Streaks
2009 June 26
Which of the following sports streaks do you think is the most impressive:
MLB: 21 games (1935 Cubs)
NFL: 21 games (2003-04 Patriots)
NBA: 33 games (1971-72 Lakers)
College basketball: 88 games (1971-74 UCLA)
College football: 47 games (1953-57 Oklahoma)
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I woke up this morning with the sounds of waves and these lyrics playing in my head:
A-B-C
It’s easy as 1-2-3
As simple as do-re-mi
A-B-C, 1-2-3
baby you and me!
30 Responses
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What John Wooden did at UCLA has to be at the top and I would now add Phil Jackson’s 10 NBA titles.
Peace.
I’ve just noticed that my Mac does a live shot while I’m commenting on your blog . . . way too cool!
You’ve got to hold your tongue just right when blog reflecting!
Peace
Patriots, of course.
It was sad though when it was still a disappointing season! but it will be hard to duplicate that streak, I think
. . . though 47 in college football, pretty impressive — didn’t know that one.
Slightly different, but impressive:
the Boston Celtics won 8 consecutive NBA championships between the 1958-1959 season and the 1965-1966 season. I’m guessing that one probably won’t ever be broken.
Cal Ripken, Jr. played in 2632 games in a row
Fenway park had 500 consecutive sell-outs on June 18th
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My head is full of a lot of Chi Sigs Spring Sing songs through the years! RIP MJ
Steve — no matter what Phil Jackson does — there will never be another as accomplished as Red Auerbach!
woa — I’m glad my MAC doesn’t take my picture this early in the morning!
Wooden’s record at UCLA. I think an “off-night” for a key player or team is more likely in basketball than other sports. To set a record like Wooden’s teams did over several seasons, especially when other teams were motivated to have their best games, was truly remarkable.
This is a tough one. These are team streaks; Ripkin’s is amazing, but he didn’t have to play an entire game to qualify. DiMaggio’s might be the individual streak most amazing to me. But, as Randy Harris would say, “What was the question?”
I would rank them this way; I’ll probably change my mind by noon:
UCLA
LAKERS
OU
PATRIOTS
CUBS
Re: “Thriller,” I spent that year in the athletic dorm at Texas Tech watching the offensive linemen play Ms. Pac-Man in the snack bar. Those dudes put together some pretty impressive streaks of their own.
Thanks for the memories,
qb
I thought of you yesterday when I heard the news about MJ. You did a chapel lesson when I was at Harding and at the close of your talk, you played “Man in the Mirror.”
My memory of that moment is that the whole auditorium FROZE for a beat, wondering if the Powers That Be would shut it down (Instruments! Pop Music! MICHAEL JACKSON! in the BENSON!), and then sighing in relief when they didn’t. We sat for the whole song, even past the dismissal bell.
You played “our” music to make a point, and that has always stayed with me.
With the current parity in the NFL, I think the Patriots streak is the most impressive. We won’t be seeing that again in our lifetime.
We also won’t be seeing a streak like Oklahoma had……..again, thanks to the parity that resides in NCAA football these days.
DU
Lisa – Can’t tell you how much that means to me — that you remember that. Just recently I’ve been going through old letters, throwing almost all of them away. I came across a few brutal letters from faculty members who were furious that I had played “Man in the Mirror.”
However, I didn’t play it for them. I played it for you (and the other students).
Parity, leaving early for draft, more frequent injuries………
Almost 4 full years of undefeated college football will never be matched again!
OU…..and I say that living in Arkansas and it is hard to be a Sooner in this state!!!!!!.
I don’t know — you might also consider the Detroit Tigers’ start in 1984 — 35-5.
Also, the Detroit Red Wings have made the playoffs for 18 consecutive seasons (and counting).
Hey Jeff, those were my first two thoughts too!
Given the NHL’s postseason structure, Jeff, a more impressive accomplishment would be that of a professional ice-hockey team that *didn’t* make it into the playoffs for 18 consecutive seasons. Now THAT would be a streak to write Mom about.
qb
Wooden’s record at UCLA is the one that will stand the test of time. What a great coach and an even better man!
Many thoughts have passed through my mind about the passing of Michael Jackson. “Man in the Mirror” was just one of the many songs he used to raise social consciousness. The effort behind the “We are the World” song was one of the grandest in modern history. I just wish that his life would have allowed him to enjoy his success without the dangers of addiction and mental illness.
How many other people are struggling? And what are we doing about it?
I read you often, seldom respond. I don’t know if it’s a record, but the Braves’ 14 consecutive division titles (ending in 2005) and Bobby Cox’s ’07 record of 132 career ejections should stand for something! Not that I’m a Braves fan or anything.
By the way, whatever it takes on your end to NOT have Steve Puckett’s picture come up with his responses should be time well invested.
I totally agree with the first paragraph of comment #17, but advise you ignore the second paragraph.
Peace.
Yeah, definitely got MJ lyrics in my head today. Funny stuff about Harding – so many defining adjectives come to mind…. I agree with the UCLA streak. And, it took an unreal performance by Notre Dame in SB to finally stop it.
Ah, not so qb. The only other team even close to the Wings is New Jersey with 12 consecutive playoff appearances.
Thanks for bringing up the Tigers’ 35-5 start in 1984, Jeff. My wife and I attended three of those 40 games–all losses!
Being a loyal So.CA. gal …. even though I’m anything but a basketball fan, I’d hope it would be:
College basketball: 88 games (1971-74 UCLA)
Hey! Don’t get too comfortable up there in that gorgeous down Eastern part of our country. Beautiful (sic) Abilene awaits your return, you know.
I’m going with college basketball and UCLA…surprise, surprise!
Klint, this is what I heard when I read your comment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_1Pw1xm9U
Easy one, Mike. Remind me again, how many years you been at Highland?
Mike Cope–years without a bad sermon
Never be duplicated again!
As a Sooner fan I love to wear the streak as a badge of honor… though I have never been a player at OU and the streak was before I was born. I do find it interesting that Jimmy Harris (quarterback for much of the streak) likes to poke at Steve Davis (both quarterbacked for three years at Oklahoma… Davis with 1 loss; Harris with none) about the one game separating them. At a recent book signing, it seems there is quite a comraderie amongst the qb’s.
See the story… http://newsok.com/fans-line-up-to-meet-5-qbs-who-led-sooners-to-national-titles/article/3375984?custom_click=lead_story_title
Boomer Sooner. What a streak.
I will have to include Sir Byron Nelson in 1945. 11 in a row!
Hey Mike,
Love the “laughing video.” Sorry I missed you in Nashville. See you and Diane August 1, 2009. Sara and Missy coming.
Edwin Moses – 107 consecutive wins, with four world records and two Olympic Gold Medals in the 400m hurdles between 1977 and 1987. He was undefeated for a decade.