The Melbourne footy club, one of the oldest and most esteemed in Australia, has fallen on hard times. Saved from the "wooden spoon" (designating last place) only by the arrival of the two new franchises (particularly GWS) the last few years, the Dees have suffered the twin ignominies of bad management and poor fortune in the draft over the last decade. They've compounded their own woeful reputation by begging for handouts from the league - financial aid and extra draft choices, which has increased their "laughing stock" status recently. For such a storied club, the difficulties are disheartening for fans of the sport.
Their American counterpart: the Oakland Raiders
The legendary owner of the Raiders, the late Al Davis, was a maverick in every sense of the word (except he didn't ride horses, if that's part of the definition!). In his early days, that quality led to innovations that brought him and the Raiders fame and success - in his latter years, it started the team down a bit of a self-destructive path. Now, they inhabi the bottom of the standings, despite the rabid support of "Raider Nation', currently sitting at 0-6. As for the draft woes, we have two and a half words for you: JaMarcus Russell.
For the long-term health of both leagues, here's hoping for a resurgence of both the Demons and the Raiders!
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