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We rank 'em. You react. That's how the Daily List rolls.10/17/2007 01:23:00 PM Best Duo Rivalries of All Time
By John Rolfe, SI.com
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will meet again in Week 9.Jerry Cooke/SI
With Tom Brady and Peyton Manning playing fairly well, we appear to be in one of those special eras where two rival athletes tower above their sport. Brady, who has three mini-diamond mines affixed to his digits while Manning has one, is now 6-3 overall against his Colts counterpart -- including 2-1 in postseason play -- since becoming the Patriots' starter in 2001. One suspects they'll have to go through each other again this season to get to the jewelry store, and Brady is now eyeing Manning's single-season TD record (49). With any luck, the fun and games will continue through the decade, placing the two QBs firmly among the greatest duo rivalries of all-time.
Here are my top five:
1. Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell: The two giants met on the hardwood 142 times in 10 years, including six Eastern Conference Championships (1960, '62, '65. '66, '67, '68) and two NBA Finals ('64, '69). Wilt won the battle of stats, out-rebounding Russell 29-24 per game and scoring 50 or more points against him seven times, including 62 on Jan, 14, 1962, but the final score of that one - Celtics 145, Warriors 136 -- said it all about the rivalry's bottom line: Russell won nine championships to Chamberlain's one.
2. Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova: They started out as friends and grew to loathe each other over the course of what tennis scribe/commentator Bud Collins called "The Rivalry of the Century" -- 80 matches from 1973-88, with the fiery Navratilova topping the steely Evert, 43-37, but each coming away with 18 Grand Slam singles titles.
3. Richard Petty vs. David Pearson: How's this for metronomic dominance: NASCAR's top two all-time leaders in wins (Petty 200, Pearson 105) finished 1-2 in 63 races between August '63 and June '77. (Pearson won 33.) In all, The King and The Silver Fox faced each other 550 times, with Petty finishing ahead, 289-261, and winning seven championships to Pearson's three.
4. Alydar vs. Affirmed: While we're on the subject of racing, most folks only remember the 1978 Triple Crown won by Affirmed with the dogged Alydar finishing second in all three races (he briefly poked his head in front during the Belmont stretch run). But the two great colts met 10 times between June '77 and August '88. Affirmed won seven, with Alydar taking the Great American, the Champagne, and the Travers (when Affirmed was disqualified for interfering with his rival).
5. Mario Lemieux vs. Wayne Gretzky: The Great One ruled the '80s with his four-time Stanley Cup champion Oilers, but Super Mario ended Gretzky's run of seven straight scoring titles and eight consecutive MVP awards during the 1987-88 season. From then on, either superstar would win the scoring crown each season through '93-'94, but Lemieux took possession of the big silverware, coppng the Cup in '91 and '92. Gretzky's Kings reached the Cup final in '93.posted by SI.com | View comments |
Comments:
Magic vs Bird should be #1Magic vs Bird 1980sare you kidding? take out horses and nascar, please.. Bird and Magic? Ever hear of them?Larry Bird v. Magic Johnson
John McEnroe v. Jimmy Connors
and, of course, the above-mentioned Tom Brady v. Peyton ManningWhat about Ali-Frazier?What about Ali-Frazier? when i opened the article i was sure that was going to be #1.What about Bird vs Magic?Ali vs. Frazier
Bird vs. MagicHave you ever heard of Larry Bird or Magic Johnson? Just throwing that out there.What about Ted Williams and Joe D or Magic and Bird?????????Anyone ever hear of two guys named Magic and Bird?One of the best of all time: Magic vs. BirdWell done keeping Larry Bird & Magic Johnson off the list - far too hyped.
But no boxers? Ali/Frazier? Dempsey/Tunney?How is Magic vs Bird NOT on here???Staubach vs. Bradshaw.How does a list of all time great sports rivalries not include Bird vs. Magic.
That rivalry rebuilt a league, renewed the classic Lakers vs Celtics feuds and was done with respect. I may have only been about 8 at the time but i still remember when Magic showed up at Bird's retirement night and spoke of him with such high regard, and it wasn't sounding forced like Aaron with Bonds breaking his record.
Not only that but rivalry extended from the NCAA to the NBA. It was played out at the highest levels of their sport.How could you ppossibly leave off Muhammad ali vs. Joe Frazier?!? This list is absurd.Umm, anyone remember Bird and Magic?Hello? Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.You picked a pair of horses over Bird/Magic?Tiger vs Phil
Just kidding!I don't know how you could leave Larry Bird/Magic Johnson off this list. They saved the NBA!!How can you forget Ali Frasier?You forgot Magic vs. Larry, jordan vs Isiah Thompson, and ali and frasier.How can you possibly leave out Magic v Bird, Sampras v Agassi, Ali v Frazier, Tyson v Givens, Bonds v the Media, Pedro v Zimmer, Lasorda v Lasagna, Madden v Turducken?magic vs bird was a big screw up in leaving out, but there was no Jordan vs Isiah rivalrly, it was Bulls vs Detroit, Isiah was not in Jordan's league.There's nothing wrong with Affirmed & Alydar, the greatest horse rivalry by far. I would drop Gretzky-Lemieux because they were different generations - more like a passing of the torch. Replace that one with Ali-Frazier, which is the first one I thought of before I saw the list.Last time i check Brid vs Magic was a little more entertaing then womens tennis, NASCAR, and horse racing, so i dont know what moron wrote this article but i think they deserve a severerance packageI agree with about 99% of the people who have commented so far...you guys are nuts for including Nascar and horses...and for not including Magic vs. Bird, Brady and Manning, and Ali vs. Frazier...you could even go out on a limb with Tiger and Phil...the 70s had bradshaw/staubach, 80s montana/elway and the 90s had young/aikmanMagic vs. Bird should be first, and then Ali vs. Frazier. What's wrong with you?I'm not sure who Isaiah Thompson is, but Jordan vs. Malone in the late 90s was good. Magic vs Bird should be #1. Sampras vs. Agassi anyone?2 horses over Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe's Trilogy?How could Ali-Frazier not be #1 - or even on the list, for that matter?Agassi vs Sampras , two of the best tennis players ever!Although the Colts/Pats have played each other in some big games, I always have a problem of saying there is a Manning/Brady rivalry when they are never actually on the field at the same time (umlike your other examples).How about Jordan Vs Spike Lee?What about Michael Jordan versus the NBA?Evert/Navratilova was a great rivalry, but your description is backwards. They started off not liking each other but became great friends. They're great friends to this day; in fact Martina introduced Chris to Andy Mill, Chris' second husband/the father of Chris' children.Just for good measure ... MAGIC vs. BIRD!!! But if it's racing you want, how can you put a couple of horses before Carl "National Anthem" Lewis and Ben "Doped Up" Johnson. What about coaching ... Phil Jackson vs. Pat Riley. Boxing you have obviously Ali vs. Frazier, but one of the more memorable ones is Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas "Hitman" Hearns.HULK HOGAN vs "ROWDY" RODDY PIPERWilt won two championships, '67 and '72, not one.Steve Young vs Troy AikmanArnie vs Jack is a better rivalry than Tiger/ Phil. Lefty is a distant second ( at best) to Tiger.While Jack clearly had the edge over Arnie you could not count Palmer out. The same could be said for Player. I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Peyton vs "some idiotic kicker who got all liquored up".HOW ABOUT CHRIS (JIM) EVERET V. JIM ROME
OR SHAQ V KOBEIf we are getting into coaching, gotta keep in mind Coach K and Dean Smith.....This might be the worst list ever created. It is embarrassing. First you put Martina/Chris as #2 and then quote that moron Bud Collins who is quite possibly the worst announcer in history. Then you put car racing, horse racing and hockey on the list as if any red-blooded American sports fan would ever put any duo-rivlary from those sports in their top 5. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.Tony Eason vs. Ken O'BrienShould be Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant/Ultimate WarriorThis list is such a joke, leaving off Bird vs. Magic ... here's some more funny one: Bill Cartwright vs. Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning vs. Jeff Van Gundy, Bo Jackson vs. Brian Bosworth, Spudd Webb vs. Dominique Wilkins, Nolan Ryan vs. Robin Ventura, Isaiah (Not Thompson) Thomas vs. Bill Laimbeer, Shaq vs. Kobe, Jimmy Johnson vs. Barry Switzer, Martin and Bill Gramatica vs. Overly Excited Celebrations, Roadrunner vs. Wiley Coyote, and The Greyhounds vs. The Electric Rabbit. That last one is a classic.Even though they never played each other, Anna Kournikova vs. Maria Sharapova. Mmmmmm, one can only dream.Bonds vs. Integrity, McGuire vs. Congress, Stern vs. Dress Codes, Selig vs. Rationality, US Soccer vs. Winning, Britney vs. The Super Nanny, Tyson vs. Humility, Trent Green vs. Head Protection, McNabb vs. Owens, Pedro vs. Zimmer, A Rod vs. a Pay CutGretzky and Super Mario "different generations"?? Ahh Gretzky was born in 1961 and Mario in 1965. Evidently not much of a hockey aficionado.Nuvolari vs. Varzi, Senna vs. Prost, and for one great season Lauda vs. Hunt.There are so many that could be on this list - how does a pair of horses beat out:
Bird vs Johnson
Ali vs Frazier
Shaq vs Kobe
Shaq vs Phil Jackson
Billy Martin vs MLB Umpires
Lebron vs Mello
Bo vs Woody
Lloyd vs "Sweater Vest"
Randy Johnson vs the Bird
Nolan Ryan vs Robin Ventura
Pedro vs Zimmer
George vs every Yankee manager of the past 30+ years
Tyson vs The Ear
Spurrier vs Fulmer
Dale vs Rusty
Dale vs Waltrip
Dale vs Nascar
Gordon vs Dale Jr
Dale Jr vs Stepmother
Brady vs Manning
Bret Favre vs Old Age (hell - you could say this about Jesse Orossco, Kenny Lofton, etc etc)
Landis vs Doping
There are a TON of duo rivalries that are far better than what you have on your list - some belong - but most.......NO. Just depends on your passion for the games - every sport has theirs.
Keep the daily coming - it's always fun to see the ignorance level of the readers, and to broadcast my own.Seriously, John Rolfe should be fired. How in the world does SI, one of the highest profile magazines publish a column of best duo rivalries and leave out Magic and Bird, not only did they duke it out in the pros, but they did it in college as well. Get a clue SI!Ali and Frazier are No. 1. by amile. They're the only ones among these rivals who actually drew blood and sent each other to the hospital.Magic vs. Bird - no brainer
Bird vs Dr. J - gotta be given some thought...
Jordan vs. Reggie MillerI lost all respect for your sports reporting capabilities; BIRD v MAGIC; ALI v FRAZIER; NICKLAUS v WATSON .... where are they!!!!!!!HI GUYS MY NAME IS TONYlarry bird and magicGuess I am the oldest guy to comment, but why has no one mentioned Starr vs UnitasNo Magic and Bird? No Ali and Frazier? You list two horses? You have lost all credibility."Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahonWhere are McEnroe v. Borg, Magic v. Bird, Hearns v. leonard, hagler v. Hearns, Durna v. anybody? get real...HORSES? do your homework before putting up a list.DAN VS DAVE ...BIGKOOM RULESBill Russell's teams won 11 championships, not 9.This is ridiculous.. Bird v Magic? Ali v Frazier?Earl Weaver vs. Ron Lucianolets not forget about hogan vs. flair!!You are an idiot. Not only did you fail to put Magic/Bird, Ali/Frazier, McEnroe/Connors, Agassi/Sampras, Nicolas/Palmer but you couldn't even get your facts right. Wilt Chamberlain won two titles. He was the league MVP for the 66-67 76ers and the Finals MVP for the 71-72 Lakers, who won 33 in a row and a then record 69 regular season games. If you are going to be this big of a hack you should be sent to write for Fox Sports.ALI - FRAZIER...NO DOUBT !!!Lance Armstrong vs. Jan Ullrich.I haven't exactly done any research, but I believe he is only including championships for Russell and Chamberlain when their careers overlapped.
When I saw the title of this article, I would have bet almost anything that #1 would be Bird/Magic or Ali/Frazier - I then find out neither one even made the list? You really are a stupid, stupid man.dan v daveWilt and Russell...Bird and Magic...Conners and Mcenroe...Ali and Frazier...WOODY AND BOborg vs. mcenroe ....not for any reason other than what they brought out in each other's playRecent Posts
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