Letters
From 1977 to '87, Johns Hopkins won six NCAA lacrosse titles and
was second four times.
--Tom Edel, Baltimore
HOW DID WE MISS THESE?
Your list of favorite dynasties omitted the 1980 to '83 New York
Islanders (Our Favorite Dynasties, May 10). Not only did they
win four consecutive Stanley Cups, but they also won 19 straight
playoff series (from '80 to '84).
LARRY LOPRETE, Little Falls, N.J.
How can you overlook the Arkansas men's cross-country and track
and field teams that have won 32 of the last 46 national
championships in their sports, including eight of the last 13
cross-country titles, 15 of the last 16 indoor track and field
titles and seven straight outdoor titles, going into this year's
NCAA championships?
DUSTY BLACK, Colorado Springs
How could you not like the 1940 to '43 Chicago Bears? The
Monsters of the Midway won four consecutive Western Conference
crowns and three NFL championships, including their classic 73-0
thrashing of the Washington Redskins in '40.
HAL SHYMKUS, Espanola, N.Mex.
You left out a big one: China's dynasty in table tennis. From
1961 to the present (excluding '67 to '69 when China was absent
due to the Cultural Revolution), Chinese men have been in the
final of the world team championships (held every two years) 16
out of 17 times and won 12 times. Chinese women have been more
dominant. Since 1965, they have been in 15 straight finals
(excluding '67 to '69), winning 12.
LARRY HODGES, Silver Spring, Md.
How can you leave the Cal rugby program off your list? It
recently won its ninth straight national collegiate title and
has won 16 of 20 since the championship was established in 1980.
JOHN ELLIOTT, Lafayette, Calif.
My favorite dynasty is the Hobart College men's lacrosse team.
From 1980 to '91, the Statesmen won 12 Division III championships
in a row.
JASON COTSIBAS, New York City
Richard Hoffer's failure to include Tennessee's women's
basketball team reflects his apparent lack of appreciation for
the top women's athletic programs, save for the token inclusion
of North Carolina's women's soccer team.
MARY JANE RYAN, Burlington, Conn.
Coach Jim Steen's Kenyon College swimming and diving team has
won 20 straight men's and 16 straight women's titles in Division
III.
MARSHALL BOON, Durham, N.C.
From 1956 to '92, the U.S.S.R. hockey team won eight of a
possible 10 Olympic gold medals (in '92, as the Unified Team).
Between '63 and '90, it won 20 world championships.
PARASHAR AND PINAKIN BHISE, Berkeley, Calif.
Let me make a case for the Cornell men's hockey team of 1966-'67
to 1969-'70: Two NCAA championships, one second-place finish and
one third; over this period the Big Red's record was 110-5-1.
ARTHUR C. KAMINSKY, New York City
I would like to mention a frequently overlooked dynasty that
began in the 19th century. From 1880 to 1909, Yale's football
teams went 302-13-14. The Elis fielded 19 undefeated teams and
16 that could claim to be national champion. When settling
disputes between Alabama and Notre Dame fans over which school
leads in national titles, I leave them speechless when I tell
them that Yale leads both schools.
KENT STEPHENS, College Football Hall of Fame, South Bend
B/W PHOTO: UNITED PRESS/NFL PHOTOS In 1940 the Chicago Bears lived up to their nickname, the Monsters of the Midway.