WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals may have fallen short of the Stanley Cup finals, but the franchise is soaring up ESPN's Ultimate Standings.
Not much of a consolation prize, but something for fans to be proud of.
ESPN's magazine ranks all 122 franchises in the NBA, NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball on how well the give back to fans in exchange for what fans give to them, and this year the Capitals ranked sixth, up from 45th a year ago, the Washington Business Journal reported. It's a far better showing than the rest of D.C.'s teams: the Redskins (92), the Nationals (97) and the Wizards (98).
"Give assists to Washington's first conference semi since 1998, the emergence of 2008 Hart winner Alex Ovechkin as the league's top attraction and the introduction of the Red Rockers, a classy spirit squad that greets fans before every home game," Charles Curtis wrote.
In Baltimore, the Orioles ranked 81st and the Ravens ranked 29th.
So who finished first? The Los Angeles Angels "because they understand the importance of value, performance and effort."
Last place went to another L.A. team. Not surprisingly, the inept L.A. Clippers owned by skinflint billionaire Donald Sterling came in 122nd.
