Sports Illustrated named the five best and worst owners in each sport. Washington gained two of the worst. Not that we didn’t already know it.
Ted Lerner was ranked fifth worst among baseball owners. I’ve reserved judgment of the Lerner family because it’s still early. Ted Lerner is really a figurehead so his son Marc Lerner should earn the honor if it’s justified. Jim Bowden was a bad GM, but at least that’s over. I’d give the Lerners a couple more years before ranking them.
Dan Snyder has had a decade with the Redskins to gain a miserable track record. Yet, I wouldn’t rank him the third worst owner behind Al Davis and William Clay Ford. I still think the Bidwells in Arizona are worse. I’d throw the Yorks in San Francisco and Cincinnati’s Mike Brown, too. I’d ranked Snyder in the middle of owners because at least he spends money and tries things. He just doesn’t spend it wisely.
Ted Leonsis wasn’t among the top NHL owners. I don’t know hockey well enough to rank them, but if there are five better than the Caps owner then the league is in good shape.
Abe Pollin also wasn’t rated in the top 5 NBA. He has been a super owner of the Wizards when you factor two arenas, but been a poor judge of coaches and not done much in the playoffs in 25 years.
Ted should be considered one if not the best owner in hockey!
He has done almost everything right, except for the Jagr debacle, but he learned from that and went back to going with home grown talent.
Throw in the fact that ticket prices aren’t bad compared to a lot of other teams, and that he truly cares and interacts with the FANS, he has got to be one of the best.
As for Abe……I have to say he did a lot for the city by buidling the arena, but him demanding money to fix it up was a joke……Also, as you mentioned, his choices of coaches and gm’s has been terrible, and I really think it’s time for him to sell the team to Leonsis