Baldwin: Is curse of Clippers real?

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The worst pro sports franchise?

The Los Angeles Clippers.

It's not even close.

Based on win-loss percentages the past 30 years, the Clippers are the worst of the worst among NFL, MLB and NBA franchises.

Some say the Clippers are cursed. The latest example? Former Oklahoma star Blake Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick, will miss at least the first six weeks of his rookie season with a fractured left kneecap.

But talking to die-hard Clippers fans recently at the Staples Center, most believe Griffin will lead the franchise out of the abyss.

Abyss is an accurate description for a franchise that's made the playoffs only three times in three decades and has won only one playoff series... in 30 years.

Unable to locate a season-ticket holder of 20 or more years, long-time Clippers fan Larry Jefferson quipped: "That's because they're probably all in a psych ward somewhere."

For those unfamiliar with the Clippers' losing legacy, the franchise moved from Buffalo to San Diego in 1978, then moved to LA six years later.

Over the past quarter of a century, playing in the Lakers' shadow, the Clippers have averaged almost 53 losses a season.

Those days will be coming to an end in a year or two, according to Clipper Darrell (Bailey), the team's most famous fan.

You can't miss Bailey, who wears a shiny blue-and-red jacket and leads cheers from his seat behind the baseline. Bailey has attended 356 consecutive games. He's a nine-year season-ticket holder.

"There's no curse," Bailey said. "Injuries happen. Blake has said, 'Forget about the past.' He's right. Blake is now the face of the franchise. The problem in the past is the Clippers made some bad decisions. But Blake will turn that around."

Bad decisions have been a key factor. Elgin Baylor was a tremendously talented player but is considered by many to be the worst general manager in pro sports history. The organization finally fired Baylor after 1,153 losses over 22 seasons.

Todd Sherer, 39, a Pittsburgh native who moved to L.A. early this decade, is a converted Clippers season-ticket holder. Sherer is convinced Griffin and Eric Gordon give the franchise a solid foundation.

"Blake Griffin already is the best player on the team," Sherer said. "You could tell that in preseason. They played better. They actually played defense. He was very infectious."

Griffin certainly isn't buying into a three-decade-long slump.

"When people talk about this franchise has been bad for 30 years, or 20 years ago this happened, or 10 years ago this happened, none of us were here," Griffin said. "Twenty years ago I was barely born. Ten years ago I was 10 years old.

"We have an attitude that we'll be a winning team. All that prior (history) doesn't matter to us."

(Contact Mike Baldwin at mbaldwin@opubco.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)

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