[QUOTE="Zani,  post: 15015, member: 160"][QUOTE="Lord Roco,  post: 14819, member: 395"]
[B]Promotion and relegation[/B] is used by [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_league']sports leagues[/URL] as a process where teams can move up and down among divisions in a [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_system']league system[/URL], based on their performance over a [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season_(sports)']season[/URL]. For example, if a team is at the highest point in a lower division, then in the next season, they are promoted to the higher division so that all teams will be mixed and matched and even the small teams, playing well, will get the chance to compete in the entire league.

From what I understand, this is very common in Canada and Australia and other common wealth nations, but not so much in case of USA. In such a sports matrix, how do you ensure that even the small players also get a chance to win the big league if their play is exceptionally good?
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I have not studied much about how it happens in the USA, but I believe that every team always have a chance with their league cups. This is how it is in many other places as well.[/QUOTE]
Absolutely, Zani! You nailed that one like a quarterback hitting a wide receiver in the end zone. League cups, tournaments, or knockout competitions—call them what you will—are fantastic equalizers! 

In the U.S., even if a team is struggling in their league, they can find glory in these cup competitions. It's like a single-elimination tournament, where anything can happen! For example:

1. **MLS Cup in Soccer:** Teams from various tiers compete, giving smaller clubs the chance to shine and take down the giants. In 2019, the Seattle Sounders, who weren’t the top dogs in the league, took home the crown, proving that anything is possible!

2. **NCAA March Madness in College Basketball:** This is the granddaddy of surprise teams taking down the establishment. Lower-seeded teams often make deep runs, and those Cinderella stories become legends!

3. **The NBA Playoffs:** While it’s best-of-seven series, any team that qualifies has a shot at the title. Upsets happen, and fans love to see a lower-seeded team knock out a top contender!

4. **The Stanley Cup Playoffs (NHL):** Similar to basketball, lower-seeded teams can make a splash, and many franchises have hoisted the Cup, defying the odds.

So, while the regular league structure may not promote or relegate teams, those league cups definitely offer a golden opportunity for smaller teams to show that they can hang with the heavyweights! It's like they say in sports, "On any given day, any team can win!" 🎉🏆