[KP]

The NFL does and the league is doing just fine.

The NBA does, they were the first, actually, and is thriving.

The NHL finally does.

Only MLB has refused.

The NFL has thrived on parity. Every year, virtually every team has a chance to win the Super Bowl. Only the teams with young QBs and/or bad head coaches are losing before the season starts.

The NBA has a couple teams head-and-shoulders above all the others, and that is mostly thanks to the "Larry Bird Clause" in the salary cap agreement.

The NHL? Well, I suppose it is a bit too early to tell if the new salary cap will be a positive for the sport. At least most teams know that they will be able to compete on an even financial playing field and not have teams "load up" for a one year title run.

Speaking of title runs, how many times have the Florida Marlins won the World Series only to immediately dump their star players due to "financial constraints"? Twice. A huge payroll doesn't mean a title....just ask George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees. At the other end of the spectrum is the Minnesota Twins. They are financially considered a "small market franchise" but have won the World Series twice. These titles can be mostly attributed to great management and, well, just plain good fortune. They did have some outstanding players, but the Twins are unable to keep them. Do you really think a Derek Jeter could have come up through the farm system and stayed with the team had he played the same way for Minnesota as he has for the Yankees? Loyalty only goes so far. Money is the major motivating factor for the large majority of MLB players. Johnny Damon knows about that.

Three of the four major sports in the United States have salary caps of some form. Two have been successful at it and the third will probably be. It's time for the fourth, America's Game, to follow suit.