This Day in History: The Dream Team and the Greatest Teams In Sports History

On this day, August 8th, in 1992, the Dream Team led by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, won the gold medal at the Olympics in Barcelona against Toni Kukoc and Croatia. This team is widely regarded as the greatest team ever assembled in basketball history. Along with their "big 3," they featured Karl Malone, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen, and many other greats. However, there have been other teams that have made significant impacts in their respective sports. This blog post will explore some of the greatest teams assembled in history.

Dream Team (1992)
It would be wrong not to start this off without talking about the importance and impact of the Dream Team. In the previous Olympics the US team (filled with amateur players) took bronze, and their dominance in the world of basketball seemingly appeared to fade. In response to this USA basketball and David Stern came to an agreement to allow professional players to participate. This was the first team full of professionals, and led to one of the most dominant performances in history. Featuring NBA all stars and reigning collegiate champion Christian Laettner, they won their games by an average of 43.8 points, their lowest margin of victory coming against Croatia in the gold medal game (a 32 point victory). This team, hand-picked, filled with stars and legends helped popularize and globalize the NBA, as international players became a staple of the modern league, in large part due to this iconic team. 

Brazilian National Football Team (1970)
The Brazilian football squad that won the 1970 World Cup is one of the most iconic teams of all time. They were led by the legendary Pele and a roster filled with some of the most talented players of their generation, including Jairzinho, Gerson, and Carlos Alberto. They won all six games on their way to lifting the World Cup, scoring 19 goals and conceding only 7. Their "samba" style of play was creative and poetic, each movement an expression of culture, while also leading to dominant victories. Tarcisio Burgnich, an Italian who marked Pele in the final said, "I told myself before the game, he's made of skin and bones just like everyone else — but I was wrong." They were the epitome of joyous football, earning them the nickname "The Beautiful Team."

Chicago Bulls (1996)
The 1996 Chicago team is considered one of the greatest NBA teams of all time. Phil Jackson's team, led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, won 72 games in the regular season, a record that stood until the 2016 Golden State Warriors, and marched through the playoffs, only losing one game and sweeping the Orlando Magic and Shaquille O'neal in the conference finals before matching up against the Seattle Supersonics. The duo of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp bested the Utah Jazz in 7 games, but fell to the Chicago Bulls in 6. During this playoff run the league's best offence was as effective as ever, but their defense improved, allowing only 87 points per game during the playoffs. Their level of teamwork and high basketball IQ was unmatched in the league, and they dominated both ends of the court, on route to one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. 

New York Yankees (1927)
The 1927 New York Yankees, also known as "Murderers' Row," is considered one of the greatest teams in baseball history. The team featured Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, who combined to hit 107 home runs and drive in 347 runs, while also scoring 1007 runs as a team. They won 110 games in the regular season, a record at that time, and swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series, cementing their legacy in baseball history.

FC Barcelona (2009 - 2011)
Although there have been many teams that left their mark on domestic soccer, Barcelona had an unparalleled run from the 2008-09 season to 2010-11. During the calendar year of 2009, Barcelona became the first team to complete the sextuple, meaning they won an unprecedented 6 trophies in a calendar year. They won 3 domestic trophies, along with the UEFA Champions League and Supercup, and their first Club World Cup. Featuring a front 3 of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, and Samuel Eto'o, they combined with one of the best midfields in the world to create a stellar season. While not as successful the year after (only winning 2 trophies), the team in 2010-2011 may have been more dominant. Winning 5 trophies, they dominated Europe, dismantling Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final before besting Manchester United in the final behind 53 goals in 55 games for Lionel Messi. Pep Guardiola's side won nearly 15 trophies in 3 seasons, playing a beautiful style of football that impacted a generation. 

Rugby - 2015 New Zealand All Blacks
The New Zealand All Blacks feature the greatest rugby teams in history and the 2015 team is often considered their best. Heading into the World Cup, they lost only 3 games after the previous World Cup, making them overwhelming favourites. The team won the Rugby World Cup that year, becoming the first team to ever win back-to-back championships, going undefeated and making a statement with their 62-13 victory in the quarter finals against France. The All Blacks' ferocious defense and dynamic attacking play make them a joy to watch and a true force in the world of rugby.

The members of the 1992 Dream Team were each selected for their skill and pedigree, leading to a dominant tournament that had a global impact. This team may have set the bar immensely high, but these other legendary teams have earned their spot among the greatest teams ever assembled. Each team achieved greatness in their respective sports, inspired fans, and left a lasting legacy in sports history. Whether it is Barcelona winning 6 trophies in a single season, or the Chicago Bulls dominating the NBA on both sides of the court, the greatness of certain teams give us glimpses of gods that we mortals can marvel at. They remind us of the power of teamwork, the magic of brilliant plays, and the joy of sports.