Sports fans love dynasties. And hate them, too.

That a team could be so dominant for a long period as the New England Patriots have been should be admirable. Their detractors point to scandals such as "Spygate" and the deflated footballs saga. Their supporters focus on Tom Brady's brilliance and a resilience that all great teams share.

Regardless, the facts are the Patriots are in their ninth Super Bowl since 2001 and have won five.

Here's a look at what makes for a dynasty in the major U.S. team sports: