Buzz
Much like the lessons from high school relationships, where repeated failures lead to meaningful growth, the world of sports has also evolved through the collapse of numerous leagues. These leagues, despite their shortcomings, laid the groundwork for modern sports, leaving behind innovations and lessons that continue to influence the industry today.
10. The Coloured Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL) welcomed its first black player, Willie O’Ree, in 1958 when he joined the Boston Bruins. Before him, Art Dorrington signed with the New York Rangers in 1950 but never made it to the NHL. This occurred nearly 50 years after the establishment of the Coloured Hockey League (CHL), a Canadian league as indicated by its spelling. Formed in 1895, the CHL was exclusively composed of black players and showcased a remarkably advanced style of hockey for its time.
At the dawn of the 20th century, hockey was a slow-paced, low-scoring game, devoid of speed, agility, and the excitement of slap shots. The slap shot, a game-changing technique, was virtually nonexistent until the Coloured Hockey League (CHL) introduced it. Eddie Martin, a standout CHL player, is credited with inventing the slap shot years before it became a staple in the NHL.
The CHL also revolutionized the role of goalies on the ice. Before this league, goalies rarely ventured out of the crease and played the entire game standing upright. CHL goalies broke this mold by aggressively pursuing pucks and adopting the practice of dropping to their knees to make saves. This innovation elevated goalies to leadership positions within their teams, a tradition that persists to this day. These groundbreaking strategies were swiftly adopted by nearby white leagues, though they often failed to acknowledge the contributions of the black players who pioneered them.
The CHL operated as a fairly successful regional league in eastern Canada until World War I depleted its roster of top players, leading to its eventual dissolution in 1925.
9. The Federal League
Throughout Major League Baseball’s storied history, only one bold attempt was made to rival “America’s Game.” While it ultimately failed, this endeavor left behind a legacy of intriguing developments that continue to influence baseball today.
In 1913, the Federal League (FL) emerged with ambitions to become the third major professional baseball league, joining the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The FL lured players with significantly higher salaries and established teams in key baseball markets, directly challenging existing franchises.
The FL’s strategy was doomed from the start, as the league struggled to generate sufficient revenue in already crowded markets. Compounding the issue, many FL teams lacked distinctive nicknames, opting instead for generic names like “Brooklyn Feds” and “Kansas City Feds.” These challenges led to the league’s collapse in 1915, but not before it filed a lawsuit against the AL and NL, accusing them of operating as “illegal monopolies.”
The landmark case reached the Supreme Court in 1922, resulting in the decision of Federal Baseball Club v. National League, which upheld Major League Baseball’s status as a legal monopoly. The Court ruled that baseball was primarily entertainment, exempting it from the Sherman Antitrust Act. This verdict solidified MLB’s dominance and discouraged any future attempts to establish competing leagues.
Among the Federal League’s lasting contributions was the construction of a stadium by the Chicago Whales, which later became iconic Wrigley Field—a significant cultural landmark in the annals of baseball history.
8. The World Football League
Launched in 1974 as a competitor to the NFL, the World Football League (WFL) faced immediate challenges. The Philadelphia franchise sparked controversy by distributing tens of thousands of free tickets while recording them as paid in their financial records. This led to widespread perceptions of the league as unprofessional and unreliable. Financial instability further tarnished its reputation, with players often going unpaid and one team resorting to McDonald’s coupons for meal allowances. The league’s struggles reached a peak when the Birmingham Americans’ championship-winning jerseys were repossessed right after their victory.
Amid the chaos, the case of John Matuszak of the Houston Texans stood out. While Matuszak was playing in the WFL, the NFL’s Houston Oilers, with whom he had a prior contract, obtained a court order preventing him from participating in WFL games. This led to federal marshals forcibly removing Matuszak from the field mid-game, moments after he sacked the opposing quarterback.
The WFL’s schedule, an exhausting 20 games long, was poorly organized, often pitting the same teams against each other in consecutive weeks. The league also introduced an unusual scoring system, where touchdowns counted for seven points, with an additional “action point” making them worth eight.
Despite its challenges, the WFL managed to attract nearly 60 players, including Super Bowl champions Ken Stabler and Larry Csonka, to join its ranks. However, the league’s financial promises, such as the combined $ million offered to Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Paul Warfield—a staggering sum in an era before multimillion-dollar contracts—proved unsustainable
Beyond its ambitious salaries, the WFL introduced several forward-thinking innovations that outpaced the NFL. The league implemented overtime for tied games, restricted bump-and-run coverage to three yards (later adopted by the NFL at five yards), and relocated the field goal to its current position. Previously, the field goal was oddly placed at the front of the end zone, a change that reduced the dominance of kickers and brought logical consistency to the game.
7. The Continental League
By the 1950s, baseball had grown stagnant, with no new franchises since the MLB’s inception and the Yankees dominating year after year. The relocation of the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles revealed a strong appetite for baseball west of the Mississippi, where fans had no local teams to support. This realization inspired Branch Rickey, the visionary behind Jackie Robinson’s signing, to devise his ambitious Continental League (CL) plan.
In 1960, the Continental League (CL) unveiled its strategy to establish new franchises in major cities lacking baseball teams, including Houston. It remains unclear whether Branch Rickey genuinely intended to launch the CL or if his goal was to pressure MLB into expansion. Regardless, his tactic succeeded, as the mere possibility of a rival league prompted MLB to swiftly expand into Minnesota, Houston, and Washington, D.C.—cities earmarked for CL teams. Over the following 15 years, MLB introduced teams in Seattle, Toronto, Kansas City, Montreal, San Diego, and even added the New York Mets. Without a single game played, the Continental League propelled baseball into the modern era.
6. The United States Football League
Donald Trump has been associated with numerous failures over the years, many of them personal, and his ventures into sports were no exception. In the mid-1980s, Trump, then a prominent real estate mogul, grew dissatisfied with the National Football League. He partnered with David Dixon, the visionary behind the Superdome, to establish the United States Football League (USFL) in 1983.
Dixon proposed a cautious strategy, advocating for controlled spending, a spring season, and gradual expansion into NFL markets to ensure the USFL’s viability. This approach, known as the Dixon Plan, saw moderate success in the league’s initial two seasons. The USFL secured three consecutive Heisman Trophy winners, including Herschel Walker, and began attracting interest from major networks for a network television deal.
The signing of Herschel Walker, a three-year deal worth $5 million, signaled the beginning of the USFL’s downfall, as it far surpassed the $1.8 million team salary cap set by Dixon. Once Walker’s contract was approved, other teams followed suit, offering massive deals to future Hall of Famers like Steve Young and Jim Kelly. While these signings boosted the league’s credibility, they also plunged it into financial instability.
The league might have endured if not for Donald Trump’s push to move the USFL to a fall schedule in 1985, directly competing with the NFL. The decision proved catastrophic, prompting the USFL to pin its hopes on an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL. Surprisingly, the USFL won the case but was awarded a mere $3 in damages. The jury ruled that while the NFL was an illegal monopoly, the USFL’s collapse was due to its own mismanagement, making it undeserving of any compensation. Shortly after the verdict, the USFL folded in disgrace.
Despite its failure, the USFL left a lasting impact on football, introducing innovations like the two-point conversion, instant replay reviews, and a salary cap—all of which the NFL adopted within a decade.
5. The American Basketball League
The American Basketball League (ABL) was born out of Abe Saperstein’s frustration after being overlooked for the new Los Angeles NBA franchise in 1960. Determined to retaliate, Saperstein, owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, decided to launch his own league—a classic move by wealthy magnates to settle scores. To bring his vision to life, he enlisted George Steinbrenner, a then-unknown figure who would suffer significant financial losses in this endeavor before achieving fame with the New York Yankees.
From its inception, the ABL was destined to fail. Its roster was filled with amateurs, past-their-prime stars, and players banned from the NBA. Compounding the issues, the league’s owners lacked the expertise to manage professional teams. Chaos reigned, exemplified by Steinbrenner, owner of the Cleveland Pipers, who sold player Grady McCollum’s contract mid-game. These erratic decisions cost Steinbrenner over $2 million but provided valuable lessons for his future sports ventures.
Despite its shortcomings, the ABL introduced two groundbreaking innovations to basketball: the three-point line and a wider free-throw lane, designed to reduce the dominance of towering players like Wilt Chamberlain. These changes were eventually adopted by the NBA, leading to a faster-paced and higher-scoring game.
4. The World Hockey Association
Before the late 1970s, the National Hockey League (NHL) consisted solely of North American players. This changed when the World Hockey Association (WHA) emerged, attempting—and ultimately failing—to rival the NHL. Like many fledgling leagues, the WHA lured players with lucrative contracts, forcing NHL owners to increase salaries. This shift was significant, as NHL players had previously been the lowest-paid among the Big Four leagues.
The WHA’s financial strain led to its collapse in 1979, but not before achieving competitive parity with the NHL. During its existence, the WHA won the majority of interleague exhibition games, proving its on-ice capabilities.
The WHA’s most enduring legacy was its decision to recruit European players, a market previously overlooked despite Europe’s dominance in Olympic hockey. This influx of international talent pushed the NHL to follow suit, transforming the game into a faster, higher-scoring sport reminiscent of European hockey.
Wayne Gretzky began his career as an unknown in the WHA before rising to become “The Great One.” Additionally, five modern NHL teams, including the 1980s dynasty Edmonton Oilers, originated in the WHA. The league even left its mark on Hollywood, as the Hanson brothers from Slapshot were inspired by the Carlson brothers, who played for the WHA’s Minnesota Fighting Saints.
3. The American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association (ABA) stands as one of humanity’s most remarkable creations and the only truly successful upstart major league. With a coach named Slick, a star player nicknamed “Bad News,” and a vibrant red and white ball, the ABA was a league like no other. The Indiana Pacers even featured a wrestling bear as halftime entertainment, while the Memphis Tams offered players $300 to grow mustaches. These quirks, combined with frequent financial turmoil, made the ABA the most colorful and unforgettable sports league in history.
Established in 1967, the ABA transformed NBA basketball from a stagnant game into a modern spectacle. Following the ABL’s lead, the ABA introduced the three-point line, which revolutionized scoring by forcing defenses to cover the perimeter. This opened up the court for drives and dunks, making the game more dynamic. While dunks are a staple of modern basketball, they were largely absent until the ABA’s flashy style popularized them. The league even capitalized on this trend with an annual slam dunk contest.
The ABA also reshaped basketball’s financial landscape by embracing free agency, abolishing restrictive reserve clauses, and recruiting players straight out of high school. This strategy allowed the ABA to secure top talent before the NBA, achieving a competitive edge that most upstart leagues never managed.
The ABA’s roster of future NBA legends is astounding: David Thompson, George “Ice Man” Gervin, Connie Hawkins, Spencer Haywood, Artis Gilmore, Jerry Lucas, Moses Malone, Dan Issel, and the iconic Julius (Dr. J) Erving. Even Larry Brown, who later became an NBA coach, began his career leading the ABA’s Denver Nuggets.
Despite its flair and groundbreaking innovations, the ABA ultimately failed due to poor management and questionable franchise locations like Pittsburgh and Baltimore. By 1976, with dwindling revenue and only nine teams remaining, the ABA merged with the NBA. This merger brought the Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Nets into the NBA, along with a wave of talent that revitalized the league, reversing its declining attendance and TV ratings in the early 1970s.
2. The National Basketball League
The NBA, as we know it today, was formed in 1949 through the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL). However, in 1996, the NBA celebrated its 50th anniversary based on the BAA’s founding, entirely overlooking the NBL’s significant contributions to the sport.
The NBL’s historical significance cannot be overstated. It was the first league to integrate African American players into professional basketball. Additionally, George Mikan, whose talent and star power were instrumental in stabilizing the NBA during its precarious early years, began his career in the NBL. Mikan’s dominance on the court ended the dead-ball era, when games often saw scores in the 20s and 30s.
The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, later known as the Detroit Pistons, were a standout team in the NBL, owned by Fred Zollner, an automotive tycoon whose financial support was crucial to the NBA in its early years. Additionally, five current NBA franchises—the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, and Philadelphia 76ers—can trace their origins back to the NBL. Without the NBL, the tradition of Christmas Day basketball might never have existed.
1. The North American Soccer League
Before the North American Soccer League (NASL) launched in 1968, soccer was largely unfamiliar and often disliked by many Americans. The sport’s unique features, such as a count-up clock and frequent ties, confused traditional American audiences. However, England’s victory in the 1966 World Cup sparked global interest among English-speaking viewers, providing the NASL with the momentum needed to gradually introduce soccer to the United States.
By 1973, the NASL had gained enough popularity for the Philadelphia Atoms to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, marking the first time soccer was featured by a major American sports publication.
In 1975, the New York Cosmos made history by signing Pele, widely regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time, which ignited a soccer frenzy in America. The Cosmos began attracting massive crowds of 50,000, and Pele became a media phenomenon. His fame was so immense that his visit to Nigeria prompted a 48-hour ceasefire in the country’s civil war, showcasing his global influence.
Pele’s star power led CBS to broadcast the Soccer Bowl (the NASL championship), and other networks started airing regular NASL games. The league also brought in aging European legends like Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff, creating a truly international league.
Pele’s three seasons with the Cosmos sparked a youth soccer revolution, propelling soccer to the top of youth sports participation in the U.S. This surge in popularity influenced FIFA to award the 1994 World Cup to the United States. Despite this, the NASL struggled financially due to high salaries for European stars and the economic downturn of the 1980s, leading to its collapse in 1983.
The NASL’s legacy lived on through Major League Soccer (MLS), which launched in 1994 and continues to thrive today. MLS implemented a strict salary cap while maintaining competitive play and attracting renowned, albeit aging, European players. Thanks to the NASL’s groundwork, soccer has finally gained a foothold (albeit modestly) in America.
