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Rockies-Yankees series epitomizes ‘haves vs. have-nots’ of sports world

By Kyle Fredrickson May 23, 2025 | updated 2 months ago

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Memorial Day weekend in LoDo brought Yankee Stadium West to 20th and Blake.

Pinstripes outnumbered purple in the stands at Coors Field on Friday night to begin a three-game series between the Rockies and Yankees. Is anyone surprised? Colorado is on pace for the worst season in MLB history. The Yankees have one of the league’s strongest brands and a winning tradition.

This series epitomizes the so-called “Haves vs. Have Nots” of the sports world.

The Denver Gazette takes a closer look at the difference between winning and losing with unbalanced competition:

MLB

Haves — Astros, Dodgers, Yankees

No salary cap? No problem. That’s the mentality of MLB ownership groups in annual playoff contention. The Dodgers lead the majors with a total payroll of $336,802,442 this season (via spotrac.com). The Yankees rank third ($288M) and the Astros are sixth ($218M).

The savviest MLB front offices, specifically in Los Angeles, created a loophole to roster build around their highest-paid star players. The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani signed a $700-million contract — with a stunning $680 million deferred between 2034 and 2043.

Have-nots — Rockies, White Sox, Pirates

Colorado’s total payroll this season of $124,327,784 ranks ahead of nine MLB teams. Owner Dick Monfort’s problem is a lack of wise spending. Kris Bryant ($27M) is unable to stay healthy enough to play. Kyle Freeland ($16M) has an ERA of 5.68 over 10 starts this season. The list goes on.

Colorado is among a handful of MLB teams waving the white flag before the 50 game-mark. It reflects a class of unserious ownership groups that prioritize real estate deals over championships. It’s hard to change sports culture when you’re unwilling to adapt.

Rockies place RHP Chase Dollander on 15-day IL ahead of Yankees series

NFL

Haves — Eagles, Bills, Chiefs

One question means everything in pro football: Who is your starting quarterback? The only NFL QBs since 2000 to win it all without a Pro Football Hall-of-Fame lock resume are Nick Foles, Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer. The rest are basically legends of the modern era.

Will the Broncos eventually crack this list? Maybe. It’s too early to say quarterback Bo Nix will be enshrined in Canton someday. Denver has the benefit of a competent ownership group with deep pockets, and an ultra-confident head coach with one Super Bowl ring already. Momentum is building.

Have-nots — Bengals, Browns, Giants

The Giants and Browns have combined to start 19 different quarterbacks over the last six seasons. Their combined record over that period is 78-121-1. That’s no coincidence. The failure to draft and develop the right quarterback directly correlates to the misery of an NFL franchise.

Sometimes, a great QB isn’t enough. Just ask Bengals fans. Joe Burrow put up MVP-worthy numbers last season, and Cincinatti failed to make the playoffs. Building around your best player is imperative. Burrow deserves better considering his immense talent.

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NHL

Haves — U.S. teams

If you define hockey success by winning Stanley Cups, then Uncle Sam is currently dominating the sport. A U.S. team has lifted Lord Stanley 30 consecutive times. Three of four remaining teams currently in the postseason are from below the border.

The Avalanche have made the playoffs in eight consecutive years. But just getting there is no longer acceptable. Expectations are heightened after winning the Cup back in 2022 and the pressure is on general manager Chris MacFarland to deliver another championship roster.

Have-nots — Canadian teams

Go all the way back to 1993 for the last team from Up North to win a Stanley Cup. It’s been a long drought since the Montreal Canadiens brought it home. There are only seven NHL teams currently playing in Canada. But they also invented the sport.

It’s possible the Oilers will bust this narrative in a few weeks. Edmonton has the best chance behind generational talent Connor McDavid. But can you imagine the pressure? The hockey fandom in Canada is unlike anything below the border.

NCAA sports

Haves — Big Ten, SEC

The divide in college sports will steepen if the upcoming NCAA vs. House settlement allows for schools to pay athletes starting at roughly $20 million a year through a revenue sharing program. That’s no problem for the richest power conferences with already deep pockets from TV revenue deals.

The SEC and Big Ten are positioning themselves ahead of every other college athletics conference. Of course, the biggest spenders of the NIL era did not always win titles. But it’s a whole lot easier to recruit when you can back up the Brinks truck.

Have-nots — Everybody else

The Big 12, ACC and (resurrected) Pac-12 are no longer on par financially with their old Power Five pals. They’re already behind on NIL spending, and when the floodgates open, no amount of fundraising or ticket price increases will cover the gap.

CU gave Deion Sanders a $54-million contract extension after he led the Buffs to a 13-12 record over two seasons. CSU opened a $220 million on-campus football stadium in 2017 and has appeared in two bowl games since. The dollar-to-success ratio is embarrassing for the in-state programs.

Mark Kiszla: Could hapless Rockies beat the Savannah Bananas in three-game series? Don't bet on it.

The exception: NBA

Finally, a breath of fresh air for the “haves vs. have-nots” debate. One sport is enjoying rare parity. In 2025, for the seventh year in a row, a different team will be crowned NBA Finals champion. Early congratulations to either the Thunder, Timberwolves, Pacers or Knicks.

The Nuggets are reloading with new head coach David Adelman and to-be-named-later general manager. But they’re certainly among the “have” teams in the NBA with Nikola Jokic to build around moving forward.

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Kyle Fredrickson

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