USA TODAY SD Article

USA Today

SAN DIEGO — No bigger city in America has suffered a sadder sports history than this one.This is a fact. Of the nine most populous cities in the U.S, only San Diego never has won a championship in the NFL, NBA, NHL or Major League Baseball.

Four different San Diego teams have tried. But only two are left. And now another team might leave, too:  The NFL's Chargers are considering a move to Los Angeles County as soon as next year, adding more misfortune to this sunny city's long list of lost seasons, lost teams and lost players.

"It would be devastating," legendary former Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts told USA TODAY Sports. "I just can't even imagine San Diego without the Chargers being there."

After so much sorrow, the larger question is why. Why would teams leave this paradise? And why can't they get the job done here in the end?

Consider the cosmic cruelty involved with its poor past:

-- No other city has seen two different NBA teams permanently ditch town for greener pastures. The Rockets left San Diego for Houston in 1971. The Clippers left for Los Angeles in 1984.

-- Only one of the city's major-college teams has ever won a national title: the San Diego State men's volleyball team in 1973. But the university eliminated the program in a cost-cutting move in 2000.

-- Several Hall of Fame-caliber stars have suited up for San Diego pro teams, including quarterback Drew Brees, baseball manager Bruce Bochy, basketball center Bill Walton and outfielder Dave Winfield. But each of those four endured more losses than wins during their time here. After moving to other teams, they also each won at least one Super Bowl, World Series or NBA Finals. In Bochy's case, he's won three world championships in the past five seasons with the San Francisco Giants, all while still owning a home in San Diego County.

-- In 1984, a local high school graduate at least made the city proud when he was named MVP of the World Series. But that player was Alan Trammell, a shortstop who was playing for the Detroit Tigers — against his hometown Padres. Trammell and Tigers crushed the Padres in San Diego's first World Series appearance, winning in five games.

So what's the deal here?

"You can come up with a million answers," said Tom Ables, 89, a longtime fan of the Padres, Chargers and San Diego State Aztecs.

Besides bad players, bad decisions and bad facilities, there are other theories.

Just don't call it a curse. It's more like a tradeoff. In exchange for being able to live and work in a warm and sunny coastal climate, San Diego residents are burdened with distractions that tend to prevent productivity. The beach, the mountains and the desert — all can be visited on the same 70-degree afternoon in San Diego County.

Perhaps that's partly why only two Fortune 500 companies have headquarters here, compared to five in Omaha, and 26 in Houston.

Simply a brutal article coming out of nowhere from USA TODAY. I laughed when San Diego sports were on their radar. I mean its better than not knowing San Diego sports exists I guess. 

Also GTFO of here with this weather excuse and more activities to do in SD than other towns. Could be the two worst excuses ever or proves the poor sports passion standpoint more so. 85% of Padres games are played at night. I am sorry to inform the natives that this town doesn't have much going on at night. Its got the same bar and social scenes as any other medium sized city. The weather argument literally makes zero sense. So more people would show up to night games if the weather was worse?  Got It. Makes solid sense.

Wish San Diegans just owned the fact that they are soft. Would weirdly respect it.

P.S.  I had zero clue the Rockets were once in SD and I pride myself on useless sports knowledge.

P.P.S.  Padres need loud obnoxious assholes in the stands. Therefore - I am trekking down to the park friday night to catch the classic Rockies vs Padres rivalry.