The past two championships began on this deck.
It’s a tricky situation. You’ve spent more than a decade chasing a dream. You’ve watch others take home mug after championship mug and it just leaves you thirsting for more. Then it happens. You finally end the misery and win that elusive championship. The mug is yours; life is complete…but now what?
That’s the question Rich Calderon is asking himself. That season is over. It’s on to the next one. Yet, does he have it in him? He spent nearly a quarter of his life as “the best team to not win a title,” but that distinction is gone. That catalyst won’t be there to lift him. Can he dig deep and do the research, the math, the hard work that goes into building a champion? Is the hunger still going to be there? If you believe history is the best way to figure out Rich’s future fortunes, then let’s take a walk back and see how past champions have done.
| Year | Team | Record | Win % | Points | Pt Per Game | Seed | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Robio | 10-4-0 | .710 | 19,902 | 1,422 | #2 | Repeated as champ |
| 2001 | Robio | 9-5-0 | .643 | 18,061 | 1,290 | #2 | Lost in semis |
| 2002 | Team left league | ||||||
| 2003 | Robio | 9-5-0 | .643 | 20,389 | 1,456 | #1 | Lost in quarters |
| 2004 | Rich B | 9-5-0 | .643 | 19,975 | 1,427 | #3 | Lost in quarters |
| 2005 | Bob | 3-10-0 | .231 | 14,621 | 1,125 | Missed Playoffs | |
| 2006 | Griff | 7-6-0 | .538 | 16,105 | 1,239 | #6 | Lost in quarters |
| 2007 | Don | 8-5-0 | .615 | 18,474 | 1,421 | #2 | Lost in quarters |
| 2008 | Matt | 3-10-0 | .231 | 14,171 | 1,090 | Missed Playoffs | |
| 2009 | Don | 7-6-0 | .538 | 16,187 | 1,245 | #7 | Lost in quarters |
| 2010 | Matt | 9-4-0 | .692 | 18,223 | 1,402 | #3 | Lost in quarters |
| 2011 | Bob | 6-7-0 | .462 | 17,016 | 1,309 | #7 | Repeated as champ |
| 2012 | Bob | 6-7-0 | .462 | 17,387 | 1,338 | #7 | Lost in semis |
| 2013 | Robio | 10-3-0 | .769 | 19,489 | 1,499 | #1 | Lost in semis |
- Defending champs do well in the regular season. They’ve won 55% of their games (96-77).
- They’ve scored a total of 230,000 points, which is a solid 1,329 points per game average.
- Defending champs have made it to the post-season an impressive 11 times in 13 tries. Seven times earning a three-seed or better.
- Two defending champs have earned a top-seed (Me both times).
- Three times a defending champ has led the league in scoring (Don once, me twice).
In the post-season though, life has not been so good for title defenses.
- Overall, defending champs are 9-6 in the post-season. Not tragic.
- Defending champs are just 5-6 in the quarterfinals. Not good.
- Between 2002-2009, no defending champ won a playoff game (dropping seven straight).
Fun facts that may only interest me.
- There have been two repeat champions; Robio in 2000 and Bob in 2010. Both of us won 7-straight playoff games before losing in the semis in our quest for a three-peat.
- Bob (2004) and Matt (2008) are the only two defending champs to miss the post-season. They both finished 3-10 and in last place.
- If you have faith in my season’s ranked list, then Bob’s 2004 was the worst title defense in league history. While Matt’s 2008 season is ranked #159, Bob’s 2004 is ranked two spots back at #161.
- Again, going by my season’s ranked list, despite not winning the title, my 2013 ranks as the league’s best title defense (currently ranked ninth best season ever).