Best Owners in Professional Sports

[Krispy Kreme]

You define the criteria.
NBA: Mark Cuban
NFL: Lamar Hunt
MLB: George Steinbrenner (not sure on spelling)
NHL: who knows, who cares?

[Izzy]

Doug Ellis






 

[Mama Kin]

NHL: Not the guy who owns the Blackhawks......I forget his name, he sucks.

[slash666]

Niall Quinn

[Krispy Kreme]

And these  people  are....?

[slash666]

Niall Quinn = Sunderland AFC Chairman/ Former Republic Of Ireland International

[axl_rose_700]

And these? people? are....?

People who own teams that play proper sports, not shitty American one's! 

[cotis]

George Steinbrenner has to be up there in the best ever. I mean, many people hate him and all that for "buying" his players. I can understand where some people come from, but hey if you have money, why not use it?

[Mal Brossard]

I wouldn't put Steinbrenner up there.  The 1990's World Series teams were all constructed while he was out, suspended by MLB.  Under his supervision, the Yankees have just shit the bed repeatedly.

Bill Veeck would be my pick.  He planted the ivy at Wrigley Field.  He integrated the American League with the signings of Larry Doby and Satchel Paige.  He had the first ever "Fan Appreciation Night" called "Good Ol' Joe Earley Night" in response to a fan writing to him that the fans deserve more for supporting the game.  He had tons of strange promotions, including Grandstand Managers Day and Disco Demolition Night.  He started the tradition of Harry Caray singing at the 7th Inning Stretch.  He was the only owner who testified in favor of Curt Flood in the major court case on free agency.

He only won one World Series as an owner, but the mark he left on the game is incredible.

[KeVoRkIaN]

NHL - Ed Snider (Flyers) always tries to put a good team on the ice and is involved in all aspects of the team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Snider

[WeHeldTogether]

Matt Millen. 

[Krispy Kreme]

Matt Millen.?

He is not an owner. Thank god.

[GunnerOne 84]

NFL: Pat Bowlen-Denver Broncos
NBA: Mark Cuban-Dallas Mavericks
MLB: Southwest Bank Group-St. Louis Cardinals

[C0ma]

NFL: Robert Kraft (Kraft Family, New England Patriots)... they turned around one of the sorriest teams in the history of the NFL by creating an organization that proved a dynasty can be built in the Salary Cap era. They have also done this while keeping the fans their number one priority.

[Neemo]

mike illich....redwings and tigers

[Mama Kin]

NHL - Ed Snider (Flyers) always tries to put a good team on the ice and is involved in all aspects of the team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Snider

He probably should have tried harder this year and fired Bob Clarke years ago.

[tim_m]

NFL: Robert Kraft (Kraft Family, New England Patriots)... they turned around one of the sorriest teams in the history of the NFL by creating an organization that proved a dynasty can be built in the Salary Cap era. They have also done this while keeping the fans their number one priority.

As much as i hate the patriots i have to agree. What he's done with them in this day of free agency is amazing. He consistantly finds a way to keep that team among the elite.

[The Dog]

NHL - DUH - Mario Lemiuex!!!  No question.

NFL - The Rooneys, without a doubt

[Communist China]

Tom Golisano is the reason why the Sabres are still playing hockey in Buffalo. And he re-energized the community about the team and put a lot of money into team functions and HSBC Arena.

[Sober_times]

NFL: Robert Kraft (Kraft Family, New England Patriots)... they turned around one of the sorriest teams in the history of the NFL by creating an organization that proved a dynasty can be built in the Salary Cap era. They have also done this while keeping the fans their number one priority.

Besides the fact that they have the highest ticket prices in the NFL, fan priority has been high on their list. And being a Patriot fan all my life I may have a somewhat biased opinion but do aggree Robert Kraft is a great owner. However my choice for NFL is as someone else said, The Rooneys, without a doubt.

[bazgnr]

The Rooney's (Pittsburgh Steelers).  They succeed in being professional and maintaining integrity...class acts all the way, and in every respect of the business.

[The Dog]

The Rooney's (Pittsburgh Steelers).  They succeed in being professional and maintaining integrity...class acts all the way, and in every respect of the business.

In contrast, I'd say the Nuttings are some of the worst - spend the money on the team (the pirates).

Should be a fun season for my beloved buccos though, they might actually compete this year (or at least finish above .500 for the first time in over a decade).

[Bodhi]

Al Davis, George Steinbrenner, Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban...they all want to win more than anyone else

[Mal Brossard]

Al Davis, George Steinbrenner, Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban...they all want to win more than anyone else

There's a difference between wanting to win and doing smart things to be able to win.  Davis and Steinbrenner don't exactly fit that latter portion, and occasionally Jones does some really idiotic things as well.  Cuban actually seems to be pretty good, even if I think he's a complete and utter douchebag.

[Bodhi]

Al Davis, George Steinbrenner, Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban...they all want to win more than anyone else

There's a difference between wanting to win and doing smart things to be able to win.? Davis and Steinbrenner don't exactly fit that latter portion, and occasionally Jones does some really idiotic things as well.? Cuban actually seems to be pretty good, even if I think he's a complete and utter douchebag.

hmm the Yankees either win the world series or get close to it EVERY YEAR, and Al Davis  took over a terrible team in the 60's got them to 5 super bowls and won 3 of them...not to mention about 18 title game appearances...and the highest winning percentage in the history of the NFL(even with the last few years of sucking) they are going through a rough time right now...actually its the first rough time they have ever gone though in 40 years under Al Davis...makes him a pretty good owner if you ask me

[Mal Brossard]

Steinbrenner wasn't the one who got the Yankees to those World Series in the late 90's.  That was because he was out of the picture, allowing minor league prospects to be groomed under Gene Michael's watch.  When Steinbrenner came back, the prospects were big-time players and the team was winning.  Ever since he's had his fingers in the pie again, the team has been rapidly going downhill.  There's a difference between being a World Series winner and a World Series contender.  For the Yankees, that difference can be summed up on one name: George Steinbrenner.

If Steinbrenner is with the team from 1990-1993 (the years he was "suspended for life" by MLB), you can almost guarantee Posada, Jeter, Williams, Rivera, and Pettite would all have been unloaded in some questionable deals.  Fred McGriff anyone?  How about Willie McGee?  Jay Buhner?  Those trades all were because of Steinbrenner's constant meddling in affairs of which he said he would butt out.  When he bought the Yankees, Georgie said he would stay out of the day-to-day affairs of running and building the team, and just be an owner.  Obviously he hasn't.

Just remember: when the Yankees win, George says it's because of George.  When they lose, George says it's because of his "baseball people" and he proceeds to fire anyone and everyone he sees.

[Krispy Kreme]

Al Davis, George Steinbrenner, Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban...they all want to win more than anyone else

There's a difference between wanting to win and doing smart things to be able to win.? Davis and Steinbrenner don't exactly fit that latter portion, and occasionally Jones does some really idiotic things as well.? Cuban actually seems to be pretty good, even if I think he's a complete and utter douchebag.

hmm the Yankees either win the world series or get close to it EVERY YEAR, and Al Davis? took over a terrible team in the 60's got them to 5 super bowls and won 3 of them...not to mention about 18 title game appearances...and the highest winning percentage in the history of the NFL(even with the last few years of sucking) they are going through a rough time right now...actually its the first rough time they have ever gone though in 40 years under Al Davis...makes him a pretty good owner if you ask me

Correct me if I am  wrong, but I don't think the Raiders have been to 5 Super Bowls.

[Mal Brossard]

They have.  Raiders won XI, XV, and XVII, and lost II and XXXVII.

[Krispy Kreme]

They have.? Raiders won XI, XV, and XVII, and lost II and XXXVII.

Ok then, I stand corrected.