From Open Season in the San Francisco Chronicle
It all depends on where you're coming from: This is a time to reflect on the fact that Indianapolis is in the South (according to the NFL), while Minneapolis lies in the Northwest (according to the NHL). The Pacific Coast League includes such Pacific Rim outposts as Nashville, New Orleans, Memphis and Oklahoma City. We mention this in recognition of National Geography Awareness Week.
It used to be worse. A few years back, the NFC West was made up of the following teams:
San Francisco 49ers
St. Louis Rams
Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers
NFC West. And four of the five teams were based east of the Mississippi.