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Your Take: Dynasties we left out
Posted: Saturday May 15, 1999 11:24 AM
In the May 10 issue, Sports Illustrated launched its 20th Century series with a feature on the 20 greatest dynasties. CNNSI.com asked you to tell us who we left out. The loudest response (Soooie!) came from fans of the University of Arkansas men's and women's cross-country and track-and-field teams. They certainly have a point -- these Razorbacks can wallow in 32 national championships since 1984. Other fan favorites: the Showtime Lakers, the Joe Montana 49ers, the four-time Stanley Cup champion Islanders, and the Brazilian World Cup teams of 1958-70. Here's a selection of your suggestions, complaints and observations. How could the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers not be on any such list? In the years beginning with the 1980 finals, the Lakers played for the championship nine times, winning five. In three of the four final-series losses, decimating injuries kept this franchise from approaching the hallowed ground of Russell's Celtics. In addition, please note that this dynasty made its stand in the era before the expansion of the 1990s and against legendary foes such as Bird's Celtics, Erving's 76ers, and Thomas' Pistons, not to mention a slew of other great teams that simply could not make the finals in this time because of the Lakers. Without a doubt your modern basketball dynasty, the Bulls, owes a great deal to a league diluted by expansion: Chicago should be forced to pay Canadian taxes for their titles. Again, the Lakers belong on that list! -- Jim Caldwell, Carrollton The 1980-83 New York Islanders . This team is the last professional sports franchise to win four consecutive championships. They were led by four of the all-time greatest players in Bossy, Potvin, Smith and Trottier. In addition to their total dominance of their league, they managed to sweep the same Oilers team you have on the top 20 list in 1983. It isn't surprising that this team was overlooked since it is now a pathetic franchise which has been destroyed by the ineptitude of Don Maloney and Mike Milbury as GMs. While a return to glory does not appear to be on the horizon, I find it hard to believe that the 1980-83 Islanders team wasn't one of the all-time greatest dynasties. -- Adam Fleishmann, Jericho, NYUniversity of Arkansas men's track and field/cross-country: One would think that the team that has the NCAA all-sports record for consecutive national championships would be a shoo-in for the top dynasties of the 20th century (UofA indoor track, 12 consecutive championships - 1984-95). And if the same program also collected a grand total of 32 national championships since 1984, including numerous triple crowns (winning the cross-country, indoor, and outdoor national championships in the same year), then surely their inclusion in this list would be a foregone conclusion. But noooo! For reasons only known to a select misinformed few, the Hog dynasty continues to toil in mainstream anonymity. While the Iowa wrestling program and the University on North Carolina women's soccer program may be more appealing for some reason to your so-called experts, their numbers pale in comparison to the Razorbacks' accomplishments. While articles such as these are certainly fun to read and are surely difficult to research and write, glaring omissions such as this one diminish the credibility of SI. -- Steve Oury, Little Rock, ARA few come to mind: United States in America's cup in sailing , Brazil in international soccer , Cuban boxers , Goodyear in auto racing (hell, if you're going to count Calumet Farms). I am downright surprised that you would put Notre Dame's four seasons No. 2, and then not even bother to rank Nebraska's 1994-1997 seasons in which they went 49-2 against much more developed college football opposition around the country, plus a few national championships. I believe much too much credit was bestowed upon that Notre Dame four seasons. (Let's be honest here, when Army is one of the best teams in the land, question should be raised to overall strength of the game then as to what it is now.) Oh well, just another bias toward the Golden Dome. -- Sam McKewon, Lincoln, NE The Brazilian soccer team won the World Cup three times in the four Cups played between 1958 and 1970 . In the battle between Europe and the Americas, they're still the only team to win on the other's home turf (1958). They also had the greatest soccer player ever in Pele. -- Rob Haneberg, IN The Kenyon College Men's and Women's swimming teams have captured 20 and 16 consecutive national championships in NCAA Division III competition. -- Kenzie Young, Gambier, OHYou completely ignored any dynasties in soccer, the world's most popular sport by far. There are several possible choices all worthy of making it on your survey. 1. New York Cosmos 1977-1983 This American team in the old NASL was known worldwide and had some of the most famous names in the game including Pele. They won four titles in seven seasons and had an unbelievable record. 2. Real Madrid 1956-1960 This team won five straight European Championships. No other team is yet to even win five titles, not to mention five consecutive! 3. Brazilian National Team 1958-1970 The other entries are from clubs. This is from international soccer and no national team can match the Brazilians, who with Pele won three World Cups in four tournaments. 4. Liverpool 1977-1991 England's most successful club during these 15 seasons compiled a record of 11 English titles, four European titles and two FA Cup titles. -- Anjon Roy, Cambridge, MA The 1970-79 Cincinnati Reds -- the Big Red Machine. Over that span, the Reds: Won six NL West Division titles ('70, '72, '73, '75, '76, '79); Won four NL Pennants ('70, '72, '75, '76); Won two World Series titles ('75, '76), including perhaps the greatest World Series ever, the '75 Series against the Bosox; Produced four NL MVPs (Bench, '70, '72; Rose, '73; Foster, '77); Featured Pete Rose's 44 game hitting streak in '78, an NL record; Featured an infield consisting of two current Hall of Famers, one who would have been if not for "personal problems," and two others who should go eventually -- Bench, Morgan, Rose, Concepcion, and Perez, respectively (can you imagine that infield!); Featured a team that most often earns comparisons with the '27 Yankees -- the '76 Reds, who swept both the Phillies and Yankees on their way to the championship. How can you not include what many are calling Baseball's Last Great Dynasty? -- Jim Jackson, Columbus, OHWhat about India's field hockey teams from 1932 to 1964? During those years, the Indians won an incredible seven consecutive Olympic gold medals, and are generally acknowledged to be the greatest collection of talent ever assembled on the hockey field. What made this even more remarkable was the fact that the players often could afford only the cheapest equipment and were excelling at the elite international level against competitors who were better funded, better equipped, and far better nourished. A true example of skill, heart, and love of the game prevailing against all odds, over long stretches of time -- indeed, a true dynasty. -- Jay Hind, Los Angeles, CA Harvard Heavyweight Varsity Crew, 1964-1971. From the moment Harry Parker became head coach in 1963, Harvard's varsity basically never lost another race in that decade. Sports Illustrated labeled the crew the "world's fastest" in a 1965 cover story; it was the U.S. Olympic 8+ at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, finishing sixth, the last collegiate crew to represent the nation. The crew also won gold at the 1967 Pan American games against stiff international competition, and placed numerous rowers on various national teams. Needless to say, Harvard's varsity won the Eastern Sprints every year from 1964 to 1971, an unprecedented streak that likely will never be matched. -- Joe Rigger, Henley, MAMorgan Wootten's DeMatha Stags boys basketball team of Hyattsville, Md. Since he was hired he has a career record of 1,185-178; his teams have won 14 City Title championships and 31 conference titles, not to mention beating Power Memorial when Lew Alcindor played there. Twelve of his former assistants are college or professional coaches. And countless numbers of his players have gone on to play Division I ball and in the NBA. -- Mike Pedone, Newport Beach, CA
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