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Are dynasties in the eyes of the beholder? dave konopki opinion

Friday November 20, 2009 | 12:00 AM

I watched ESPN on Saturday night, waiting for TCU to be proclaimed the greatest college football team with the word “Frog” in its nickname.

Thanks in part to the need to fill 24-hour-a-day sports programming, we live lin a sports society where everything has to be labeled the “greatest” or “the best of all-time” as soon as it happens.

No sooner does the confetti hit the field or the words “I’m going to DisneyLand” are spoken when a sports anchor and seven analysts are talking about the greatest Super Bowl of all-time.

The folks at the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network turned things up a notch a few days ago when discussing the “dynasty” of NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and where his recent “dynasty” ranks among other dynasties in professional sports. Johnson is almost a lock to wrap up his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship this weekend.

Since when does four years of success – no matter how dominating – become a dynasty? Rome wasn’t built in a day. And dynasties are built in four years.

Want to talk dynasties. Here are some real ones:

UCLA – The Bruins won 10 national men’s basketball championships in 12 years from 1964-75.

Boston Celtics – The Celtics captured 11 championships in 13 years from 1956-69 – a span that included eight consecutive titles.

Chicago Bulls – Led by Michael Jordan, the Bulls won six championships in eight years from 1991-98.

LA Lakers – In the 1980s, the Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals eight times, winning five championships.

Pittsburgh Steelers – In a span of eights years – from 1972-79 – the Steelers won Super Bowl championships and appeared in the AFC title game two other times.

Edmonton Oilers – Led by Wayne Gretzgy, the Oilers won five Stanley Cup championships in seven years in the 1980s.

Montreal Canadiens – Won six Stanley Cup titles in nine years, including four in a row. The Canadiens also won six championships in the 1950s.

New York Yankees – Love them or hate them, you can’t argue with success. The Yankees won five World Series titles in the ’30s; four in the ’40s; and six in the ’50s. Moreover, in a span of 36 years – 1927-1962 – the Bronx Bombers won 19 World Series championships and 23 AL titles.

But you don’t have to look to professional sports to find dynasties. Here are a few we’ve had right here in the Wyoming Valley Conference.

GAR boys basketball – In the 1980s, the Grenadiers won 11 consecutive WVC championships under head coach John Hopkins. That streak included a 50-game league winning streak, and a streak of 90 consecutive home games without a loss. GAR also won seven D2 championships in the ’80s.

Bishop Hoban swimming – During the 1970s and ’80s, head coach Jim Higgins led the Argents to an amazing string of 204 consecutive WVC wins. Hoban also won 17 consecutive D2 championships and 14 consecutive WVC titles during that time.

Berwick football – The Dawgs won a record six PIAA Class 3A state state championships in a 10-year span from 1988-97. Under head coach George Curry, Berwick also won seven of eight D2 Class 3A titles from 1994-2001.

Crestwood field hockey – Under head coach Elvetta Gemski, the Comets captured 12 District 2 championships in 15 years from 1983-87. And in the two years the Comets didn’t win the title, they posted a combined record of 46-5-4.

Lake-Lehman boys volleyball – In a 13-year period from 1992 through 2003, the Black Knights captured 12 D2 championships. Head coach John Baranowski led Lake-Lehman to 22 WVC championships.

I know I’ve probably missed a few. I’m getting old. And I want to hear what you think. Let our readers know what you think is the best Wyoming Valley Conference dynasty of all-time.

Go to www.timesleader.com, click on the “sports” tab at the top of the page. On the sports page, click on my name on the right side of the page, go the bottom of my column and post your comment.