With the 00s almost over, who would you nominate for the team of the decade. It seems there’s few dominant teams this decade over last decade. In the 90s, the Yankees, Bulls, and Cornhuskers were clearly the class of their leagues. This time around, there appear to be a lot of multiple title winners.
College football: LSU/Florida/USC (2 each)
It may be tempting to call USC the dominant team of the decade, but they only have one BCS title. I’d give the edge to Florida, since LSU won one of their titles with 2 losses. Florida appears to be the preseason #1, and could match Nebraska’s 3 titles in the 90s.
College basketball: Florida/N. Carolina (2 each)
I may give the edge to Florida since they won 2 in a row. However, North Carolina is more of a basketball school and is more likely to grab another.
Pro basketball: Lakers/Spurs (3 each)
Same edge to the Lakers due to their 3-peat
Pro baseball: Red Sox (2)
As a Red Sox fan, 2004 and 2007 were thrilling, but I don’t think it would be called the dominant team for the decade, like the Yankees were in the 90s.
Pro football: Patriots (3)
Patriots’ 3 titles with the age of parity is impressive, but it hasn’t been taint-free.
Thoughts?
If we are talking about the entire decade, then championships are not everything. I also pay attention to the years a team doesn’t win a title, how good was the team. Thus Florida’s 2 basketball championships are really just 1 team with the other 8 years good to average (they didn’t even make the tournament this year). However, USC with football has been a monster, being in the discussion for the BCS title game almost every year even if they fail to qualify.
College football: USC
College basketball: North Carolina (I actually put more weight on winning with 2 different teams 2005, 2009 than Florida’s 1 team in 2 consecutive years)
Pro hockey: Detroit Red Wings (Devils & Ducks getting honorary mention)
Pro baseball: Red Sox
Pro basketball: Spurs (the Lakers had a few rebuilding years in the middle while the Spurs have maintained excellence)
Pro football: Patriots (this is the easiest with 3 championships and an almost perfect season)
I don’t think that “basketball school” thing signifies. Truly huge universities like UF and Ohio State can support truly huge sports programs- and that means they can support a top-ten football program and a top-ten basketball program.
ETA: I hate the Pats, but have to give them their props. They’ve been a force every single year since they won the first Superbowl, except in 2002.