Three-peat
In American sports, a three-peat is winning three consecutive championships. The term, a portmanteau of the words three and repeat, originated with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, during their unsuccessful campaign for a third consecutive championship during the 1988–89 season, having won the previous 2 NBA Finals. The Lakers, however, were swept by the Detroit Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals. The term is a registered trademark owned by Pat Riley, the Lakers' head coach from 1981–1990, although it was coined by L.A. player Byron Scott immediately after their successful championship defense against the Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals. The Lakers finally achieved a three-peat years later, winning the NBA title in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
Origin and trademark
In a comedic context, the same play on words, additionally incorporating the name "Pete", is known to have been used as early as 1930 on the radio program "Empire Builders!" The episode of that program broadcast on December 29, 1930, featured a trio of singers dubbed "The Three Visiting Firemen: Pete, Re-Pete, and Three-Pete".[1]
The Oxford English Dictionary credits an Illinois high school senior, Sharif Ford, with the earliest published use of the word in the March 8, 1989 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Ford's quote uses the term in a sporting context and serves to provide a clear etymology as well:
The Lincoln High Tigers say they want to "three-peat". "You know, kind of like repeat, except doing it for the third time", senior Sharif Ford said.
However, Riles & Co., the corporate entity of National Basketball Association (NBA) coach Pat Riley, submitted in November 1988 a trademark application for the use of three-peat on shirts, jackets and hats. At the time, the phrase was being used by members and fans of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, of whom Riley was the head coach, regarding the Lakers' quest that season to obtain what would have been a third successive NBA championship. According to Riley, it was Laker player Byron Scott who coined the term in reference to the team's goal for that season.
In 1989, Riles & Co. successfully registered the trademark under U.S. Registration Number 1552980. The Lakers did not win a third consecutive NBA championship in 1989, but the Chicago Bulls did in 1993, and Riles & Co. collected royalties from sports apparel makers who licensed the phrase for use on merchandise commemorating that accomplishment.
Riles & Co. subsequently obtained additional registrations expanding the trademark to cover many other kinds of merchandise in addition to apparel. The company then went on to reap additional profits by again licensing the phrase to merchandisers when the Bulls again won three consecutive NBA championships from 1996 through 1998, as well as when the New York Yankees won three straight World Series championships from 1998 through 2000 and when the Lakers won three straight NBA championships from 2000 through 2002.
The trademark registration for three-peat has been challenged over the years by those who argue that the term has become too generic in its usage for the trademark to continue to be applicable. However, such arguments have yet to succeed, with the registration continuing to be upheld by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as recently as 2001, in the case of Christopher Wade v. Riles & Co.
In 2005, a group of individuals attempted to trademark the phrase Three-Pete in anticipation of the (ultimately unsuccessful) attempt that year by the University of Southern California (U.S.C.) football team to win a third consecutive national championship. The change in spelling was a reference to the team's head coach, Pete Carroll. However, the Patent Office ruled that the change in spelling was not dissimilar enough from Riles & Co.'s three-peat, and denied the registration. Later that year, U.S.C. fan Kyle Bunch began selling his own "Three-Pete" T-shirts. He discontinued sales once he was notified that he was infringing upon the Riles & Co. trademark.
As of late 2007, the trademark "Three Peat" is still active for shirts, jackets, caps, etc., and for commemorative mugs, plates, etc., and also for posters, bumper sticker, etc. The similar "3 Peat" became a registered trademark of Riles & Co. for blankets and other bedding, as of June 2015. Some of the Riles & Co. trademarks are no longer in effect, e.g. keychains.
Occurrences of three-peats
There have been numerous instances of teams winning three or more consecutive championships in the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, National Football League, and Australian Football League, most of which occurred prior to the advent of the term three-peat.
North America: professional sports
Alumni Football League
- 2017–19 Idealists (4) (Ted Marquis)
All-America Football Conference
- 1946–49 Cleveland Browns (4) (also won 1950 NFL title)
Formula Drift
- 2017-19 James Deane
Major Indoor Soccer League
- 1979–82 New York Arrows (4)
- 1988–92 San Diego Sockers (5)
Major League Baseball (World Series)
- 1936–39 New York Yankees (4)
- 1949–53 New York Yankees (5)
- 1972–74 Oakland Athletics
- 1998–2000 New York Yankees
National Basketball Association (NBA Finals)
- 1952–1954 Minneapolis Lakers
- 1959–1966 Boston Celtics (8)
- 1991–1993 Chicago Bulls
- 1996–1998 Chicago Bulls
- 2000–2002 Los Angeles Lakers
National Football League (NFL champions)
- 1929–31 Green Bay Packers (no post-season, title game began in 1933)
- 1965–67 Green Bay Packers (includes first two Super Bowls)
National Hockey League (Stanley Cup Finals)
- 1947–49 Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1956–60 Montreal Canadiens (5)
- 1962–64 Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1976–79 Montreal Canadiens (4)
- 1980–83 New York Islanders (4)
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA Finals)
- 1997–2000 Houston Comets (4)
North America: collegiate sports
NACDA Director's Cup (overall collegiate athletics)
- 1995–2013 Stanford (NCAA Division I)
- 1997–2001 Simon Fraser (NAIA)
- 1999–2011 Williams (NCAA Division III)
- 2000–03 UC Davis (NCAA Division II)
- 2004–11 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II)
- 2005–11 Azusa Pacific (NAIA)
NAIA National Football Championship
- 2002–2005 Carroll College Fighting Saints
NAIA National Basketball Championship
• 1957-1959 Tennessee State Tigers basketball
• 1970-1972 Kentucky State Thorobreds
NCAA Division I Baseball
- 1970–1974 USC
NCAA Division I Football
- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)[2]
- 1934–1936 Minnesota
- 1944–1946 Army West Point
- Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)[3]
- 2005–2007 Appalachian State University
- 2011–2015 North Dakota State University (5)
- 2017–2019 North Dakota State University
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
- 1967–1973 UCLA
NCAA Division I Men's Water Polo
- 2008–2013 USC
NCAA Division I Women's Basketball
- 1996–1998 Tennessee
- 2002–2004 Connecticut
- 2013–2016 Connecticut (4)
NCAA Division II Women's Basketball
- 1993–1996 North Dakota State Bison (4)
- 1997–1999 North Dakota Fighting Sioux
NCAA Division III Women's Basketball
- 1998–2001 Washington (4)
NCAA Division II Football Championship[4]
- 1993–1995 North Alabama
NCAA Division III Football[5]
- 1983–1986 Augustana College (Illinois)
- 1996–1998 Mount Union
- 2000–2002 Mount Union
- 2009–2011 Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks
U.S. National Collegiate Club Rugby championships
- 1980–1983 California
- 1991–2002 California
- 2004–2008 California
- 2012–2014 BYU
United States: The Marching Arts
- The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps won the Drum Corps International World Championship in 1983–85.
- The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps three-peated 2000-2002 (2001 was a tie with the Cadets).
- Interestingly, the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, who hold the most overall DCI titles with 19, have yet to three-peat. They have however, won back-to-back titles 5 times, failed to earn the three-peat, and then won the 4th year of the cycle.
Other countries
Argentina
First Division (association football)
- 1949–51 Racing Club
- 1955–57 River Plate
- Metro 1979-Metro 1980 River Plate
- Apertura 1996-Apertura 1997 River Plate
Australia
Victorian Football League/Australian Football League
- 1906–08 Carlton
- 1927–30 Collingwood – (four-peat)
- 1939–41 Melbourne
- 1955–57 Melbourne
- 2001–03 Brisbane Lions
- 2013–15 Hawthorn
- 2010–12 Melbourne Ice
New South Wales Rugby Football League/Australian Rugby League/National Rugby League
- 1911–13 Eastern Suburbs
- 1915–17 Balmain
- 1925–29 South Sydney
- 1935–37 Eastern Suburbs
- 1953–55 South Sydney
- 1956–66 (eleven-peat) St. George
- 1981–83 Parramatta Eels
West Australian Football League
- 1908–11 East Fremantle
- 1919–23 East Perth
- 1928–31 East Fremantle
- 1938–40 Claremont
- 1952–54 South Fremantle
- 1961–63 Swan Districts
- 1966–68 Perth
- 1982–84 Swan Districts
- 2000–02 East Perth
- 2006–08 Subiaco
- 2016-19 Pymble Pigs (NCU- NSW)
- 2016-18 Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators (T20 - QLD)
Belgium
Belgian Pro League
- 1900–03 Racing de Bruxelles
- 1904–07 R Union Saint-Gilloise
- 1924–26 Beerschot
- 1933–35 R Union Saint-Gilloise SR
- 1949–51 RSC Anderlechtois
- 1954–56 RSC Anderlechtois
- 1964–68 RSC Anderlechtois
- 1969–71 R Standard Liège
- 1976–78 Club Brugge
- 1985–87 Anderlecht
- 1993–95 Anderlecht
- 2012–14 Anderlecht
Canada
Canadian Football League (Grey Cup):
- 1909–11 Toronto Varsity Blues
- 1922–24 Queen's University
- 1945–47 Toronto Argonauts
- 1954–56 Edmonton Football Team
- 1978–82 Edmonton Football Team
Collegiate women's basketball
- 2011–2015 Windsor Lancers (five-peat)
Chile
First Division (Association football):
- 1933–35 Magallanes
- 1989–91 Colo-Colo
- Apertura 2006-Clausura 2007 Colo-Colo (four-peat)
- Apertura 2011-Apertura 2012 Universidad de Chile
France
- 1902–04 Roubaix
- 1967–70 Saint-Étienne
- 1974–76 Saint-Étienne
- 1989–92 Marseille (four-peat)
- 2002–08 Lyon (seven-peat)
- 2013–16 Paris Saint-Germain (four-peat)
Germany
- 1970–1972 TuS 04 Leverkusen
- 1990–1996 TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- 1997–2003 ALBA Berlin (seven-peat)
- 2010–2013 Brose Baskets (four-peat, also won the German Cup in 2010, 2011 and 2012)
- 1972–74 Bayern Munich
- 1975–77 Borussia Mönchengladbach
- 1985–87 Bayern Munich
- 1999–2001 Bayern Munich
- 2013–2020 Bayern Munich (eight-peat)
- 1976–78 SG Dynamo Dresden
- 1979–88 Berliner FC Dynamo
Italy
Italian Football Championship
- 1898–1900 Genoa
- 1902–04 Genoa
- 1911–13 Pro Vercelli
- 1931–35 Juventus
- 1943, 1946–49 Torino
- 1992–94 Milan
- 2006–10 Internazionale
- 2012–20 Juventus (nine-peat)
Japan
- 1951–53 Yomiuri Giants
- 1956–58 Nishitetsu Lions (changed to Seibu Lions)
- 1965–73 Yomiuri Giants (nine-peat)
- 1975–77 Hankyu Braves (changed to Orix Buffaloes)
- 1986–88 Seibu Lions (changed to Saitama Seibu Lions)
- 1990–92 Seibu Lions (changed to Saitama Seibu Lions)
- 2017–19 Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
- 2007–09 Kashima Antlers
Netherlands
Philippines
Philippine Basketball Association
- 1976–1977 Crispa Redmanizers (six straight championships: 1975 All-Philippine Championship, 1976 Grand Slam, 1977 All-Filipino Conference and 1977 Open Conference)
- 1983–1984 Crispa Redmanizers (four straight championships: 1983 Grand Slam, 1984 First All-Filipino Conference)
- 1984–1985 Great Taste Coffee Makers (four straight championships: 1984 Second All-Filipino Conference, 1984 Invitational Championship, 1985 Open Conference, 1985 All-Filipino Conference)
- 1988–1989 San Miguel Beermen (four straight championships: 1998 PBA Reinforced Conference, 1989 Grand Slam)
- 1995–1996 Alaska Milkmen (four straight championship: 1995 Governors' Cup and 1996 Grand Slam)
- 1997–1998 Alaska Milkmen (three straight championships: 1997 Governors' Cup, 1998 All-Filipino Cup and 1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup)
- 2000–2001 San Miguel Beermen (three straight championships: 2000 Commissioner's Cup, 2000 Governors' Cup, 2001 All-Filipino Cup)
- 2013–2014 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers (four straight championships: 2013 Governors' Cup, 2013–14 Grand Slam)
Portugal
Spain
- 1961–65 Real Madrid (five-peat)
- 1967–69 Real Madrid
- 1978–80 Real Madrid
- 1986–90 Real Madrid (five-peat)
- 1991–94 Barcelona (four-peat)
- 2009–11 Barcelona
- 1959–66 Real Madrid Baloncesto (seven-peat)
- 1967–77 Real Madrid Baloncesto (ten-peat)
- 1983–86 Real Madrid Baloncesto
- 1986–90 Barcelona (four-peat)
- 1994–97 Barcelona
South Korea
- 1993–95 Ilhwa Chunma (changed to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma)
- 2001–03 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (changed to Seongnam FC)
- 2017–19 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
- 1986–89 Haitai Tigers (changed to Kia Tigers) (four-peat)
- 2011–14 Samsung Lions (four-peat)
- 2008–14 Daejeon Samsung Fire Bluefangs (seven-peat)
Turkey
- 1971–73 Galatasaray
- 1979–81 Trabzonspor
- 1990–92 Beşiktaş
- 1997–2000 Galatasaray (four-peat)
United Kingdom
Super League Super League Grand Final
- 2007–2009 Leeds Rhinos
- 1991–94 Bath
- 1999–2001 Leicester Tigers
- 2003–05 London Wasps
English football first tier
- 1924–26 Huddersfield Town
- 1933–35 Arsenal
- 1982–84 Liverpool
- 1999–2001 Manchester United
- 2007–09 Manchester United
- 1989-1997 Rangers F.C 9 peat
- 2011-present Celtic
Yugoslavia
- 1933, 1935–36 BSK Beograd
- 1961–63 Partizan
- 1968–70 Crvena Zvezda
- 1990–92 Crvena Zvezda
International
- 1956–60
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- 1971–73
- 1974–76
- 2016–18
- 2014–16
- 2011-13
South American football Copa Libertadores
- 1968–70
- 1972–75
- 1945–47
Champ Car World Series auto racing
- 2004–07 Sébastien Bourdais
CONCACAF U.S. Open Cup
- 1965–67 Greek American Atlas
- 2009–11 Seattle Sounders FC
- 1999–2007
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Formula One Champion
- 1954–57
- 2000–04
- 2010–13
- 2017–19
Winter X Games SuperPipe
- 2008–2013 Shaun White
Tennis
Davis Cup
- 1903–06
- 1907–11
- 1920–26
.svg.png)
- 1927–32
- 1933–36
- 1946–49
- 1950–53
- 1955–57
- 1959–62
- 1964–67
- 1968–72
Fed Cup
- 1976–82
- 1983–85
- 1993–95
Men's singles
- 1931–33
- 1963–67
- 2011–13
Women's singles
- 1928–30
- 1946–48
- 1960–66
- 1969–71
- 1974–76
- 1988–90
- 1991–93
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- 1997–99
Men's doubles
- 1936–40
- 1938–40
- 1946–50
- 1959–61
- 2009–11
Women's doubles
- 1923–25
- 1936–40
- 1947–49
- 1954–56
- 1961–63
- 1969–71
- 1974–76
- 1976–12/1977
- 1982–89
- 1997–99
.svg.png)
Men's singles
- 1894-96
- 1897–1900
- 1907–09
- 1912–14
- 1978–81
- 2005–08
- 2010–14
- 2017–19
Women's singles
- 1897-99
- 1904–06
- 1909–12
- 1920–23
- 1928–30
- 1935–37
.svg.png)
- 1990–92
- 2005–07
.svg.png)
Men's doubles
- 1961–65
Women's doubles
- 1909–12
- 1920–23
- 1932–34
- 1936–39
- 1936–38
- 1950–53
- 1961–63
.svg.png)
- 1964–66
- 1967–71
- 1984–88
- 1991–95
.svg.png)
- 1992–95
Gentlemen's Singles
- 1881-86
- 1897–1900
- 1902–06
- 1910–13
- 1934–36
- 1976–80
- 1993–95
- 1997–2000
- 2003–07
Ladies' Singles
- 1891-93
- 1919–23
- 1927–30
- 1948–50
- 1952–54
- 1966–68
- 1982–87
- 1991–93
Gentlemen's Doubles
- 1884-86
- 1894-96
- 1897–1901
- 1903–05
- 1921–22
- 1929–31
- 1968–70
- 1993–97
- 2002–04
Ladies' Doubles
- 1919–23
- 1925–27
- 1948–50
- 1951–53
- 1956–58
.svg.png)
- 1970–73
- 1981–84
- 1991–94
- 1992–94
Men's singles
- 1881-87
.svg.png)
- 1890-92
.svg.png)
.svg.png)
- 1898–1900
.svg.png)
- 1907–11
.svg.png)
- 1920–25
- 1979–81
- 1985–87
- 2004–08
Women's singles
- 1909–11
- 1912–14
- 1915–18
- 1920–22
- 1923–25
- 1927–29
- 1932–35
- 1938–40
- 1943–44
- 1948–50
- 1951–53
- 1975–78
- 2012–14
Men's doubles
- 1882-87
- 1882-84
- 1899-1901
- 1904–06
- 1907–10
- 1912–14
- 1921–23
.svg.png)
- 1928–30
Women's doubles
- 1894-98
- 1909–11
- 1912–14
- 1915–17
- 1918–20
- 1937–41
- 1937–40
- 1941–50
- 1942–50
- 1951–54
- 1955–57
- 1958–62
.svg.png)
.svg.png)
- 2002–04
ATP World Tour Finals
Singles
- 1971–73
.svg.png)
- 1985–87
- 2012–15
Doubles
- 1978–84
Singles
- 1983–86
- 1990–92
- 2012–14
Men's singles
- 2004–06
- 2014–16
Men's doubles
- 1986–88
- 1988–90
Men's singles
- 2001–03
- 2014–16
Women's singles
- 1994–96
- 2002–04
- 2013–15
Men's doubles
- 1996–98
- 2010–12
Women's doubles
- 1995–97
Monte Carlo Masters
Men's singles
- 2005–12
- 2016–18
Men's singles
- 2005–07
Men's singles
- 2013–15
Men's singles
- 2005–09
- 2011–13
- 2016–18
Golf
US Open
- 1903–05
The Open Championship
- 1868-72
- 1877-79
- 1880-82
- 1954–56
PGA Championship
- 1924–27
The National Football League
In the National Football League (NFL), a Super Bowl championship three-peat has not been accomplished. Two-time defending Super Bowl champions who failed to three-peat include the Green Bay Packers (1968), Miami Dolphins (1974), Pittsburgh Steelers (twice: 1976, 1980), San Francisco 49ers (1990), Dallas Cowboys (1994), Denver Broncos (1999), and New England Patriots (2005). All of these teams failed to return to the title game in the third season (indicated in parentheses).
The Buffalo Bills went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls from 1990–1993 which is a feat unmatched in NFL history, however they lost in every appearance.
The New England Patriots are the most recent team to play in three consecutive Super Bowls from 2016–2018, winning Super Bowl LI (2016) and Super Bowl LIII (2018), but losing Super Bowl LII (2017)
In the early years of the NFL, decades before the introduction of either the term three-peat or the Super Bowl, the Packers won three consecutive NFL titles from 1929–31. This was achieved without playing any postseason playoff games, as the league title was determined at that time from the season standings. In addition, the Packers won the NFL championship in 1965, at a time when the rival NFL and AFL played separate exclusive championships. They then followed that 1965 championship with their first two Super Bowl victories in 1966 and 1967 (their Super Bowl berths were earned by winning both the 1966 NFL Championship Game and 1967 NFL Championship Game), thereby winning championships three years in a row.
Related terms
There have been efforts to come up with a similarly clever name for the potential fourth consecutive championship in the year following a three-peat. But attempts such as quat-row have thus far failed to catch on, and most fans simply use the term four-peat. Since the term three-peat came into usage, however, only one team in major American sports has been able to achieve it – Hendrick Racing/Jimmie Johnson NASCAR team, who won 5 championships in a row.
The wordplay of three-peat is clearer if repeat is stressed on the first syllable; this pronunciation is uncommon outside North America. Other English-speaking people may instead talk of a hat trick of championships, or simply a three-in-a-row.
There are also terms for winning three trophies in the same season:
- Triple Crown – various sports
- Treble (association football)
- Grand slam – Philippine Basketball Association
References
- Wizzard Media
- "NCAA FBS Football Championship History". Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- "NCAA FCS Football Championship History". Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- "NCAA Division II Football Championship History". Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- "NCAA Division III Football Championship History". Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- "ATC Home". ATC American Team Championships. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- 1910 competition was walked over.
- 4-peat if her pre-World War II 1940 title is included.
- The Australian Open was not held in 1941–45 due to World War II, indeed if the 1940 and 1946 tournaments are counted as straight versions Adrian Quist scores a ten-peat and John Bromwich an eight-peat.
- The December 1977 title was shared with their final rivals.
- The Australian Open was not held during 1986 due to date changes.
- This is a rare example of a three-peat across the Amateur and Open Eras.