Who Are the Most Cursed Teams in American Team Sports?
Sadly, there is only one team at the end of the season that enjoys the thrill of victory, with a vast majority of players and fans suffering from the agony of defeat. If you love one of the most cursed franchises in professional sports, you know that hopeless feeling all too well.
NHL – Toronto Maple Leafs & Vancouver Canucks
Although hockey is the national sport for our neighbors up North, they seem to have the worst luck. The Toronto Maple Leafs feel like they invent ways to crush everyone’s hopes and dreams.
They have frequently blown series leads in recent playoff appearances, including this past year against the Tampa Bay Lightning. One of the “Original Six” franchises in the NHL hasn’t won a championship since 1967.
The Vancouver Canucks have also been futile. Not only have the Canucks not won a Stanley Cup, but they nearly set the beautiful city on fire when they lost to the Boston Bruins in 2011. If they fail again in spectacular fashion, they might have to copy some soccer chants.
MLB – Texas Rangers & Los Angeles Angels
The American League West is home to the two most cursed teams, the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels.
The Rangers have never won the World Series, even though they were a strike away from capturing the crown in 2011. Then David Freese hit a game-tying triple, with an assist going to Nelson Cruz for misplaying the ball.
While the Angels have won a World Series title this century, it appears they had to sell their soul to the devil to get the ring. Aside from never winning anything, the Angels have wasted Mike Trout’s and Shohei Ohtani’s prime and have had horrific luck with free agent signings like Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. Lastly, two of their best pitcher prospects tragically passed away.
NBA – Los Angeles Clippers & Portland Trail Blazers
Like the doomed teams in Major League Baseball, one team cannot win a title while the other seems to have a black cat following them. The team that refuses to win a championship is the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers have always been in the shadow of the Lakers, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t tried to win it all.
They have had two squads with legitimate championship aspirations: the “Lob City” Clippers and their current squad with a healthy Kawhi Leonard. Yet, they haven’t even reached the NBA Finals.
Portland has a championship banner that’s collecting dust since 1977. However, other circumstances have proven their perpetual demise. Taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan and Greg Oden over Kevin Durant will forever sting.
NFL – Detroit Lions & Cleveland Browns
No other fanbase on this planet is more miserable than Detroit Lions fans. They haven’t won a playoff game in 23 years, never won the Super Bowl, and the franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, whom they traded, won a Super Bowl in the first year with his new team. Add the abrupt retirement of Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, and it feels like Dante’s Inferno.
The Browns have had plenty of playoff follies and missed draft picks over the years, but letting Bill Belichick walk might be the worst.
If you are a fan of one of the most cursed franchises in professional sports, it might be time to cut bait before you endure more agony.
