The definition of "sports dynasty" is "villains who win." Win enough, and rise to the level of "Teams We Love to Hate."

	Page 2's villains
	Ralph Wiley on John Thompson Bill Simmons on Bill Laimbeer Brian Murphy on Tommy Lasorda Eric Neel on Reggie Jackson Patrick Hruby on fans Dan Shanoff on Duke hoops Jason Whitlock on Joel Smeenge Chris McKendry on Tonya Harding Tim Keown on bad influence

A scourge on sports, ruining competition -- yet TWLTH create a quasi-equilibrium within the rooting interest, balancing a monopoly on success against a plurality of loathing. For each everyone-likes-a-winner fan (aka bandwagon-rider), 10 fans emerge to root specifically against them.

This is how TWLTH become national phenomena -- the haters follow in far greater numbers than the adorers, if only to gripe, boo and -- on the rare, glorious occasion -- watch them lose. TV programmers don't care if you tune in to cheer or jeer. The result is that these teams end up as the dominant markers on the sports landscape.

As the cycle spirals out of control, the result is the New York Yankees ... the Dallas Cowboys ... Notre Dame: Heroes to many, villains to many more.

Duke is a relatively recent addition to this TWLTH Pantheon, but to me, the most problematic: