. 22. Washington Nationals, 1 World Series win.

65. 12. Toronto Raptors, 1 NBA Championship.

66. 15. St. Louis Blues, 1 Stanley Cup.

67. 16. Washington Capitals, 1 Stanley Cup.

68. 13. Cleveland Cavaliers, 1 NBA Championship.

69. 18. Seattle Seahawks, 1 NFL Championship.

70. 14. Dallas Mavericks, 1 NBA Championship.

71. 19. New Orleans Saints, 1 NFL Championship.

72. 17. Anaheim Ducks, 1 Stanley Cup.

73. 20. Indianapolis Colts, 1 NFL Championships.

74. 18. Carolina Hurricanes, 1 Stanley Cup.

75. 23. Los Angeles Angels, 1 World Series win.

76. 24. Arizona Diamondbacks, 1 World Series win.

77. 19. Dallas Stars, 1 Stanley Cup.

78. 20. Calgary Flames, 1 Stanley Cup.

79. 15. Washington Wizards, 1 NBA Championship.

80. 16. Portland Trail Blazers, 1 NBA Championship.

81. 21. New York Jets, 1 AFL-NFL Championship.

82. 22. Buffalo Bills, 4 Conference Championships.

83. 23. Minnesota Vikings, 4 Conference Championships.

84. 24. Cincinnati Bengals, 3 Conference Championships.

85. 21. Vancouver Canucks, 3 Stanley Cup Finals.

86. 25. Tampa Bay Rays, 2 Pennants.

87. 25. Atlanta Falcons, 2 Conference Championships.

88. 26. Carolina Panthers, 2 Conference Championships.

89. 26. Texas Rangers, 2 Pennants.

90. 17. Orlando Magic, 2 NBA Finals.

91. 18. Brooklyn Nets, 2 NBA Finals.

92. 22. Buffalo Sabres, 2 Stanley Cup Finals.

93. 27. San Diego Padres, 2 Pennants.

94. 19. Utah Jazz, 2 NBA Finals.

95. 23. Vegas Golden Knights, 1 Stanley Cup Final.

96. 24. Nashville Predators, 1 Stanley Cup Final.

97. 25. San Jose Sharks, 1 Stanley Cup Final.

98. 26. Ottawa Senators, 1 Stanley Cup Final.

99. 27. Arizona Cardinals, 1 Conference Championship.

100. 28. Tennessee Titans, 1 Conference Championship.

101. 27. Florida Panthers, 1 Stanley Cup Final.

102. 20. Oklahoma City Thunder, 1 NBA Finals.

103. 28. Colorado Rockies, 1 Pennant.

104. 21. Indiana Pacers, 1 NBA Finals.

105. 29. Milwaukee Brewers, 1 Pennant.

106. 22. Atlanta Hawks, 4 Conference Finals.

107. 29. Jacksonville Jaguars, 3 Conference Championship Games.

108. 23. Phoenix Suns, 3 Conference Finals.

109. 24. Denver Nuggets, 3 Conference Finals.

110. 30. Seattle Mariners, 3 ALCS berths.

111. 25. Los Angeles Clippers, 1 Conference Final.

112. 28. Winnipeg Jets, 1 Conference Final.

113. 29. Arizona Coyotes, 1 Conference Final.

114. 26. Memphis Grizzlies, 1 Conference Final.

115. 27. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1 Conference Final.

116. 30. Minnesota Wild, 1 Conference Final.

117. 28. Sacramento Kings, 1 Conference Final.

118. 29. Charlotte Hornets, 4 Conference Semifinals.

119. 31. Columbus Blue Jackets, 2 Conference Semifinals.

120. 30. New Orleans Hornets, 2 Conference Semifinals.

121. 30. Houston Texans, 4 Divisional Playoff berths.

122. 31. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 Divisional Playoff berth.

123. 32. Las Vegas Raiders, 1 Wild Card Playoff berth.

124. 32. Seattle Kraken, no Playoff berths in 1 season.

*

New York: 1, 11, 28, 32, 43, 58, 62, 81, 91.

Boston: 3, 9, 15, 17.

St. Louis: 4, 66.

Milwaukee-Green Bay: 5, 48, 105.

Los Angeles: 7, 14, 47, 51, 72, 75, 111, 122.

Detroit: 8, 31, 34, 42.

Chicago: 10, 12, 16, 19, 41.

Pittsburgh: 13, 18, 21.

San Francisco Bay Area: 20, 24, 30, 39, 97.

San Antonio: 22.

Dallas: 23, 70, 77, 89.

Washington: 25, 64, 67, 79.

Cincinnati: 27, 84.

Philadelphia: 28, 53, 59, 60.

Cleveland: 33, 63, 68.

Kansas City: 35, 50.

Denver: 36, 38, 103, 109.

Tampa Bay: 37, 49, 86.

Miami: 40, 54, 61, 101.

Baltimore: 44, 52.

Houston: 45, 55, 121.

Atlanta: 46, 87, 106.

Minneapolis: 57, 83, 115, 116.

Seattle: 69, 110, 124.

New Orleans: 71, 120.

Indianapolis: 73, 104.

Carolina: 74, 88, 118.

Phoenix: 76, 99, 108, 113.

Portland: 80.

Buffalo: 82, 92.

Orlando: 90.

San Diego: 93.

Salt Lake City: 94.

Las Vegas: 95, 123.

Tennessee: 96, 100, 114.

Oklahoma City: 102.

Jacksonville: 107.

Sacramento: 117.

Columbus: 119.

February 15, 1933: Fear Itself

Anton Cermak (left) and Franklin Roosevelt

February 15, 1933, 90 years ago: An assassination attempt is made against President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, at Bayfront Park in Miami. The shooter, an Italian immigrant named Giuseppe Zangara, missed him, but hit Mayor Anton Cermak of Chicago, who died on March 6. Zangara was executed 14 days later.

Had the attempt succeeded, Vice President-elect John Nance Garner would have become President on March 4. There would have been an attempt to ease the Great Depression, but it wouldn’t have been the New Deal. The Depression would still have been going on in 1941, and there would have been no effort from whoever was President at that point to oppose Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, including no Atlantic Charter with Britain. The Nazis would have beaten Britain, likely without attacking the Soviet Union.

This would have set up a Cold War against the Soviets, with the U.S., the Nazis and the Japanese on the same side. And of those 3 big nations on that side, the U.S. would be the weakest, since it would still be in a post-Depression hangover.
 
This likely means no civil rights movement. Jackie Robinson is a forgotten former UCLA running back. Martin Luther King dies in a Southern jail sometime between 1955 and 1968. There might have been a President Kennedy, but it would have been Joe Jr., especially since, in this case, Joe Sr. would not have been disgraced for supporting the Nazis. And, aside from being the 1st Catholic President, Joe Jr. wouldn't have had the kind of impact that the President Kennedy that we know had. The Nazis would have gotten to space first and to the Moon first.
 

Rock and roll is a fad that dies out by 1960. Elvis Presley becomes a renowned country singer, but not the "King" of anything. John Lennon is one of many British rockers we know who, without the outlet of rock, end up in jail. Paul McCartney becomes a minor figure outside Britain. Bob Dylan is a quirky folksinger who doesn’t really catch on in mainstream America. Mick Jagger is a frustrated economics professor. Elton John and Billy Joel remain piano players in lounges. Bruce Springsteen is a mechanic. Madonna is a waitress who used to dance on Broadway.

Eventually, the Soviets' part in the Cold War is to launch insurgencies in the colonies that Germany took from Britain, France and the rest in Africa; and Japan took from them in Asia. This means that the Nazis, the Japanese, and, at their insistence, the U.S. fight the Vietnam War, and each is weakened by it, but not defeated. The Soviet Union falls on schedule in 1991. And then there were 3. But America is still a backwater compared to the Nazi-led European Union and the Empire of Japan.

Rights for women? A struggle few accept. Rights for black people and other nonwhites? A nonstarter. Rights for gay people? We don't even talk about that kind of people, because we don't talk about that kind of behavior. Social Security? Medicare? Medicaid? OSHA? The Environmental Protection Agency? What the hell are those things?

Donald Trump has never become President. He's never needed to run for it. He's thrilled with how America is run. It's a nation where rich white men benefit, and everyone else lives in fear.

*

But Zangara did not hit Roosevelt, and the only thing we had to fear was fear itself.

Last Titles Won By Cities, as of Super Bowl LVII

Kansas City

When did your city last win a World Championship, in one of the "big four" sports in North America? Note that this doesn't include Canadian teams, as, then, we would have to include the CFL.

1. Kansas City: 2023 Chiefs, Super Bowl.

2. Houston: 2022 Astros, World Series.

3. San Francisco Bay Area: 2022 Golden State Warriors, NBA Championship.

4. Denver: 2022 Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup.

5. Los Angeles: 2022 Rams, Super Bowl.

6. Atlanta: 2021 Braves, World Series.

7. Tampa Bay: 2021 Lightning, Stanley Cup.

8. Milwaukee-Green Bay: 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Championship.

9. Washington: 2019 Nationals, World Series.

10. St. Louis: 2019 Blues, Stanley Cup.

11. Boston: 2019 New England Patriots, Super Bowl.

12. Philadelphia: 2018 Eagles, Super Bowl.

13. Pittsburgh: 2017 Penguins, Stanley Cup.

14. Chicago: 2016 Cubs, World Series.

15. Cleveland: 2016 Cavaliers, NBA Championship.

16. San Antonio: 2014 Spurs, NBA Championship.

17. Seattle: 2014 Seahawks, Super Bowl.

18. Miami: 2013 Heat, NBA Championship.

19. Baltimore: 2013 Ravens, Super Bowl.

20. New York Tri-State Area: 2012 Giants, Super Bowl.

21. Dallas: 2011 Mavericks, NBA Championship.

22. New Orleans: 2010 Saints, Super Bowl.

23. Detroit: 2008 Red Wings, Stanley Cup.

24. Indianapolis: 2007 Colts, Super Bowl.

25. Carolina: 2006 Hurricanes, Stanley Cup

26. Phoenix: 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, World Series.

27. Minneapolis: 1991 Minnesota Twins, World Series.

28. Cincinnati: 1990 Reds, World Series.

29. Portland: 1977 Trail Blazers, NBA Championship.

30. Western New York: 1955 Syracuse Nationals, NBA Championship.

31. San Diego: Never, 1 current and 1 former team are 0-3 in Finals.

32. Tennessee: Never, 3 teams are 0-2 in Finals.

33. Orlando: Never, 1 team is 0-2 in Finals.

34. Salt Lake City: Never, 1 team is 0-2 in Finals.

35. Oklahoma City: Never, 1 team is 0-1 in Finals.

36. Las Vegas: Never, 2 teams are 0-1 in Finals.

37. Columbus: Never, 1 team has never reached Finals since expansion into existence.

38. Jacksonville: Never, 1 team has never reached Finals since expansion into existence.

39. Sacramento: Never, 1 team has never reached Finals since moving there.

Last Titles Won Under Presidents

Under which President did your favorite team last win a World Championship?

* Joe Biden: Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Astros, Golden State Warriors, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Lightning, Milwaukee Bucks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

* Donald Trump: Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Nationals, Toronto Raptors, St. Louis Blues, New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Penguins.

* Barack Obama: Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Blackhawks, San Francisco Giants, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Heat, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Bruins, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Steelers.

* George W. Bush: Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Celtics, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Pistons, Miami Marlins, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks.

* Bill Clinton: Dallas Stars, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Rockets, San Francisco 49ers, New York Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Montreal Canadiens.

* George H.W. Bush: Minnesota Twins, Washington Commanders (then the Washington Redskins), Cincinnati Reds, Edmonton Oilers, Oakland Athletics, Calgary Flames.

* Ronald Reagan: New York Mets, Chicago Bears, Detroit Tigers, Las Vegas Raiders (then the Los Angeles Raiders), Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Islanders.

* Jimmy Carter: Pittsburgh Pirates, Oklahoma City Thunder (then the Seattle SuperSonics), Washington Wizards (then the Washington Bullets), Portland Trail Blazers.

* Gerald Ford: Philadelphia Flyers.

* Richard Nixon: New York Knicks, Miami Dolphins.

* Lyndon Johnson: New York Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Cleveland Browns.

* Dwight D. Eisenhower: Atlanta Hawks (then the St. Louis Hawks), Detroit Lions.

* Harry Truman: Sacramento Kings (then the Rochester Royals), Cleveland Guardians (then the Cleveland Indians), Arizona Cardinals (then the Chicago Cardinals).

* Never, but did win titles in a previous league: Arizona Coyotes, never reached Stanley Cup Finals in 27 years, but won the 1976, 1978 and 1979 WHA Championships as the original version of the Winnipeg Jets, so, Jimmy Carter; Brooklyn Nets, 0-for-2 in 46 years, but won the 1974 and 1976 ABA Championships, so, Gerald Ford; Indiana Pacers, 0-for-1 in 46 years, but won the 1970, 1972 and 1973 ABA Championships, so, Richard Nixon; Minnesota Vikings, 0-for-4 in 53 years, but won the 1969 NFL Championship, so, Lyndon Johnson; Buffalo Bills, 0-for-4 in 53 years, but won the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championships, so, Lyndon Johnson; Los Angeles Chargers, 0-for-1 in 53 years, but did win the 1963 AFL Championship as the San Diego Chargers, so, John F. Kennedy; Tennessee Titans, 0-for-1 in 53 years, but won the 1960 and 1961 AFL Championships as the Houston Oilers, so, John F. Kennedy.

* Never, but have at least reached their sport's Final: Cincinnati Bengals, 0-for-3, last in 2022, so, Joe Biden; Phoenix Suns, 0-for-3, last in 2021; Tampa Bay Rays, 0-for-2, last in 2020; Vegas Golden Knights, 0-for-1, in 2018; Nashville Predators, 0-for-1, in 2017; Atlanta Falcons, 0-for-2, last in 2017; San Jose Sharks, 0-for-1, in 2016; Carolina Panthers, 0-for-2, last in 2016; Texas Rangers, 0-for-2, last in 2011; Vancouver Canucks, 0-for-3, last in 2011; Orlando Magic, 0-for-2, last in 2009; Colorado Rockies, 0-for-1, in 2007; Ottawa Senators, 0-for-1, in 2007; Buffalo Sabres, 0-for-2, last in 1999; San Diego Padres, 0-for-2, last in 1998; Utah Jazz, 0-for-2, last in 1998; Florida Panthers, 0-for-1, in 1996; Milwaukee Brewers, 0-for-1, in 1982.

* Never, but have at least reached their sport's last four: Los Angeles Clippers, once, in 2021; the "new" Winnipeg Jets, once, in 2018; Jacksonville Jaguars, 3 times, last in 2017; Memphis Grizzlies, once, in 2013; Minnesota Timberwolves, once, in 2004; Minnesota Wild, once, in 2003; Seattle Mariners, 3 times, last in 2001; Denver Nuggets, never reached an NBA Finals in 47 years, but did reach the 1976 ABA Finals.

* Never, but have at least won a Playoff round: Columbus Blue Jackets, 2, last in 2020; Houston Texans, 4, last in 2019; New Orleans Pelicans, 2, last in 2018; Charlotte Hornets, 4, last in 2002.

* Never: Seattle Kraken, now in their 2nd season of play.

Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame the Referees for the Philadelphia Eagles Losing Super Bowl LVII

Last night, the Kansas City Chiefs came from behind to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35 at State Farm Stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona.

It was the most points ever scored by a team in a Super Bowl that still lost. It broke the record of 33, set by the New England Patriots, 5 years ago, when they lost 41-33... to the Eagles. That game remains the highest-scoring Super Bowl, topping last night's game, 74 to 73.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes fought off an ankle injury at the Eagles' defense, the best in the NFL all season long, to lead the comeback, and win his 2nd Super Bowl in 3 tries, and also his 2nd Pete Rozelle Award as the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl.

Harrison Butker kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8 seconds left in regulation, following a drive aided by a penalty on James Bradberry for holding Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, giving the Chiefs an automatic 1st down. Eagle fans were furious over the call, which, if called an incomplete pass, would have meant 4th down and 8 yards to go on the 17.

Did Eagle fans have a point? It was a borderline call, and the tendency in the late moment of a postseason game, in any sport, is for the officials to "Let them play." This time, the call was made.

Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame the Referees for the Philadelphia Eagles Losing Super Bowl LVII

5. The Hurts Fumble Hurt. Jalen Hurts didn't play like a 2nd-year quarterback. He played as if pressure was a friend, not an enemy. But early in the 2nd quarter, with the Eagles leading 14-7, he fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Nick Bolton, who returned it 36 yards for a game-tying touchdown.

If that fumble hadn't happened, even if the Eagles had stalled, and then held the Chiefs off on their next drive, they would have won the game.

4. Experience. In an exercise such as this, the easiest thing is to say, "The opposition was better," and make that Reason Number 1. Were the Chiefs better? Eagles head coach Nick Sirriani said so after the game: "Today, they were better than we were."

At the very least, they were more experienced. They won the Super Bowl 3 years ago, and lost another 2 years ago. Many of their players from those games were in this one as well, enabling them to overcome the "Dynasty of One" tag. In contrast, the Eagles only had 4 players remaining, and almost an entirely different coaching staff, from their Super Bowl win of 5 years ago. Aside from that, they didn't have Super Bowl experience.

Speaking of experience:

3. Andy Reid. In Super Bowl XXXIX, 18 years earlier, Reid coached the Eagles against the New England Patriots, and his poor clock management was one of the things that cost the Eagles the game. It wasn't the first time that happened while he was their coach, nor the last.

It was why I was sure the Chiefs would lose Super Bowl LIV to the San Francisco 49ers: I didn't trust him in the game's closing minutes. But he managed the clock well that time. And he did again last night, outcoaching Sirriani despite having a 24-to-36-minute time of possession deficit.

2. It Probably Didn't Matter. If the penalty hadn't been called, or had been overruled by the referee, or invalidated by instant replay -- instead of the referee calling for the replay, and the replay confirming that the right call was made -- it would have given the Chiefs 4th & 8 at the Eagles' 17. A field goal from there would have been 34 yards.

Granted, Butker had missed a field goal earlier, but that was from 42 yards. Even with the field being in bad shape, he should have been able to make it from 34, under a dome and thus in perfect weather.

It would have given the Eagles the ball back with about 1 minute to go, instead of 8 seconds. Depending on the lengths of the kickoff and its return, they would have needed 50 yards, maybe as little as 40, for a game-tying field goal. But as good as Hurts had been during the game, there's no guarantee that he would have been able to do it, especially win only 1 time-out remaining.

1. The Eagles Admitted It. Bradberry himself said, after the game, "I pulled on his jersey. They called it. I was hoping they would let it ride." And Sirriani said, "That's not what it is. There's so many plays that contribute to the end result of a game. And, today, they were better than we were."

VERDICT: Not Guilty. This game was fairly won, and it was fairly lost.

Pro Football Hall-of-Famers By Team, 2023 Edition

Congratulations to the newly-elected members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. New members are annually announced on the day before the Super Bowl. This time, they did it on the preceding Thursday. This year's class is defense-heavy, and includes the righting of some longstanding wrongs. Here are the new electees, listed here in chronological order:

* Chuck Howley, linebacker, 1958-59 Chicago Bears, 1961-73 Dallas Cowboys. Pro Bowls: 6. Super Bowl VI winner. He also played in Super Bowl V, becoming the only player from a losing team ever to be named the Most Valuable Player of a Super Bowl. The Cowboys have already elected him to their Ring of Honor. He had to wait until age 86 to be elected, but is still alive.

* Ken Riley, cornerback, 1969-83 Cincinnati Bengals. He was never named to a Pro Bowl, but, at the time of his retirement, his 65 career interceptions ranked 4th all-time. He later served as head coach and athletic director at Florida A&M University, winning a Conference Championship in 1990. The Bengals have elected him to their Ring of Honor. He died in 2020.

* Don Coryell, head coach, 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-86 San Diego Chargers. He had previously been the head coach at San Diego State, some smaller U.S. colleges, and at one of Canada's top collegiate programs, the University of British Columbia; with a record of 127-24-3.

In the NFL, he went 114-89-1, making him the 1st head coach ever to top 100 wins both collegiately and professionally: 241-113-4. He coached the Cardinals to the NFC East title in 1974 and '75, the only 1st-place finishes for the now-Arizona franchise between 1948 (when they were in Chicago) and 2008. His passing-oriented "Air Coryell" attack led the San Diego Chargers to the AFC West title in 1979, '80 and '81, and to the 1980 and '81 AFC Championship Games, but never reached a Super Bowl. The now-Los Angeles Chargers elected him to their Hall of Fame. He died in 2010.

* Joe Klecko, defensive end, 1977-87 New York Jets, 1988 Indianapolis Colts. Pro Bowls: 4. He led the NFL in sacks in 1981, and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Ironically, the closest the Jets ever got to the Super Bowl was the 1982 AFC Championship Game, a season he missed most of due to a knee injury. The Jets have already retired his Number 73 and elected him to their Ring of Honor.

His son, Dan Klecko, was a defensive tackle who won 2 Super Bowls with New England and another with Indianapolis. Amazingly, it is only now that any member of the Jets' much-hyped "New York Sack Exchange" has been elected to Canton. Mark Gastineau and Marty Lyons aren't in, and Abdul Salaam, while a good player, wasn't at the level of the others.

* Zach Thomas, linebacker, 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys. Pro Bowls, 7. He led the NFL in tackles in 2002 and '06. He is already a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and the Dolphins' Honor Roll.

* Ronde Barber, cornerback, 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pro Bowls: 5. Super Bowl XXXVII winner. Most consecutive starts by a defensive back: 215, 224 including the Playoffs. He is already a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and the Bucs' Ring of Honor.

Interestingly enough, his identical twin brother and University of Virginia teammate, Tiki Barber, is not in the Hall of Fame, despite being the all-time leading rusher in the history of professional football in the New York Tri-State Area and being eligible for 6 additional years.

* DeMarcus Ware, linebacker, 2005-13 Dallas Cowboys (meaning, in 2008, he was a teammate of Zach Thomas), 2014-16 Denver Broncos. Pro Bowls: 9. Super Bowl 50 winner. Led the NFL in sacks in 2008 and 2010. He is already a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team.

* Darrelle Revis, cornerback, 2007-12 and 2015-16 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs. Pro Bowls: 7. Super Bowl XLIX winner. He is already a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team and the Jets' Ring of Honor.

A graduate of Aliquippa High School, as are Hall-of-Famers Mike Ditka and Ty Law, former All-Pro Sean Gilbert, basketball player and coach Press Maravich (Pistol Pete's father) and composer Henry Mancini. Aliquippa, 22 miles down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, is some town: Arch-rival Hopewell High School produced Hall-of-Famer Tony Dorsett, former All-Pro Paul Posluszny, and baseball All-Star George "Doc" Medich.

* Joe Thomas (no relation to Zach Thomas), offensive tackle, 2007-17 Cleveland Browns. Pro Bowls: 10, missing only in his last season. Holds the NFL record for most consecutive snaps played, regardless of position: 10,363. Despite never having played in a Playoff game -- for most of that time, to borrow a lyric, he was a ruby in a mountain of rocks -- he was elected in his 1st year of eligibility. As an offensive lineman. Now, that is respect. He is already a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team and the Browns' Ring of Honor.

*

Inductees are listed here with a team if they played, or coached, or were an executive, with them for at least 4 seasons.

I have divided moved teams accordingly (i.e., Johnny Unitas never took a snap for the Indianapolis Colts). "Sure future Hall-of-Famers" are not included, because, as we have seen in baseball, there is no such thing anymore. 

Tenure as a player, or a coach, or an executive is only counted if they were elected as such. In other words, Raymond Berry coached the Patriots into a Super Bowl, and Forrest Gregg did so with the Bengals, but they were elected as a Colts player and a Packers player, respectively, so those are the teams with which they're included.

Ties in the rankings are broken by more players, as opposed to other categories; and then by time in the league. So a team with 4 players is ahead of one with 3 players and 1 coach, and a team with 3 players in 50 years is ahead of one with 3 players in 80 years.

Figures are listed here as follows: Players in chronological order of their Hall of Fame service with the team (even if they had other functions with that team), then coaches, then executives, then broadcasters.

1. Chicago Bears, 31: George Halas (founder, owner, general manager, head coach, player), John "Paddy" Driscoll, George Trafton, Ed Healey, William "Link" Lyman, Red Grange, Bill Hewitt, Bronko Nagurski, George Musso, Dan Fortmann, Joe Stydahar, Sid Luckman, George McAfee, Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, Ed Sprinkle, George Connor, George Blanda, Bill George, Doug Atkins, Stan Jones, Mike Ditka (player & coach), Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Alan Page, Jim Covert, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary, Brian Urlahcer, Jim Finks (executive).

They have 5 from their 1985-86 "Super Bowl Shuffle" team, as opposed to 4 from their 1963 NFL Champions, and 7 from their 1940s "Monsters of the Midway" team -- 8 if you count Nagurski's 1943 comeback.

Willie Galimore and Gary Fencik should be in. Thomas Jones is now eligible, and while he didn't spend 4 seasons with any team, his 3 years with the Bears were his most productive period, so I'd list him with them if he got in, and with over 10,000 career rushing yards, he should be in.

2. Green Bay Packers, 30: Earl "Curly" Lambeau (founder, owner, executive, head coach, player), Cal Hubbard, John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Mike Michalske, Arnie Herber, Clarke Hinkle, Don Hutson, Tony Canadeo, Bobby Dillon, Jim Ringo, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor, Jerry Kramer, Ray Nitschke, Henry Jordan, Willie Davis, Willie Wood, Herb Adderley, Dave Robinson, James Lofton, Jan Stenerud, LeRoy Butler, Reggie White, Brett Favre, Charles Woodson, Vince Lombardi (coach & executive), Ron Wolf (executive), Ray Scott (broadcaster, later the main voice on CBS' NFL telecasts).

Nearly half of the Packer figures enshrined in Canton, 13, are from the Lombardi Era, including Lombardi himself. This doesn't count Emlen Tunnell, who played the last 3 seasons of his career with the Packers and retired after the 1st title of the Lombardi Era, 1961.

Now eligible from the Mike Holmgren era, and they would join White, Favre, Butler and Woodson, are Holmgren himself, Adam Timmerman and Gilbert Brown. Eugene Robinson could be considered, but he was only a Packer for 2 seasons, although both ended in Super Bowls, but only 1 won.

Sean Jones played 3 seasons for the Packers, and would qualify as a Raider and an Oiler if he got in. Donald Driver is the only figure from the Mike McCarthy era yet eligible and worthy of consideration.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 29: Walt Kiesling (also coach), John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Bill Dudley, Ernie Stautner, Jack Butler, John Henry Johnson, Bobby Layne, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Donnie Shell, Rod Woodson, Dermontti Dawson, Jerome Bettis, Troy Polamalu, Alan Faneca, Art Rooney (founder-owner), Dan Rooney (owner), Bert Bell (coach, later NFL Commissioner), Chuck Noll (coach), Bill Cowher (coach), Bill Nunn (scout), Myron Cope (broadcaster). 

While the Steelers were rarely competitive for their 1st 40 seasons, they did have a few players who were Hall-worthy, but note that 15 of the 29, more than half, including 11 of the 22 players, were involved with the club during their 1972-79 "Steel Curtain" dynasty.

Hines Ward is now eligible, and while that touchdown he scored on a kickoff return for the Gotham Rogues as the field collapsed behind him in The Dark Knight Rises does nothing to help his candidacy, if he does get in, you know that highlight will be played over and over again.

4. Dallas Cowboys, 23: Bob Lilly, Chuck Howley, Mel Renfro, Bob Hayes, Rayfield Wright, Mike Ditka, Roger Staubach, Cliff Harris, Drew Pearson, Randy White, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Larry Allen, Charles Haley, DeMarcus Ware, Tom Landry (coach), Jimmy Johnson (coach), Bill Parcells (coach), Tex Schramm (executive), Jerry Jones (owner).

Parcells did coach them for 4 seasons, so that counts. Ditka is so identified with the Bears (with whom he practically invented the position of tight end and won an NFL Championship in 1963) that people forget he was a Cowboy, and won a Super Bowl each as a player and as one of Landry's assistant coaches -- as did Dan Reeves, although if he ever gets elected, it will be as a head coach, and therefore not as a Cowboy.

Don Meredith was elected as a broadcaster, but was never a broadcaster specifically for the Cowboys. A case can be made that he deserves election as a player. Charlie Waters and Herschel Walker also have their advocates.

5. New York Giants, 22: Steve Owen (elected as a coach, also a pretty good player for Giants), Ray Flaherty, Benny Friedman, Red Badgro, Mel Hein, Ken Strong, Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans, Emlen Tunnell, Arnie Weinmeister, Frank Gifford, Roosevelt Brown, Sam Huff, Andy Robustelli, Y.A. Tittle, Fran Tarkenton, Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Tim Mara (founder & owner), Wellington Mara (owner), Bill Parcells (coach), George Young (executive).

Gifford has also been elected as a broadcaster. So has Pat Summerall, but as a CBS & Fox broadcaster, not as a Giants player or broadcaster, so he can't be included here. Tom Landry was the 1st great defensive back to be only a defensive back, after the early 1950s shift to two-platoon football, and was the defensive coordinator on the Giants' 1956-63 contenders. But was elected to the Hall based on his service as a head coach, and he only served as such for the Cowboys, and thus can't be counted here.

There are 6 from the 1956 NFL Champions, but only 3 from Parcells' Super Bowl-winning teams, 5 if you count Parcells himself and the newly-elected Young. Phil Simms has not yet been elected, and you can also make a case for Mark Bavaro (tight ends are in short supply in the Hall), George Martin and Leonard Marshall. I wonder if anyone will be willing to vote for Tiki Barber, who is now eligible.

6. Washington Commanders, 22: Cliff Battles, Turk Edwards (also coach), Wayne Millner, Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor, Sam Huff, Paul Krause, Chris Hanburger, Ken Houston, John Riggins, Art Monk, Russ Grimm, Darrell Green, Bruce Smith (last 4 years of his career as a Redskin), Champ Bailey, George Preston Marshall (founder & owner), Ray Flaherty (elected as a Giants player, but coached Washington to 2 NFL titles, so I'm counting him as one of theirs), George Allen (coach), Joe Gibbs (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

Jurgensen and Huff have also been broadcasters for the team. Grimm is the only one of the "Hogs" yet elected, but Jeff Bostic and Joe Jacoby should also be elected. A case can be made for an earlier Washington lineman, Len Hauss.

None of the men who have thus far quarterbacked the team formerly named the Washington Redskins into a Super Bowl is in: Not Billy Kilmer, not Joe Theismann, not Doug Williams, not Mark Rypien -- and good cases can be made for all but Rypien, who just didn't play long enough. If Jan Stenerud got elected as a kicker (who didn't also play another position, as did Lou Groza and George Blanda), then why not Mark Moseley?

Oakland Raiders, 22: Jim Otto, Fred Biletnikoff, George Blanda, Ken Stabler, Gene Upshaw, Willie Brown, Art Shell, Cliff Branch, Dave Casper, Ray Guy, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Marcus Allen, Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp, Tim Brown, Charles Woodson, Richard Seymour, John Madden (coach), Tom Flores (coach), Al Davis (owner-coach), Ron Wolf (scout).

Madden has also been elected as a broadcaster. Rice and Sapp were both there for 4 seasons, so they count. Now that Guy is in, who's the most obvious Raider not in? I'd say Jack Tatum, if anybody's got the guts to elect a great cornerback who needlessly paralyzed a man in a preseason game. Also worthy of consideration are Ben Davidson and Lester Hayes.

Note that I'm making an exception to my one-city-only rule for the California-era Raiders, treating them as a continuous Oakland franchise, since they did return, even though their Los Angeles edition became a cultural icon (and not for good reasons). Counted separately, the Oakland Raiders have 19, and the Los Angeles Raiders have 4 (Haynes, Long, Allen, with Branch the only one qualifying for both).

7. Kansas City Chiefs, 19: Bobby Bell, Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Emmitt Thomas, Johnny Robinson, Curley Culp, Jan Stenerud, Derrick Thomas, Marcus Allen, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Tony Gonzalez, Hank Stram (coach), Mary Levy (coach), Dick Vermeil (coach), Lamar Hunt (founder-owner), Bobby Beathard (executive), Charlie Jones (broadcaster, did Dallas Texans/K.C. Chiefs games before becoming the main voice for NBC's AFL and then AFC broadcasts).

Dawson has also been elected as a broadcaster.

8. Cleveland Browns, 18: Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Bill Willis, Mac Speedie, Frank Gatski, Len Ford, Mike McCormack, Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Gene Hickerson, Leroy Kelly, Paul Warfield, Joe DeLamiellure, Ozzie Newsome, Joe Thomas, Paul Brown (coach-executive).

It says something about this franchise that Thomas is the 1st player who has played so much as a down for them since 1990 that can be called a Browns' HOFer -- and, additionally, only DeLamielleure and Newsome have played for them since 1977. Tom Cousineau hasn't made it, and neither has Clay Matthews Jr. (father of Packer linebacker Clay Matthews III and brother of Oliers/Titans HOFer Bruce Matthews -- Clay Sr. played for the 49ers in the 1950s, but wasn't HOF quality).

And yet, look at just what they produced in the 1940s and '50s. And that doesn't include players they let get away, like Doug Atkins, Henry Jordan, Willie Davis, Len Dawson, and (while they did both play long enough for the Browns to be counted with them) Mitchell and Warfield.

Maybe that's the real reason Art Modell isn't in the Hall: It's not that he moved the original Browns, and screwed the people of Northern Ohio, it's that he was a bad owner. (Though, to be fair, his firing of Paul Brown and installation of Blanton Collier in 1962 did bring the 1964 NFL Championship, Cleveland's last title in any sport until the 2016 Cavaliers.)

9. San Francisco 49ers, 18: Bob St. Clair, Y.A. Tittle, Joe "the Jet" Perry, Leo Nomellini, Hugh McElhenny, John Henry Johnson, Dave Wilcox, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Montana, Fred Dean, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Charles Haley, Bryant Young, Terrell Owens, Bill Walsh (coach), Eddie DeBartolo (owner).

Tittle, Perry, McElhenny and John Henry Johnson are the only entire backfield that all played together to all be elected to the Hall, and they were known as the Million Dollar Backfield. The Jimmy Johnson listed above was a black cornerback in the 1960s and '70s, and should not be confused with the white coach for the Cowboys -- although this Jimmy Johnson, unlike the coach, was actually born in Dallas.

Rickey Jackson only played 2 seasons for the Niners, but he did win his only ring with them. Deion Sanders played only 1 season for them, but got the same Super Bowl XXIX ring that Jackson did. So, due to insufficient longevity, I can't count either of them as 49ers HOFers.

From their 1980s champions, Dwight Clark, Roger Craig, Randy Cross, Guy McIntyre, Harris Barton and Ken Norton Jr. have not been elected, but all are worth consideration, and Craig absolutely should be in.

10. Detroit Lions, 16: Dutch Clark (also coach), Jack Christiansen, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Yale Lary, Alex Wojciechowicz, Lou Creekmur, Dick Stanfel, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Joe Schmidt (also coach), Alex Karras, Lem Barney, Dick LeBeau, Charlie Sanders, Barry Sanders (no relation to each other) and Calvin Johnson.

Although he played for their 1935 NFL Champions and coached them to the 1952 and '53 titles, Buddy Parker is not in the Hall. It took until this year, a little over 7 years after he died, for Karras to be elected. If Paul Hornung, a man whose morals were a lot looser than Karras', could be forgiven for his gambling charge that led to his suspension for the 1963 season and get elected, why not Karras, who was suspended at the same time for the same offense? Even though he's in now, the question still hangs there.

It says something about this franchise that there has been only 2 players (Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson) who have played so much as a down for them since 1977 that can be called a Lions' HOFer, although cases can be made for Herman Moore, Lomas Brown and Chris Spielman.

11. Minnesota Vikings, 15: Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Alan Page, Paul Krause, Ron Yary, Mick Tinglehoff, Chris Doleman, Gary Zimmerman, Randall McDaniel, Cris Carter, John Randle, Randy Moss, Steve Hutchinson, Bud Grant (coach), Jim Finks (executive). Warren Moon was only there for 3 seasons. 

12. Los Angeles Rams, 15: Bob Waterfield, Tom Fears, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, Norm Van Brocklin, Les Richter, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Tom Mack, Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood, Eric Dickerson, Kevin Greene, George Allen (coach), Dan Reeves (owner, not to be confused with the Denver/Atlanta coach), Dick Enberg (broadcaster).

Joe Stydahar coached the Rams to their only NFL Championship in Los Angeles, 1951, but he was elected as a player, not a coach, and so he can't be counted as a Rams' Hall-of-Famer. Counting their St. Louis years, the Rams franchise has 19. Now that Greene is in, Henry Ellard is the most deserving former L.A. Ram not yet in the Hall, but he's a borderline case at best.

13. Philadelphia Eagles, 15: Steve Van Buren, Alex Wojciechowicz, Pete Pihos, Chuck Bednarik, Sonny Jurgensen, Tommy McDonald, Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Brown, Jim Ringo, Harold Carmichael, Reggie White, Brian Dawkins, Greasy Neale (coach), Dick Vermeil (coach), Bert Bell (founder-owner-coach, later NFL Commissioner).

Van Brocklin only played 3 seasons for the Eagles, but he was the quarterback on their last NFL Championship team before the Super Bowl era, 1960, and then he retired, despite being only 34 years old, so I'm bending the rule to count him. On the other hand, Claude Humphrey played 3 seasons for them, 1 being their 1st trip to the Super Bowl, but unlike Van Brocklin is not an Eagles icon, so I can only include him with the Falcons.

Art Monk, James Lofton and Richard Dent briefly played for the team, and cases could be made for Stan Walters, Jerry Sisemore, Bill Bergey, Randall Cunningham, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner and Donovan McNabb. Ron Jaworski, however, only stands to be elected as a media personality, not a player. That is how Irv Cross was elected: While he made 2 Pro Bowls as an Eagle cornerback, he is not in the Hall as a player.

14. Miami Dolphins, 13: Larry Csonka, Nick Buoniconti, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little, Paul Warfield, Dan Marino, Dwight Stephenson, Zach, Thomas, Jason Taylor, Don Shula (coach), Jimmy Johnson (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

Johnson didn't win as Dolphins' head coach, but he was there for 4 seasons, so he counts there. In spite of everything that happened in his career, Ricky Williams rushed for over 10,000 yards. He is now eligible, but I doubt he'll ever get in. If he does, he would qualify only as a Dolphin, not as a Saint.

15. Denver Broncos, 12: Willie Brown, Floyd Little, John Elway, Steve Atwater, Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman, Terrell Davis, Champ Bailey, John Lynch, Peyton Manning, DeMarcus Ware, Pat Bowlen (owner). 3-time AFC Champion coach Dan Reeves has not been elected, but should be. So should Randy Gradishar and Mark Schlereth, although, because of how many feathers he ruffled, I don't think you'll ever see Bill Romanowski get in. Ware was a Bronco for 3 seasons, but 1 was a Super Bowl season, so I'm bending the rule for him.

16. Buffalo Bills, 12: Billy Shaw, O.J. Simpson (had to list him), Joe DeLamiellure, James Lofton, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Marv Levy (coach), Ralph Wilson (owner), Bill Polian (executive) and Van Miller (broadcaster).

Shaw played his entire career in the AFL, making him the only man in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who never played a down in the NFL. (Remember, it's not the National Football League Hall of Fame, it's the Pro Football Hall of Fame.) So much fuss was made over the special-teams skills of Steve Tasker that I'm surprised that he's not in.

Houston Oilers, 11: George Blanda, Elvin Bethea, Curley Culp, Robert Brazile, Earl Campbell, Dave Casper, Ken Houston, Charlie Joiner, Warren Moon, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews. Since Matthews counts as both an Oiler and a Titan, if we combine the Houston years and the Tennessee years, their total rises to 12.

17. New England Patriots, 11: Nick Buoniconti, John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Andre Tippett, Curtis Martin, Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Junior Seau, Randy Moss, Bill Parcells (coach) and Don Criqui (broadcaster). This counts players from their AFL days, when they were officially named the Boston Patriots.

Cases could also be made for Jim Nance, Jim Hunt, Steve Nelson, Julius Adams, Irving Fryar, Drew Bledsoe and Tedy Bruschi, all eligible.

18. New York Jets, 11: Don Maynard, Winston Hill, Joe Namath, John Riggins, Joe Klecko, Curtis Martin, Kevin Mawae, Darrelle Revis, Weeb Ewbank (coach), Bill Parcells (coach-executive), Ron Wolf (executive).

Although the Big Tuna only coached the Jets for 3 seasons, he was an executive with them for 4 seasons, and thus meets my qualification for a Jet HOFer. Wesley Walker and Marty Lyons should be considered, although nobody seems to be willing to vote for Mark Gastineau. Vinny Testaverde is eligible, but not yet in. (He would also qualify as a Buccaneer.) No, you can't count Alan Faneca, as he was only a Jet for 2 seasons.

San Diego Chargers, 11: Ron Mix, Lance Alworth, Fred Dean, Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow, Junior Seau, LaDainian Tomlinson, Sid Gillman (coach), Don Coryell (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

Chicago Cardinals, 10: Jimmy Conzelman, Paddy Driscoll, Guy Chamberlin, Duke Slater, Ernie Nevers, Walt Kiesling, Charley Trippi, Ollie Matson, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Charles Bidwill (owner). Conzelman, Driscoll and Kiesling were also head coaches for the Cards. Counting all their cities, despite having been around for nearly a century, the Cards have only 14 Hall-of-Famers.

Baltimore Colts, 10: Art Donovan, Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, John Mackey, Ted Hendricks, Weeb Ewbank (coach), Don Shula (coach). Counting their Indianapolis years, the Colts have 14.

19. Indianapolis Colts, 7: Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, Tony Dungy (coach), Bill Polian (executive). Reggie Wayne is now eligible. 

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7: Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Ronde Barber, Tony Dungy (coach), Ron Wolf (executive). Warrick Dunn is now eligible, and should be in, and would also qualify as a Falcon.

21. Seattle Seahawks, 6: Steve Largent, Kenny Easley, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones, Kevin Mawae, Steve Hutchinson. Rickey Watters is eligible, and while he only played 3 seasons each with the 49ers and Eagles, he played 4 with the 'Hawks, so if he goes in, he would qualify only for them. Tom Flores coached 3 seasons with the 'Hawks, so is not eligible here.

Canton Bulldogs, 6: Jim Thorpe, Guy Chamberlin, Joe Guyon, Pete Henry, William "Link" Lyman, Earl "Greasy" Neale.

St. Louis Rams, 6: Orlando Pace, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Aeneas Williams, Dick Vermeil (coach). Torry Holt is eligible. Note that the St. Louis edition of the Rams is now italicized as a former team. Unlike the Raiders with their Oakland and Los Angeles eras, it doesn't really make sense to fold the St. Louis era in with Los Angeles.

22. Baltimore Ravens, 5: Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, Rod Woodson, Ed Reed, Ozzie Newsome (executive). Newsome was elected as a Cleveland Browns player, but has been a masterful executive for the franchise since the move, so I'm bending the rules to include him as a Brown and a Raven. Jamal Lewis is eligible, but isn't yet in.

23. Atlanta Falcons, 5: Deion Sanders, Claude Humphrey, Morten Andersen, Tony Gonzalez, Bobby Beathard (executive). I wonder how many writers voted for Michael Vick, now that he's eligible? Andre Rison, another controversial figure, is also eligible, and, while he played for 7 different teams (plus 1 in the CFL), on this list, he would qualify only for the Falcons.)

24. New Orleans Saints, 5: Rickey Jackson, Willie Roaf, Morten Andersen, Sam Mills, Jim Finks (executive). Mike Ditka was Saints coach for 3 seasons and Tom Fears for 4, but neither was elected as a coach, so they can't be included here anyway. Same for Hank Stram, who was elected as a coach, but only coached the Saints for 2 seasons.

St. Louis Cardinals, 5: Larry Wilson, Dan Dierdorf, Jackie Smith, Roger Wehrli, Don Coryell (coach). Dierdorf has also been elected as a broadcaster, although not specifically with the Cardinals. Ottis Anderson should be elected as a Cardinal, although he achieved his greatest moment as a Giant.

25. Cincinnati Bengals, 4: Charlie Joiner, Ken Riley, Anthony Munoz, Paul Brown (founder-owner-coach). Reggie Williams and Corey Dillon should be in, but Boomer Esiason is a borderline case. Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson is both a borderline Hall of Fame case and a borderline mental case.

Duluth Eskimos, 3: Walt Kiesling, John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Ernie Nevers.

26. Tennessee Titans, 2: Bruce Matthews, Kevin Mawae. Matthews only played 3 years as a "Tennessee Titan," but counting 2 years as a "Tennessee Oiler," he qualifies for the Titans. Eddie George is eligible, and should be in.

27. Arizona Cardinals, 2: Aeneas Williams, Kurt Warner. Emmitt Smith wasn't with them long enough. Nor was Edgerrin James.

28. Carolina Panthers, 2: Sam Mills, Bill Polian (executive). Kevin Greene only played 3 seasons for them, so he doesn't count. Cam Newton, of course, is still active.

Frankford Yellow Jackets, 2: Guy Chamberlin, William "Link" Lyman. The 1926 NFL Champions should also have Russell "Bull" Behman and Henry "Two-Bits" Homan -- the former a big guy by the standards of the time, and the latter a little guy who was the NFL's answer to Wee Willie Keeler -- in the Hall.  But both died in the early 1950s, so neither was able to speak on his own behalf since the 1962 founding of NFL Films. Although the Eagles replaced the Jackets as Philadelphia's NFL team, the two teams are not the same franchise.

Providence Steam Roller, 2: Jimmy Conzelman (player & coach), Frederick "Fritz" Pollard.

Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL 1930-1948), 2: Clarence “Ace” Parker, Frank "Bruiser" Kinard.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1: Tony Boselli. Fred Taylor is also a possibility.

Rock Island Independents, 1: Duke Slater.

30. Las Vegas Raiders, none. Sorry, Mark Davis, but you dropped your team (nearly) to the bottom of this list when you screwed Oakland over, like your daddy did before you.

31. Los Angeles Chargers, none. Sorry, Dean Spanos, but you dropped your team (nearly) to the bottom of this list when you screwed San Diego over.

32. Houston Texans, none. Not surprising, as they are the newest franchise -- if not, as you saw above, "the newest team." Now retired, J.J. Watt will probably be their 1st HOFer, although it could also be Andre Johnson, who made 7 Pro Bowls to Watt's 5. No, you can't count Ed Reed, who played only 7 games as a Texan.