It is the biggest debate going around in all of sports right now. It was even just debated on Sportscenter. The competition is: Duke vs. North Carolina in college basketball, Red Sox vs. Yankees in baseball, and the Patriots vs. the Colts in the NFL, and Calgary vs. Edmonton in the NHL. Some tough choices here if you ask me.
The Red Sox vs. the Yankees is clearly the best rivalry in major league baseball, but I don't think it can be the best rivalry in all of sports. They meet too often for it to be the best rivalry in all of sports. Yeah the games are still important and bragging rights are always good to have, but when the Yankees play the Sox in May, it's not as intense as it could be. Yeah there is the occasional brawl and it always feels good to beat the Evil Empire, but if they only met in September then that would make the rivalry so much better.
The Patriots vs. the Colts is also a great rivalry, but it may not even be the best rivalry in its sport. There is the Giants vs. the Cowboys and the Packers vs. the Bears. Both of these rivalries have so much more history than the Patriots and the Colts do. Trust me, I love beating the Colts and it may be the best rivalry in the last 6 years or so in the NFL, but it isn't the best overall rivalry in the NFL let alone the best rivalry in sports.
Calgary vs. Edmonton in the NHL is always exciting to watch, but until the NHL expands in the U.S. (which they won't do with Gary Bettman as commissioner..... who turns down an ESPN tv deal for a 2 day a week tv deal with Versus?) this rivalry won't be on the top. If you are a hockey fan you know the intensity and emotion that the players and fans have when they play each other. It is unbeatable, but until more people notice this rivalry doesn't top the list.
The top rivalry in sports is the Duke vs. UNC rivalry in college basketball. They only meet two or three times a season and when they do meet they are usually fighting for the ACC title of the national championship. The emotion, intensity, and tradition cannot be compared to any other rivalry in all of sports. Playing in front of maybe the most passionate fans anywhere (except Boston of course) makes these games the most exciting to watch. Don't get me wrong I love the Red Sox, Yankees rivalry, but this rivalry edges it out.... as much as it hurts me to say it. Watch one of these games especially at Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke's home court) and you will fall in love with the rivalry whether you like either team or not.
I know you are all going to disagree with me so leave your comments and vote on the new pole! Enjoy boys and girls.
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3 comments:
It's hard to leave out some great college football rivalries ... USC/Notre Dame, Florida/Florida State, Bowling Green/Akron ... OK maybe I made that last one up, but I think you get my point. I don't think there's anything more intense than college football rivalries ... although I do appreciate your point.
Dont forget about the Bruins Canadians rivalary and Avs Red Wings. While they might not be as active today as they were a few years ago but they deffineatly belong at the top.
Great points on each, but I'm sticking to the Sox/ Yanks. More people, weather sports fans or not, are intrigued by and follow that rivalry. It's city vs. city, it's region vs. region, and both regions fight to add Connecticut and Western Mass...lol so in my opinion the Sox/ Yanks carry a far greater scope.
Keep it goin' G.
Peace
Streeter
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