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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2008 > June > 18 > Entry
BLOG: Ohio’s Top Ten Sports Towns
Here’s my list of Ohio’s Top Ten Sports Towns.
I tried to consider the number of marque teams and events the place has, the success both the teams and the hometown athletes have enjoyed, the attendance and community support for the teams and events and the way sports is woven into the fabric of the community.
It’s a subjective ranking that certainly is up for debate. When I ran it past three veteran sportswriters and a sportscaster I know, they all agreed Cleveland was No. 1 because of the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers, Cleveland State, some great high school teams, boxing, horse racing, until recently an open wheel auto race, several other minor league pro teams and that often-rabid and always-loyal fan base for many teams, especially the beloved Browns.
One writer thought Columbus — with all things Ohio State, the Blue Jackets, Crew, Destroyers and the Memorial, among other things — belonged ahead of Cincinnati.
I disagreed because along with the Reds and their storied history and those soap opera Bengals, Cincinnati has two big-time Division I basketball schools in UC and Xavier, some nationally-acclaimed high school programs and a rich boxing history that includes yet another Olympian — Rau’Shee Warren — for the upcoming Beijing Games.
The sportscaster thought Coldwater possibly could supplant St. Henry, but I countered not only with all those state titles that are listed on big road signs signs when you enter St. Henry, but the foursome of favorite sons, Wally Post, Jim Lachey, Bobby Hoying and Jeff Hartings. And, of course, there’s that shrine of suds and sports celebration, Fish-Mo’s.
Another writer thought Dayton was rated too high. But the Dragons have been sold out for nine years straight years, have several thousand folks on a waiting list for season tickets and were rated by Sports Illustrated last year to have one of the top ten toughest tickets to obtain in all of U.S. sports.
And Dayton Flyers basketball has been among the Top 30 in college hoops attendance for most of its seasons since iUD began playing at the Arena in 1969. Add in Wright State, the Bombers, the storied history of Dayton pro athletes (including Mike Schmidt, Keith Byars and Ron Harper) and its Olympians (start with Edwin Moses) and the stand-out prep teams, especially in track, and I think Dayton has a strong argument for the No. 4 spot.
As for a few other towns I thought might belong on the list: Athens, Oxford, Ironton and especially Youngstown with everything from Youngstown State to middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik.
Any way, here’s my Top Ten list:
— Cleveland
— Cincinnati
— Columbus
— Dayton
— St. Henry
— Akron
— Toledo
— Massillon
— Canton
— Steubenville
Permalink | Comments (37) | Post your comment |
Comments
By Sweetie
October 3, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Hey Ann! Your Sweetie knows Lorain is the best town in Ohio! Your there!! I love you! Sweetie!By Sweetie
October 3, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Hey Ann! Your Sweetie knows Lorain is the best town in Ohio! Your there!! I love you! Sweetie!By Joe
July 7, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this
Tom: Great approach in choosing your Top 10. Thanks for giving Cleveland State some reckognition among all of the pro teams here in Cleveland. I also think Dayton deserves a higher ranking. I have been there to watch college basketball. It is a cool city and was very fun to see the fervor for thier Raiders and Flyers.By aehogf gsnjq
July 7, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
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July 7, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
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July 7, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
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yxmk mcbufzwrq aryn oqhywf vtwmery rwqdky elnabxuwiBy Buckeye In Kansas
June 27, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
I moved away from the great state of Ohio 10 years ago. People here in the KC area have absolutely no clue about the Bengals, Browns, and Reds, let alone any of the minor league and amature sports in Ohio. They know the Indians because they are in the AL central. However, everyone here knows about the Buckeyes, and I often run into Buckeye fans and alumni. If national recognition is considered, this would put Columbus at #1.By Real McCoy worshiper
June 27, 2008 1:46 AM | Link to this
Marty - here’s what Hal Mccoy said unawares in his thursday blog about Portsmouth - “Toronto hitting coach Gene Tenace is from Portsmouth, Oh., and etched his name into Cincinnati Reds history as a villain more evil than The Penquin. Playing the the Oakland A’s in 1972, he hit home runs in his first two at-bats in Game One and hit .348 with four homers in Oakland’s seven-game victory. On Thursday he leaned against a batting cage, his hair gray but his memory sharp. Long-time Reds scout Gene Bennett is from close to Portsmouth, too, and still works for the Reds. “You see Gene Bennett, you tell him I said hello,” said Tenance. “And tell him he is still 1 for 4. He had four major-league players in the Portsmouth area and he only signed one. The one was pretty good, Don Gullett. And I can understand him not signing me, but how could he not sign Al Oliver and Larry Hisle?” It was 37 years ago, but Tenace hasn’t forgotten how he made the Reds pay for not considering him a major-league prospect. Guess who else is from that area? Yeah, Brandon Webb. To Bennett’s credit, he wanted the Reds to draft Webb, but they didn’t.” nuff saidBy Matt Bruggeman
June 23, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
I would just like to say for the record that most all of the people that commented are going to have a bias for their town. I am from St. Henry and have experienced many of the State titles our town has won, from the 6 in football, the 6 in volleyball, 3 in baseball, 3 in boys basketball, and the numerous runner-up trophies we have brought home, which I believe is 10 in various sports if my memory serves me. But I also realize that many other great small towns deserve notice, many of which compete in the same conference as St. Henry. Some include Coldwater, Delphos (St.John’s), Marion Local (Maria Stein), Versailes, Minster and others, all of which have won numerous State titles in the past twenty years. I would just like to say that it is an honor to even be mentioned, I played for three state football champions and frequent the bar known as Fish-Mos, a kind of Hall of Fame to St. Henry sports and we take pride in our athletes. On behalf of the community thank you for your ranking of St. Henry sports.By MartyI
June 20, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
How ‘bout Portsmouth Tommy? The first professional franchise in Ohio was the Portsmouth Spartans (now Detroit Lions) - coached by the worlds greatest athlete Jim Thorpe! In 1930 the first night game in NFL HISTORY was played in Portsmouth vs the old Brooklyn NFL Dodgers! The home of branch Rickey - the signer of Jackie Robinson that changed the face of MLB.The famous iron man game of 1930 where 11 Spartans went both wasy in a 19-0 win vs those Green Bay Packers. Also more MLBers (Al Oliver,Larry Hisle, etc…)per capita than any town in Ohio. Not to mention 4-time state hoop champion Portsmouth Trojans. These are things no town including Cleveland can match with the nigth game & Rickey… How in the world did Ironton get a special mention. Portsmouth is easily a top ten sports town in Ohio!!By freddieb
June 20, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
cmon - Ohio Dominican - the programs hasnt been in existance more than 5 years - get a clue - obviously posted bya womanBy freddieb
June 20, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
cmon - Ohio Dominican - the programs hasnpt been in existance more than 5 years - get a clue - obviously posted bya womanBy Jack
June 20, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
Have to put Columbus above Cincinnati as well. If you made a list of favorite Ohio teams, OSU football would be #1 by a large margin. That list, by best guess is: 1. OSU Football. 2. Browns. 3. Reds. 4. Indians 5. BengalsBy Cathy Price
June 20, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
Hey don’t forget Columbus had another football team with great success. Check out Ohio Dominican University.By BArnzen
June 20, 2008 12:45 AM | Link to this
What about Delphos you Ottoville loser? St.John’s has more state titles than St.Henry and Jefferson is in a class by itself. The 60s are over. Get a haircutBy d-town
June 19, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
How about success?? That undoubtedly makes Columbus number 1. Cincy is more of an embarrassment. Every city listed is loaded with Buckeye fans.By Doco
June 19, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
Canton and Massillon should be combined and moved up to 5th. They’re right next to eachother and famed for the same thing. I assume Akron is up there for Lebron and Firestone Country Club but it doesn’t offer much else. It should definitely be beneath Toledo which has a the 2nd best D-1 college football program in the state, the famous Mudhens, a good hockey tradition, an annual LPGA tour event, and the OSU-UM middleground among others. It would challenge Dayton if it produced more star professionals.By texasfan
June 19, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
From a national perspective Cleveland obvious first, Cincy over Columbus due to Pro teams, and the whole soap opera of the Bengals, gives them national exposure, for better, or in their case, worse.For a smaller city Dayton does a good job of supporting their teams. I know the Fort Worth Ctas and Grand Priarie Air Hogs would love the support and attendance the Dragons get for minor league baseball. The Bombers attendance is weak, nothing like the Gems in their heyday, but does add another solid team in the mix. High school basketball in Dayton is also known outside Ohio, which boosts Dayton also.By David
June 19, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
One more comment about Dayton sports: I agree with our number 4 ranking here. We get so strongly behind our teams, even when we deserve more. Metropolitan Areas which are Dayton’s size (or smaller) have better sports offerings. Dayton should have at least a Double A baseball team (like Akron), if not a Triple A team (like Toledo); and the Bombers are one of the few ECHL teams without NHL affiliation. Cities like Erie and Fort Wayne have NBDL teams associated with NBA franchises…and I think in the near future the NBDL will be a true minor league on the level of Triple A baseball and we’ll have been left behind. As a basketball city it would be nice to have a NBDL team. And as a city our size overall we deserve more, especially with how well we support our teams.By David
June 19, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
I’m torn on the argument between Columbus and Cincinnati. I’m inclined to give the edge to Columbus: OSU is woven so deeply throughout the whole city, not to mention their overall success this decade; the Memorial and with it Tiger Woods (nearly) every year; and although the Blue Jackets have yet to make the playoffs, Nationwide Arena is one of the best arenas in the nation. The Bengals, Reds, XU and UC together make a pretty decent sports-town…but I think I still give Columbus the edge because OSU is such a local and national force. If Cincy were to gain an edge over Columbus, however, it would be with of their high school sports having a better overall tradition.By Jimmy
June 19, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
Don’t know much about St. Henry so I can’t logically say Akron should be above them. I’d like to know why those two are where they are though. Also, Cleveland should be #1, 2, & 3. That city is twice the city Cinci is sports/fan-wise.By shoney
June 19, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
Newark has state champs in football (Newark Catholic) and basketball (Newark High). Licking Valley is also big. Newark and its’ fans should make the top 10!By shoney
June 19, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
Newark has state champs in football (Newark Catholic) and basketball (Newark High). Licking Valley is also big. Newark and its’ fans should make the top 10!By Mike Gauntner
June 18, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
Hmmm. Did you ever sit down and see how much time tv stations in these towns devote to sports in a half hour newscast? One station here in Youngstown gives sports seven and a half minutes each at six and eleven on weekends.