Best owner ever?

[3_Octave_Fart]

I am also interested to see what the membership thinks.
I have to say, I watched the NFL Network doc on Eddie DeBartolo last month, and before he was enveloped by his legal problems, he was the best in sports.

 

[qtlaw]

Eddie D. Players did not ever bad mouth him (that I'm aware of) and he was the reason for the NFL salary cap because he was hoarding stars (see 1994 team; unfortunately last championship as well.)

 

[Azrael]

Just to pipe up on behalf of the old school: Mara, Rooney, Walter Brown (Bruins/Celtics), Veeck, Ruppert.

 

[da man]

Jerry Jones!!!!!!!!






OK, just kidding.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Philip Banks owned the **** out of a house in Bel Air.

 

[Starman]

Bill Veeck. End of thread.

The only instance in history where fans would actually pay (at times) to watch the owner own.

 

[Gehrig]

Charles Comiskey ;D

 

[HanSenSE]

Bill Veeck. End of thread.

The only instance in history where fans would actually pay (at times) to watch the owner own.

As big a Niners fanboi as I am, agreed!

 

[Small Town Guy]

Perhaps his idiot son will erase some of his good deeds from the history books, but Jerry Buss has to be a contender. Since 1980, 10 titles, 16 Finals appearances. Missed playoffs twice. And there was another complete collapse, like you saw with Celtics and Bulls. Made the right call in going with Kobe over Shaq.

 

[huntsie]

Mike Illitch has to warrant some consideration. Revived the Red Wings and treats the players well -- then did the same for the Tigers. Despite the economic challenges in Detroit, players want to play there.

 

[Riptide]

Joe Robbie knew how to be an owner, not a meddler.

 

[RonClements]

The city of Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin.

Debate over. Close the thread.

 

[Matt1735]

Jim Simantec, winner of 33 fantasy leagues in one year

 

[Norrin Radd]

Perhaps his idiot son will erase some of his good deeds from the history books, but Jerry Buss has to be a contender. Since 1980, 10 titles, 16 Finals appearances. Missed playoffs twice. And there was another complete collapse, like you saw with Celtics and Bulls. Made the right call in going with Kobe over Shaq.

Hired the right people, provided resources for them to work.

The Jimmy thing will be a disaster.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

I'm not sure any owner is as universally beloved in his franchise's city as Ewing Kauffman was and still is in Kansas City. It's hard to believe the Royals were once the model for how to do it.

 

[93Devil]

George III gave the Yankees such financial dominance over the rest of baseball at the end of his run, I would think he is in the conversation.

Sure, he did some crazy ****, but for about a decade they could spend money like water. That was pretty freaking impressive.

 

[outofplace]

Just to pipe up on behalf of the old school: Mara, Rooney, Walter Brown (Bruins/Celtics), Veeck, Ruppert.

Have to pick the right Rooney. Art Rooney, Sr. founded the franchise and he was a beloved figure by the time of his passing in the mid-80s, but he played a big part in the Steelers sucking most of its first 40 years. My understanding is that Dan Rooney started handling more of the day-to-day operations in the late '60s and that's when things began to turn around.

Mara and Veeck certainly belong in the conversation, too.

What are the criteria? Is it just winning? Willingness to spend money? Being beloved within the franchise and in the city?

 

[93Devil]

I agree with OOP. The Steelers changed when Dan Rooney started making the calls.

 

[Gutter]

Me.

 

[Starman]

Mike Illitch has to warrant some consideration. Revived the Red Wings and treats the players well -- then did the same for the Tigers. Despite the economic challenges in Detroit, players want to play there.

Gets huge demerits because he spent the first decade of his Tigers ownership following the Pirates-Royals penny-pinching plan, hired one of the most incompetent-idiot GMs ever (Randy Smith), and allowed Tiger Stadium to fall to rot to force taxpayers to pony up for a new park (continuing the efforts of the previous pizza boy owner Monaghan).

After the race-to-the-bottom strategy acheived complete oblivion in 2003 with 120 losses and attendance cratering, he decided he had to start spending money and, amazingly enough, started MAKING money.