This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Seattle MarinersOverall: 78 Title track: 115 Ownership: 85 Coaching: 88 Players: 95 Fan relations: 73 Affordability: 86 Stadium experience: 14 Bang for the buck: 65 Change from last year: +26Another year, another October without a postseason for Mariners fans. But at least 2016, under new general manager Jerry Dipoto and new manager Scott Servais, provided a winning season with real playoff possibility into the final weekend. Of course, it looks like the fans who bumped the Mariners up 26 spots in the standings this year have short memories: The past three times Seattle just missed the postseason, it completely collapsed the next year.Whats goodSafeco Field is still one of the best parks in the game (14th in stadium experience), with Lookout Landing in particular providing some of the most picturesque views in the game. While Seattles promotional schedule is great -- this year included a beard hat, BBQ tongs and a moose bank -- the best souvenirs at Safeco come from the likes of Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano (the roster combined for 223 home runs this season, third in MLB). This year, hitting coach and beloved former Mariner Edgar Martinez provided a boost to the offense and helped the Mariners go from an average of fewer than 3.4 runs per game when he took over midway through 2015 to nearly five runs per game this year.Whats badThe Mariners have the dubious honor of holding MLBs longest active postseason drought, currently at 15 seasons (which explains that title track ranking of 115th, second-worst in MLB). Although they came close to ending that frustrating streak this year, the challenge might not get any easier as their best players age. Cano and Cruz had great seasons in 2016, but they turn 34 and 36 years old, respectively, next season. Ace Felix Hernandez will be (relatively) younger, at 31, but his pitching has been in decline. Hernandez is still one of the best in the game, but having spent his entire career in Seattle, he has never been to the postseason. To end that drought -- and help improve a 95th-place ranking for the roster -- the King and his Court need to be in top form in 2017.Whats newA 20-point jump in ownership might seem odd since Nintendo, which bought the Mariners in 1992 and likely saved them from leaving the city, actually sold its majority ownership this summer. The buyers? Seventeen local owners, making them the first ownership group since 1981 that actually lives in Seattle. Thats important. While Nintendo did good things for the Mariners (such as signing team legend Ichiro Suzuki), the new local owners will care much more about winning -- because they will want to avoid taking considerable heat for losing. New CEO John Stanton, who recalls crying when the Seattle Pilots left in 1970, will be far superior to former CEO Howard Lincoln.Next: Cincinnati Reds?| Full rankings Clearance Asics Shoes Australia . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Cheap Asics Australia Online . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.saleasicsaustralia.com/ . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Wholesale Asics Australia Free Shipping .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Cheap Asics Australia Discount . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. College football is still months away, and while thats literally eating away at all of our souls, the sports gods have been pretty good to us lately. We just finished up one of the greatest NBA Finals ever, and the U.S. made a semifinal run in Copa America.Were also nearing the end of what has been a spectacular Euro 2016 over in France. Futbol -- I mean soccer -- is growing more and more in popularity over here in the States, and even college footballs best havent been strangers to showing their growing interest in the sport over the years.Like the SEC blog did with the World Cup two years ago, we thought itd be fun to figure out the college football equivalents to the Euros final eight.I wonder if college football will adopt the jersey swapping tradition.Germany Alabama: No matter what, deep down you feel like these are the teams to beat. Germany just won the World Cup and Alabama just won the national championship. Both are loaded with talent, their defenses are suffocating and they both have overcome slow starts to hit their offensive strides late. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (the best in the world at his position) can pretty much be linked to just about every middle linebacker Nick Saban has coached at Alabama. Germany has seven combined World Cup and Euro championships, while Alabama claims roughly 151 national championships.France Ohio State: Both of these squads have tons of talent all over the place, but that talent is young, and you arent really sure how far it can go. However, its tough not to get excited about two teams that have the pieces to win it all right now. France was a favorite coming into the tournament, and the Buckeyes will be a playoff favorite as well. Quarterback J.T. Barretts rise, importance and style of play at Ohio State essentially makes him Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet rolled into one.Portugal LSU: Both squads always have elite, championship-level talent. You just cant help but want to pick both to win something exceptional each year. However, with all that talent have come disappointing finishes. Total hype killers. Leonard Fournette and Cristiano Ronaldo are considered by many to be the best in their respective sports, but Fournette and his Tigers sank after his Heisman train was derailed in early November last season, and Ronaldo has zero Euro or World Cup championships with Portugal.Belgium Clemson: The Tigers own one of the most exciting, fast-paced offenses led by Heisman front-runner quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Wayne Gallman.dddddddddddd Belgium also has one of the worlds most exciting, fast-paced offenses led by Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard. Both clearly have the talent to win a title this year, but both can struggle with defensive consistency. Remember, Clemson surrendered at least 5.7 yards per play in seven games last year, including a season-high 6.7 in the national championship loss to Alabama.Italy USC: Two storied programs with pasts full of titles, but heading into 2016, both are being overlooked as title contenders. Italys surprise run into the final eight -- and that 2-0 upset of Spain -- would resemble a Clay Helton-led USC run this fall. Like Italy, outside of a couple of stars (JuJu Smith-Schuster and Adoree Jackson), you arent sure if the Trojans have the talent to win a title, but its still hard to overlook them.Wales Ole Miss: Both teams have a few household names that people will recognize. Chad Kelly is the Gareth Bale for Ole Miss, while Aaron Ramsey could represent top defensive end Marquis Haynes. But what are really expecting from either this year? Hugh Freeze has certainly built up Ole Miss to a true SEC West contender, but are we ready to put the Rebels in the playoff in 2016? And is Wales really gonna win it all? Like, really?Poland Michigan State: Two tough, gritty teams that are more than happy to methodically grind it out until the bitter end. Neither gets a ton of respect (which Michigan State loves), but we kind of like what they are. However, not many really know a ton about either. Everyone knows Polands Robert Lewandowski, and everyone knew Michigan States Connor Cook. But outside of die-hard fans, can you seriously name more than five starters for either? No, yet they still have some solid guys who can carry them in crunch time.Iceland Georgia Southern: Cinderella. Iceland has the smallest population in the tournament and qualified for the first time ever, while knocking off some big boys in the process. The most recent is England, which would be 2013 Florida. Iceland winning it all would be like Georgia Southern, which is new to the FBS level, winning it all in a magical playoff run in 2016. Not gonna happen, but, man, it would be awesome. ' ' '