Greatest Sports Rivalries?

[RESERVE172]

The thread about the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees made me ask myself if this was the greatest sports rivalry ever?

In Boston, we have an intense hockey rivalry with the Bruins vs. the Montreal Canadiens(pro level) and at the college level, between Boston College and Boston University. Not too long ago, in pro basketball we had The Boston Celtics vs. The Los Angeles Lakers. But since Larry Bird and Magic Johnson retired, it hasn't been the same.

Do you have a suggestion for a sports rivalry? It could be any sport. It could be at any level. Professional, semi-pro, college etc. etc. It could be in any country. It will be interesting to see if the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry stands out as the greatest.

[IrishFire13]

New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings 90's
NY Islanders and NY Rangers 70 - 90's
Braves and Yankees 90's
Islanders and Bruins 80's
Colorado Avs and Red Wings

[DaSharkie]

You ought to see the Duke vs. UNC games down here. I think it is about as bad as the Yankees / Red Sox rivalry. Only difference is the accents and that Chapel Hill and Durham are only 8 miles apart.

Freaking riots every time they play each other.

[FFTrainer]

Leaving out single playoff series battles that turned 'great', the best overall rivalry I can think of is the NY Rangers and NY Islanders. Granted it's not the same as it used to be (especially with the lockout :mad: ) but it still lingers and you still get caught up in it despite it having roots in the 70's / 80's.

George if you're out there reading this one.... I think you know what I mean.... Potvin S#CKS!

[captstanm1]

Redskins vs Cowboys
Redskins vs Eagles
Eagle vs Giants
Buc vs Falcons

[SAFD46Truck]

Lakers vs....well, anyone I guess (I dont know any Laker fans:p )

[RspctFrmCalgary]

NHL - Flames and Oilers!
CFL - Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders - especially the Labour Day Classic

hmmmm in honor of it being Masters week ....

Tiger & Phil?

Jack vs. anyone? *revised again to add "in the old days"

On a side note, I hope to hell Vijay doesn't win, I really don't like him. GO PHIL GO!!!

[lieutleroy140]

OK, being a huge sports geek, I can think of numerous rivalries, some of which have cooled and become dormant. Obviously, Red Sox-Yankees. Giants-Cowboys, Giants-Redskins, GIants-Eagles. Avs-Wings, big-time hockey. Back when I was a kid, the Celts and the Sixers had a pretty healthy rivalry going, Larry Bird-Dr. J. Although Boston fans can be some of the toughest out there, they showed a lot of class one time when Philly was about to beat them in a game 7 at the Boston Garden and go to the NBA finals against the Lakers. The Celtic's fans chanted "Beat L.A." in the waning moments of the game, after the issue was no longer in doubt. Georgetown-St.John's in college hoops. UNC-Duke, the ACC's holy war. Michigan-Ohio State in anything, especially Football. The Raiders and the Chiefs, old rivals from back in the days of the AFL. Cubs-Cardinals. Giants-Dodgers. Bears-Packers, an ancient rivalry there, that has never really cooled off. Richard Petty and anybody. Jack vs. Arnie vs. Gary Player. OK, that's about it for now, I'll be checking in on this one for sure.

[DrParasite]

Syracuse University Lax vs Princeton University Lax

[captstanm1]

Florida vs Florida State
Virginia vs Va. Tech
Va Tech vs Florida or Florida State
Virginia vs Florida or florida State

[firemanpat29]

Damn, Captstan beat me to it again. Here in Tallahassee
Fla v Fla State game can get UGLY.

[Dave1983]

NCAA football:

Ohio State vs Michigan

Pro Football:

Cowboys vs Redskins

Baseball:

Yankees vs Red Sox

Hockey:

Canadians vs Bruins

Basketball:

Lakers vs Celics

Golf:

Arnie vs Jack

[Steamer]

Ohio State vs. Michigan is one of the greatest, and has a long history.

I remember the Reds and Dodgers had one hell of a rivalry when I was growing up with the Dodgers games being sold out in Cinci well before the season started. They screwed that up when they "realigned" the divisions. It just ain't the same anymore.

[R1SAlum]

Buckeyes and Wolverines

Yanks and Sox

[jasper45]

Packers vs Bears

Packers vs Vi Queens

I do have to admit that I also enjoy the Cowboys vs Eagles.

[ThNozzleman]

Although I really don't like college football, I'd have to say Tennessee vs. Florida. It always gets nasty.

[manofire2]

There are some who have mentioned NHL hockey rivalries. I just want to point out that there are regional rivalries and some upstart rivalries but there is no hockey rivalry that compares to Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. I am not a fan of either team and will not comment about other sports but when it comes to NHL hockey nothing compares.

[fdmhbozz]

Wisconsin v. Minnesota, WCHA hockey. The atmosphere at the Kohl Center in Madison during those games is quite nice.

Also, Wisconsin v. Minnesota, Big Ten football. Winner gets the axe. The fans want it as much as the players.

[NYI4LIFE]

Originally posted by FFTrainer
Leaving out single playoff series battles that turned 'great', the best overall rivalry I can think of is the NY Rangers and NY Islanders. Granted it's not the same as it used to be (especially with the lockout :mad: ) but it still lingers and you still get caught up in it despite it having roots in the 70's / 80's.

George if you're out there reading this one.... I think you know what I mean.... Potvin S#CKS!


UMMMM http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2001-09/684453.jpg

[kentbwj]

Browns vs. Steelers! (Go Browns!)

[LaFireEducator]

Michigan - Ohio St.
USC - UCLA
Auburn - Alabama
Nicklaus - Watson
Woods - Mickelson
Redskins - Cowboys
Giants - Cowboys
Raiders - Chiefs
Yankees - Red Sox
Any Soccer team - any other national soccer team

[Dave1983]

Originally posted by ThNozzleman
Although I really don't like college football, I'd have to say Tennessee vs. Florida. It always gets nasty.

Im not sure "nasty" is strong enough:D

Its still good, but was better when Spurrior was at Florida.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Originally posted by manofire2
There are some who have mentioned NHL hockey rivalries. I just want to point out that there are regional rivalries and some upstart rivalries but there is no hockey rivalry that compares to Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. I am not a fan of either team and will not comment about other sports but when it comes to NHL hockey nothing compares.

I thought about mentioning the Leafs/Habs but decided to stick with the home-team (regional) rivalry.

[FFTrainer]

Originally posted by NYI4LIFE

UMMMM http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2001-09/684453.jpg

Yeah I know, but I'm still loyal to my blueshirts. Regardless of rivalry or not, let's just hope they suit up again come October.

[Weruj1]

Cowboys Steelers
Yanks and the Dodgers
those are the only 2 that pop into my mind .......

[WTFD10]

While usually not approaching the Ohio State/Michigan level, Notre Dame has quite a few rivalries:

Irish vs. Michigan
Irish vs. Boston College
Irish vs. Stanford
Irish vs. USC

NFL, my beloved Browns have a few:
Browns vs. Steelers
Browns vs. Bengals
Browns vs. Ravens (Jump Art!)
Pre-Expansion days-Browns vs. Broncos(B*stards!-I will always hate Elway!!!)

And there is some rivalry between the Cleveland Indians and the Yankees but it doesn't come close to the NY-Boston war.

[RyanEMVFD]

Growing up the only rivalry I knew about was Cowboys vs Redskins. Now since I've expanded my globe of knowledge, I now include:

Broncos vs Raiders
Notre Dame vs Michigan
Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avs

Since I'm not a big baseball fan, I'm not going there.

[scfire86]

Originally posted by LaFireEducator
USC - UCLA


Of all the rivalries listed in this thread, this is the only one that is within not just the same conference, but the same city.

[Firefighter1219]

Got to to back what Stan and Pat said: University of Florida Gators vs. Florida State University Seminoles. Enough Said.

[PuffyNPFD]

NFL
Patriots vs. Jets
Redskins vs. Cowboys

MLB
Red Sox vs. Yankees

NBA
Celtics vs. Lakers

NCAA Basketball
Providence College vs. Boston College

[CaptainMikey]

The university of kansas and Mizzou

The chiefs and the raiders have had a thing going since the 70's

[manofire2]

Me and my brother, it doesn't matter what sport!

[captstanm1]

I guess now it will be

South Carolina vs Florida


I heard where spurriers son may be coming to a florida school for college... They made a big deal about it in the papers... My son played against him this year and burned him all game on pass routes...and caught one pass in which he carried him 30 yards after the catch...and my son is not big...5'7" 145#

[RESERVE172]

I haven't seen any NASCAR suggestions yet. I don't really follow the NASCAR circuit but I thought everyone hates Jeff Gordon. Does he have a rivalry with another driver?

[ChiefReason]

Muhummad Ali and Joe Frazier.
On the lighter side:
Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufmann.
CR

[FlyingKiwi]

Bledisloe cup

This famous and very large silver cup was first contested in 1931 when the then Governor-General of New Zealand, Lord Bledisloe, presented the cup as a perpetual rugby trophy and a token of good will between Australia and New Zealand. It was variously contested as a single test match or as a two or three test series. Since the establishment of Super 12 and the Tri Nations series in 1995, it has become a fixed two match series played within the structure of the Tri Nations series on a home and away basis.

Matches Played: 102, New Zealand 68, Australia 30, Drawn 4.
Series Wins: New Zealand 34, Australia 12

A rabid rugby contest between 2 nations that will alternately slag each other off to their face, then stand side by side and fight like brothers against others.

No padding, bugger all time outs, except to get the injured off the field, and 40 minutes each half.

World rugby at its finest. we have seen Bledisloe cup matches played with more intensity thatn World Cup finals.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Oh way to go Ian, you've probably made manofire drool all over his keyboard! hehehe :p :D ;)

[CaptainGonzo]

Originally posted by RESERVE172
I haven't seen any NASCAR suggestions yet. I don't really follow the NASCAR circuit but I thought everyone hates Jeff Gordon. Does he have a rivalry with another driver?

yes...everybody else! :D

[manofire2]

Hey Kiwi.

Q. Why do Australians drink their tea out of saucers?

A. Cause all the cups are in N.Z.

[manofire2]

Here's one for you Sherri.

Did you here Ford is coming out with a Calgary Flames model pick-up truck......It comes with only one cup holder.

[RESERVE172]

The Bledisloe Cup? Just using the figures given, NewZealand 68 (Yankees 26), Australia 30 (RedSox 6)? Maybe, just maybe, you have a similiar rivalry as to the one we have here in The States. :D

[Roeber21]

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES AND MICHIGAN!!!! GO BUCKS! :) :) :D

[bobsnyder]

Philly sports fans

-vs-

Our own sports teams, other cities' sports teams, game officials, local media, Santa Claus, other teams' coaches, national media, our own coaches, other teams' fans, each other.


Is it any fun any other way???

:p :D ;)

[EastKyFF]

Best college basketball: Kentucky & Louisville.

It's all in the background stuff. Rick Pitino, who salvaged a disgraced UK program from NCAA probation and brought home three Final Four appearances, one national runner-up and one national championship, is now Louisville's coach and just completed their first Final Four visit since '87. From Lexington's hero to Lexington's Public Enemy #1!!

UK can lose every other game of the year, but if they beat Louisville, Big Blue fans are happy.


NASCAR rivalries: Gordon vs. Earnhardt the elder and Tony Stewart vs. whoever.

[ChiefReason]

Golf:
Palmer/Nicklaus/Player/Rodriguez
Tiger Woods/Phil Mickelson

Drag-racing:
Don "The Snake" Prudhonne/Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney

Figure-skating:
Nawwwwwwwwww!

CR

[Firefighter1219]

Figure-skating:

Who said anything about that?

[t13one12]

How did this thread make it to 4 pages with no one naming the BIGGEST NCAA football rivalry. Forget about Ohio State and Michigan. Does the President of the United States go to that game? Nope. People forgot about the good old Army Navy game. I don't know what is better, the game itself, cadets doing pushups for every point, or the spirit messages from troops over seas. Either way, GO ARMY...SINK NAVY!

[fdmhbozz]

In NCAA Division 1-A football, Wisconsin and Minnesota have met more times than ANY OTHER rivalry...

[manofire2]

OK, I've been holding off but it's time to reveal the Worlds greatest sports rivalry.

Randy Ferbey vs Kevin Martin

Those who agree say EH!!!

[EastKyFF]

Yeah, where did the figure-skating rivalry come from? Did Oksana Baiul ever say "If that porker Michelle Kwan does one more triple lutz, I'm gonna scratch her eyeballs out"? Kerrigan-Harding aside, skating don't got rivalries.

New NASCAR rivalry, as of Sunday: Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman, Scott Riggs, Mike Wallace, Mark Martin, Joe Nemechek, Mike Bliss, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Scott Wimmer, Carl Edwards, Mike Skinner, Brian Vickers, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty, Boris Said, Sterling Marlin, Ricky Rudd, Martin Truex Jr., Jason Leffler, Jeff Green, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Dave Blaney, Johnny Sauter, Travis Kvapil, Kerry Earnhardt, and Kevin Harvick

VERSUS

Jimmie Johnson.

[DaSharkie]

Originally posted by t13one12
Either way, GO ARMY...SINK NAVY!

Heathen! :D

Best football game out there. THe guys playing are as much scholars as they are atheletes, and they are all probably the best all around athletes in collegiate sports. Not in it for money, or glory. The only football game I have an urge to watch.


As for NASCAR - ought to be interesting in the next couple of weeks.

[ChiefReason]

Kreskin and Carnac the Magnificent.
Rats.
Omnipotence is not a sport.
Or is it?:D
CR

[ChiefReason]

Tennis:
Jimmy Conners/John MacEnroe

Drag racing again:
Don "Big Daddy" Garlits/Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick
(It doesn't get any better than that one!)

[E229Lt]

Anyone remember:

Marvin Hagler vs. Vito Antuofermo

As for NCAA Football- Ohio State vs Michigan, no doubt.

Yankees vs. Red Sox is growing bigger than ever.

Fer ye Rednecks: Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison

[manofire2]

Archie the Stomper Gouldie vs Abdullah the Butcher.

Now there's a classic, nobody can top that one!!!!

[bobsnyder]

Bob Backlund - vs - George "the animal" Steele

[Maverick9110E]

idk about you but New york ranger vs. NJ devil games are pretty intense around here.



























GO RANGERS!!!

[manofire2]

Originally posted by Maverick9110E
idk about you but New york ranger vs. NJ devil games are pretty intense around here.

Any hockey rivalry that's not original six just doesn't count. It's kind of like suggesting some double A baseball rivalry, intense but no lasting history.



























GO RANGERS!!!

[RspctFrmCalgary]

skating don't got rivalries.

ummmmmmmmmmm I beg to differ LMFAO!!!!!

What about the two Brians in '88 ...... OMG was I really so stupid as to leave Calgary in '86 to go work on the cruise ships ....... duh!

ok ok my only real regret, ok the biggest regret about not being there (competition wise - now that I'm older and wiser ;) I do regret missing the whole experience) is that I missed seeing Elizabeth Manning skate for Silver. Mom and Dad taped it for me and I watched it when I came home in the summer of '89.

Kurt against everyone and anyone!

Kurt against Elvis!

Shae Lynn Bourne & Victor Kratz against the world!

Michelle Kwan against anyone and everyone! A little bit harder for her to win after she got married to a famous hockey player and life intruded LOL.





I'm sure I could come up with more if I wasn't 1/2 drunk hehehe :D :D

oh never mind

LMFAO!

[manofire2]

Originally posted by RspctFrmCalgary



I'm sure I could come up with more if I wasn't 1/2 drunk hehehe :D :D

oh never mind

LMFAO!

Which half is drunk?

[reeveo]

Ali & Frazier is a classic

King Richard & Cale Yarbrough

Wilt Chamberlain & Bill Russell

Celtic & Rangers (Scottish Premier League Soccer)

Manchester United & Liverpool (English Premier League)

Texas & O.U.

TAMU & t.u.
(Gig'em Aggies, Whoop!!!)
Anything that involves the world's largest bonfire gets my vote. May the 12 Aggies who lost their lives on the last official bonfire rest in peace.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Originally posted by manofire2


Which half is drunk?

Top half ...... oh wait no, bottom half ..... no no hmmmmmmmmm oh never mind again LOL :D ;)

All I know is the bottle of kahula is going to be empty verrrry soon and I'm having my own little private mini-U2 concert via Sony walkman - reliving one week ago tonight *sigh* I can't believe it has been a week already ...

I think it is finally hitting home that I saw my all-time favorite band in the world - U2 - LIVE last Friday!!! (WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO U2 was our battle cry all night) Only other bands that could possibly compete for all-time fav would be the Stones, Bob Marley, and/or The Doors with an honorable mention to the Hip and Led Zep ... oh here we go, there's too many "favs" to pick ... Might as well just say my fav bands are *insert one of the above bands here* ..... and THEN THERE IS U2!!!! :D

To have been able to fly 15 friends to see U2 at GM Place, the home of the Vancouver Canucks (there, just to tie it into the topic of sports HAHAHAH), including a beautiful LIMO BUS, was an added bonus!!!!

Dammit, here we go blah blah blah blah blah blah blah LOL

Has anyone mentioned old-time Canada / Russia hockey as the greatest sports rivalry or am I just drunk and forgetting what was posted months ago? hehehe :p Needed to put that down so the forum police don't come after me ;)

[manofire2]

NOow I'll make you really jealous, sherri. I had the pleasure of seeing Bob Marley at the Kinsmen Fieldhouse in Edmonton, I think it was around 1979.

Don't know if you heard yet but they just announce yesterday that the Stones are playing the Saddledome this fall.

Doesn't do a lot for me though, I saw The Who in the early 70's. Nothing today could top that for me. Now it's Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for me, kind of the Country Rock version of the Stones. Been around forever.

[PattyV]

Down here it would have to be:

1. New South Wales Blues vs. the Queensland Reds (rugby league)
2. Collingwood vs. Any AFL team (Australian rules football)
3. Australia vs. New Zealand in any sport.

[manofire2]

Originally posted by PattyV
Down here it would have to be:

1. New South Wales Blues vs. the Queensland Reds (rugby league)
2. Collingwood vs. Any AFL team (Australian rules football)
3. Australia vs. New Zealand in any sport.

I experienced first hand the third on your list.

My rugby team toured Australia and NZ back in the early 80's. We played in Brisbane against Wests Rugby Club. About half the West's team were Kiwis working in Brisbane. We were there for the first game of the Bledisloe Cup and they actually had to have us in 2 locations to watch the game because they were afraid that it would end up in fisticuffs if both groups were allowed to watch the game together.

As soon as the game was over both factions joined together as if nothing was happening. Just like when you play, once the game was over it was over. It was interesting that year because the Australian fullback played for the Wests, I think his name was Steve Cutler if my memory serves me correctly.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Yes, I am JEALOUS! LOL

I figured the Stones announcement would be coming sooner or later. There is going to be a concert announcement on the radio Monday morning ..... hmmmmmmm interesting. Might have to do some digging on the 'net this weekend and see if Vancouver/Victoria are on the list.

I'd die to go to the Stones too!

I guess I should add Canada/USA hockey to the greatest rivalry.

[PattyV]

Thats another one of those funny things about Rugby, on field you are trying to kill the people on the other team, but its not uncommon to share a drink with the same person you kicked in the head an hour or two after the game.