In sports, a dynasty is a team or individual that dominates their sport or league for an extended length of time. Some leagues usually maintain official lists of dynasties,[citation needed] often as part of a hall of fame,[citation needed] but in many cases, whether a team or individual has achieved a dynasty is subjective. This can result in frequent topic of debate among sports fans due to lack of consensus and agreement in the many different variables and criteria that fans may use to define a sports dynasty.[1][2][3] Merriam-Webster describes a dynasty as a "sports franchise which has a prolonged run of successful seasons".[4] Within the same sport, or even the same league, dynasties may be concurrent with each other. This is a list of teams that have been called a dynasty after periods of success. In sports, a dynasty denotes a team or individual that dominated their sport or league for an extended period. The use of the term to characterize such prolonged success emerged in the early 20th century.[5]
The determination of whether a team or individual has achieved a dynasty is subjective. This results in debate among sports fans due to a lack of consensus and agreement on the different variables and criteria that could be used to define a dynasty.[6][7][8]
The following are dynasties from Negro league baseball leagues in the United States.
The problems inherent in identifying sports dynasties are exacerbated in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, where the national champion is determined, at least in part, by poll rather than through a tournament. These polls, however, are largely based on win–loss records, thereby relying on minimal subjectivity. When fans of a sport cannot agree on which team within a league or other organization should be considered as holding that organization's championship, discussing whether a team has become a dynasty is more difficult. Because of these problems, teams that consistently win their conference championship and are frequently in contention for national championships are termed dynasties more often than a similarly performing team in another sport or division might.
The National Hockey League and the Hockey Hall of Fame officially recognize nine dynasty teams:[186][187][188]
Most disputes about dynasties relate to teams that dominated within a conference or division, but either failed to win championships or infrequently won championships. This is exacerbated in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A), where the national champion is determined, at least in part, by poll rather than through a tournament.
a The 1916 and 1917 VFA seasons were cancelled due to World War I
b The Football League suspended operations between 1939–40 and 1945–46 inclusive due to World War II and planning difficulties in its aftermath.
c Also called Tripletta Tricolore, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) regards the national supercup legally as a seasonal competition in its own official matches calendar.[237]
d The Allied conquest of Italy caused normal Serie A football to be suspended between 1943 and 1944 and 1945–46, though the 1946 scudetto is considered official.
One of the most subjective discussions we come across around the sports world is what defines a dynasty. It's a definition that will never come to pass, and will always be left up for interpretation.
It's a subjective term with no rules, so there's bound to be argument about it.
What makes a dynasty in sports? The answer is subjective.
One of the most subjective discussions we come across around the sports world is what defines a dynasty. It's a definition that will never come to pass, and will always be left up for interpretation.
It's a subjective term with no rules, so there's bound to be argument about it.
What makes a dynasty in sports? The answer is subjective.
The Minneapolis Lakers are the forgotten dynasty, an afterthought when the discussion turns to the NBA's greatest teams...But history cannot be changed and should not be forgotten. The Minneapolis Lakers were the NBA's first dynasty, winning five titles in six seasons from 1948–49 through 1953–54. Add the championship the Lakers won in the National Basketball League before they entered the NBA and the count is six crowns in seven seasons—a dynasty by any standard.
Led by George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers—basketball's first dynasty—ruled the league with five titles in six seasons...From 1948 to 1954, the Minneapolis Lakers ruled professional basketball. They would win six championships in seven years while playing in three different leagues – the National Basketball League (1948), the Basketball Association of America (1949) and the NBA (1950, '52, '53, '54).
It is the greatest dynasty in NBA history. It began 49 years ago. It is still hard to believe.
With a team that had the makings of a new dynasty bearing down on it, the Lynx responded to reassert their own.
No dynasty in college basketball history compares to the monster Wooden built at UCLA in the 1960s and 1970s, winning 10 NCAA titles in his last 12 seasons before he retired in 1975. From 1967 to 1973, the "Wizard of Westwood" guided the Bruins to a record seven straight national championships...Starting in 1971 and ending in 1974, UCLA won 88 straight games, an NCAA record that hasn't come close to falling. Wooden's teams also compiled four 30–0 seasons and won 19 conference championships, including eight undefeated Pacific Conference seasons.
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But Lombardi had advantages when it came to building a dynasty.
And the New England Patriots of the 21st century are established as an NFL dynasty on a par with the Packers of the 1960s, the Steelers of the 1970s, the 49ers of the 1980s, and the Cowboys of the 1990s.
Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers dominated the NFL through the 1960s. Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" rose in the 1970s. The San Francisco 49ers' West Coast offense rolled in the 1980s. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin made the Dallas Cowboys the team of the 1990s.
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These were the rules that Knute Rockne used at Notre Dame to build the greatest football dynasty since the old Yale teams of the 19th century, transforming "Fighting Irish" from an ethnic slur to a badge of pride.
Head coach Red Blaik's Cadets, led by their Heisman-winning backfield of Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard, won consecutive national titles in 1944 and '45 and finished No. 2 to Notre Dame – which it tied – in '46.
The Irish didn't lose a game in coach Frank Leahy's first four seasons, with two ties serving as their only blemishes. They captured three national titles and produced two Heisman winners, Johnny Lujack and Leon Hart.
Sooners coach Bud Wilkinson – who would later set an NCAA record with 47 straight victories – produced a 31-game streak from 1948–50. OU finished No. 2 in the AP poll in '49 before winning the national title in '50.
Bear Bryant's teams won national titles in 1961, '64 and '65 and went undefeated in '66, amassing a 60–5–1 record over the six-year span. Stars included quarterback Joe Namath, center Lee Roy Jordan and lineman Billy Neighbors.
Led by head coach Barry Switzer, the Sooners went 54–3–1 over a five-year span, finishing No. 2 in 1971 and '72 before winning 28 straight games from '73–75, capturing consecutive national titles in '74 and '75.
At the twilight of his career, legendary Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant produced one last run of dominance, winning national titles in 1978 and '79 – the first coming on a famous goal-line stand against Penn State in the Sugar Bowl – and finishing No. 2 in '77.
Despite losing coach Jimmy Johnson mid-stream (he was replaced by Dennis Erickson), the 'Canes won three national titles and played for two others over a seven-year span. QBs Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta captured Heismans.
At the height of Bobby Bowden's dominance,the Florida State Seminoles won two national championships (1993 and 1999), played for three others (1996, 1998 and 2000) and never finished outside the AP top four. Quarterbacks Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke won Heisman Trophies.
With their unstoppable option offense and a sea of dominating defenders, Tom Osborne's Huskers captured at least a share of three national championships and played for a fourth, all following undefeated regular seasons.
Grand Valley State University is a modern dynasty in Division II football. The Lakers, who play in Allendale, Mich., have won four of the past seven championships heading into Saturday's title game against Northwest Missouri State University.
Carroll College, an elite Catholic institution of 1,500 students in Montana's capital, is one of just two college football programs at any level to win four consecutive national championships. Augustana College of Illinois won four consecutive N.C.A.A. Division III titles in the 1980s.
He played defensive back at Rice University and attended camp with the Cowboys before making his mark as a wide receiver/linebacker with the Detroit Drive dynasty in late '80s–early '90s.[dead link]
A pair of Canadian Olympic dynasties died at the hands of Team USA on Thursday in South Korea.
Prior to '91, the Terrapins' last title had come in 1986 under head coach Sue Tyler, but the Maryland dynasty began to re-emerge almost immediately under Timchal's guidance...The dynasty continued throughout the 1998 season despite an 0–2 start following losses to Duke and North Carolina. That season finished the same way as the previous three, however, with Timchal's Terrapins being re-crowned the NCAA champions, this time behind an 11–5 win over Virginia.
Defeat ends a run which makes Australia's recent domination of cricket look like a mere episode. It was 27 years since Australia lost a series to anyone, 33 since it failed to win a competition. New Zealand had not won a series against Australia since 1953.
Toulon, befitting a team who have created a rugby dynasty, hit straight back through [Drew] Mitchell's brilliant score and repelled a late charge to send the red and black travelling supporters into raptures.
Before 19,270 fans, this was another coronation for the current dynasty that is Penn State.
No program, though, can boast the national-best winning percentage that Boise State has accomplished over the past 10-plus seasons. Since 1998 the Broncos are 113–26.
The Trojans have won 34 straight games, captured consecutive AP national championships and produced an unprecedented three Heisman Trophy winners (Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush) in four years.