Winners and Losers: A Look at the Success Rate of Celeb-Owned Sports Teams

Team: Cleveland Indians
Years Of Ownership: 1946-1990s
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances : One championship (1948) / Five playoff appearances

Bob Hope grew up in Cleveland, and after making it big he decided to invest in his hometown Indians in 1946. Hope remained an owner for most of the rest of his life and even saw the Indians win a ring in 1948. His dedication and loyalty was recognized when he made it onto the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1963.

Team: California Angels
Years of Ownership: 1960-1998
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Three playoff appearances

This whole adventure started out with Gene Autry's interest in becoming an L.A. expansion team's broadcast partner, next thing he knew the Singing Cowboy was owner of the Los Angeles Angels. Life's funny. Autry remained with the team for nearly four decades until his death in 1998, and had his number 26 retired by the Angels in 1992. Hats off to a true American pioneer, ride off into that sunset fam.

Team: Atlanta Braves / Atlanta Hawks
Years of Ownership: Braves: 1976-1996 Hawks: 1976-2004
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Braves: One championship / Six playoff appearances; Hawks: Zero championships / 18 playoff appearances

All media magnates should own teams because it's a well-known fact that people watch a lot of sports. Ted Turner knew this and capitalized with his acquisition of the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks. A combined 24 playoff appearances and one ring, we'd say Turner did okay for himself. Like all good things though, the dream came to an end when he sold his assets of Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner, including the um, Braves. Always good to hear as a fan that your team is an asset that can be dealt as quickly as a hand of cards, oh well, one percent, one percent.

Team: Watford
Years of Ownership: 1976-2008
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Two first place finishes/ Three division promotions

Yup the Rocket Man is a massive fan of the world's game, and props to Knight Elton, he bellied up a healthy cash injection to the club in 1976 and saw Watford FC rise three divisions into the first division. He also appointed the clubs most successful manager in Graham Taylor, who led the team to the FA Cup Final in 1984. A rarity, a celebrity owner who knew exactly what he was getting into and actually improved the team. In June 2005, Elton held a concert at the club's grounds and donated all the money to the team.

Team: Tampa Bay Bandits
Years of Ownership: 1983-1986
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Two playoff appearances

The big lesson to remember here is that you cannot challenge the entity that is the NFL, and the USFL was no exception to this. And surely you can't expect to have success when your team is based on the Smokey and the Bandit movies, right? Wait just a minute because the Burt Reynolds led Bandits boasted one of the leagues best attendance records and had the most sound finances. This was all in spite of their 10-38 record from 1983-1985, now that's winning. Unfortunately the league and team went belly up in 1986, but don't worry kids, Reynolds would grace the gridiron again in an Adam Sandler flick that will remain nameless.

Team: Newman-Hass Racing
Years f Ownership: 1983-2008
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Eight driver championships

Celebs seem to love being involved in the high adrenaline world of racing. Paul Newman was one of the first when he joined forces with Carl Hass in 1983 and formed Newman-Hass Racing. The duo signed Mario Andretti as their first driver and went on to win 105 Champ Car races and eight driver championships. The team ran into some tough economic times and Newman opted out in 2008 after more than two decades of service.

Team: Texas Rangers
Years of Ownership: 1989-1998
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Two playoff appearances

Only fitting that Dubya would own a piece of the Texas Rangers, hell, he is a Ranger. Nearly a decade of ownership ended with Bush being the first Texas governor to be elected to consecutive four-year terms, the Rangers winning their second divisional title in team history, and GWB collecting $14.9 million for his initial purchase. #stunt101

Team: Toronto Argonauts
Years Of Ownership: 1991-1994
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: One championship / One playoff appearance

Uncle Buck joined up with The Great One and Co. to purchase a piece of the CFL's Argonauts in 1991 and became a part of one of the clubs most successful years in the league. They signed superstar "Rocket" Ismail to a ridiculous contract by AFL standards, $18.2 million over four years, and finished the regular season at 13-5-0. The Argos capped off the season by capturing the 79th Grey Cup. The following years were nowhere near as successful though and sadly big John passed away just three years later. R.I.P.

Team: Baltimore Orioles
Years of Ownership: 1993-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Three playoff appearances

Tom Clancy is a best-selling author most known for his tech, spy, military thrillers. Clancy is also part owner of the Baltimore Orioles. Part of a group that bought the team in 1993, Clancy is a long-time Orioles fan who, like all fans with the necessary resources, decided rooting for his team simply wasn't enough. Nope, Clancy went out and bought a piece of the pie, and while he's seen just three playoff appearances and no rings to show for his troubles , the O's are coming off a great season. They look capable of finally competing in the once two-horse race that is the AL East.

Team: St. Paul Saints
Years of Ownership: 1993-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances During Tenure: Four league titles

If you've never been to a minor-league baseball game we recommend checking it out. It's usually super interactive, caters to the fans and beer's a lot cheaper too. So, it's no surprise that Bill Murray bought a stake of the Minnesota based minor-league squad, the St. Paul Saints. We feel that this is more of an escape for Murray. One could trek off to Minnesota, catch a game, and lose yourself in the shenanigans that is minor-league baseball. The Saint's website also lists Murray as the team psychologist. Just another reason why Bill is awesome.

Team: Rahal Letterman Racing
Years of Ownership: 1996-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: 2004 Indy 500 Winner

Everyone knows that racing is cool, including one of the kings of late-night talk show television, David Letterman. The CBS funny man hit the throttle in 1996 when he took a minority stake in Team Rahal Racing. In 2002, the team saluted Letterman by entering the Indy 500 as Rahal Letterman Racing and two years later the name became permanent. The very next race after the change, they won the Indy 500. Boom.

Team: Sacramento Kings
Years of Ownership: 1999-present
Championships Won And Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Seven playoff appearances

Gotta love a woman who makes a reality show out of nothing and gets ownership of a professional sports team because of her former husband. Don't hate the player hate the game, right? The Maloofs typify the modern American tycoon family. They have their hands in various cash making ventures around the country, with the Kings being only one of their investments. No rings for Sactown since the Maloofs have been in charge, but does it really matter? We hear Adrienne recently sold her Beverly Hills mansion for about $20 million.

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Years Of Ownership: 1999-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: One championship / Eight playoff appearances

The Pittsburgh Penguins lifer is one of the greatest players to lace up a pair of skates, and no doubt a hero in Steel Town. Currently the Pens principal owner and chairman, he bought the team out of bankruptcy in 1999. Super Mario is the only person to ever win the Stanley Cup as both a player and an owner.

Team: Philadelphia Soul
Years Of Ownership: 2004-2009
Championships Won And Playoff Appearances: One championship / One playoff appearance

Bon Jovi did it right as far as celebs and sports franchises are concerned. The dude started the team, was a majority owner, and had a huge part in the naming of the Soul. If you're going in, go in, ain't no such things as half-way crooks. Speaking of crooks, JBJ promised to do a free concert for the Philly fans after his Soul won the '08 Arena Bowl, but then the league took a hiatus and JBJ reneged, well kind of. He did end up doing a show, but it was in Jersey, and it only admitted 500 fans. #pimphandstrong

Team: Brooklyn Nets (formerly the New Jersey Nets)
Years of Ownership: 2004-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Three playoff appearances

So what if Hova only owns a reported one-fifteenth of one percent of the Brooklyn Nets, clearly he has enough clout to pick the team up from Jersey and drop them in his backyard in Brooklyn. So far, the Nets haven't seen much success since Jigga put his money up in '04, but the team's got a new look, new players, and of course, a new home. Time will tell if the Nets can play ball.

Team: Nashville Kats
Years of Ownership: 2005-2007
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / One playoff appearance

Another sound investment in the AFL. When a team already went out of existence once, what made Tim McGraw think the second time around would be any different? McGraw hopped on before the 2005 expansion season for the Kats second trip around, and subsequently saw them finish a whopping 6-9-1. Two years later majority owner Bud Adams pulled the plug on the Kats once again. Fun fact: The Kool Kat mascot would run around during breaks and perform "dare devil" stunts for fans.

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Years of Ownership: 2005-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Five playoff appearances

Just gotta let it burn, huh? We're gonna take a stab here and say he wasn't foreshadowing the city of Cleveland's reaction to LeBron leaving for Miami. That's right, the pop sensation only perpetuated the stereotype that ballers want to be rappers and vice versa. In 2005, Usher bought a piece of Dan Gilbert's Cavaliers and enhanced the madness that was LeBron James. Although, you gotta respect the R&B magnate. The Cavs were hot, making five playoff runs and coming agonizingly close to a ring. And while the LeBron years are gone, Kyrie Irving is just getting started (until he bolts). Come on Cleveland, you know the drill.

Team: WNBA Chicago Sky
Years of Ownership: 2006-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Zero playoff appearances

So far, the former Destiny's Child star is not seeing a return on her investment. Six years in and still no playoff appearances. We know they're an expansion team, but how long do you wait to cut your losses and pull the plug on this operation? Also, who told Michelle a WNBA team was a good investment? We hope the word, minor shareholder, is an overstatement for how much money she's put into this team.

Team: Seattle Sounders
Years of Ownership: 2007-present
Championships Won And Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Four playoff appearances

We don't know what it is about Seattle sports franchises but the fans come out in droves to support their teams, and the Sounders are no exception. That's why Drew Carey's 2007 purchase of a minor stake in the franchise was a sound investment. Since becoming an owner, the Sounders made four postseason appearances and back-to-back-to-back US Open Cup trophies. That definitely sounds like something we would be interested in. Props to Carey who's clearly going all in here. He's the chairman of the Sounders FC Alliance (supporters club), and he was instrumental in starting a 53-member marching band for the team. #punsonpunsonpuns

Team: Vancouver Whitecaps
Years of Ownership: 2009-present
Championships Won And Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / One playoff appearance

Nash is a Canadian soccer guy, so why wouldn't he invest in an MLS franchise from his home country? It's always good to put money into something you actually know a thing or two about. Nash has been seen training with the Whitecaps and pumping up the crowd on game day. The team is young and maybe the future is bright, but it's a problem if there's more talent in the owner's box than on the field.

Team: Miami Dolphins
Years of Ownership: 2009-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Zero playoff appearances

Is there any celebrity that isn't a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins? This is not a good look, half of these celebs look like the Coke salesman who wins free Pepsi Max for life in their purchase photo. It's like, "Hey I guess we're excited, I don't know anything about football." No worries, neither do the Dolphins. No rings, no playoff appearances, no fans in the stadium. The weather sure is nice though.

Team: Liverpool
Years of Ownership: 2011-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / Zero playoff appearances

You'll never walk alone. LFC's motto says it all really. LeBron was obviously tired of all the hate he was getting and friends he was losing, so he decided to invest in a club that promised him companionship and support. But really it's all about global reach and King James has decided to throw his hat into the world's most popular sport with one of the world's most popular teams. Good for him. He's already got a Liverpool designed shoe and has even gone overseas to take in the action. The rich get richer yet again, but don't hate, we're sure your hairline isn't regressing nearly as fast.

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Years of Ownership: 2011-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: Zero championships / One playoff appearance

"Born and raised" in West Philly, the Fresh Prince made a hometown move when he recently invested in the 76ers with wife Jada Pinkett Smith. We hear he and his partners are off to a good start as one of their first moves at the helm was to slash ticket prices. Pay attention everyone else that owns a sports franchise, cut prices to get in good with the fans and put butts in the seats. Another bonus could be Willow performing at half-time. That'd be another way to make money by keeping it all in the family. Maybe she can sit on Bynum's shoulders and they can do a duet. Now we're just spit-balling.

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Years Of Ownership: 2012-present
Championships Won And Playoff Appearances During Tenure: N/A

Two billion dollars later and a group headlined by Magic Johnson purchased the bankrupt Dodgers from Frank McCourt. Aside from shattering the record amount purchased for a sports franchise, the Dodgers also made blockbuster trades half-way through the season to bring in Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Hanley Ramirez. Then the Dodgers surged into the playoffs, oh wait, no they didn't. They sat at home on their couches and watched like us. We'll see next season how the wild west unfolds.

Team: New York Mets
Years of Ownership: 2012-present
Championships Won and Playoff Appearances: N/A

Let's spare the pun of Bill Maher being a comedian and purchasing a stake in the joke that is the NY Mets. Well anyway, the Jersey native revealed that he became a "limited partner" of the team this year, although he refused to say how much he paid and how much of the team he owns. Yeah Bill, we wouldn't want to let people know such things either. We just hope he avoids any mentions in the next addition of this list.