From Cardinals to Giants, it’s the era of the accidental champ
Eli celebrates the greatest month a 9-7 team ever had. (AP photo)
Every season ends with music blaring, confetti falling, a trophy awarded. It’s “One Shining Moment,” a pinnacle attained, a champion crowned. But more and more, we’re seeing trophies taken by teams that aren’t quite the epitome of excellence. We’ve entered the era of the accidental champ.
We consider the most recent winners in the six major American sports:
Connecticut, the 2010-11 NCAA basketball titlist: The Huskies finished in the bottom half of the Big East, which numbers 16 teams. They were 9-9 in regular-season conference play and entered the Big East tournament as the ninth seed. They won five games in that event, six in the NCAA tournament. They won more than half as many games (11) in the two postseason events as in the regular season (21).
Boston Bruins, the 2010-11 NHL titlist: They finished the regular season with 103 points, seventh-most in the league. They had the fewest points of any of the six division winners.
Dallas Mavericks, the 2010-11 NBA titlist: They finished second in the Southwest Division, four games behind San Antonio.
St. Louis Cardinals, the 2011 World Series titlist: They won 90 games, tying them for the eighth-best record in the majors. They were 67-63 on Aug. 24, the day they trailed the Braves by 8 1/2 games. They trailed by three games with five to play. They clinched the wild card when the Braves lost their 162nd game in 13 innings. In Game 6 of the World Series against Texas, the Cardinals twice were one strike from elimination.
Alabama Crimson Tide, 2011 BCS titlist: They didn’t win their division or their conference.
New York Giants, 2011 NFL titlist: They entered the playoffs with the worst record of the six NFC qualifiers. They won almost half as many games in postseason (four) as in the regular season (nine). They became the first Super Bowl champion to have been outscored during the regular season.
OK, I know what you’re saying. Isn’t this why we watch sports? For improbable championship runs? For these “Hoosiers” moments?
My response: Yes, but …
Let’s stipulate that being the No. 3 seed, as the Bruins and Mavericks were, doesn’t exactly constitute up-from-oblivion stuff. Let’s also stipulate that Alabama was held, rightly or wrongly, to be one of the nation’s two best teams all season in the one sport where opinion matters. Not all of these tales were created equal. But we can also argue that UConn, the Cardinals and the Giants were far better in the season’s final act than they’d been at any other time. (To be fair, the Huskies did have a nice November.)
And now you’re saying: Isn’t that also the nature of sports? Seizing the day? Grabbing that one shining moment? Running the “Hoosiers”-style Picket Fence with the Big Game on the line?
My response: Yes, but …
Underdog stories are great, but such a run of underdog champions underscores the notion that the only time to care about a sport is once the playoffs commence. (Another stipulation: Alabama was not an underdog in any game, not even in its rematch against LSU.) We’ve known for a while that the NHL and NBA regular seasons don’t count for much, and the advent of the wild card has rendered postseason baseball, to invoke the term all baseball men use, a crap shoot.
But what, in the grand scheme, did it avail the Phillies to win 102 games and the Packers to go 15-1? Given that the Phillies wound up losing to St. Louis in the Division Series, wouldn’t they have been better served tanking the final two games against the Braves?
And now you’re saying: The beauty of sports is that nothing is guaranteed — the best team on paper doesn’t always win. And I’ll agree with that almost without reservation. The reservation: We watch sports not just for entertainment but to get, at least on occasion, a glimpse of real excellence.
The 2011 Giants were not a great team: They lost at home to Seattle and Washington and were 7-7 with two regular-season games remaining. The 2011 Cardinals were not a great team: They got hot at the last possible moment and got lucky because the Braves went bad at that same moment. Of NCAA champs, only Kansas (which upset Oklahoma in 1988), North Carolina State (which upset Houston in 1983) and Villanova (which upset Georgetown in 1985) had more losses than UConn’s nine. Of BCS titlists, every one had at least won its conference — until Alabama.
What I’m saying: As nice as the upstart stories can be, it would be nice if there wasn’t another coming along every 15 minutes. Championships needn’t follow the same schedule as MARTA trains. It would be nice to see sustained excellence, as opposed to the situational kind, rewarded.
Back to “Hoosiers.” The team on which that movie was based, the 1953-54 Milan High School Indians, finished 28-2. We recall its epic upset of Muncie Central in the state finals on Bobby Plump’s last shot, but what’s conveniently overlooked is that, on that same court one week earlier, Milan had played Indianapolis Crispus Attucks, which was led by Oscar Robertson, the sport’s greatest all-around player until Michael Jordan came along. Milan won 65-52.
The point being: Even within the Milan Miracle, there was more than one shot or one game or even one month involved. There was, believe it or not, a full body of work.
By Mark Bradley
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190 comments Add your comment
georgiavol
February 10th, 2012
12:45 pm
What a stupid article. Quit drinking at least an hour before writing anything other than your name.
Tommy
February 10th, 2012
12:50 pm
Bradley has it right. The problem is that the best team during the regular season never seems to win the title anymore. When I was growing up in the ’80s, even if you didn’t like the champion, you often felt that the best teams were winning. Upsets, like NC State in ‘83 and the Reds in ‘90 were special because they were uncommon.
Today it’s becoming a rarity that the best team in the regular season wins. Too many teams make the playoffs. A 9-7 team won the Super Bowl. There is something wrong with that. The Giants weren’t the 2010 NFL Champions. They were the January 2011 NFL Champions. Big difference.
Growing up I hated the 49ers when they were running over the NFL, but it was nice to know that they deserved their title because they had proven over the previous 6 months that they were the best team. That is missing today. Championships are becoming more a matter of luck than skill or endurance.
Matt
February 10th, 2012
12:55 pm
Professional sports is different in my opinion because everyone is a “professional”. Everyone in pro sports is really, really, really good at what they do. Eventhough the SF Giants were not anything close to the best “team” in the league they had good starting pitching, a solid bullpen, and their professional hitters stepped up for them. Are you listening Braves??
Momentum in sports is HUGE. How else do you think the George Mason’s of the world keep shocking the world??? It’s frustrating sure, but their isn’t much room for arguing when it’s settled on the field.
If a team or even a lone player gets hot and is playing with extreme confidence there isn’t much anyone can do about it. By the same token, if a player or team isn’t clicking and is down on themselves, panic sets in and you lose.
WT
February 10th, 2012
1:03 pm
Alabama played in the game because they were ranked number two and the championship game matches the top two teams. It wasn’t their fault that some other team was not voted number two ahead of them. They won the championship game and are the 2011 National Champions whether you like or not.
Whiskey Breath
February 10th, 2012
1:05 pm
Boo hoo, Alabama wins again. The fact of the matter is you hate Alabama and they just keep winning
championships. It has been that way for ever, and it will not change. Accidental, tell that to the voters that put the championship game together. Who twisted their voting hand? They system is not perfect, but we live with what we have. Now go kiss up to Jeff so you can get somewhere.
Just saying..
February 10th, 2012
1:05 pm
Mark, you’re the first I’ve seen publish this perspective. And I think you’re spot-on.
Greg
February 10th, 2012
1:06 pm
It’s not an accident. It’s called having a great coach and getting hot at the same time. Almost every team you named has a coach that would be in a hall of fame for his sport.
BGH
February 10th, 2012
1:10 pm
Alabama on here? Wow you are a moron. They were obviously the best team this year even before the rematch. They were better than lsu even when they lost. Stop with this gotta win your conf crap to be the best. Using your idiotc analogy, clemson is better than alabama huh? Dumbass Bradley writes another clunker.
doc
February 10th, 2012
1:13 pm
the packers were as much an accident last year as the giants were this year. injuries were a factor in both teams not performing as expected and between killer schedules and injuiries a team can fall from grace and rise just as quickly with the right coach. baseball is baseball without recent dynasties. the cards of a few years ago, winning barely over .500, was a worse example. it is where match ups are important and good pitching can overcome.
the nba usually gets it right as there have been only 7 or 8 champs in the last 30 years. march madness since the golden era of ucla and first a dones is just that. no dynasty there and as more sports are limiting what can be spent like hockey and football to ration talent, there is minimal evidence of dynasties. so i would expect more of the same.
doc
February 10th, 2012
1:14 pm
that only leaves ncaa football where the supremacy of the sec has held as it is not so much alabama as it is sec. no surprise there.
Skeezix
February 10th, 2012
1:14 pm
Mark: I agree–something doesn’t feel right about it.
BGH
February 10th, 2012
1:15 pm
“Today it’s becoming a rarity that the best team in the regular season wins”
In what sports? Pro? Well that’s because it’s not easy to win in the playoffs. baseball you have to win 3 series. Same in basketball and hockey. Pro football you see it more often but upsets happen because you still have to win 3 games.
College basketball gotta win 6. College football. Gotta win one game. That’s why you don’t see it there cause the 2 best teams are almost always pitted against each other and why including alabama was stupid in this article.
DocDawg
February 10th, 2012
1:15 pm
Wait, we allow every imaginable team into the playoffs, which renders the regular season mostly moot… and then you complain when the “hot” team wins?
P.S. why do you think the Big 10 totally reversed course on the “plus one”? It’s their only chance to win a football championship.
MiamiDawg
February 10th, 2012
1:19 pm
The great teams get it done when it counts. The playoffs are when it counts. The end.
Nativebird
February 10th, 2012
1:33 pm
Couldn’t it be what for so long, every major sports league wants and has spent decades trying to achieve…….parity? i.e. any team…or almost every team….has a shot at it all. Alternately….what SPORTS WRITERS want, and is exhibited by your obvious gnashing of teeth blog here….is simply a great story…and the easiest (i’ll say laziest because it is) great story of all…… is dominence. Try harder Bradley….there’s plenty to write about in parity….just have to work a little. Sorry bro.
JSS
February 10th, 2012
1:34 pm
@ Sonny Clusters…
Massive Co-sign @ 12:16PM!
Bobo is Not the Problem
February 10th, 2012
1:39 pm
Wild cards are pure crap. Water down the meaningfulness of the championship for revenues.
Hey, it’s a smart way to run a business because the fans support it. If we stayed away from the stupid wild card games, sports would not have them.
However, we would rather OUR team have a shot than have a pure champion.
Que sera sera.
Hillbilly D
February 10th, 2012
1:39 pm
It’ll be interesting to see what happens whenever Joe Terdoslavich is ready to play 3B. I’m, guessing it’ll get ugly.
JSS
February 10th, 2012
1:42 pm
“The League never lies” is old school… That is why the FA Cup and League Double is so special…
Disgusted
February 10th, 2012
1:49 pm
For all the accidental champions, you would think that Atlanta aka Loserville, would stumble into at least one championship, but its not to be.
There is no hope for the Braves as long as Liberty is around, maybe there is some accidental luck with Falcons and Hawks.
Yes, I said the Hawks because as bad as the Spirit was with the hockey team, they actually do give a rats tail about the Hawks. They got what they wanted.
If the Hawks do win with the Spirit in charge, it would be bittersweet to me. Like the athletes, hate the owners.
Gwinnett Fred
February 10th, 2012
2:35 pm
One glaring omission.
All 4 of golf’s Majors’ winners last year were by first time winners of a Major.
Stinger2
February 10th, 2012
2:50 pm
Mark: You did your job and wrote a blog you knew would stir up a contraversy and get you a lot of hits.
The bottom line is it does not matter how a team wins a championship playing within the established format of that league or conference, etc. If its “accidental” then so be it.
Brave Hokie
February 10th, 2012
2:56 pm
It’s an era where reg seasons are becoming meaningless; and as much as I support it, the “and 1″ may will signify bringing the same to college football.
And if anybody thinks this gives the Atl professional franchises more of a “punchers chance,” I say “your crazy” ~ they all fall apart in the post-season… regardless of the regular.
NC
February 10th, 2012
2:58 pm
Alabama Crimson Tide, 2011 BCS titlist: They didn’t win their division or their conference, but they did defeat the LSU Tigers to win the national title. They got the prize that really counts and the one that everyone will remember.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 10th, 2012
3:00 pm
Whiskey, “who twisted their hands?” ESPN
David
February 10th, 2012
3:06 pm
Now if we can find accidental sports writers and journalist.
sheeesh
February 10th, 2012
3:17 pm
I think there is a Clusters imposter in the house. It’s either that or Clusters is nowhere near as entertaining a read as he used to be. I vote the former.
Dawg Haus
February 10th, 2012
3:22 pm
Interesting take, Mark. I hope an ATL team can be one of those accidental champs some day.
eastbound and down
February 10th, 2012
3:23 pm
I think the AJC made an “acciddental” hiring when bringing Bradley on board. Accidental may not be the right word, but i like the sound of it. Plus, the only other explanation is that the person who hires these knuckleheads was drunk at the time.
Stinger2
February 10th, 2012
3:25 pm
sheesh: No Bradley is right. Clusters just does not like Chipper. He has made negative comments about him several times in the past. Granted, he has a right to his opinion but by now, its well known to everyone who follows the Braves blogs. Another angle could be he is
feeling his oats because a lot of people like the folksy wit he uses in his comments.
285exp
February 10th, 2012
3:30 pm
In only one of those championships did the arguably 2 best teams play each other, yet you include the winner as an accidental champion.
Rickster
February 10th, 2012
3:43 pm
To borrow the phrase…. “That’s why they play the games.”
Isn’t this what Pete Rozelle wanted? Parity? So that any given Sunday any team could beat an opponent?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 10th, 2012
3:49 pm
When is CHOKE going to have his first ACCIDENTAL playoff win?
HA HA HA
JESUS CHRIST
February 10th, 2012
3:51 pm
The 2011 Cardinals and 2010 SF Giants are examples of why baseball is the best sport. A game in April means as much as a game in Sept. Teams make the playoffs on the last day of the season and go on to be champs. That is why each of the 162 games is equally important.
Batcork
February 10th, 2012
4:04 pm
You could have taken it back two more in the current string: 2010 Packers and 2010 SF Giants. Plenty of other recent examples, like the 2006 StL Cardinals. And some near missers too, like the 2008 Az Cardinals.
It is more the norm than the exception now. The upcoming extra wildcards in MLB will make it even more so.
Delbert D.
February 10th, 2012
4:08 pm
I bet Mark had this article in the can for awhile, something for a rainy day. I sometimes keep comments in the can for awhile; this one, for instance.
mikeD
February 10th, 2012
4:12 pm
sounds to me like you are just hating because the teams in atlanta cannot win a darn thing.
WE BETTER.
February 10th, 2012
4:14 pm
COME’ON MAN!!!!
ernisTbass
February 10th, 2012
4:17 pm
I was going to write a comment but I just had an accident, as Jack Nicholson said in the bucket list ” never trust a fart”
MR
February 10th, 2012
4:19 pm
I hear you Clusters…I think Chipper could be very valuable to this team as a backup at third base with 300 ABs this season. But he has been a leader, heck he almost single handidly defeated the Mets in 1999 back when it was AOL Time Warner sucking the life out of our Hall of Fame staff and letting them die on the vine without dynasty status assured. I have no beef with Chippers past, I just have a beef with his role today, which is a starter at third base.
jarvis
February 10th, 2012
4:21 pm
Did Steven Garcia get invited to NFL Combine?
hbcuclassics
February 10th, 2012
4:35 pm
HBCU Classic Sports
#2 Player Overall
DE/OLB Adrian Hamilton
http://www.hbcuclassics.com/hbcu_showcase
Old Boy
February 10th, 2012
4:44 pm
The playoffs in most sports have gotten bloated (as a big proponent of a playoff in college football, I can’t believe I am saying that). Why not have the division winners in Pro football plus one wild card? Why not insist that all teams (not just all teams except Alabama) win their conference to play in the potential college football playoffs? Why not start the basketball tournament at 16? Too much money is made on the playoffs in most sports, so the leagues will do anything possible to expand them as much and as long as possible.
extremus
February 10th, 2012
4:47 pm
Definition of “Accidental Champion”: Stumbled over a fallen Atlanta team on its way to the big prize.
Old Boy
February 10th, 2012
4:49 pm
extremus – That’s funny (and painfully accurate)
Yeah Right
February 10th, 2012
4:49 pm
I don’t consider the “Tide” National Champs. Don’t consider college football to be worth watching anymore either due to crap like that. Can’t keep changing the rules to make more money and expect people to keep putting up with that kind of crap.
Whopper Dawg
February 10th, 2012
4:55 pm
It is a painfully slow period in sports, isn’t it, Mark?
Joey
February 10th, 2012
5:28 pm
“There is no hope for the Braves as long as Liberty is around”
******************************************
Actually, “there is no hope for the Braves as long as” Chipper “is around”. His contract the last three seasons have been an albatross around the Braves neck. $15M could have bought us two nice outfielders.
His contract, lack of defense, and lack of clutch hitting has doomed the Braves for many years, especially in the later months of each season. The most classic move of “Hoss” in the past few years was him scolding Heyward about not playing with a sore shoulder.
Imagine that! Chipper (pulled and/or strained hammy, strained oblique, strained wrist, pec, thigh(s), triceps, biceps, shoulders, sore ribs, ingrown toenail, jammed thumb, etc, etc, etc) Jones, the man Smoltzie called out publicly for sitting out games (usually when an AllStar was on the oponent’s mound), called out another player!
I actually hope Chipper does play in 2013 . . . for the Phillies. Let him teach their young hitters how to choke when September rolls around . . .
Roll Turd
February 10th, 2012
5:30 pm
Yea…bama keeps winning championships…they just have a hard time winning their division…..pitiful….
MyPatootie
February 10th, 2012
5:41 pm
Can’t wait until the season starts. Wonder who in the media will be the first one to say, “we have a Rev and a Terd in the lineup”.