Many noteworthy streaks came to an end this weekend, including Tiger Woods' seven-tournament winning streak, Amherst's run of NESCAC Men's Basketball Championships, and Martin Scorsese's Oscar-less drought. Still, many remarkable streaks are still intact.
10. University of Kansas, 24 straight wins at Kansas State: When the Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats on Feb. 19, it marked the 24th consecutive time Kansas had topped its in-state rival on the latter's home court. The Jayhawks haven't lost in Manhattan, Kan. since Jan. 29, 1983, when Kansas State played in the old Ahearn Fieldhouse.
9. UCLA and Memphis, 36 straight weeks in the Top-25: When Duke fell out of the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll for the first time in 11 years two weeks ago, the Bruins and Tigers took over the new active mark for most consecutive weeks as ranked teams. UCLA also holds the all-time record for longest run in the Top-25, with a 14-year stint spanning 221 weeks.
8. New York Yankees, 12 consecutive postseasons: The Bronx Bombers hold the active mark in Major League Baseball for most consecutive playoff appearances, a run that dates back to Don Mattingly's final season in pinstripes in 1995. Since then, the Yankees have won four World Series titles and 10 American League East championships, establishing a modern-day baseball dynasty.
7. Martin Brodeur, 11 years with at least 60 games: A 13-year veteran, Brodeur has been a constant for the New Jersey Devils, serving as the team's netminder in all three of its Stanley Cup championships. Appearing in the Devils' 4-2 loss to Washington on Saturday, Brodeur, a candidate to win his first-ever Hart Tropy, made it 11 straight years with at least 60 games played. So vital has Brodeur been to the Devils' Atlantic-leading effort this year that backup Scott Clemmensen has won just three of the team's 39 wins.
6. University of Arizona, 22 straight NCAA Tournaments: Since he took over as Arizona's head coach for the 1983-84 season, Lute Olson has turned the Wildcats into a program of excellence, with a 22-year run of appearances in the NCAA Tournament that ranks second in Div. I history. Along the way, the Wildcats have won 11 Pac-10 titles and the 1997 National Championship. With seven losses in its last 12 games, however, the Wildcats may see their streak end this season.
5. American League, 10-game unbeaten streak in All Star Games: The American League's regular season superiority over the National League has been well-documented in recent years. Last year, the Junior Circuit continued its dominance, going 154-98 in inter-league play and extending its winning streak in All Star Games to four. But because of the notorious tie game in 2002, the AL has not actually lost to the NL since 1996, back when the game was played in the now-defunct Veterans' Stadium.
4. Detroit Red Wings, 14 straight playoff births: When the St. Louis Blues failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 24 years in 2005-06, the team from Hockeytown took over the honor of most consecutive playoff appearances. During their run, the Red Wings have added three Stanley Cup titles to their r?©sum?©. Detroit currently sits just two points behind Nashville for first in the Central Division and appears primed for another playoff birth.
3. Greg Maddux, 19 years with at least 10 wins: Not only is Maddux a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he is also a model of consistency, with the longest streak of posting double-digit wins amongst active pitchers. Mad Dog has managed to pitch 190 innings each season of his 19-year run, tying Cy Young for the longest such streak in baseball history. Maddux's reliability earned the 40-year-old a one-year, $10 million deal from the San Diego Padres during the offseason.
2. Brett Favre, 257 straight games started: The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer holds the record for most consecutive games started by a quarterback. Despite rumors that the three-time MVP would retire after this season, Favre announced in early February that he would return for his 17th NFL season, putting him in line to break the marks for most career wins as a starter and most career touchdown passes.
1. Roger Federer, No. 1 for 161 consecutive weeks: The 10-time Grand Slam winner took over the top spot in the ATP rankings on Feb. 2, 2004 and has never even come close to relinquishing it, breaking Jimmy Connors' mark for the most consecutive weeks as the No. 1 player in the world. In his three-year reign atop men's tennis, Federer has gone 247-15 and has won 34 of the 49 tournaments in which he has played. The product of Switzerland also currently holds a career-best 37-match winning streak.
-by Sapna Bansil
