This year, the men's tournament has adopted the women's system of favoring deserving teams geographically for the first two rounds.

Ebbets is credited with inventing the concept of the rain check and of proposing a player draft favoring teams which finished low in the standings.

But perhaps the Chargers would not be where they are without their pleasant schedule, which favors teams that have poorer records the season before.

Arguably this system favored teams from weaker regions (mainly north-east) as they would be able to play between themselves.

The indoor game favors teams with a fast, sharp defense and place-hitting batters who belt line drives.

This could favor veteran teams or those who suffer minor injuries in early games.

Ten percent said they were Mets fans, and the rest favored other teams.

Two-thirds of the B.C.S. standings are based on polls, and voters sometimes favor more well-known teams.

This, she said, should favor attacking teams like the United States.

League negotiators have contended that the balance of competition favors teams with high-revenue streams and large payrolls.