Repeat Champions

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I was listening to ESPN radio this morning, and they pointed out that this is the first time in a long time there is actually a chance for the reigning champion to repeat in each of the four major sports.

Baseball - Phillies - in the World Series
Football - Steelers - still pretty good
Basketball - Lakers - still very good
Hockey - Penguins - still very good

I would say the Steelers are the least likely repeat as the NFL is the least likely league to see a repeat champion.

EDIT: That and the Steelers are not considered one of the top teams right now. The Phillies are in the WS, so they obviously are one of the top teams. The Lakers are the prohibitive favorite in the NBA, and the Penguins are considered one of the top teams in the NHL (although not a prohibitive favorite like the Lakers).

 

That's a pretty miserable list of the four major sports .

 

As long as Duncan and Parker are healthy, San Antonio always has a shot. But with the Lakers adding Artest, I think they are still the favored team to win the West. We all know Shaq won't last the full season, especially after playing most of last years season. So I doubt Cleveland will win the east, Boston is the top dog with picking up Rasheed.

 

Well, I was speaking of major team sports in the US, and the pecking order is very clear. Its:

1. Football
2. Baseball*
3. Basketball
4. Hockey

* Baseball and Basketball are extremely close, and there are cities (like Los Angeles) where basketball is more popular than baseball. Heck, they are the only city with TWO professional basketball teams! Further, NASCAR is technically the second most popular "sport" in the US. How driving a car really fast around a circle for three hours is anything but a snorefest - much less entertaining - remains a mystery to me.

However, to placate the European members of the board, let me expand the list a little bit:

1,583,249: Soccer - FIIK the name of a single team in the US
4,174,682: Cricket - I love the sound of crickets on those long summer nights.

 

Wow, you have soccer that high on your list? I had soccer right below sliding down a hill of razorblades and right above Nascar.

---------- Added 2 hours, 13 minutes and 35 seconds later... ----------

I can't speak for the other teams, but I KNOW my Fighting Phils will repeat. J-Roll and Co. will not be denied!

 

What about Orlando? They're slightly better than last year with some nice signings (J-Will bounces back ) and Nelson back on the court.

Is hockey considered a major sport in USA? I thought hockey players aren't household names.

 

Hockey has lust it's gusto in the US. Their strike a few years ago really hurt their fan-base.

Orlando is also looking good, but Boston had injuries last year and still won their division. Nelson isn't that good. Plus he's small, so that hurts him defensively, especially against a bigger team, like Bos/Cle. With the addition of Rasheed, Boston's offense will really spread the court, making scoring for Allen, Pierce and Garnett that much easier. Of course, that is only if Rasheed can hold his temper.... plus, who knows, maybe my Sixers will have a banner year, winning might get contagious in Philly all of a sudden!

 

I hope the Angels upset the Yanks and the Phils. That being said, it will probably be a Phillies-Yankees World Series, in which case I want the Phillies to win (as much as I resent them for beating my Rays last year!).

 

I saw an interesting analysis by the Mav's former statistician that basically said Rasheed Wallace was the tenth best player of the decade. Basically the stat was a combination of offensive and defensive efficiency, +- points while on the floor and bench, if they improve their teammates play while on the court, and a myriad of other factors. I wish I could adequately explain it, but I cannot.

The same statistic also has Dwayne Wade and LeBron James as better players than Kobe Bryant which is entirely accurate in my opinion.

To give more credence to it, the top player was Kevin Garnett, followed by Tim Duncan,

 

I tend to undervalue rings compared to other people. Supporting cast is huge.

Bryant has a better jump shot that James, but that's about it. He also may have a mental edge, but his teammates are simply better. When I watch Wade he just seems like the best player in the league talent-wise. However, they are all very close, along with Anthony.

A dominant big man certainly helps and that's why O'Neal and Duncan certainly deserve all the accolades they recieve.

 

Apparently so. Most people tend to value rings more - even Hall of Fame selectors. This is especially true in football. Take Tom Brady as an example here. He has had one monster statistical season and two other good (but by no means great) ones. However, he is considered a sure-fire Hall of Famer. Why? Because he won three Super Bowls and played in a fourth. And that's how it is all over football. Terry Bradshaw was an above average but by no means great QB statistically throughout his career. Same thing with Joe Namath. Why are they in the Hall? Super Bowl Rings. If you don't have a ring, you have to put up near legendary numbers to get in the hall. In terms of QBs, the only guys I can name in the hall without a ring who have played since the 1970s are Dan Marino and Dan Fouts - and they were regarded as the best players in their position...

 

Kobe is the best for one reason. When it's needed, in the big game, he comes thru. Just like MJ, Magic and Bird.... Until Wade and LeBron can do that, they won't get the recognition. You can talk supporting cast all you want, but Kobe had Derek Fisher as the other guard last year. The only other star was Gasol. LeBron can do more things on the court than Kobe, but that doesn't win championships, coming thru in the clutch during the playoffs does. That is what makes him great. I say this hating his guts by the way.

 

Go Phillies!!! I was at game 5 in Philadelphia when they clinched against the Dodgers, and I have tickets to game 3 of the World Series! It's a great time to be a Phillies Phan! We have suffered for a long time...

 

I hope you guys win! Damn Yankees...

I do hate Charlie Manual with a passion though; he is a complete idiot - all the interviews during the All Star Game are absolutely horrendous to watch. He is worse with favoritism than Terry Francona...

 

Is Game 4 Sunday night in Philly? The reason I ask is that Sunday afternoon, the Giants are playing the Eagles in Philly. You could have two New York teams playing two Philly teams in two different sports!

 

Yep. And it makes for some awesome tailgaiting! Talk about going on a bender!