Vindication!

t's a great feeling- you've heard all that trash talk about how bad you are, and then you come out and stomp your rival. Or you've been considering the greatest in your category, except there's a big "but" in your title that's driving you crazy...and finally accomplish what's been holding your name back from the greats.

There's a lot of teams and people who are due for that elated feeling. I'd love to have it after my Spanish II class next semester, for instance

So, because I love lists, and haven't done one in ages, here my Top 10 list of people/teams in sports who want to feel vindicated. Note these are just the top 10 who want vindication, not necessarily those who I think are most deserving.

As always, feel free to comment with your thoughts on this!

#10- The Boston Red Sox; They're becoming the new New York Yankees, and it's a tag they don't really want. I mean, how many of us hate the Yankees because of who they are...payroll and all? Yes, I'm raising my hand.

#9- The Jacksonville Jaguars; Can they finally play with the big boys now? That win at Pittsburgh convinced many, but the playoffs are the real testing grounds.

#8- The West Virginia Mountaineers; the coaches keep leaving (mainly for Michigan), and now they're engaged in a court battle for $4 million from their lying ex-head coach of football for a buyout. Even though this program keeps competing at the top of D-I athletics (see: football/basketball), people keep bolting for other, higher-profile positions. It's almost like WVU has become just a stepping stone on the career ladder. AD Ed Pastilong would love for some longevity, someone who stayed for a decade and make the jobs he's the boss over look like a great place to put as the crowning on somebody's coaching career...not on a resume.

#7- The Chicago Cubs; They're spending the money and not breaking the curse. Arrrgh!

#6- University of Miami; Being shut-out to Virginia in your last game at the Orange Bowl doesn't exactly leave a nice taste to a failed 2007 campaign, eh? Especially when you look at the ACC in general and don't see too strong of a field.

#5- Notre Dame; Is Charlie Weis really head coaching material? Or did they just put a $30 million+ investment into 9 more years of futility? Hmmmm...the prestige is leaving quickly. And Tyrone Willingham is laughing.

#4- The New York Knicks; quite frankly, Isiah Thomas is driving this thing into the ground, but owner James Dolan keeps standing by his man. We've all commented on this lack of common sense and listed the constantly-growing reasons why. But imagine the look on both Dolan's and Thomas' faces if next year, the team made the playoffs. Because right now they're the laughingstock of sports.

#3- Barry Bonds; Enough said.

#2- Roger Clemens; See Barry Bonds.

#1- The Ohio State Buckeyes; They blew it last year, and now they've got even more doubters about 'em in the National Championship game, myself included. Oh, and it's another SEC team they're facing. The stage is set.