If we win...

[Shake n Blake]

(02-05-2022, 12:03 AM)fredtoast Wrote: Since 1952 there have been no teams that folded or merged.  There were only 12 teams, but that is plenty for a league.  Since 1952 Cleveland has played in 7 Championship games and won 3.  The Browns played in the 2 NFL Championship games just before the Super Bowl era began winning their last championship in 1964.

I said between 1920 and 1966. For the bulk of that period, there was a lot of change and instability. If you want to say things have been legit since 1952, by all means, go ahead.

I'd rather just keep it simple and go by the Super Bowl era, as the AFL expanded the list of teams from 16 to 26 and made the odds of winning a championship much smaller.

For me, it reminds me of how Bill Russell won 11 rings, but did so in a league with just 8-14 teams max, with a team that just out talented the other 7 squads.

Sports have evolved a lot and are far more refined now. Does this mean Bill's rings mean nothing? Of course not.

But it's hard to compare the Celtics winning 11 in a tiny league where the most profitable franchises would often just buy great players from other teams - to say...the Bulls winning 6 championships in a 28 team league with free agency and refinements to make the league fair for all.