Littman ranks the top dogs

There’s a saying in baseball that goes like this: Players win and managers lose.

It means… There’s a saying in baseball that goes like this: Players win and managers lose.

It means that when things are going well, most people credit the players. And when things are going bad, the manager takes the fall.

I was wondering why this method couldn’t be applied to all sports, but instead of coaches or managers, I could just take it a step further.

When a sport isn’t doing so well or something goes wrong, why can’t we just blame the commissioner?

That’s what I did. I made a list of where I think the current commissioners of the four major sports stand in terms of how good or how bad of a job they’re doing right now.

I suppose if anything, it’s more of a power ranking.

4) David Stern (NBA): Maybe last is a little harsh for the NBA commissioner. As of Tuesday morning, two of the most historic franchises in his sport are playing in the NBA Finals and are one away from a Game 7.

That’s good right?

Yes. Then how could I have Stern as my worst ranking commissioner right now?

The answer is Tim Donaghy. Whether or not you fully believe everything the former referee claims, he’s certainly put a damper on the playoffs this year.

Last summer Donaghy was investigated by the FBI for betting on games he refereed and calling them unfairly to shave points and alter outcomes. A little more than a week ago Donaghy said that Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals, which was between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings, was fixed.

Donaghy also said that the fix was ordered by Stern so that the series would go seven games. The Lakers won that game, shooting 18 more free throws than the Kings and ended up winning the title that year. Donaghy also said Stern told referees not to call technical fouls on star players and that one referee was privately reprimanded for ejecting a star player early in a game in 2000.

Stern has said that these remarks are ridiculous. But whether he did it or not, I think this is the right place to put him right now.

Even if the Lakers and Celtics are playing the Finals.

3) Roger Goodell (NFL): This is where the list gets tricky: In these two middle spots. I’m putting Goodell here solely for the fact that right now I dislike him more than the guy at No. 2. But not by much.

I think he overreacts to situations. So far he seems more than willing to hand out a suspension, but I still don’t think he’s had to deal with the possibility of suspending any star players.

Although he’s quite good, people know Adam Jones more because his trouble with the law and the suspension he was given. Chris Henry might not be on the level of Jones in terms of playing ability, but he, too, isn’t so bad.

Now could he completely change my opinion of him if he does something a bit more drastic with Bill Belichick and the Patriots? Of course.

Maybe that’s just anti-Patriot bias more than anything. But one would think that finding out one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport might have cheated throughout a period where his team won four Super Bowls would cause a little stir.

Yes, he fined Belichick and took away a first-round draft pick, but that’s not the best he could have done. Goodell could even have a little fun with this.

He could rule that the Patriots logo has to include the face looking into a video camera for a few years. He could not suspend Belichick but make him do some type of community service, like film weddings and bar mitzvahs.

2) Bud Selig (MLB): Ah, he just looks slimy. And not a cool type of slimy but just the dirty, I-don’t-trust-you kind of slimy. First of all, we have steroids. I guess nobody but Selig can really say if he knew about the rampant steroid use over the past decade. But I doubt he minded, especially since people like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa made baseball popular again after the strike in 1994.

I can’t say I’m a fan of his interleague play or instant replay coming to baseball, but right now baseball seems to be doing fine. Had I written this list up a few years back, or even a few months back, he probably wouldn’t be second. But by now, it’s just a process of elimination.

1) Gary Bettman (NHL): Hey, the hockey guy! Once again, I’d say he’s here by default.

The NHL commissioner has something on his resume most other commissioners don’t have: a cancellation of his league’s championship.

There were no Stanley Cup Finals for the 2004-05 season because of a lockout.

But it’s been just a few years since and look at how things have panned out. The league just had an exciting Stanley Cup final that featured young superstar Sidney Crosby. There are also a good number of other young stars around the league.

But most importantly, as far as we know, his league isn’t dealing with an abundance of stealing or illegal videotaping.

And even better, his name is now awesome because we can say he’s taunting the NBA.