Most Influential Sports Teams of the last 30 years

Influential sports teams don’t just change the way a sport is played but they can drive economy, inform fashion, and make or destroy entire cities. This has made it extremely difficult for me to narrow down my three favorites sports teams of all time. I have taken time to think about my three favorite sports teams and determine why they are my favorites. I have chosen these teams based on their value to their sports, how they affected my life as an athlete, and how they revolutionized the way the game is approached by those who experience it. The teams I have chosen from least favorite to most favorite are 2008 Olympics USA Men’s basketball “Redeem Team”, the 2016 Chicago Cubs, and the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

Redeem Team

At the third spot on my list of favorite sports teams is the 2008 USA Men’s Olympic Basketball Team or the “Redeem Team”. This team placed with a gold medal in basketball for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Coached by  Mike Krzyzewski and a team full of notable players including Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James.  American basketball has always been strong but the world needed to be reminded. Considering the roster of this team one would expect them to dominate and they did. By dominating the world this team showed that the USA has the best players in the world, the best coaching, and exemplified how the rest of the world needed to catch up to the United State’s level of competition. Further, this team set new standards for American basketball players including myself.  Watching this team, the standard was set for me as an American basketball player everywhere I played it was my goal to live up to it.

2016 Chicago Cubs

At second place on my list is the 2016 Chicago Cubs. In 2016 the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series since 1908. This championship season for the Cubs was historic in that it broke the streak for the longest championship drought in MLB history and put an end to the dreaded “Curse of the Billy Goat”. This Cubs teams showed us that no matter the obstacles or history, success can be had. With sound leadership, a good plan, and people who know their roles, success stories are made. I wouldn’t say this team revolutionized anything about the game of baseball but they did revolutionize how we think about “losing” teams and by extension our own lives. Since this Championship, I have been faced with adversity and I know I can succeed if the 2016 Cubs succeeded.

Jordan Era Chicago Bulls

Holding the number one spot of my all time favorites sports teams is the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. In the 1995-96 NBA season the Bulls were coached by Phil Jackson and players included Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Tony Kucoc, and Steve Kerr. The Bulls had a record of 72-10 and won the NBA Championship. This was the best record ever until broken by the 2015-16  Golden State Warriors (73-9).  This Bulls team opened my eyes to basketball. As a kid growing up in Chicago it seemed like basketball was the only thing that mattered. I spent my days playing basketball at the park and my evenings watching games on television and this fascination drove me to take the game very seriously. This team also showed the world how athletes can be superstars. Not only was this a great team with great individual talent but they had influence. Michael Jordan was a worldwide phenomenon. For a player such as Michael Jordan to remain focused in the face of that level of exposure and influence and continue to win  is an unimaginable challenge. This changed the NBA from just a basketball league to a symbol of celebrity status.

To conclude, after great research and time consuming analysis these are my top three most influential sports teams of all time. I have considered these teams based on their value to their sports, how they affected my life as an athlete, and how they revolutionized the way the game is approached by those who experience it.