Every season the AFC seems to be the favorite over the NFC to have the future Super Bowl Champion. In 2014, the pundits seem to be thinking the same way. With teams like the Broncos, Patriots, and Colts, the AFC will look to regain its dominance that the conference has held for so many years. Like their NFC counterparts, these teams are quietly good. Here is a breakdown of all 16 AFC teams and how the standings will look like when the season is all said and done:

Peyton Manning and the Broncos are the kings of the AFC, but will they make another appearance in the Super Bowl? By United States Marine Corps/Sgt. D.R. Cotton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Denver Broncos: As football fans, we can all hope that Peyton Manning and the Broncos put the beat down they received in the Super Bowl behind them and get back to playing Bronco football. Denver especially revamped their defense with additions of DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib. They lost Eric Decker and Knowshon Moreno but this gives Montee Ball time to shine. The Broncos will be strong contenders once again next year.

Record: 12-4, division winner

San Diego Chargers: After making some noise in the playoffs, the Chargers are primed to try and build on that success, but 2014 isn’t the year for them. The AFC is so strong and even with the addition of Brandon Flowers, which I really like, the Chargers will barely miss the playoffs. Keenan Allen is an absolute stud and will help the Chargers offense but their defense is still weak which will be their downfall.

Record: 8-8

Kansas City Chiefs: I really hope I am wrong about this one but I don’t see the Chiefs repeating their 2013 success. I still can’t get over the epic playoff fail where they blew a 28-point lead to the Colts. Personally, I love Jamaal Charles but aside from him who is going to score or be a real offensive weapon? Look for the Chiefs to take a step back in 2014.

Record: 7-9

Oakland Raiders: The Black Hole should get excited this season and it isn’t because of the playoffs. The Raiders have built a semi competitive team for the first time in what seems like forever. Additions of Matt Schaub, Justin Tuck, James Jones, LaMar Woodley, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Khalil Mack will make this team interesting. If they could only get another WR or two, this team could be a playoff team. Plus this may be one of their last years in Oakland, so their fans better appreciate this team before it’s gone.

Record: 6-10

AFC East:

New England Patriots: With Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the Patriots will again be a top team in the AFC. I am just worried about their offense. They get Rob Gronkowski back, but they lost Legarrette Blount to Pittsburgh. Blount provided them will a large spark of offense. I’m sure they will find a way to do it yet again; I mean they are the Patriots after all right?

Record: 11-5, division winner

Miami Dolphins: After almost making the playoffs last season, I see the Dolphins being hungry for the taste of the postseason. They seem to have put the whole bullying situation last season behind them and will look to bring Miami back to the postseason. Adding Knowshon Moreno will give them some extra spark to their offensive attack. I look for the Dolphins to win a wild card spot in the playoffs this season.

Record: 9-7

New York Jets: J-E-T-S. JETS JETS JETS! After adding Eric Decker and Chris Johnson to their offense and adding rookie Calvin Pryor to a defense that puts out Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Calvin Pace, the Jets defense is in good shape. While they are close, I still think they are a year away from the playoffs.

Record: 8-8

Buffalo Bills: IF the Bills can stay healthy they could an annoying matchup for some teams. They are still a few years away from really contending. I love the drafting of wide receiver, Sammy Watkins for them and they still have CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson at running back. I look for them to win a few games they shouldn’t win but they will end up in the lower-middle of the AFC standings.

Record: 5-11

AFC North:

Cincinnati Bengals: I understand that Andy Dalton has struggled during the playoffs but during the regular season, he has been pretty good. What I don’t understand is why everyone is so down on the Bengals this season. They are coming off an 11-5 record with a division crown. They drafted Darqueze Dennard out of Michigan State whom will vastly help their secondary, which was the weakest part of their top 3 ranked defense. Losing Mike Zimmer will hurt but losing Jay Gruden, as the OC will help them. Hue Jackson taking over means a more balanced offense with smarter play calling so no more throwing the ball at the 1 yard line. A second straight division title is in store for Cincinnati.

Record: 10-6, division winner

Baltimore Ravens: After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Ravens spent the offseason making sure they get back in 2014. Adding Steve Smith and drafting CJ Mosley out of Alabama are moves that will help them do so. Look for Joe Flacco and the Ravens to return to the playoffs where they rightfully belong.

Record: 9-7

Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel will dominate the headlines for the Browns this season and for good reason. If the Browns are smart and start him over Brian Hoyer, the Browns might have a chance to contend. Their only problem is that they don’t really have any receivers since Josh Gordon is too busy smoking pot to play football. Their defense is stacked with Paul Kruger, Justin Gilbert, Donte Whitner, and Joe Haden. The Browns are a season and a wide receiver away from actually contending again.

Record: 7-9

Pittsburgh Steelers: After making a strong push for the playoffs last season, the Steelers fell short on a bad call by the referees. The Steelers are one of the best organizations in all of sports but that won’t help them in 2014. They are an older football team that will fail to make the playoffs again in 2014. They could surprise everyone and have a resurrection but I personally just don’t see it.

Record: 6-10

AFC South:

Indianapolis Colts: Too many times, people get caught up in what happens in the playoffs and they put players on pedestals because of it. I am a huge believer in Andrew Luck but the Chiefs lost the playoff game last season more than he brought his team back and won it. It was a 28-point comeback so that is a major failure by the Chiefs, but I am not trying to take anything away from Luck and the Colts. They benefit from being in the worst division in football and will again make the playoffs and look to build on their success again.

Record: 11-5

Tennessee Titans: It seems that each season the Titans have an average season yet don’t really do anything about it. They lost Chris Johnson and cornerback Alterraun Verner and Jake Locker has potential but has yet to do anything with that potential. The Titans will have another lackluster season and miss the playoffs again.

Record: 7-9

Houston Texans: Outside of their quarterback situation, which is extremely important, the Texans if they can stay healthy are just a piece or two away from making the playoffs again. Their defense is scary-good with Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt on each side of the ball. They still have Andre Johnson and Arian Foster but both are just getting older so the Texans need to try and find a quarterback, and fast. Hopefully they can win some games this season and then try and fix the holes in the team during the next offseason.

Record: 6-10

Jacksonville Jaguars: This is a team that I really like in about two-three years. I hope Blake Bortles gets a chance this season as he has tremendous upside but for some reason, the Jaguars management doesn’t seem to want him to play in 2014. Marqise Lee was a great second round pickup for this team. The Jags will be back in the lottery of the draft but are only a few seasons away from making the playoffs if everything pans out.

Record: 5-11

Playoff Standings:

1. Denver Broncos
2. New England Patriots
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Cincinnati Bengals
5. Baltimore Ravens (won tiebreaker with Dolphins)
6. Miami Dolphins

In contention: New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs

Founded in 1960, the Raiders have moved from Oakland to Los Angeles and back and during that span they won three Super Bowl championships, 15 Division championships and made it to the playoffs following 21 of their 54 seasons. Yet since the Super Bowl loss in 2002, the Raiders have been really bad, with their best record coming in the 2010 and 2011 seasons at 8-8, when they still missed the playoffs. Since Bill Callahan left the team after the 2003 season, the Raiders have had six different head coaches most notably Norv Turner, Lane Kiffin and current head coach Dennis Allen. In addition to the constant coaching change, the Raiders have suffered from having 15 different quarterbacks start for them in that time period. 15. One-Five. The most notable of these are Carson Palmer, draft-bust JaMarcus Russell, and Jason Campbell.

The Raiders should take an early chance on another USC quarterback. By Neon Tommy, via Wikimedia Commons

In recent years, the Raiders have tried to find a winning recipe with a focus on the quarterback. Rich Gannon left the team after the 2003 season.  They drafted LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the top pick in 2007. Russell thrilled in his time at LSU, posting a 21-3 overall record, but he wasn’t cut for the NFL and the Raiders soon found that out. He had a record of 18-23 with only 18 touchdown passes through three seasons when the Raiders finally cut him.

Former Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell was brought in. During his tenure in Washington, Campbell put up successful numbers, going 12-10 as a starter before suffering an injury six games into the 2011 season. He was replaced after the team traded for long-time veteran Carson Palmer. Palmer led the team to another 8-8 record in 2011 and by the end of the 2012 season the Raiders were 4-12 and at the bottom again. The Raiders went with two dual option quarterbacks in Russell and Campbell, then decided to try and work around a pass first type quarterback in Carson Palmer. Although Palmer didn’t have an impressive 2012, I believe a pass-first quarterback is best for the Raiders. Rich Gannon could move well, but he was an accurate passer and the Raiders should look to stick with that type of player instead of going back to a quarterback who runs fast and has a strong arm. The Raiders currently hold the third overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and I believe they should use it on a quarterback.

What they should do in the draft: 

The Raiders have had what bad teams would call success recently, posting two 8-8 seasons out of the last three. Recently it has come out that the Raiders are interested in the number one ranked quarterback in this years class, Geno Smith. But the Raiders should be looking elsewhere for their savior. The Raiders have six draft picks throughout the draft yet most of the mock-drafts available don’t have the Raiders taking a quarterback in the first round. I’m no Mel Kiper, but I disagree and I believe that the Raiders should take a quarterback in the first round and it should be Matt Barkley.

During their collegiate careers, Geno Smith and USC quarterback Matt Barkley had simlarly great statistics. Geno Smith finished his college career throwing for 11,662 yards, 98 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, while Barkley threw for 12,327 yards, 116 touchdowns and 48 interceptions. While their individual stats are close, Smith is ranked far ahead of Barkley as the number one ranked quarterback in the draft but I don’t understand why. Both Barkley and Smith’s team had down seasons this past year, both finishing 7-6 although Barkley’s team did start the year ranked number one in the nation.

Barkley, I think, is a better version of Carson Palmer and could thrive in Oakland. He is a West coast guy and would fit right into Oakland’s system with a fellow Trojan to groom him.

The Raiders have young talent at both the running back and receiver positions in Darrius McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey. I believe that the Raiders should also draft a tight end and another receiver to match with Heyward-Bey. As for the tight end, I suggest they look into the senior from San Jose State, Ryan Otten. He caught 12 touchdowns in his four years and racked up 1,760 yards. One of the highest ranked tight ends, Tyler Eifert caught 11 touchdowns and 1,840 yards. The stats are pretty similar, yet the Raiders could get Otten later in the draft as he is projected to go sometime in the fifth or sixth round. With the other four draft picks the Raiders could focus on the offensive line, another receiver and maybe a defensive player or two.

Final Word:

It all starts with drafting Matt Barkley with the third overall pick though for the Raiders. Having a franchise quarterback is very important in the NFL and the Raiders could get one by drafting Barkley. The Raiders tried two dual-threat quarterbacks and the first one failed while the second one had some success if not for an injury. I believe in patterns in sports, and the next pattern in the Raiders quarterback shuffle would be to go with a passing first quarterback in Barkley. I may be wrong about Barkley but what I’ve seen from him throughout his college career and the Raiders recently, they would be a great pair. Also don’t forget that Barkley is just a year removed from being a “lock” for the Heisman Trophy and possibly being the number overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft if he had chosen to go into the NFL early. He has the credentials and the “it factor” that could really work in Oakland.

Plastic props and face paint, making Raider Nation the most ridiculous fan base in California. By BrokenSphere (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons

It’s obvious why Raider Nation is the most annoyingly destructive dress up party in California: A nation where skull-headed silver and black wackos drunkenly throw beers, curse and shank opposing fans with their straws. Every wannabe-hoodlum drops the baggie jeans and the side-cocked hat, replacing them with face paint and cheesy plastic side props. I’m all for the camaraderie threaded between like-minded fans, but when that fandom becomes a burlesque side show flashing gang signs and grills, it begins to get a little too weird.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Becoming a Laker fan is a laissez faire decision. It is like being born into a wig-wearing aristocracy, where you sip soup with your silver spoon, and dance in one-of-a-kind clogs.  It’s just too damn easy. And yet Laker fans are still this annoying?

Not annoying because they win championships, but annoying because they complain, mope and point the finger at everyone else like a bunch of spoiled brats, if they don’t.

And if you don’t side with the Lakers, guess what you are? You’re a Laker Hater— the most adolescent tongue-sticking term coined by any fan base ever. Last I checked, most of us grew up and became secure enough in ourselves, not to use over simplified slander in order to be heard. But I guess that’s something Laker fans still have to learn. And oh, by the way, LeBron James is the best player post-MJ. Just sayin’.

3. USC Trojans

The University of Spoiled Children is a place where backroom deals are done like no other. From the Reggie Bush scandal  to the deflated balls incident, the Southern California Spoiled Children continue to soil their name with little to any moral remorse. And despite this, their fanbase blindly follows suit with a passion as persistent as any.

There is a time when as a fan, it is okay to walk away. My wife’s boss for instance: a longtime Dodgers fan, who after the brutal attack on Brian Stow, turned to the Giants as his new team of choice.

Maybe it is the tanning oil causing such defunctory? Maybe it is the madness of Southern California smog-infestation? Maybe it is the effects from large doses of botox bugging the brain? Whatever it is, it is hard to take serious any school like the Trojans. Each and every year the ridiculous gets more ridiculous.

4. San Diego Chargers

This ranking probably throws you off a bit. And I understand why. But anytime fans come out from the fringes when their team suddenly becomes a consistent competitor, irks me to no end. Where were you when your team was a joke?

If there was a ranking for most fickle fan in all of sports, I would rank the Chargers numero uno. I have always said that Ladainian Tomlinson literally saved the Chargers franchise by electrifying a lazy uninspired fan base into sudden outrageously inconsistent diehards.

5. San Francisco Giants*

Honestly, I had no problem with Giants fans until 2010, when it became sexy and cool to be so. Being an Angels fan made it easy for me, as I was suspended above the heated rivalry shared between Dodgers and Giants fans.

I grew up around my friends’ fathers who were lifelong fans of the Giants, and not because it was hip or cool. These men lived hours from San Francisco and told stories about greats like Willie Mays. They were far from cool. They were working men, wearing trucker hats with oil stained on their hands.

The new era Giants fan cocks a hat sideways, like a clown, and calls him/herself a real fan. Two world series in three years and being born in the Bay Area is all of a sudden a silly equation for one’s authenticity.

*My wife believes this ranking belongs to the Dodgers, because Dodger fans “kill people.”

Three weeks ago, the Detroit Lions were on their way to victory at Ford Field on Monday Night Football. The Lions hadn’t started 5-0 in 55 years. When the game clock hit triple zero, the scoreboard read 24-13 – let’s celebrate Lions fans. On the road to the big win however, there was a significant loss.

During the course of the game, Detroit’s shifty starting running back, Jahvid Best, sustained his second concussion this season. Best’s college career at Cal Berkeley was cut short by concussion issues. This loaded concussion history doesn’t bode well for Best’s future, not only for this season, but for the rest of his potential career in the NFL. After the Monday night game, Best was thought to be out at least a month if not more, and this missing horsepower in Detroit’s 5-0 engine left them with a dilemma.

Most teams that taste a little bit of the winning nectar after extended periods of futility tend to panic when key injuries occur during their most proximate run of success. Instead of promoting within the ranks, they go out and usually give another organization way too much for what is only a best-guess attempt at a replacement.

Such is true even this season with the Oakland Raiders. After quarterback Jason Campbell went down with a separated shoulder, Oakland, by necessity more than anything else, due to the ineffectiveness of backup Kyle Boller, traded potentially two first round picks to the Cincinnatti Bengals for the services of holdout veteran quarterback Carson Palmer.

Along these same lines, the Lions sought to plug-in a running back of Best’s big play ability by offering their backup running back Jerome Harrison to Philadelphia. In exchange they reached for Eagles’ veteran running back Ronnie Brown, who has been a bell-cow back in years past, but recently has seen limited duty with the Eagles behind LeSean McCoy, who is as close to an every-down back as there is in the “running back by committee” NFL of today. The swap seemed to make a certain amount of sense for both teams – a win/win.

Trades in the NFL always bar a physical exam before they are made final, and these tests are usually the last to be administered before the transaction is completed. What is undoubtedly the most thorough physical exam known to man due to the investment being made, the professional team-sports “trade physical” includes everything one can think of, including x-rays and cat-scans. Upon these tests rendered for this particular trade, a brain tumor was found in Jerome Harrison’s head.

Fortunately, the tumor was discovered in what was found to be the early stages of the growth, and is considered not only treatable, but having a very high chance of not being life threatening if treated with the prudent urgency required. If it weren’t for Jahvid Best sustaining his most recent concussion and the Lions then in-turn seeking to trade Jerome Harrison for Ronnie Brown, Harrison’s tumor undoubtedly would have gone undetected for an uncertain period of time. The brain injury of one Detroit Lion running back ended up preventing potential brain damage of another – irony to say the least. It’s definitely possible that if Best wasn’t concussed, Harrison’s tumor could have grown to the point where it might have been life threatening if not terminal.

Considering the level of significance of the situation coupled with the perfect chain of events it required for the discovery of the tumor to come to fruition, it’s hard not to recognize some sort of divine intervention here – no hyperbole subscription attached. Of course describing what has transpired as some sort of religious or karmatic reward is a slippery slope, but a puzzle that so perfectly falls together in such a life-altering way should at least have the idea honestly and truthfully presented.

And for those who believe in completely random universe, when you see something almost blessed or surrealistic, it puts life in perspective for even the most rabid and diehard of a sports fan. It ends up leaving a lasting impression. It gives us perspective that transcends any “game.” It reminds us that irony can mean much, much more than simply a stale pun or a cheap joke. It reminds us that believing that everything happens for a reason might not be such a crazy idea after all.

And even if Jahvid Best never were to never take another hand-off in the NFL, he will always be able to find some level of solice in the fact that, in some weird and indescribable way, he may have very well saved his teammate’s life.

A HANDSHAKE ISN’T ALWAYS JUST A HANDSHAKE

Jim Harbaugh is not going to win any sportsmanship awards and Jim Schwartz is not going to back down. And why do we have to add “gate” to everything. “Handshakegate?” Really? Seriously? Come on Mort and Schefter. This kind of 24-hour NFL news cycle is what makes me want to never watch anything NFL-related unless it’s Sunday or Monday. See you next weekend, ESPN.

THE RAIDERS THINK THEY CAN WIN RIGHT NOW

Giving up the draft picks they did for Carson Palmer sure showed a lot of confidence in the rest of the players on that team, minus anyone whose position is “quarterback.” This could either go really well or really bad. Either way, the Raiders are relevant for now. Al Davis wouldn’t have had it any other way. Just win baby.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE PLAYING THE DOLPHINS TO MAKE YOUR TEAM LOOK WAY BETTER THAN IT IS

The Jets are really bad. They beat the Dolphins, but really the Dolphins are horrible. If you want your team or a player to look good, play the Dolphins.

That being said, Mark Sanchez’ offense had 4 straight “Three and Outs” to start the game on Monday night — evidence that the Jets are probably also mediocre at best. In fact, during Monday night’s “game,” I found myself switching to Big Bang Theory re-runs. I couldn’t figure out which was less entertaining.

Tim Tebow has to be licking his chops. This week’s game in Miami could be epic for Tebow and his devoted followers.

NEWS FLASH: RELIABLE REX ISN’T THAT EXACTLY…

Rex Grossman has proven over the past few weeks that he’s never really comfortable in the pocket. The poor decision-making that he made famous in Chicago got him a seat on the bench for the upcoming week’s game. John Beck will have a chance to try to prove he has a little more of what Grossman clearly hasn’t ever had: moxy. Like Tebow, Beck will start against a downtrodden opponent. The Panthers aren’t as bad as the Dolphins, but their defense belongs in the “far from good” category.

You might remember JaMarcus’ last run-in with the headlines. Here he talks about Purple Drank, among other things. Whenever I drink purple Gatorade, which is my favorite flavor, I think about Russell. Purple Drank is now something I joke about with my friends around the office because of how funny it is to say.

I’m not saying addiction is funny. It’s affected my family and people that I care about more than I care to think much about. But Russell’s commitment is apparently laughable enough for John Lucas, bearer of second chances, to “give up” on him. While his career is probably over, hopefully he can turn his life around at some point. If he doesn’t, I suspect things will end very badly….

Yes, my back is a little sore, but long road trips in the car aren’t all bad. This one allowed me time to have great conversations with the wife, listen to music I haven’t heard in a while, and of course think about what to write.

An exit sign was my inspiration this time. It was an exit to Arco Arena off of Interstate 5 in Sacramento. Arco, the home of the NBA’s Kings, is a building I’ve never attended a game in. Driving by it last night, a few ideas came to mind. One was the utter ineptitude of both the Kings and Warriors — Northern California’s two NBA teams.

Thinking about the NBA got me to thinking about pro sports in general in our state, especially the prospects of another NFL team (or two) in Los Angeles. In thinking about having another bad team around like the Bills (this is how my mind works), I started to think about other bad teams we already have. I’m usually an optimist, but I came to a realization in the form of a question:

Has there ever been a worse time for California professional sports?

The four major leagues plus Major League Soccer give us 18 (three Football, five baseball, four basketball, three hockey, and three soccer) teams concentrated either in San Diego, Los Angeles, or the San Francisco Bay area.

In any given year, at least one of those teams in each league are usually competing in the playoffs or for a championship. Throughout my lifetime, this has generally been the case. Nearly all the teams on the list have won championships (sorry to both Kings, the Padres, and the Clippers along with the relatively new Chivas USA franchise who have never won a championship). Despite its history, California teams aren’t as strong as they once were. The days of Lakers/49ers/Raiders/Dodgers dominance have long passed. After the Lakers (and yes, the Giants), there is a severe drop-off in current dominance and once you get past the first few teams on the list, the franchises really start to fall-off.

What better then, than a ranking of the top California professional teams with some rationale. As always is the case in sports, these rankings are subject to change with a new baseball season coming up. Here are the rankings – 1-18.

1. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
With the exception of the mid 1990s and middle part of the 2000’s, the Lakers have been in contention for the championship every year. Their prolonged period of dominance, stable ownership, Hall of Fame players, and rich history make them the easy pick for the Top Pro Franchise in California. They have been to the NBA Finals in each of the previous three years, winning twice. They have the second-most championships in NBA history. Must I go on?

2. San Francisco Giants (MLB)
While their World Series win will only serve to enable the Dodgers to justify spending less on their players, the Giants are currently the only other defending champion in California besides the Lakers. Their team is built to be good for a long time, they have a stadium people like, and since there hasn’t been a consistent winner in the Bay Area since the 49ers, the impasse of their World Series win was bigger than it might have been otherwise.

3. San Diego Chargers (NFL)
The Chargers have never won a Super Bowl, but they’ve been very good ever since they dumped Ryan Leaf and got out from under a series of bad decisions around the end of the 90’s. With double-digit win totals in four of the past seven seasons and as the only recently successful NFL team in California, the Chargers come in at number 3. The Chargers might be the NFL poster child for the saying “Good is the enemy of great”.

4. San Jose Sharks (NHL)
If the Chargers are 1-A on the list of good teams who underachieve in the playoffs, the Sharks are 1-B. Over the past three years, no team has been more consistent in the regular season. While finishing first in the Pacific Division for each of the past 3 years and first or second in each of the past six years, the Sharks have never played in a Stanley Cup Finals series. Another example of a good team who hasn’t figured out how to be great yet.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
Continuing the list of teams who have been labeled as “competitive” and “good enough to win regular season games, but that’s all” is Los Angeles’ second most popular team, the Dodgers. Since they arrived, the McCourt regime has maintained with good, cheap, young players and the Manny Ramirez trade. While there is a sense that the Chargers or Sharks could get over the playoff hump sometime in the near future, the Dodgers’ chances do not look as bright. Prior to a disastrous 2010 season, the Dodgers had made the playoffs during four of the past six seasons. Much of the core of those playoff teams is still intact, which is why the Dodgers continue to be in the top five teams in the state.

6. Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
If the Galaxy was in one of the four major sports in the United States, they would probably have made it into the top-five. With major starts Landon Donovan and David Beckham, the Galaxy has crossover appeal. Young talented players like Sean Franklin and Omar Gonzalez make the Galaxy one of the top overall teams in MLS. Over the past two seasons, the Galaxy has sported the best record in the Western Conference of MLS and lost in the Final or Semi-Final round of the MLS playoffs.

7. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB)
The California Angels were a great team name. Their name got worse when they changed to the Anaheim Angels. Just when things seemed to be looking up, they changed to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Lame. Since their World Series victory in 2002, they have won their division five times. But if you ask most California sports fans about the Angels, the topic of their name or the cost of a beer at their games will come up before the topic of how good the team is, which is why they are only in 7th place on the list.

8. Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Their wildly erratic seasons place the Anaheim Ducks closely behind their Orange County counterparts on the list. Their franchise has reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice in the past seven season, winning the Cup once. They might be a more mild version of the Florida Marlins — a franchise that gets to and wins championships, but has relatively meaningless seasons in-between. Last year, they didn’t make the playoffs. If this year’s season ended today (Saturday), the Ducks would get into the playoffs as an 8-seed, but only because of a tie-breaker.

NOTE: After the top 8, there is a marked drop-off in consistency and quality of franchise…

9. San Diego Padres (MLB)
The Padres are the consummate underdog. The whole time I went to college in San Diego, all natives ever said about the rest of the state was, “Who would want to live THERE?” The Padres are personified by their fans who espouse a laid-back attitude. However, those fans’ sports-related inferiority complex  or underlying envy of Los Angeles sports teams comes heavily into play during games between the Padres and the Dodgers. The Padres have made the playoffs recently (2005 and 06) and were much improved last season. They play in a gorgeous downtown ballpark and San Diego is an awesome city. For all that, they make the top-ten.

10. Oakland A’s (MLB)
The Athletics haven’t made much noise during the past few years. They are a novelty. Moneyball was a good book, but the A’s are not as good as they were even 5-10 years ago. They are a step above a lot of teams because, well, it’s hard to root against them. They are Nor-Cal’s version of the Padres and so they make the top-ten.

11. San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
If the Niners had won anything during the past ten years, then they might be in the top-ten and the Giants might not be as high on the list as they are. The hole they have left in the hearts of Bay Area sports fans during the past ten years is staggering. Any good 49ers team would make the city’s rallying around the Giants in 2010 look like small potatoes. No matter what happens during the next few years, the fact remains that a whole generation of San Francisco sports fans have grown up knowing nothing but the 49ers as a bad team.

12. Chivas USA (MLS)
Nobody knows a lot about Chivas, but they go ahead of the teams and franchises below due to the fact that they haven’t had enough time to make themselves that inept. Chivas is close to moving down, but haven’t had enough really bad seasons yet.

13. Oakland Raiders (NFL)
Raider Nation is broken. A good season last year keeps them up there, but number 13 on the list is the appropriate place. Luck has nothing to do with it except for the date Al Davis is gone. Raiderfan doesn’t know it, but that will be the luckiest day of their lives. Also, the Raiders are low because of jerking around fans in two major sports markets in California.

14. Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Some will say the Los Angeles Kings should be higher-up on the list. They have existed longer than the Ducks and are probably the more popular team in Los Angeles. That being said, Los Angeles appreciates winners and the Kings haven’t won consistently. They’ve made it out of the first round of the playoffs only once since their lone finals appearance in 1992-93. In California, especially in Los Angeles, a record like that of the Kings will put you toward the bottom of the pack.

15. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
The San Jose Earthquakes used to be very good. Led by a young Landon Donovan, they won the MLS Cup in 2003 and 2005.  After the Earthquakes moved to Houston, Northern California was without a team for two years in 2006 and 2007. In the three seasons since their rebirth, the Earthquakes have not contended. They are owned by the owners of the Athletics and, unless they find the soccer version of Billy Beane, they may be rebuilding for quite some time.

16. Sacramento Kings (NBA)
The Kings have had the single biggest drop of any team in California over the past 8-10 years. In 2000, 2001, 2002, the Lakers ousted the Kings from the playoffs in what was becoming one of the hottest rivalries in all of sports. Since 2003, the Kings have not won a playoff series. They have not made the playoffs for the past four seasons and it doesn’t look like they will this year. The Northern vs. Southern California rivalry is gone, the team is threatening to move, and attendance is down. The Kings have a few nice players and their owners are charismatic, but as franchises go, they aren’t going anywhere.

17. Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
The Clippers have moved up from the last spot this year for one reason — Blake Griffin. While they are still not far away for the 18th and final spot, they also have potential to move up on the list quickly. Players like Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan bring a solid nucleus to surround Griffin. The team has a lot of upside, but they are still the Clippers. Which makes them number 17. Enough said.

18. Golden State Warriors (NBA)
The Warriors are the caboose of teams in California. As a franchise, they’ve sunk below the Clippers. An upset win in the first round of the playoff in 2007 provided a glimmer of hope for Warriors fans. Winning 48 games in 2007-08 and failing to make the playoffs, the team was again sent into disarray. Without stable leadership for a long period of time, the team has stalled for the last few seasons. A new owner brings with him new hope for a losing franchise, but for now the Warriors don’t have a lot going for them and it will take a sustained winning effort to change their culture..

What did you think of the Rankings? Do you have different ones? Post a comment or email me: owen@fansmanship.com

-Owen Main