Sports owners are worth billions, yet some have spent decades finding creative ways to avoid spending money. From sheep mowing stadium grass to players washing their own uniforms, these are the most notorious penny-pinchers in sports history.

Every prediction sounds smart in the moment. The real test is what happens next. Contrary to Popular Opinion: The Year in Review revisits the boldest takes of the year across the NFL, MLB, and college sports—separating what held up, what fell apart, and what deserves a second look. No victory laps. No rewriting history. Just honest evaluation of where the opinions landed when the games were actually played.