Incredible Streaks in the Sporting World

In 1941, Joe DiMaggio had a base hit in 56 straight games. In the ~70 years since, only 3 hitters have come within 20 games of that mark (a 20 game hitting streak being awesome in it's own right). John Wooden led UCLA men's basketball team won 7 straight NCAA basketball championships. Only one school, Kentucky, has even won that many championships in it's entire history, and they took 50 total years to accomplish that feat. Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to 8 straight NBA championships in the 60s. A number of teams have accomplished the three-peat, but no team has ever won even 4 straight.

In all sports, there are hallowed streaks that seem impossible to reach. As standards increase, and athletes improve, the task of performing at a dominant level becomes more and more difficult. In beer pong, games are constantly decided by one back-rimmed shot, or one clutch redemption hit. This is a game where a consistent 30% shooter might pull out a 7 for 8 game, and a 60% shooter can miss 3 in a row. If a team is capable of hitting 3 cups in a row, anything can happen. This variability makes it extremely difficult to consistently win a tournament.

On 2/21, The Cocksmen bested 24 other teams at barfinder's San Diego tournament. Two weeks later, they repeated as champions at SCBP's 3/7 El Segundo satellite (under a much more entertaining and appropriate moniker). The following weekend, they triumphed at the Players Lounge tournament. On Wednesday night, 17 teams gatherered in Anaheim at a new venue, and once again they again came out on top, taking their streak to 4 consecutive tournaments.

Kendon and Gary of The Cocksmen

Sometimes, for a streak to become legendary, the proverbial ball must bounce the right way. Wayne Gretzky once scored a point in 51 straight games, a NHL record. It is an amazing feat regardless, but he needed an empty net goal with 6 seconds left in one particular game to keep the streak alive. In tournament win #2, the Cocksmen had 6 cups left when Pure Filth hit their last cup. Gary's first shot hit the front rim of the front cup, bounced up 6 inches, and due to poor defense, dropped in. The next five dropped cleanly. Some things were just meant to be.

Other factors can come into play in beer pong tournaments. Often, elite teams expend energy on one game, then let up against a seemingly inferior opponent (case study - the LA Steelers let down after their 1/31 perfect game). On Wednesday night, the Cocksmen might have lost to Pure Filth had Dustin continued the torrid shooting he displayed against the Wet Bandits. [editors note: can you feel the bitterness?]

The size of a tournament is another factor that can make it seemingly easier or harder to win. Cocksmen critics have been clammoring for weeks that all of their wins have been at smaller tournaments (25, 35, 28, 17), and that they aren't that good of a team. Don't fall into this trap. A sixty-four team tournament is huge when compared to thirty-two team tournaments, and it sounds more impressive to come out victorious in one over the other. On the other hand, it takes only one more game to win a 64 team tournament than a 32 team tournament. To win any tournament takes both consistent and timely shooting, and no matter the size, winning a tournament in southern California takes beating some worthy adversaries. The Cocksmen have also done it twice from the loser's bracket, a statistical challenge in itself. This streak may not (yet) be anywhere close to the impossible-to-match streaks of DiMaggio, Wooden, or Russell. Perhaps a team will best it even later this year (only Miss Cleo really knows what the future holds). But it has been a fun streak to watch. I urge everyone to tip their glass, and sign up for the next 22 team tournament, as that is where you'll likely see them playing next.