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Three-peat
In sports (especially in North America), a three-peat is winning three consecutive championships or tournaments. 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 term is a registered trademark owned by Pat Riley, the Lakers' head coach from 1981 to 1990. The original owner and assignor of the underlying THREE-PEAT "mark" was Bijan Khezri, former president of P.d.P. Paperon De Paperoni, a Delaware corporation. Khezri submitted in November 1988 a trademark application for the use of three-peat on shirts, jackets and hats. Around that time, the phrase was being used by members and fans of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, of whom Pat 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 cited the term in reference to the team's goal for that season. After Khezri assigned the trademark to Riley, it remained an entity of Riles & Co., the corporate entity of National Basketball Association (NBA) coach Pat Riley. 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. For the Lakers, it was their second in franchise history, and only the first since moving from Minneapolis. As of 2024, the Lakers are the last team of the 4 major American professional sports (NHL, MLB, NFL, & NBA) to accomplish the three-peat. The Kansas City Chiefs are the current two-time defending Super Bowl champions, and will accomplish a three-peat if they win Super Bowl LIX. While originating in the United States, the three-peat has been replicated all over the world across different sports. In recent times, Spanish association football club Real Madrid notably became the first club of the modern era to win three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles (2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18). 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. This challenge documented the transfer of assignment from Khezri to Riles & Co., and upheld the validity of the trademark as originally conceived. In 2005, a group of individuals attempted to trademark the phrase Three-Pete in anticipation of the (ultimately unsuccessful) attempt that year by the 2005 USC Trojans 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.
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". 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.
Three-peats in North American leagues/championships
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
All-America Football Conference
American Hockey League
Champ Car World Series
Continental Basketball Association
ECHL
Formula Drift
IZOD IndyCar Series
Major Indoor Soccer League
Major League Baseball (World Series)
NASCAR Cup Series
National Basketball Association (NBA Finals)
National Football League (NFL champions)
National Hockey League (Stanley Cup Finals)
Premier Hockey Federation (Isobel Cup)
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA Finals)
U.S. Open Cup
United Football League
North America: College Sports
NACDA Director's Cup (overall collegiate athletics) NAIA National Football Championship NAIA National Basketball Championship NCAA Division I Baseball NCAA Division I Softball NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball NCAA Division I Football NCAA Division I Men's Basketball NCAA Division I Men's Water Polo NCAA Division I Women's Basketball NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country NCAA Division II Women's Basketball NCAA Division III Women's Basketball NCAA Division I Women's Soccer NCAA Division II Football Championship NCAA Division III Football U.S. National Collegiate Club Rugby championships
United States: tabletop games
Warhammer 40k American Team Championships
United States: marching arts
Three-peats in domestic leagues/championships
Australian Football
Australia
West Australian Football League
Germany
Australian Football League Germany
American Football
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, American Football 1st Division:
Association Football
Argentina
First Division (association football)
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Bulgarian A PFG
Chile
First Division (Association football):
Croatia
Denmark
Egypt
Egyptian Premier League Egypt Cup Egyptian Super Cup
England
English football First Tier FA Cup Football League/EFL Cup FA Charity/Community Shield
Finland
France
Germany
Iraq
Iraq Stars League Iraq FA Cup Umm al-Ma'arik Championship Iraqi Super Cup Iraq Central FA Premier League
Israel
Liga Leumit Israeli Premier League
Italy
Italian Football Championship Serie A Coppa Italia
Japan
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Russia
Russian Football Premier League
Scotland
Scottish football league system first tier Scottish Cup
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
La Liga Copa del Rey South Africa South African Premier Division
South Korea
Sweden
Turkey
USSR
United Arab Emirates
Yugoslavia
Baseball
Puerto Rico
Japan
South Korea
Basketball
Argentina
Czech Republic
Czech National Basketball League:
France
Germany
Iraq
Iraqi Basketball Premier League Iraqi Basketball Perseverance Cup
Israel
Israeli Basketball Premier League
Italy
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Russia
Russian Basketball Super League 1 (1992-2010) Russian Professional Basketball League VTB United League
Slovenia
Premier A Slovenian Basketball League
Spain
Liga ACB Spanish Cup Spanish Super Cup
Switzerland
Turkey
Vietnam
Canadian Football
Canada
Canadian Rugby Union (pre 1958) / Canadian Football League (post 1958) (Grey Cup): Collegiate women's basketball
Cricket
Australia
Queensland Premier Cricket T20
India
New Zealand
New Zealand cricket's Plunket Shield
Futsal
Iraq
Portugal
Campeonato Nacional de Futsal Taça de Portugal de Futsal Taça da Liga de Futsal
Russia
Russian Futsal Super League Russian Futsal Cup
Spain
Primera División de Futsal Copa de España de Futsal Copa del Rey de Futsal Supercopa de España de Futsal
Handball
Iraq
Slovenia
Slovenian First League of Handball
Russia
Spain
Ice Hockey
Australia
USSR
Rugby
Australia
New South Wales Rugby Football League/Australian Rugby League/National Rugby League
United Kingdom
Super League Super League Grand Final English rugby union
Volleyball
South Korea
Three-peats in continental and international championships
Olympics
Summer Olympics
Athletics Basketball Equestrian Fencing Field Hockey Football Handball Sailing Shooting Swimming Volleyball Water polo
Winter Olympics
Curling Ice Hockey 3 Peat 1984-1987-1991 Canada Cup
Chess
World Chess Championships
Unofficial Championships (before 1886) Pre-FIDE World Championships (1886–1946) FIDE World Championships (2006–present)
Association Football
Athletics
Cricket
Cricket World Cup ICC Women's T20 World Cup
Darts
BDO World Darts Championship PDC World Darts Championship Gary Anderson could have made a three-peat in 2015–2017 but lost 7–3 to Michael van Gerwen in the final of the 2017 World darts championship.
Esports
Counter Strike Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Competitive eating
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Men
Women
Nathan's Famous Lemonade Chug Contest
Futsal
FIFA Futsal World Cup UEFA Futsal Championship South American Futsal Championship / Copa Libertadores de Futsal
Golf
US Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Handball
International rules football
Motorsports
Formula One World Drivers' Champion Champ Car World Series auto racing
Motorcycling
Motorboat racing
Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship
Rugby
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Rugby League World Cup Women's Rugby League World Cup
Surfing
IPS World Circuit World Champion ASP World Tour World Champion ASP World Tour World Champion
Winter X Games
Winter X Games SuperPipe
Tennis
Davis Cup
Fed Cup
Australian Open
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
French Open
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Wimbledon
Gentlemen's singles
Ladies' singles
Gentlemen's doubles
Ladies' doubles
US Open
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
ATP World Tour Finals
Singles
Doubles
WTA Finals
Singles
Indian Wells Masters
Men's singles
Men's doubles
Miami Open
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Monte Carlo Masters
Men's singles
Italian Open
Men's singles
Paris Masters
Men's singles
Dubai Championships
Men's singles
Barcelona Open
Men's singles
Halle Open
Men's singles
China Open
Men's singles
Swiss Indoors
Men's singles
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 Kansas City Chiefs are currently two-time defending Super Bowl champions following their wins in Super Bowl LVII in 2023 and Super Bowl LVIII in 2024. The Buffalo Bills went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls as the AFC champions from 1990 to 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, winning Super Bowl LI in 2016 and Super Bowl LIII in 2018, but losing Super Bowl LII in 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:
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