ESPN sure knows how to spark debate. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/titletown/index Loved the link on Gainesville. I think G-ville has a good shot at winning this but I am sure many other opinions abound. 8)
Green Bay was the original "Titletown USA", but they could hardly be called that with what 1 Packer title in 40 years or more. Right now it would have to be Boston given their success in Football and Baseball in the last few years. Gainesville with Football Title and 2 Basketball titles certainly has a legit claim.
Yeah...I think Boston could give Gainesville a serious run for this. If the Celtics win the NBA title it's a done deal.
Jif says he's still having a hard time getting on the board, so for his sake let me just add that if it were between Gainesville and Boston it's already a "done deal". What's the next comparison, pointy wooden sticks and nuclear missiles? 8)
When <t>ESPN does things like this, it just reminds me how little they actually know about the sports they cover.</t>
I haven't even ranked #1. If one were to rank cities, pro cities should be toward the top. While a pro city can certainly use its college teams to augment its claim, I don't see a college town supplanting the likes of Boston, Chicago, NYC, Los Angeles, Detroit, etc. based on the accomplishments of college teams. As for me, Green Bay will always be "Titletown". And lest the issue come up, I still consider Reno to be the "Biggest Little City in the World".
:roll: There should be absolutely no debate here. BOSTON without a doubt :!: :!: ( thanks RICKO :!: )
AMEN Rick! What about college/pro towns? Los Angeles can hold up pro titles and when you talk college titles... Well, UCLA itself just won something like their 100th national title??!?!!
In the past 5 years what city has hosted the World Series, All-Star game, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup Finals? Add to that the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship (Aug. '08) and the NCAA Final Four and you have a real "title town."
I have to say that major NCAA national titles are cooler to me than pro titles of any kind because I happen to like college sports better. Pro titles are nice and fun when it's your team but I get a lot more excited about a Florida national title in football than a Red Wings Stanley Cup...a lot more excited. Besides that you have to beat out 115 teams in the NCAA and only 30 in the NFL.
NFL has a playoff. I love college football way more than the pro game, but the NCAA uses a beauty contest to determine the finalists.
.... <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> And by major NCAA national titles, you mean sports that the SEC has done well in.</r>
I generally mean men's basketball and football but Florida has won many national titles in several other men's and women's sports as well.
From Wikipedia: "Throughout the school's history, the University of Florida's athletic program has earned 27 total National Championships" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Florida