Introduction to the Discussion
The world according to Jim: With the help of some collaborators this week. Last week’s list of SoCal teams’ best ever seasons – also known as doing what you have to do to fill column space – obviously struck a nerve in some households, which means mission accomplished. I got two full columns out of the idea.
Understanding the Criteria
Unsurprisingly, I was accused of omitting some perfectly qualified contenders. Fair enough. We’ve had a lot of championship teams in this region (pause for a flex on behalf of Southern California), meaning a lot to choose from. But some folks missed the distinction that I listed in the third paragraph: “No sneaking into the postseason and getting on a roll.” Each of those 15 teams listed won its regular-season division or conference championship. If you finished second or lower in the regular season, you can’t be considered dominant, which was sort of the point of the exercise.
Reader Responses
So I’m sorry, Angel fans, but I stand by my omission of the 2002 champions from this list. Those Angels were a wild-card team. Their response to a 6-14 start was worth remembering and worth bragging about. But those were the parameters: Finish first and then sweep through the postseason. William Stremel, a frequent responder to This Space, wrote: ” Your glaring omission of the Angels’ 2002 World Series victory kind of shocks me. That was a magical time for Angels fans, a mammoth victory for us long-suffering Halo fans. You listed the Lakers three times, the Dodgers twice, and no mention at all for the 2002 Angels?? What are we, chopped liver?” Scott Williamson called the omission “unconscionable” and “a disgrace,” noted that the Angels won 99 regular-season games and played .655 ball after that 6-14 start, and called Game 6 and Scott Spiezio’s three-run home run in the seventh to cap a comeback from a 5-0 deficit “truly remarkable. I was there! The SoCal media Dodger lovers pass over this great 2002 Fall Classic Game 6 Angel comeback win, (The greatest game I ever saw), and the SoCal Sports Media always plays up the (Kirk) Gibson home run in the Game 1 of the 1988 Series to the hilt. The 2 moments don’t even compare.”
Rebuttals and Further Discussion
Rebuttal: Yes, they do. And Scott, you forgot Freddie Freeman’s Game 1 grand slam in October, too. (I witnessed all three, by the way). But that’s immaterial. Neither of those Dodger teams made the list, either. Those Angels did win 99 games – and what they did that October against the Yankees, Twins and Giants was indeed remarkable – but they finished four games behind Oakland in the AL West. Along those lines – and maybe because the Ducks’ 2007 Stanley Cup was on the list but the Kings’ 2012 and 2014 Cups weren’t, Paul Renfrew of Long Beach made his case for the latter, and particularly the 2012 championship run. “The first 8th seed team to ever win the cup,” he wrote. “The first team to knock off the top three seeds in their conference. The first team ever to win ten straight road games in the playoffs. The first team to lead all four of their playoff series 3-0. A 16-4 playoff record tied the second-best record by a playoff team.”
More Reader Suggestions
While we’re on the subject of hockey, is everyone still weirded out by the news that Corey Perry is now a member of the Kings? New GM Ken Holland may not realize it, but he made the one move guaranteed to knock two fan bases off kilter. Back to the list: Sue Lepisto of Agoura Hills put in a vote for the 1966 UCLA football Bruins, who boasted the Heisman Trophy winner in Gary Beban. Those Bruins finished 9-1, with their only loss at Washington, beat USC in their final game and finished fifth in the final AP poll. Andy Mariani of San Pedro suggested the 1970 UCLA basketball team, 28-2 and national champs as Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe provided the bridge between the Alcindor/Abdul-Jabbar and Walton eras. He also mentioned the ’02 Angels, but said he felt my biggest omission was the 1972 USC football team, which finished 12-0, swept all four national championship trophies (including both AP and UPI), mashed Ohio State 42-17 in the Rose Bowl and was “two and three deep with NFL prospects at every position.”
Historical Comparisons and Quiz
He also mentioned the 1971-72 Lakers, which leads into this week’s quiz: The 33-game winning streak that moved that team to the top of this list featured one significant personnel change right before the streak began. What was it? Answer below. Back to the ’72 vs. ’04 Trojans, I guess we could go to a tiebreaker. The ’04 Trojans had the Heisman winner in Matt Leinart while the ’72 Heisman went to Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers. Then again, USC’s John McKay was national coach of the year in ’72, and Pete Carroll was outpolled by Urban Meyer, then of Utah, in 2004. I plead recency bias, I guess. Something tells me I’m going to get more responses. You think I can wring a third column out of this subject? Quiz answer: Oct. 31, 1971, the Lakers lost to Golden State 109-105, and their record was 6-3. That turned out to be the late Elgin Baylor’s final NBA game. He retired after coach Bill Sharman informed him that rookie Jim McMillian was taking his place in the lineup. Those Lakers didn’t lose again until Jan. 9, 1972, in Milwaukee. Baylor put it this way in his 2018 autobiography, Hang Time, written with Alan Eisenstock: “But as Ray Charles said, the secret to life is timing.”
Conclusion
The discussion around the list of SoCal teams’ best ever seasons has been engaging, with various readers providing their insights and suggestions. While there were disagreements on the criteria and the teams included, the conversation has been fruitful, highlighting the rich history of sports in Southern California. The parameters set for the list, focusing on teams that won their regular-season division or conference championship, sparked a debate on what constitutes a dominant team. As the discussion continues, it’s clear that the passion for sports in the region is unparalleled, and the list has served as a catalyst for reminiscing about past victories and debating the merits of different teams.
FAQs
- Q: What were the parameters for the list of SoCal teams’ best ever seasons?
- A: The teams had to win their regular-season division or conference championship.
- Q: Why were the 2002 Angels omitted from the list?
- A: They were a wild-card team and did not win their division in the regular season.
- Q: What significant personnel change occurred in the 1971-72 Lakers before their 33-game winning streak?
- A: Elgin Baylor retired, and rookie Jim McMillian took his place in the lineup.
- Q: Which team was suggested by a reader as an omission from the list?
- A: The 1972 USC football team, among others, was mentioned as a significant omission.
