Sports Dynasty or Nah?
No one knows for sure when a new dynasty will emerge, but it almost seems like every decade brings us a few great sports teams that can state a case for being a dynasty.
And because there are some serious requirements to even be placed into the conversation, I figured I would put a list together of some of the teams that could at least make an argument.
While some of these teams are no-brainers, a few of the other ones might have you asking if they're really a dynasty or just a team that got lucky.
Let the debate begin!
St. Louis Cardinals
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Are the St. Louis Cardinals really a dynasty or just one of the better teams in sports over the past 15 years?
That's a pretty tough question to answer when looking at the numbers.
Since 2000, the Cards have made it to the postseason 11 times, reaching the National League Championship Series in nine of those appearances and winning the World Series twice.
This team doesn't get as much talk about being a dynasty because the success has seen a new manager—Mike Matheny took over for Tony La Russa in 2012—and a number of new stars emerge as its leaders and top performers.
Should the Cardinals win the World Series again this year—they're currently in another NLCS—it might be time to say this team is a dynasty, even if its run stretches over a 15-year period.
Verdict: Not a dynasty.
Miami Heat
2 of 14It's hard to fathom that the Miami Heat, with three future Hall of Famers, didn't win more than just two NBA titles in their four years together.
Sure, that's being really nitpicky—especially since the team did reach four straight NBA Finals—but coming away with two rings has to be considered a disappointment.
Still, becoming just the third team in league history to reach four straight title rounds in a pro sports league isn't something to just sweep under the rug.
Had the Heat been able to win a third straight championship by winning last year's NBA title, I would say that, without a doubt, they were a dynasty. But after bowing out to the San Antonio Spurs and breaking up the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, I'm not so sure they should be considered a true dynasty, especially considering the team's core only played four seasons together.
Verdict: Not a dynasty.
'90s Dallas Cowboys
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Simply put, the Dallas Cowboys were the team of the '90s.
As great as some of the Cowboys teams in the '70s were, the teams that boasted players like Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin may have been even better—and they were definitely more brash.
From 1992-1995, the Boys went a combined 49-15, winning three Super Bowls with two different coaches and solidifying themselves as America's Team once again.
Fans either loved or hated everything about this franchise during those days, and the main reason why was because the Cowboys always seemed to win on the big stage.
Verdict: Dynasty.
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Chicago Blackhawks
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When looking for a potential dynasty from the NHL in these past couple of seasons, it really came down to two teams: the Chicago Blackhawks and the L.A. Kings.
With both winning two Stanley Cup titles in a five-year span, why did I choose the Blackhawks to put on this list?
I thought they made the better argument.
Going back to the 2008-09 season, Chicago has made the playoffs each year, reaching the Western Conference Final in four of those years and winning those aforementioned two titles.
And if it weren't for the Kings last season—who knocked out the Hawks in seven games in the Conference Final—the Blackhawks could have found themselves as back-to-back champs.
With young, key pieces locked up for the foreseeable future, this team should have the chance to win big even more, really stating its case as a true dynasty. However, as it stands right now, the Blackhawks fall one Stanley Cup short.
Verdict: Not a dynasty.
'90s Atlanta Braves
5 of 14Much like the aforementioned Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, the Atlanta Braves of the '90s proved to be the team of the decade.
With a run that included eight postseason trips in the nine years the playoffs occurred—1994 was wiped out by the strike—the Braves also added five World Series berths in that same span.
Of course, I could fault them for winning just one title in those opportunities, but I'm going to give them credit for grinding through 162 regular-season games, never having less than 90 wins in their run and showing that they were the most dominant team of the past 25 years in Major League Baseball.
Verdict: Dynasty.
'90s Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball
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As an alum of the University of Kentucky, even getting the chance to ask if the Wildcats are a dynasty is pretty damn cool.
I was still in middle school when the years in question occurred, but thanks to the success in the '90s, I became a Big Blue fan.
While the Cats enjoyed success early on in the decade, the years of 1994-99 remain as some of the glory days of the program.
Five straight regional final appearances were capped by three straight trips to the national title game, including two championships—under two different coaches.
The Wildcats were stacked at nearly every position during the era. Minus one loss in the 1997 title game, they showed that they were the kings of college hoops.
Verdict: Dynasty.
Late '80s and Early '90s AC Milan
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Want to know what a soccer powerhouse looks like? Just take a glance at what Italian club AC Milan did from 1987-1991.
One of the most successful teams in European history, the roster consisted of world-class players like Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Paolo Maldini. This talent helped Milan capture two straight European titles during their reign, helping them earn recognition as being one of the best clubs ever compiled.
There may be other teams in the current day that have accomplished as much if not more, but AC Milan gets my nod for the best of them all no matter whom you stack them up against.
Verdict: Dynasty.
Los Angeles Lakers
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The unique thing about the Los Angeles Lakers is that they actually enjoyed two separate runs as potential dynasties, winning three straight NBA titles from 2000-02 and then reaching three NBA Finals in a row from 2008-10, winning two additional rings.
The core in the early 2000s consisted of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, but the later part of the decade ended with Kobe hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy with a new running mate in Pau Gasol.
The constant on both title runs? Head coach Phil Jackson, who was the most important reason that the Lakers can call themselves a dynasty.
Verdict: Dynasty.
New England Patriots
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As long as the New England Patriots have head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady together, they're probably going to win a lot of games.
Arguably the greatest player-head coach duo in the history of the NFL, these two formed the relationship back in 2000 and have accomplished a ton together since.
While still going strong, the glory days came between the years of 2001-2004. In those years, the Pats marched to three Super Bowl victories in four seasons.
With two additional appearances in the big game in both 2007 and 2011, New England has shown that it is the most consistent franchise in the league and, quite possibly, all of sports.
The Patriots may never return to the days of rings and confetti again. But should they do it, though, the Patriots will complete one of the greatest two-decade runs in sports.
Verdict: Dynasty
San Francisco Giants
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They've won two World Series titles in the past four seasons and have a chance to capture a third this year, so the San Francisco Giants have a legit claim of being a dynasty.
Still, it's hard to think that a team that goes a combined 162-162 in the years that it doesn't win a title could be considered a dynasty, right?
The Giants have one of the best managers in baseball, Bruce Bochy, who has continued to prove that whatever formula he has in even-numbered seasons seems to work.
I'm not ready to go all in on the Giants and say they're a full-blown dynasty quite yet, but should they win another World Series in a few weeks, I think I might just change my opinion.
Verdict: Not a dynasty.
San Antonio Spurs
11 of 14Just as the aforementioned New England Patriots have a great player-coach pairing, the San Antonio Spurs have, quite possibly, an even better one.
That's because Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan have won five NBA titles together and have helped lead the team to 15-straight seasons of at least 50 wins.
Just as impressive, San Antonio has never fallen below the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference during that time. Even as the Spurs continue to age and other teams boast younger, more athletic players, the Spurs continue to stay at the top of their game.
When you think this team is destined to have a down year, it jells at the perfect time and makes a deep run into the playoffs, showing that it is one of the dynasties of NBA history.
Verdict: Dynasty
Late '70s and Early '80s New York Islanders
12 of 14Although these Islanders were before my time, in the words of kids these days, "Real recognize real."
That's about all I need to say to show respect to the New York Islanders from 1979-82 because they were one dominating bunch.
Winning four straight Stanley Cup titles—the last team in any pro sport to win that many consecutive championships—the Islanders were led by greats like Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier and Billy Smith, posting a 16-3 mark in those four Stanley Cup series.
Even with the Edmonton Oilers building their dynasty by winning five Stanley Cups in seven seasons in the '80s, there's still no other NHL team that was built like the Islanders before them.
Verdict: Dynasty
Late '90s New York Yankees
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Want to know why Joe Torre is in the Hall of Fame and recently retired Derek Jeter will be joining him in Cooperstown soon? Because all they did together was win.
From 1998-2003, the Yanks went to five World Series in six years, going 3-2 in those contests and solidifying themselves as the most hated team in sports.
When looking at an even longer run, New York won five total rings from 1996-2009, missing the playoffs just once in that same time period.
Even as the core changed, a new manager was hired and even a new stadium was built, the Bronx Bombers remained one of the most dominating teams in sports.
Verdict: Dynasty.
1958-1970 Brazilian Soccer Team
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That's what the Brazilian national team did from 1958-70, led by all-timers like Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto. These players introduced a flair and personality that the game had never seen before.
Even after covering a span of 12 years, the last of these teams might have been the most dominant, as the 1970 squad outscored opponents 19-7 in six games, defeating Italy 4-1 in the final match.
As great as Spain was on the international stage during a six-year reign, the Brazilian teams featuring Pele were on a completely different level.
Verdict: Dynasty
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