Are the Pats the greatest sports team this decade?

[emoney_33]

Which sport is the most difficult to maintain success over the course of multiple years? A direct comparison of how many titles/appearances doesn't tell the whole story.

 

[aluminum seats]

THERE are the rose colored glasses.

THERE'S the pointless one-liner.

 

[aluminum seats]

Hold on there.

"Obviously basketball is a popular sport, but it's not football."
If this a question about which is the most popular sport then this has
some relevance otherwise it seems to be not relevant to the question
asked.


There is one more thing to consider. Suppose it comes down to a vote:
Patriots vs Lakers.

Does Patriots tainted history have any bearing? Of course as PATs fans
we know PATs would have won with or without the video tapes.
And we know all teams record play calls.
BUT
.... thanks to BB there is a shadow that has been cast and if you got to
vote a team for the HONOR of "Greatest Sports Team of the Decade"
wouldn't you choose in a close race the team that played by the rules?

Now I know Basketball has had some problems with the refs in regards
to cheating but the Lakers were not calling the shots there like BB did.

Disagree on the popularity question--nobody is going to suggest that the Michigan's women's swim team is the greatest team of the decade. Subjective, intangible aspects play a part. Which you, of course, are acknowledging with your vote point.

 

[aluminum seats]

Its a close call. Spurs have 3 titles this decade and the LAL have 4. (they won it in 1999-2000- that counts for this decade.) titles. As mentioned earlier the LAL have been to a total of 6 finals.

The whole spygate/Mangini taping does add a little tarnish to the legacy, but the on the field performance is what matters...

1. Lakers 4 titles, 6 app
2. Pats 3 titles, 4 app
3. Spurs 3 titles, 3 app
4. Yankees 2 titles, 3 app
5. Red Wings 2 titles, 3 app


My .02$

I think it time to define the terms--maybe we should have a poll.....

Does the first decade of the 21st century start in 1999? Outside of sports, there's a difference of opinion in when decades start. Some say, for example, that this decade didn't start until January 1, 2001. Other say January 1, 2000. I've never heard anyone suggest it started in 1999.

Now, in sports, because the seasons (except for baseball) span two different calendar years, it's a little trickier. I think the only way to reasonably go is to say the decade started with the SEASON that started in 2000, and will end with the CHAMPIONSHIP played in 2010. It doesn't make sense to include a season that starts in 1999; conversely, it wouldn't make sense to have a Super Bowl played in 2011 count for that decade.

These seem like the most logical dates to use, and by them, the Lakers won three titles this decade so far--but they may still win another.

 

[Lansdowne]

I don't think a season that starts in 1999 is part of this decade, so I wouldn't count that first title. Did this decade end in June?

Only a small portion of that season was spent in the year 1999. 6 out of 8 months of NBA season took place in 2000, culminating in the Lakers' victory over the Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals.

The Celtics recent banner declares them the 2008 champions. In a season that began in 2007, technically. Much the same way, the Lakers are the 2000 champions.

 

[Lansdowne]

Here's how it goes:

NFL: year depends on when regular season took place (see: Patriots banners)
NBA: year depends on when the Finals took place
NCAAB: year depends on when Final Four took place
NCAAF: year depends on when regular season took place
NHL: year depends on when Stanley Cup took place

MLB is the only non-winter sport of this group, so they're easy to figure out