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We rank 'em. You react. That's how the Daily List rolls.12/14/2007 12:51:00 PM Best Rivalries in Sports
By Lang Whitaker, SI.com
There's plenty of bad blood between Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek.Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
It's hard to call a game between a 13-0 team and a 3-10 team a compelling match-up, but when the two coaches involved appear to hate each other, it's hard to call it anything other than a rivalry. The Jets and Patriots face off on Sunday afternoon, and the bad blood between Belichick and Mangini has trickled down to provide some excitement to what would otherwise be a forgettable game. Still, there are plenty of rivalries that are way more heated than Jets/Pats. Here's my top five rivalries of all-time...
1. Red Sox/Yankees: The Yanks dominated this series forever, but in years past, since the Red Sox figured out they could actually spend money on players and stuff, it's been a much more competitive series. Even if the Yanks were all 'roided up.
2. Duke/North Carolina: Tobacco Road not only connects the two schools, it serves as a conduit of hatred. However, ever since Dick Vitale and his Duke Blue Devils took over ESPN's programming, the rest of the country has been secretly pulling for the 'Heels.
3. Inter Milan/A.C. Milan: You could pick any of the huge soccer rivalries (Madrid/Barca, Chivas/America), but this derby has always held a special place in my heart after fans at one match between the two teams attempted (unsuccessfully) to light a motorcycle on fire and throw it from the upper deck.
4. Florida/University of Georgia: You could argue that Ohio State/Michigan is more important, but you will never convince me. Besides, after this year's game, when the Dawgs' entire team celebrated in Florida's end zone as they knocked the Gators from the BCS hunt, the rivalry has never been more heated.
5. Cowboys/Redskins: A friend emailed this week from a Wizards game in D.C. that to get the Washington fans to boo at the opposing team, the Wizards shows photos of Michael Irvin, Jerry Jones and Troy Aikman on the scoreboard. And the boos rain down.
What's your choice for the best rivalry in sports? Let us know below...
Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.composted by SI.com | View comments |
Comments:
Army/Navy?Um, I'm a Gator and i consider UF-FSU to be a bigger deal so i don't understand how anyone could pick UF-GA as the best rivalry. Anyone that's seen that HBO doc knows Ohio State-Michigan is the best in College Football.
Inter- AC Milan is ridiculous too. The best rivalries in world soccer are Boca-River and Rangers-Celtic, with Barcelona-Real Madrid a distant third. Everyone i know pretty much accepts that.How in the world is the Alabama/Auburn rivalry not on this list? The blood was so bad between the teams that the game was shut down for forty years, and only an act of the state legislature could get it restarted. This is where you live next door, and sometimes in the same house as your enemy. Absolutely ridiculous to not include it.Montreal Canadiens; Boston Bruins; Hands down; fans HATE each other
used to be Habs and Nordiques
Toronto/Habs a close secondCeltic - Rangers in Scottish Football.Im a big time skins fan and I definitely HATE THE COWBOYS!!!!
i know skins fans who are trying to get their children's first words to be Hail To the Redskins! or F*** the Cowgirls!The best team rivalry ever? Gotta be those Cowboys & Redskins of the
70s and 80s. This was less a rivalry than a blood feud. Livid scars still mark the artificial turf of Texas Stadium, where Harvey Martin often came close to plunging Billy Kilmer deep into the earth's molten core.Again the Daily List shows it lack of knowledge and vision when coming up with its picks.
First, you open yourself up for censure when you title it the "Best Rivalries in Sport" and broaden it to an international horizon. And then you show your lack of insight by including AC/Inter as the best footballing (soccer) rivalry. One incident does not a rivalry make! AC Milan's biggest rival is actually Juventus. But none of these even come close to Real/Barcelona (as you mentioned) or Celtic/Rangers or Liverpool/Man United.
And what about the International rivalries? India/Pakistan in cricket? Argentina/Brazil in soccer?
My top five (all inclusive) list would be:
1. Liverpool/Man United
2. India/Pakistan
3. Argentina/Brazil
4. Yankees/Red Sox
5. Ohio State/MichiganILLINOIS - INDIANASeriously? No tOSU/Michgian? Really? What about Red Wings/Avs? Great list, and I can't really comment on 3. Inter Milan/A.C. Milan, but Buckeyes/Wolverines trumps the Worlds Largest Cocktail Party or whatever they're calling it now.Cowboys-Rediskins??? You've got to be kidding!! Try Packers-Bears - a rivalry both for a far longer time & much more intense. If you don't believe it, ask Mike Ditka & Ray Nitschke. (You might have asked Curly Lambeau & George Halas 75 years ago what they thought!!)what about the leafs and the canadiens?Are you kidding me? No Ohio State / Michigan? hmm...dude, you left out Ohio State / Michigan. they have their own special on HBO. how could you leave them out, are you retarded?during their heydays, UM-Notre Dame. Nothing could match that hatred.Any list of top rivalries that doesn't include Ohio State-Michigan or Browns-Steelers isn't a real list.How about Islanders-Rangers in the NHL? That is always a great rivalryCardinals/Cubs
Bears/PackersI would have to add Nature Boy Ric Flair and Chief Wahoo McDaniel to the list. Those two tore up arenas in the old Mid-Atlantic territory for over a decade before Wahoo finally retired. In their first match after Flair's plane crash, Wahoo took a table leg to the head and needed 43 stitches to close it. WHOOOOOO!!Any rivalry list that does not contain Army/Navy or Alabama/Auburn on it makes me wonder if the author knows the definition of rivalry.Are you kidding me. Michigan-Ohio State trumps all of these. Florida-Georgia is weak.You guys have to realize, that the biggest rivalry in sports is between India and Pakistan which goes way beyong their play on the Cricket Field... Listen, around the border between the countries (yes with the fence dividing the countries)there are parades on both sides who cheer on their country, and these parades are filled with thousands of people singing and dancing their country on just like fans do at a game... sans the alcohol and game...
And, im not even biased, because I am both Indian and from Boston (and im a ginormous hardcore Boston fan)... but tell me whens the last time youve seen wars breaking out on the street due to a buncha sox and yankees fans? Yah I cant remember either...Celtic vs. Rangers has to be up there for the pure fact alone that it is more then just about soccer, it deals with the Catholic vs. Protestant arguement. Also in hockey, one of the oldest rivalries and most important in sports is the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the Montreal Canadiens.I would have to say that the Chivas/America should be up there. Soccer being the biggest/most popular sport in the world should have a second rivalry up there. Especially when they are at Azteca Stadium with over 100,000 people there. Not to mention that Club Americas owner specifically states that year goals, in order are: 1. Beat chivas, 2. Win the championshipThe rivalry didn't even really exist until the Beantown Losers finally won a Series...and even so, we don't consider them (or any other friggin team for that matter), equals. Roided up or not, we own baseball. You know it, they know it and the whole f*ckin world knows it. You can let go of Jeter's jock strap now.The rivalry didn't even really exist until the Beantown Losers finally won a Series...you can be a rival when you haven't given any real competition in 80 years. Even so, we don't consider them (or any other friggin team for that matter), equals. Roided up or not, we own baseball. You know it, they know it and the whole f*ckin world knows it. You can let go of Jeter's jock strap now.The rivalry didn't even really exist until the Beantown Losers finally won a Series...you can be a rival when you haven't given any real competition in 80+ years. Even so, we don't consider them (or any other friggin team for that matter), equals. Roided up or not, we own baseball. You know it, they know it and the whole f*ckin world knows it. You can let go of Jeter's jock strap now.The rivalry didn't even really exist until the Beantown Losers finally won a Series...you can be a rival when you haven't given any real competition in 80 years. Even so, we don't consider them (or any other friggin team for that matter), equals. Roided up or not, we OWN baseball. You know it, they know it and the whole f*ckin world knows it. You can stop tugging on Jeter's jock strap now.The rivalry didn't even really exist until the Beantown Losers finally won a Series...you can be a rival when you haven't given any real competition in 80 years. Even so, we don't consider them (or any other friggin team for that matter), equals. Roided up or not, we own baseball. You know it, they know it and the whole f*ckin world knows it. You can let go of Jeter's jock strap now.The rivalry didn't even really exist until the Beantown Losers finally won a Series...you can be a rival when you haven't given any real competition in 80 years. Even so, we don't consider them (or any other friggin team for that matter), equals. Roided up or not, we own baseball. You know it, they know it and the whole f*ckin world knows it. You can stop tugging on Jeter's jock strap now.how about pats-colts? lakers-celtics? ring any bells yet?Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair. Wooooooooooooo!!!!!!!Habs/Bruinsmichigan ohio state 1 or 2Kansas-Mizzou... No rivalry on your list started with a real warWhile it does not have the lustre it may once had due to the inability of the Leafs to win the Stanley Cup in 40 years do not foreget that this rivalry once divided an entire nation. Montreal vs. Toronto has a history that goes back almost an entire century.It pitted the predominantly french speaking citizens of Quebec and the Atlantic provinces against the english speaking citizens of Ontario and western Canada. You need to remember that up until just a few years ago these two teams represented the only major professional franchises in Canada of the four major sports ( the CFL does not qualify for you purists ).It further divided Canada on what was socio-economic matters as the Habs were backed by those folks that were considered at the time to be not as well off as those from Ontario and western Canada. On top of all of this is the fact that Montreal and Toronto are numbers 1 & 2 in winning the most Stanley Cups and their combined total represent more than %40 of the total when you look at the modern era of the NHL ( post 1920 ).1)yankees/redsox 2)cowboys/redskins 3)rangers/islanders
4)cubs/cardinals
5)browns/steelersOhio State - Michigan (CFB)26*
Yankees . . a cheating culture26*
Yankees . . a cheating cultureFlorida-Georgia? The Dawgs may hate the Gators, but the Gators barely give them a second thought most of the time. Why bother, when Florida consistently dominates the series...Michigan/ Ohio State....you are crazy to not put that on there. You even managed to squeeze in some soccer. patheticFlorida-Florida State is a truly unique rivalry for these 3 reasons. 1) Clash of the Titans: It is the annual battle between the signature programs of the two major BCS conferences, SEC vs. ACC (and they don't even have to meet!). It is arguably the most important inter-conference rivalry in the nation since the 90s (beating out Georgia-Georgia Tech for obvious reasons). Two words for you: Sugar Bowl. 2) Little Brother Complex: Similar to Texas-Texas A&M and Michigan-Michigan State (sorry, sparties), Florida State hates the "other state school" that thinks, feels, and acts like it is superior. For most Floridians, you and your kids either went to Florida State or other state schools but probably not "UF." Florida's elitist behavior is notorious in the South, especially in its home state ("It has never acted like a Southern school..."). Florida State is the flag bearer for all Floridians who want nothing more than their big bullying brother humbled on national television. 3) Even Competition: Unlike the two rivalries mentioned above, Florida State may have matched or even surpassed the big brother in terms of gridiron success due to its tremendous run in the 90s. Despite the recent slump by the Seminoles, these two schools usually field two of the most talented teams in the country and one of the most exciting games of that season. One Caveat: Michigan-OSU is not a great rivalry despite what the media says. Trust me on this, Ohio State fans are the best fans in the country (No. 2 would be Alabama closely followed by Nebraska) and they truly do or die by that game. Michigan, however, doesn't care as much. They will not travel to their bowl games. Their fans will not lose sleep over the loss to Ohio State. Folks, if you want passion, go to Alabama-Auburn, Army-Navy, or Georgia-Florida. But not Michigan-Ohio State; it's a really one-sided affair. Michigan fans will never admit this publicly, but they know what the heck I am talking about in their hearts.Florida-Florida State is a truly unique rivalry for these 3 reasons. 1) Clash of the Titans: It is the annual battle between the signature programs of the two major BCS conferences, SEC vs. ACC (and they don't even have to meet!). It is arguably the most important inter-conference rivalry in the nation since the 90s (beating out Georgia-Georgia Tech for obvious reasons). Two words for you: Sugar Bowl. 2) Little Brother Complex: Similar to Texas-Texas A&M and Michigan-Michigan State (sorry, sparties), Florida State hates the "other state school" that thinks, feels, and acts like it is superior. For most Floridians, you and your kids either went to Florida State or other state schools but probably not "UF." Florida's elitist behavior is notorious in the South, especially in its home state ("It has never acted like a Southern school..."). Florida State is the flag bearer for all Floridians who want nothing more than their big bullying brother humbled on national television. 3) Even Competition: Unlike the two rivalries mentioned above, Florida State may have matched or even surpassed the big brother in terms of gridiron success due to its tremendous run in the 90s. Despite the recent slump by the Seminoles, these two schools usually field two of the most talented teams in the country and one of the most exciting games of that season. One Caveat: Michigan-OSU is not a great rivalry despite what the media says. Trust me on this, Ohio State fans are the best fans in the country (No. 2 would be Alabama closely followed by Nebraska) and they truly do or die by that game. Michigan, however, doesn't care as much. They will not travel to their bowl games. Their fans will not lose sleep over the loss to Ohio State. Folks, if you want passion, go to Alabama-Auburn, Army-Navy, or Georgia-Florida (remember the celebration at the end zone? you think it was a fluke?). But not Michigan-Ohio State; it's a really one-sided affair. Michigan fans will never admit this publicly, but they know what the heck I am talking about in their hearts.uhhh wat about giants/dodgers, notre dame/and every other team in college football, or celtics/lakers??????????? c'mon siMan U v LiverpoolRed Sox/Yankees? Horse crap. You said it yourself, the Yanks dominated until very recently. This "rivalry" was one-way, pal. I've known a lot of Yankee fans over the years, and I've never known one to consider the Red Sox to be some "as long as the manager beats them, his job is safe" kind of rival.Cardnials and Cubs, one of, if not THE oldest rivalry in Major League Baseball!!are u kidding me...the Buckeyes and Ms. Ann Arbor (aka "The Whore"Florida - Georgia the best rivalry in college football? Are you kidding me? This guy is on crack.In 2005 I travelled from merry old england to dallas to watch my Redskins beat the 'boys 14-13 in a thrilling comeback on the night Irving, Smith and Aikman were inducted to the "Ring of Honor" (Ha). I can honestly say it was the happiest day of my life.
By the way pretty sure the Inter Milan motorcycle incident was versus Atalanta - NOT AC.
Man Utd - Liverpool. Biggest rivalry in European football, hands down.In 2005 I travelled from merry old england to dallas to watch my Redskins beat the 'boys 14-13 in a thrilling comeback on the night Irving, Smith and Aikman were inducted to the "Ring of Honor" (Ha). I can honestly say it was the happiest day of my life.
By the way pretty sure the Inter Milan motorcycle incident was versus Atalanta - NOT AC.
Man Utd - Liverpool. Biggest rivalry in European football, hands down.In 2005 I travelled from merry old england to dallas to watch my Redskins beat the 'boys 14-13 in a thrilling comeback on the night Irving, Smith and Aikman were inducted to the "Ring of Honor" (Ha). I can honestly say it was the happiest day of my life.
By the way pretty sure the Inter Milan motorcycle incident was versus Atalanta - NOT AC.
Man Utd - Liverpool. Biggest rivalry in European football, hands down.In 2005 I travelled from merry old england to dallas to watch my Redskins beat the 'boys 14-13 in a thrilling comeback on the night Irving, Smith and Aikman were inducted to the "Ring of Honor" (Ha). I can honestly say it was the happiest day of my life.
By the way pretty sure the Inter Milan motorcycle incident was versus Atalanta - NOT AC.
Man Utd - Liverpool. Biggest rivalry in European football, hands down.ever heard of Ohio State vs. Michigan in football? Nice list...Florida/Georgia is one of the best rivalries in sports? I thought this was a crazy comment until I saw that you attended UGA.
I would say OSU/Michigan, USC/UCLA, Texas/Texas A&M and countless others have garnered insane amounts of press and attention while UF/UGA is at best a regional rivalry.Mizzou...kUaloha, my vote for the top rivalry in sports goes to the Maui high and lahaina luna high school football game... Who cares? there are so many top rivalries in sports, each region has its own favorite. I feel it's impossible to have a "best" rivalry.. Mahalo, KoloheGlasgow Rangers/Celtic is hands down the biggest rivalry in soccer. To not even have it mentioned in the blurb about the Internazionale/AC Milan rivalry is unbelievable. Minnesota Vikings/Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears has to be up there too somewhere as well - that's a trinity of rivalry.Lang, Florida-Georgia wouldn't even be in the top 5 of college football rivalries. Yankees-Red Sox? Don't they play like 13 times a year?
Best College Football Rivalries are:
1. Michigan - Ohio State
2. Alabama - Auburn
3. Oregon - Oregon State
4. Texas - Oklahoma
5. Florida - Tennessee
I've experienced the first two live and there is no comparison. Michigan and Ohio State have decided the Big 10 title over the last few years, and Auburn-Alabama is amazing.
Just because Georgia finally beat Florida and had a team celebration during the game doesn't mean it's a great rivalry.Where's Ohio St.- Michigan? GO BLUE!Florida/Georgia??? You have to be kidding!80's Celtics/Lakers?...90's Knicks/Bulls?
How about Yale/Harvard Football, the oldest collegiate rivalry in the nation?North Carolina - Duke. Home & home a month apart is perfect with a potential chance to meet in conference championship game on a yearly basis. There is usually a #1 seed in the Big Dance riding on conference champ so the games are very meaningful. Very difficult to find 2 teams playing with as much passion & respect with so much on the line in any sport.liverpool - manchester unitedYou can't compare any of these rivalries to the rivalry between Mexico and the USA in soccer. Ask Miss UniverseWhat about the Avalanche and the Red Wings. There are usually hospital visits from these games.Nature Boy Ric Flair and Chief Wahoo MCDaniel#6.........Cards/CubsTexas A&M vs TexasNotre Dame-USC
The only interregion rivalry in all of sports.Bills Dolphins.Alabama vs Auburn
No questionI understand the whole florida/georgia rivalry...but in the top five! come on! Ohio State vs. Michigan is a way better rivalry than Florida vs. Geogia! I wont say that it's better than Red Sox/ Yankees, but not having Ohio State, Michigan in the top five is down right ridiculous!!What about Ohio State/ MichiganI thought you said best rivalries of all sports. Typical American...wht about the world stage? Your website is worldwide right?
What about Australia-England in cricket? Read about it...it goes far longer than Sox-Yankees.
Or New Zealand-Australia in Rugby?
You dissapoint me...The rivalry between the Adelaide Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club who both play in the Australian Football League is something altogether. Not only do the cross town rivals get into fights on the field, but they also get into fights off the field as a local pub owned by one of the Adelaide players!Steelers-Browns. Always a hard fought game - a shoving match broke out once during the coin toss.Ummmm.....Packers/Bears?The Ohio State-Michigan has far more history behind it than the Florida-Georgia rivalry. Just because Georgia decided to act classless doesn't make their rivalry bigger. Either way both rivalries are far bigger than any NFL rivalry, including Cowboys-Redskins.how about ohio state and michigani would have to say that behind the bo sox / yanks rivalry is alabama/auburn in college football.I’ll try to beat those who hate BOTH the Yankees and Red Sox to the punch. Their rivalry is overblown, over-covered, and over-nauseating to fans of teams other than the Yankees or Sox. I am a life long Red Sox fans and even I have compassion for non-fans in this regard. I wish the national media would lay off their coverage a bit and leave it up to the local guys of which there are plenty. It makes the haters hate even more, and with good reason.1. Oklahoma vs Texas
2. Yankees vs Red Sox
3. Florida vs Georgia
4. Cowboys vs Redskins
5. Ohio State vs MichiganHave you ever left the east coast? Let's see Cubs vs. Cards, Bears vs. Pack, Ohio St. vs Michigan, Dodgers vs. Giants, Red Wings vs. Avs, etc.
Most half-assed list i have ever seen.You're nuts - where's Ohio State/Michigan??lost all respect for lang whitaker whoever that is. horrible, espn inspired list. red sox/yankees number 1? maybe to new york and boston fans but thats about itCubs vs the White Sox needs to be on this list... Everyone on the north side of town HATES the loser SoxOhio State Michigan, seems like every year they are battling eachother for the Big Ten title and a National Championship berth. O...H......I..O!Michael Vick vs DogsBoston College vs. Boston University hockeyInter fans don't throw the motorcycle from the upper deck in a derby against Milan, but in an home game against Atalanta. Remaining in soccer Liverpool/Man UtdCricket:
India/Pakistan
Take 1.5 Billion people and amp up the intensity to greater than a Yankee/Red Sox playoff game.Why is everyone taking what this guy said as gospel? He's a Georgia alum so he is going to be biased towards anything dealing with the classless bulldogs. All rivalries in American sports are generally regional. Nobody in Kansas, California, or Oregon cares about Yanks/Sox. BTW, congrats to the Red Sox. They now have the same amount of World Series Championships in the last 89 years as the Florida Marlins. Also, we all also know the greatness of the Michigan/OSU rivalry. It annually decides what overrated, slow Big-11
team gets a gift invite to the national championship game to only get blown out and get humiliated. When was the last time they won a national championship that wasn't controversial? tOSU's last title against Miami was on a mistake by an official, and Michigan's last title was a split one.Bengals - Steelers
America - ChivasHulk vs. Andre the Giant?I don't know if it's the best rivarly in baseball, but the Cardinals vs Cubs is a good one. Your always on the edge of your seat when they play one another. Two great clubs with a history of hating one another.Man U vs Arsenal????Wisconsin-Minnesota.Alabama-Auburn hands down. When I moved to Alabama in the 70's I was invited to a women's tea party in February (off season). These women asked me whether I was for Alabama or Auburn. I replied I was a Michigan fan. They repeated the question explaining that I would have to choose if I planned to live in the state. No where else would this conversation occur, not on sports talk radio or in a bar, but at an upper class tea party of all women.Red Wings-Avs, Sens-Leafs, Rangers-Devils, and Habs-Leafs all trump UF-Georgia. Not to mention OSU-UM, Auburn-Alabama, Oregon-Oregon State(!) and Texas-Oklahoma.I'm gonna shit in your mouth.Dodgers/Gaints they hate each other and so do the fans of each team.Dodgers/Gaints they hate each other and so do the fans of each team.Here's what you could have said, and it would have made much more sense:
Celtics vs. Lakers
Ohio St. vs. Michigan
Packers vs. Bears
Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs
Dodgers vs. GiantsWhat I don't get is why everyone hates the Big 10, and says how horrible they are when they lost 1 game to the SEC last year. Why does everyone forget that Wisconsin beat Arkansas, and Penn St beat Tennessee, both in bowl games. Both of these are to the supposed best conference in football? Any rivalry in which a coach refuses to mention the state in which the other team plays, and it is rumored that the same coach had his team push the bus across the state border so they didn't buy gas in their rivals state deserves to be in the Top Five. That would be Michigan - Ohio State for all you fans out there that don't understand the history of college football.As a huge college football fan, I can tell you there's no way Georgia - Florida is the biggest rivalry in college football. Sorry, but that's not in the top 3. No one outside those states would identify it as such. The correct answer is unquestionably Ohio State - Michigan, but there are plenty of others, ND - Southern Cal (recent games notwithstanding), Auburn - Bama, USC - UCLA, Florida State - Miami, Texas - Oklahoma, Army - Navy. You've got the wrong one for the NFL too. No one could seriously argue it's not Chicago - Green Bay. Lombardi - Hallas, Ditka - Forrest Gregg, the Frozen Tundru - Soldier Field, all the hall of famers (and characters) on both sides. Don't you remember the guy with the hit list on his towel and him throwing McMahon around like a rag doll? What about the Bears using The Fridge to rush for TD's to add insult to injury? Go watch a game at both places and listen to the fans - if you can get a ticket, that is). You'll see. Those two states HATE each other.UConn - Tennessee in women's basketball (at least as long as Summitt and Auriemma are coaching)Why is Kansas so windy?
Because Oklahoma sucks and Nebraska blows....Alabama Auburn... everyone here lives it, every day, every hour, every minute...Give me a break with the Auburn/Alabama talk. Just because nothing else happens in that state for 364 days a year doesn't mean the rest of the nation gives a hoot.Oklahoma vs Texas over the past decade it has consistently played a major role in the national championship game let alone mention the tradition of the two schools....If we are talking about today, not yesteryear, nobody gives a flip about Florida and Florida state. That rivarly has fallen by the waste side with FSU, just like the miami fsu rivalry.
Georgia - Florida, today, is a ten times better rivalary than UF / FSU.Pretty much the worst ranking of sports rivalries ever put down. Ohio State-Michigan is easily #1, and I can't believe it barely made your list as a side-note. The fact that you said you'll never be convinced otherwise is simply your own admission that you're nothing more than a short-sighted opinion holder, and that you don't respect the facts of reality to forge those opinions. UF-UGA isn't even the biggest rivalry amongst Florida fans, just look at all the comments here telling you you're wrong. You're going to say that this year's cocktail party indicates that it's as heated as ever. Ohio and Michigan have hated each other since before football existed. Football is simply the napalm to the inferno that is Ohio State-Michigan. That game defines what college football as a whole is all about, both in importance, and raw emotion.Giants/Dodgers
Cal/StanfordGiants/Dodgers
Cal/Stanfordbc vs bu hockey the teams r only 4 miles apartRed Sox/Yanks is a rivalry spanning the globe. For those fans of the latter begrudging the former its current superior status; barking about voluminous titles the vast majority of which were won more than three decades ago; denying current affairs that limn a more propitious outlook for its hated rivals, I say to you: "Rocket, Rocket, he's our man/if he can't do it steroids can." And also: Get a life. And a spell-checker. And a better vocabulary.I certainly think you have to put Louisville vs. Kentucky somewhere on that list. Anyone that has ever been to a basketball game between the Cardinals and Wildcats would know exactly why this is one of the best rivalries in sports.Saints vs. Falcons. The best rivalry in sports you never hear about.Ohio State Michigan not only should bypass Florida Georgia easily, but should be second on the list beneath sox and yanks. And no one cares about redskins cowboys anymore, its become more of a giants cowboys timeOSU/MichHere's a news flash for you Big-10 homers. No one outside Ohio and Michigan really give two craps about your big Ohio State-Michigan game. To the rest of the country you are just two overrated teams in an overrated conference.
Real football rivalries:
Army/Navy
Yale/Harvard
Another NewsFlash: No one outside the Northeast cares about the Yankoffs/Red Sox either... as a matter of fact, I am sick an tired of hearing about it. That is an invented rivalry by ESPN to get ratings and fill the slot for 13 nights during the season.
Real Baseball Rivalries:
Cubs/Cards
Dodgers/Giants
NFL: OK, I'll give you the Boys/Skins, but how do you leave off Browns/Steelers? Or a more recent one Pats/Colts?
As far as soccer goes, I have no clue who the big ones are. But their rivalries put the ones from US sports to shame. How many clips have you seen of the police having to clear the stands at soccer games in South America/Europe?Basketball - Duke/Maryland - not as much history as UNC, but just as heated.Hey Blosox fans, please keep talking about the Yankees. It makes your inferiority complex come shining through. Yeah, I know...You've won more championships this century. The yankees have spent a billion dollars and haven't won a championship in seven years. The Yankees have the most steroid users in the MLB." That's what we'll hear for the next century Man, whatever. Fact is you hate the Yankees but you are STILL trying to measure up. Enjoy your 4-5 years of glory because we'll be back pounding your ass in the postseason real soon. I bet my next shipment of steroids on it.can anyone imagine an nfl season without the packers v bears or how about the longest running rivalry in all of college football. wisconsin v minnesota. But there is an ever increasing fued between packers and dallass starting with sb one. GO PACK GOthe biggest rivary in college football...Ohio State and Michigan! where is that?LOUISVILLE & KENTUCKYHELLO - MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE!!!!Calvert Hall/Loyola "Turkey Bowl" (Baltimore H.S. Football)
It's only highschool, but this series has been played continuously, every Thanksgiving, every year since 1920. The two highschools, both Towson-based all-boys Catholic schools (one run by Christian Brothers, the other by the Jesuits) hate each other, and it is a rivalry that has persisted throughout the entire series, and has permeated other sports between the two schools. There is a lot of animosity and little friendliness outside the confines of the football field, and none inside the stadium. The game has been played at the old Memorial Stadium and is currently played in the Ravens M&T Bank Stadium.Eagles-CowboysWhere are the Bears/Packers? Remember the "hit" towels that the packers wore when playing the bears?Your list is terrible, just look at all the responses. I guess that's what you were going for.Thank you for leaving OSU/UM off the list. The only fans that rivalry has are people who didn't go to those schools. Bump Duke/UNC up to #1, now that's a true rivalry.im sure ucla usc, new york & boston, celtic & rangers, oklahoma & texas, and i think that duke and unc is over hyped that was the big rivalry a few years ago but i think bigger things are starting to happen in different conferencesThankfully it appears quite a few non-Ohio State or non-Michigan fans called you out on your obvious and pathetic listing of Florida UGA.
Have fun ever NOT being buried on the SI.com website much less ever getting into the magazine LOLGeorgia / Florida? What are you smoking? It's a good rivalry but not the best.. not by a long shot.
Acceptable choices are (in order of my personal preference):
** USC / Notre Dame - Two storied programs with such distinct and sharply contrasting identities.
** Ohio State / Michigan - This game is heated and almost always has national championship implications.
** Auburn / Alabama - It's hard to pick a great rivalry in the SEC because all the teams hate each other but this one has the most bad blood hands down.
The Florida trifecta of Florida, Florida State, and Maimi hindered any one great Florida rivarly.orioles - devil rays duhCan you say EAST COAST BIAS! More love for soccer teams on the other side of the drink than a single team west of the mississipi. Terrible. Giants-Dodgers anyone!!??!!GA/Florida would be a better rivalry if GA wins the next five in a row. Three wins in 15 years does not make much of a rivalry. Yankees, Red Sox is in a similar situation. The only positive is the Sox winning two world series and coming back from three down in the ALCS. That being said, the Sox need to win the division a few more years.Ok, its BEST Rivalries, hating each other isn't good enough.
Yanks/ Sox is up there because its so heated, so passionate, and the games are usually great, 80 games that last 5 years and its basically 50/50. 2003 ALCS, 2004 ALCS.. come on..
You need the games to go with it.
And it is a rivalry spanning the WORLD as someone said.
India/ Pakistan isn't a sporting rivalry, its relgious.. its always there, Yanks/ Sox fans can easily agree on everything but baseball.Miami vs. FS-Who
Appalachian State. Western Carolina (even though its more of a practice than a game for us in Boone. I mean come on, 79-35 was this years score.)Are you freakin KIDDING me?!?
PACKERS-BEARS is the best in sports, period.Michigan-Ohio State is the best rivalry in sports...end of discussion..."Any list of top rivalries that doesn't include Ohio State-Michigan isn't a real list."Rockwood Summit and Eureka in HS footballGotta be the Old Firm...Rangers vs. Celtic in the Scottish football rivalry for the ages.WE WANT DALLAS!!!! Definitely Redskins/Cowboys. I completely agree with #5 (which should be #1) Those games are some of the best nfl football games to watch, especially that Monday night game when the Skins game back to win with 4 minutes left. Miss you #21(I am biased, I am an American, but my top 10 best rivalries are:)
1. Ohio State-Michigan football
2. River Plate-Boca Juniors in Argentine soccer (also enter Inter-AC Milan, Lazio-Roma, Barcelona-Real Madrid, Arsenal-Chelsea, Man U against everybody in England, Celtic-Rangers....soccer rivalries are crazy and abundant)
3. Alabama-Auburn in everything, but football mostly
4. Duke-UNC (lost some luster compared to ten years ago when the Dean was roaming the sidelines, but since rekindled a bit since Roy Williams came back to Chapel Hill)
6. Packers-Bears
7. Red Sox-Yankees (one-sided until 2004 with the Yanks winning 26 titles and the Red Sox none, and more hype than all the other aforementioned rivalries combined)
8. Army-Navy (just for the history and traditions alone makes it a top 10)
9. India-Pakistan, esp. in cricket
10. Korea-Japan (how these two countries held the World Cup together (and agreed to do so) in 2002 is still baffling to me)You call yourself knowledgeable about sports?? What a joke...in no particular order
Michigan/Ohio State (without question!)
Bears/Packers (oldest in sports, nimrod!)
Auburn/Alabama
Giants/Dodgers (see Orlando Cepeda)
any of those would do? AC Milan??? are you kidding me? This is not Europe. We don't care about soccer.Ohio State UM is so overrated. michigan wasnt even ranked goin into bowl season and with good reason. OSU the team everyone loves to see choke.
Like someone said earlier everyone will have diff. opinions but i think everyone will agree the coastal rivalries are bloated to such a extreme extent by main stream media. Dodgers giants, yanks sox. as someone from texas where football is king. UT/ATM/OU/ and Texas Tech constantly battle it out to extremes but they barely broadcast Big 12 outside of the regionFlorida-Georgia? Are you serious? You and everybody else with a pulse knows Michigan-Ohio State is the best rivalry in college football, possibly the best in all of sports.The best college football rivalries are (in no particular order):
1. Michigan vs. Ohio State
2. Alabama vs. Auburn
3. Army vs. Navy
4.Harvard vs. Yale
5. Notre Dame vs. USC
UCLA vs. USC is the best college rivalry (all sports and academics) because both schools are No. 1 (Bruins) and No. 2 (Trojans) in NCAA team championships and fans and alumni of both schools often work together and are parts of the same families.missori and kansas has to be on their
what about raiders/chiefs or chiefs/broncoshttp://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,849635,00.htmlYou guys don't know anything about Black college football. Grambling State university vs Southern University every Thanksgiving- Bayou Classic
Alabama State University vs Alabama A&M every 4th Saturday in October-Magic City Classic
Just as big as anything on this list, don't believe it go down and see for yourself sometime.Pats-Colts don't really count. Granted, up until a decade or so ago they were in the same division, and were close geographically, but now talk of Pat/Colts is based on their both being so good. A top rivalry is based on years and years of battles.
I'm a Bills fan, so I am biased, but Bill-Miami is my top football rivalry. Whether both teams are good (some years in the 90's), horrid (past few years), or one great and the other sucking, you know there will be a good game.
You should be able to parrot my brother-in-law's statement concerning Bills/Dullfins about your top rivalry teams: "I don't care if the Bills go 2-14.... If those two wins are against the Dullfins, it's a successful season."
BTW - my brother (Bills fan) met his wife (Colts fan) on a message board while they were both tearing apart the Dullfins. A match made in heaven.Rangers - Celtic
Army - Navy
SEC - AcademicsHow about the Lakers and the rest of the NBA or the Raiders and any team in the NFL?osu/that team up north. if you think u of m doesn't take it as seriously as buckeye fans hasn't watched a game in the last decade. it's always the final game of both regular seasons and both teams get to play spoiler for the other's bowl hopes. the agony and heartache these two teams inflict on one another is greater than any other in sports.UTAH and BYUPeople down on the OSU/Michigan rivalry just because neither has done much in season, etc need to sit back and think. A rivalry doesn't lose it's luster just cause a team doesn't do well in that regards. It's a rivalry cause the teams and fans are passionate about it. If you go by the logic of what the teams have accomplished as the sole measure of the rivalry, I'd still like to see another football rivalry come close. What have Auburn, Alabama, Navy, Army, Notre Dame etc done the past few years? Exactly.Vikes v. PackersDUDE, OHIO ST./ MICHIGAN KILLS FLORIDA/GEORGIA. WHEN A TEAMS, OR STATES SONG GOES... "WE DONT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN," THERES SOME SERIOUS HEAT THERE. ALSO, AC/INTER MILAN HASN'T BEEN INTERESTING IN QUITE SOME TIME. OREGON ST./OREGON SHOULD BE IN THERE ALSOA few rivalries you can't forget
1. Uconn vs Tenessee Women's basketball
2. Miami Hurricanes vs Florida State college football
3. Celtics vs Lakers
4. Inter vs Juventusall I have to say is this...dumb americans!!Cubs/Cards should be on the list, as well as cubs/white sox. If those 2 teams ever met in the world series, the city of Chicago would burn down again.Yankees/ Red Sox splits regions. Georgia/ Florida splits states. Alabama/ Auburn splits families.Anyone saying that Ohio State/Michigan is the biggest rivalry in sports is delusional. I've attended both U of M and UNC Chapel Hill and I can tell you straight out that UNC - DUKE is infinitely more intense. The person above who commented that UM/OSU isn't on the list due to lopsided views of the game is right. UM doesn't care unless they have a good football team, but it would NEVER matter to a UNC or a dook fan if their team was ranked or not. Fair weather fans don't exist on Tobacco Road.Pats vs. Colts
IU vs. UKThe soccer rivalry isnt Inter-Milan, its Manchester United- Liverpool because the rivalry isnt just about soccer its a long standing rivalry thats been going on for almost a hundred years.devils rangerswhat about boca juinors-river plate? montreal canadiens-toronto maple leafs?espn vs si?Florida/Georgia is only a rivalry now because both teams are good. Great rivalries are exciting even when both teams aren't top 10. F the SEC!Texas vs Oklahoma
Tom vs Jerry
Godzilla vs Mothra (sp?)
Frankenstein vs The Wolfman
Wahoo McDaniel vs Toru Tanaka
Britney vs Sanitythis is a good news, bad news deal.
good news: Lang, nice to see you've emerged from your coma.
bad news: while its nice to see you improving, next time you write an article you might want to do some research first.
just a suggestion :-)Celtic / Rangers (soccer)
Oxford Uni / Cambridge uni (everything, most well known is the boat race, which is just about the only british college event televised)
Nottingham Forest / Derby County (soccer)Eastern Kentucky - Western kentucky
Over a 100 years old and they can't even agree on the records. (Disputed tie that BOTH schools deny)Kentucky /Louisville
and everyone hates TennesseeMichigan vs. Ohio State!!! This has to be in the top 5!!How the hell is Michigan vs. Ohio State not on this list??Red Wings Avalanche??Red Wings Avalanche??So where is Ohio State and Michigan? I'm not a fan of either team but I know enough about sports and rivals, and when those two teams play each other, its beat the crap out of each other time.Texas vs. OklahomaU MOTHER FUKIN DUSCH BAGS....IU vs PURDUE and COLTS vs PATRIOTS IU KICKS ASS AND COLTS KICK ASS IU WON IN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL AND COLTS BEAT THEM TWO TIMES IN A ROW AT FOXBIRO WITH THE PATS CHEATING...and we had them at home even thugh we didnt hav harriosn...tony ugoh...and we had 3rd string LBsWhy isn't the Chicago Bears / Green Bay Packers rivalry on here? I'm not saying they would be #1 but they have been beating the crap out of each other since 1919. There are very few teams that have been playing each other for such a long time.me vs. my wife
for the remote control trophyPurdue Boilermakers vs. IU?how about the Giants and the EaglesIf you want vitriol bears/packers. How many other rivalries can say they got the other team kicked out of the league they play in?Easy. Giants vs. Dodgers. As a lifelong Giants fan, I have hated the dodgers for my entire life. As have all my friends who are fans. GO GIANTS!It HAS to Be UCLA VS. USC. That should be Number One or on the TOP Three of Anyone's LIST.Dodgers/Giants
Habs/Bruins
Avs/Red Wings
Rangers/Islanders
Celtics/Lakers
Celtics/Sixers
Bulls/Knicks (1990s)
Pistons/CelticsWhat about the Packers and Bears or Packers and Vikings. I am a big Packer fan and I hate the F***ing Bears, and the Vikings piss me off.Recent Posts
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