Mediocrity. Professional sports are being massaged so that as many teams as possible have a chance to win championships. On the surface this seems like a good thing. Level the playing field by forbidding big market, deep pocket clubs from purchasing the best players. Thus fans in Minnesota and San Antonio have just as much to root for as patrons residing in New York and Los Angeles. Salary caps and revenue sharing are some of the ways that modern sports leagues police the big spenders. But is this the real way to go? Currently, the only sport that has not fully reigned in the rich organizations is major league baseball. Thus, teams like the Yankees and Red Sox, spend what they need to do to ensure ongoing success. These teams have big followings and strive for excellence on the field. Obviously big money is being spent by most major league teams but the level playing terms have created very average clubs the opportunity to stay in the hunt for October and beyond. Last season, a sub par Cardinals squad caught fire at the end of the year and went on to win the World Series. This season, a similar scenario seems to be playing out again. In the National League Central, three barely .500 teams, the Cardinals, the Cubs, and the Brewers are battling for division honors. A similar situation is taking place in the west where teams with no name hitters - the Padres, the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers, and the Rockies - are trying to get into the playoffs. Finally, in the east, the three deep pocketed teams - the Mets, Phillies, and Braves - are fighting off injuries and assorted problems. Where the American League has teams full of superstars, perhaps only the Mets and Phillies, are also rich in top drawer talent. Sports should be about achieving greatness. Whether individually or collectively, players and management should strive to do all they can to award their loyal fans and reach for their dreams. Why else would one follow a professional sport?
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