UCLA Basketball under Coach John Wooden
UCLA's Basketball under Coach John Wooden is the first team highlighted in this feature on sports' greatest teams. In 27 seasons as head coach of UCLA Basketball, the team never suffered a losing season and eventually won 10 national championships in a span of 12 years including an unprecedented seven straight. From 1972 to 1974, the team accented its dominance of American college basketball by running off 88 consecutive victories. While UCLA drew great talent incuding centers Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul Jabbar) and Bill Walton, particularly impressive were the championships won in 1970 and 1971 when a smaller UCLA team overcame the likes of 7'2" Artis Gilmore of Jacksonville University to keep the Bruins on top of the basketball charts. Some say UCLA's boosters kept the team stocked with top prospects, but as the 1980s Philadelphia 76ers know it takes more than talent to win championships. Coach John Wooden was the reason UCLA was so dominant for so many years.
Boston Celtics 1968-69
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Boston Celtics 1968-69 |
The Boston Celtics' Dynasty from 1957-1969
The Boston Celtics' dynasty in NBA Basketball from 1957 to 1969 was as equally impressive as UCLA's run in the college ranks. The Boston Celtics led by Coach Red Auerbach and center Bill Russell won an unlikely 11 championships in 13 years.
New York Yankees' Casey Stengel
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New York Yankees' Casey Stengel |
The New York Yankees under Casey Stengal
Perhaps no professional team has dominated their sport like the New York Yankees. As a franchise, the New York Yankees won 26 World Series over five eras. From 1949 to 1958 with Casey Stengal at the helm, America's top baseball organization won the Fall Classic 8 times in 10 tries. Perhaps, the greatest single season of any Yankee team came in 1961 when Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle propelled them to a major league record 109 games (mrm85.com).
Soviet Union Hockey Teams 1954-1990
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Soviet Union Hockey Teams 1954-1990 |
USSR National Hockey Dominates International Play
From 1954 to 1991, The Soviet Union's National Hockey Team won 30 medals in 31 international competitions including seven Olympic gold medals in nine tries and 19 golds overall.
All Blacks Rugby Team Pre-Game Ritual
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All Blacks Rugby Team Pre-Game Ritual |
New Zealand's All Blacks Rugby Team Dominates the International Field
A gentleman named Kerry gets credit for this entry. As he wrote in the comments below:
In over a hundred years of rugby, the All Blacks hold an 84% winning record against all oppostion played. They have also won 74% of all test matches played, and hold a winning record against EVERY TEST NATION IN THE WORLD (including the British & Irish Lions, and the World XV).
Romania (the best team in Eastern Europe), Canada (the best team in North America), Japan (the best in Asia), and other World Rugby Heavyweights Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina, Samoa, and Fiji have never beaten New Zealand.
The average margin when playing the All Blacks is 25-12- that is, they have scored more than twice the amount of points than all opposition combined.
New Zealand is so good, that they have never been ranked lower than 3rd on the World Rankings. In 1987, they were crowned the first ever Rugby World Champions beating France in the final 29-9.
Since 1996, when rugby became professional, the All Blacks have played 149 games, winning 121. Their victories have lead to 9 Tri-Nations Championships in 13 years, play-off appearances in every World Cup to date, a first ever test series victory in South Africa, 7 undefeated tours to Europe; including 2 Grand Slams Tours(when a team plays England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales in succesive weeks and win), a test series whitewash against the British & Irish Lions, a World record 30 test victories in a row on home soil (spanning five years), the Bledisloe Cup, and the Hillary Shield.
Only five test nations IN HISTORY have ever beaten the All Blacks- Australia, South Africa, France, England, and Wales (who have not beaten New Zealand since 1954). The most successful team to ever play New Zealand is South Africa (winning just 40% of the time), while Australia have won the most times (39 victories from 132 matches).
This small, tiny nation boasts a player pool of just 90,000- yet they provide the bulk of the Rugby Hall of Fame.
Thanks Kerry for your contribution.
In over a hundred years of rugby, the All Blacks hold an 84% winning record against all oppostion played. They have also won 74% of all test matches played, and hold a winning record against EVERY TEST NATION IN THE WORLD (including the British & Irish Lions, and the World XV).
Romania (the best team in Eastern Europe), Canada (the best team in North America), Japan (the best in Asia), and other World Rugby Heavyweights Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina, Samoa, and Fiji have never beaten New Zealand.
The average margin when playing the All Blacks is 25-12- that is, they have scored more than twice the amount of points than all opposition combined.
New Zealand is so good, that they have never been ranked lower than 3rd on the World Rankings. In 1987, they were crowned the first ever Rugby World Champions beating France in the final 29-9.
Since 1996, when rugby became professional, the All Blacks have played 149 games, winning 121. Their victories have lead to 9 Tri-Nations Championships in 13 years, play-off appearances in every World Cup to date, a first ever test series victory in South Africa, 7 undefeated tours to Europe; including 2 Grand Slams Tours(when a team plays England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales in succesive weeks and win), a test series whitewash against the British & Irish Lions, a World record 30 test victories in a row on home soil (spanning five years), the Bledisloe Cup, and the Hillary Shield.
Only five test nations IN HISTORY have ever beaten the All Blacks- Australia, South Africa, France, England, and Wales (who have not beaten New Zealand since 1954). The most successful team to ever play New Zealand is South Africa (winning just 40% of the time), while Australia have won the most times (39 victories from 132 matches).
This small, tiny nation boasts a player pool of just 90,000- yet they provide the bulk of the Rugby Hall of Fame.
Thanks Kerry for your contribution.
The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame
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The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame |
Notre Dame Football under Coach Frank Leahy
Notre Dame's reputation as America's premier college football school was molded under the direction of Knute Rockne and the Four Horsemen. Yet, in the 1940s, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame won 4 national championships under the leadership of Coach Frank Leahy.
Leon Heath, Oklahoma Sooners, 1950
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Leon Heath, Oklahoma Sooners, 1950 |
The Oklahoma Sooners under Bud Wilkinson
From 1947 to 1963, the Oklahoma Sooners football team won 145 games, three national championships, and an NCAA Division I record 47 consecutive games. Bud Wilkinson was the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners over that span of time.
Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan
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Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan |
Chicago Bulls under Coach Phil Jacson
Under the direction of Coach Phil Jackson and Superstar Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls won six NBA championships in the 1990s.
1972 Los Angeles Lakers
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1972 Los Angeles Lakers |
Los Angeles Lakers in Four Eras
As an NBA franchise the Los Angeles Lakers have won 15 league championships from 1949 to 2009. In 1972, the team led by Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West won a major sports record 33 consecutive games. In the 1980s, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the Lakers franchise won five chamionships in nine seasons. Under the direction of Phil Jackson, the team has won four more championships since 2000.
Montreal Canadiens 1960-1961
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Montreal Canadiens 1960-1961 |
The Montreal Canadiens under Scotty Bowman
Since its establishment in 1909, the Montreal Canadiens (a professional hockey team) have won 24 Stanley Cups including 11 in 20 years and under the direction of Coach Scotty Bowman six in the decade of the 1970s.
Edmonton Oilers 1985
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Edmonton Oilers 1985 |
The Edmonton Oilers under Glen Sather
From 1984 to 1990, led by Wayne Gretzky and Coach Glen Sathers, the professional hockey team Edmonton Oilers won the NHL's Stanley Cup five times.
Australia's Cricket Team Celebrates a Victory
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Australia's Cricket International Team |
Australia's Cricket International Team
The oldest Test cricket organization in the world since 1877, the Australian Cricket International Team has made all six world cup finals and won four of them including the last three (1999, 2003, and 2007). As of 2007 they are undefeated in 29 consecutive world cup games.
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