Voice On Sports October 1, 2015

by Robert Vincent
A big thing about sports is milestones. Sports is numbers. From the simple score at the end of a game or a record that will stand the test of time. One such number has been in the forefront recently.

Ten Grand
Date: April 23, 1903.
The New York Highlanders beats the Washington Senators, 7-2. Win number one. Fast forward 10 years and the Highlanders have changed their name to the Yankees and would go on to win 27 World Series. Not only that but, as of Tuesday night, they amassed 9,999 wins.

Given, five other teams in the history of Major League Baseball have won 10,000 games (seven if you count the Reds and Cardinals and their time in the American Association), but that number, along with the number 27 dealing with World Series Championships leads a person to consider just how good of a dynasty The Yankees are.

Now, Wednesday the 30th, the Yankees could get that 10,000th win against The Red Sox (of course, who else), so we will see if the Yankees can hit that big milestone.

Speaking of dynasties...

What is a Dynasty, anyway?
No, I’m not talking about the prime time soap from the 80’s with Joan Collins (for those of you born after 1989, check out the theme song…heh). I’m talking about sports. I’m talking about those teams in those sports that just blow a person’s mind because of all the wins or championships. What makes a dynasty?

Now, as a disclaimer, these are MY thoughts about what makes a team a dynasty. This is MY opinion. Opinions are like armpits, everyone has one…or two, really, so, armpits don’t work really here.
First, you have to have championships. Be it 27 World Series, a dozen NCAA Championships, a billion Bowl wins, championships are very important. This means the Yankees are a dynasty. UCLA basketball is a dynasty. The Celtics are a dynasty.

Not just because of the championships though because…
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Secondly, you have to have longevity. Just because you won a half dozen championships over a span of, say, eight years, does not mean you are a dynasty. Especially if after those eight years, you haven’t even sniffed a championship series. However, if you have won six titles over a span of 15 years and made the playoffs every one of those 15 years, then you are a dynasty.

Third, and finally, personnel. You have to have names. Bart Starr. Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers. Vince Lombardi. Those are names of Hall of Famers who led the Packers to championships and long playoff runs. If you don’t have hallowed names, you don’t have a dynasty.

Why is this even important?

As my good buddy, Wolfeman, will let you know (and yes, that’s Wolfeman with an E), I love making lists. I am a list-lover. I could make a list of greatest lists if I had to. Over the course of the next twenty weeks, I will be giving you, faithful sports reader, my list top 20 sports dynasties of all time in each of these Voice on Sports. Hopefully, you will enjoy…and feel free to respond.
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Bits and Pieces
In a few weeks, the wild card games begin in MLB hit us, and yes, the Cubs are in it. This week is week four of the NFL and week five of NCAA football. In College, Alabama is an underdog for the first time since Moses got the Ten Commandments as the Crimson Tide go to Georgia, and lose, 31-24. Ole Miss will beat Florida, 23-10. Texas A&M will defeat Mississippi State, 32-28. Notre Dame will beat Clemson 14-10.

In the NFL, big games are as follows: The Giants will beat the Bills, 27-20. Broncos over Vikings, 42-14. Cowboys over Saints, 31-20, and because I can, Niners over Packers, 20-18.
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Until next week, I leave you with this: “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.”-Tommy Lasorda.