Brett Favre and The Greatest Individual Streaks In Sports History
Now that Brett Favre's incredible streak of consecutive games started has ended just three shy of 300 games, it is time to find out where his streak stands with the other great streaks by individuals in the history of sports.
If you disagree with any part of the following list or think it is out of order in any way, please let me know. I love a good debate.
10. Roger Federer: 23 Consecutive Grand Slam Semifinal Appearances or Better
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I know most of you don't care about tennis and let's be honest, most of America doesn't really follow the sport.
However, even the most casual of fans know the name Roger Federer, but little do casual tennis fans understand the sheer legend of this record. The previous streak for consecutive semifinal appearances was 10, less than half of Federer's still-active streak.
Federer may not be the greatest in the world anymore, but his streak is still the greatest in the world of professional tennis
9. Wilt Chamberlain: 126 Consecutive Games With at Least 20 Points
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Wilt Chamberlain, the greatest Laker of all time (I said it), has about 1,000,000 records to his name, but the most incredible of all his magnificent accomplishments was his 126 consecutive games scoring 20 points or more.
That's almost two full seasons without scoring less than 20 points.
Let's see you do that, Kobe.
8. A.C Green: 1,192 Consecutive Games Played
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A.C Green may not have been the flashiest player with all the records and highlights of MJ and Magic, but he does have four championship rings and he is the NBA's true Iron Man.
His 1,192 consecutive games in 15 consecutive seasons is an unfathomable record, and no player will ever come close to breaking it.
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7. Doug Jarvis: 964 Games Played
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Another Iron Man in his own sport, Doug Jarvis was the most durable player in the history of ice hockey.
Hockey is famous for being one of the toughest sports in the world and the long-time Washington Capital endured 964 consecutive games full of fist fights and sticks to the face without even calling in sick.
That's Ford Tough.
6. Lance Armstrong: Seven Consecutive Tour de France Championships
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Lance Armstrong inspired the world by winning seven consecutive Tour de France championships from 1999-2005, all of them coming after he overcame brain and testicular cancer.
Armstrong is considered by many to be one of the greatest athletes of all time and more importantly, one of the most influential men of all time.
Despite accusations of Armstrong using performance-enhancing drugs, his accomplishments as a bicyclist are unprecedented and will never be matched or forgotten.
5. Orel Hershiser: 59.1 Consecutive Scoreless Innings
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The Bulldog was practically unhittable in 1988, holding opponents scoreless in 59.1 straight innings to break the record held by former Dodgers great Don Drysdale.
In the final game of the 1988 season, Hershiser tossed 10 shutout innings against the rival Giants to beat Drysdale's record and finish the month of September with a 5-0 record and 0.00 ERA.
Hershiser topped the season off by winning two games in the fall classic and being named the World Series MVP as his Los Angeles Dodgers were named champs.
4. Wayne Gretzky: 51 Consecutive Games With a Point
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The greatest hockey player in the history of the sport still holds the greatest record.
Some skeptics say that Gretzky's record came at a point in time where points were being scored left and right like it was nothing, but what most people don't realize is Gretzky averaged three points a game during this time span.
He was the real deal.
3. Joe Dimaggio: 56-Game Hitting Streak
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Forget Jeter, Mantle and Ruth. Joe DiMaggio is still the face of the New York Yankees.
When Joltin' Joe had his hit 56-game hitting streak robbed by Ken Keltner of the Cleveland Indians in 1941, he went out and started a 16-game hitting streak the next day.
Every year, we find a ball player that could "possibly beat DiMaggio's streak," but let's be honest, no one is coming close to this streak any time soon.
2. Brett Favre: 297 Consecutive Games Started
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You expected him to be first?
If Favre would have stayed retired this year instead of skipping training camp, ruining the Viking's season, draft strategy and Brad Childress' career all for the sake of "The Streak," he would be No. 1 on this list.
Instead, Favre tried his best to ruin his legacy with unnecessary emotional press conferences and inappropriate text messages. Unfortunately, he was successful in doing so.
So, no matter how incredible the streak may be, he can only be runner-up.
1. Cal Ripken Jr.: 2,632 Consecutive Games
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Cal Ripken Jr. saved baseball.
In an era of strikes and steroids, there were two saviors who genuinely loved to play the game. Not for money or records, but to give the cities and fans that they played for entertainment and more importantly, hope.
They were both named Junior. Ken and Cal.
Sure, Brett Favre took a couple of hits in his days, but Ripken played 162 games every year for 16 years compared to Favre's 16 games a year.
I am not insulting Favre or downplaying his accomplishment, but Ripken's was one of the most inspiring moments in sports history. He was a hero when baseball needed one.
He holds the greatest streak in the history of sports, and he always will.
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