Regardless of the ongoing lockout, we are starting to see some N.F.L. preview magazines on the newsstands. Yesterday in Milwaukee, we picked up The Sporting News’ issue, which has QB Aaron Rodgers and LB Clay Matthews on the Wisconsin “regional” cover. There are 17 different covers, so we always try to pick up football preview magazines while in God’s Country. Down here where the Packerville, U.S.A. offices are located, we have only the issue with a pouting Jay Cutler on the front. We’re certainly not going to waste our cash on something like that. Oh, and by the way... The Sporting News picks the Packers to repeat as Super Bowl champions!Also on the newsstands, and it was highlighted in the national sports media headlines this past mid-week, is the latest copy of ESPN — The Magazine. This double issue ranks 122 professional sports franchises in several categories, and guess who is ranked on top? You guessed it — your very own Green Bay Packers!
The rankings were based on the following: Bang for the Buck (Wins during the past three years [regular season plus postseason] per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules); Fan Relations (Openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management); Ownership (Honesty and loyalty to core players and local community); Affordability (Price of tickets, parking and concessions); Stadium Experience (Quality of arena and game-day promotions as well as friendliness of environment); Players (Effort on the field and likability off it); Coaching (Strength of on-field leadership); Title Track (Championships already won or expected in the lifetime of current fans).
The rankings were based on the following: Bang for the Buck (Wins during the past three years [regular season plus postseason] per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules); Fan Relations (Openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management); Ownership (Honesty and loyalty to core players and local community); Affordability (Price of tickets, parking and concessions); Stadium Experience (Quality of arena and game-day promotions as well as friendliness of environment); Players (Effort on the field and likability off it); Coaching (Strength of on-field leadership); Title Track (Championships already won or expected in the lifetime of current fans).There has been no action on the practice fields this offseason, but the Packers have still added another “championship” to go along with their Super Bowl XLV title.
To read the whole article on the Packers being the best franchise, click here.
To see the complete list of rankings, click here.
And where do our N.F.C. North Division rivals rank?
Chicago Bears — 74th
Detroit Lions — 94th
Minnesota Vikings — 106th
(Rank of 122 total)
