Biggest Rivalries in Sports
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by Behbigben15
These are what I think are the best rivalries in U.S. sports from the past and present.
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees - This rivalry has so many great moments, and bad blood. A few worth mentioning would be Boone's walk-off home run in game seven of the '03 ALCS, or when Boston game back from a three games to none deficit in the ALCS the following season, and ended up sweeping St. Louis in the world series to end their 84-year old curse. I also remember when Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez threw one of the yankee coaches (Don Zimmer) on the ground during a bench-clearing brawl. This rivalry may be the biggest in sports today.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics - This intense NBA rivalry all started in the 1960's, when the celtics defeated the lakers in six of the eight years they played one another for the NBA finals. L.A. featuring Jerry West, and Boston featured Larry Bird. The celtics could also be considered one of the best dynasties in the long history of sports, starting with the '58-'59 season the celtics won 8 straight NBA final championships (four of them against the lakers), and starting with the '56-'57 season the celtics had won eleven of thirtteen NBA finals. Boston has beat the lakers seven times in the NBA finals, and the lakers have beaten the celtics just twice in the NBA finals. This is the biggest NBA rivalry, and arguably the best rivalry in all sports.
Duke vs. UNC Basketball - The main reason that this is such a big rivalry is that they are both ACC teams, and are not too far apart, in fact just eight miles. But also because that these two teams are often battling for the ACC championship. These teams have been playing eachother at least twice a year since 1920, that is 86, soon to 87 years of fierce basketball, this is the biggest Division I rivalry in College Basketball history.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins - These two NFL teams have a combined 31 division titles, and 10 world championships (8 of them being Super Bowls), these two teams arguably have the most history in them, and they play eachother twice a year. This is, without a doubt, the best, and biggest rivalry in the NFL, hands down. It also holds the best classic head coach rivalry, Gibbs/Landry.
Army vs. Navy Football - This rivalry features the U.S. Naval Academies football team facing off against the U.S. Military Academies football team, the U.S. Naval Academy is in Annapolis, MD, and the U.S. Military Academy is in West Point, NY. The two teams have been facing off since 1890, the game is played every year, Navy leads the series 51-49-7. These two academies are usually pretty well matched up, and they fight hard for their academies.
Ohio State vs. Michigan Football- These two Mid-West schools have been playing eachother yearly since 1935, this Big Ten rivalry is always intense, and usually has Big Ten championship, or National Title implications. The teams have a combined nine heisman trophy winners (Michigan 3, Ohio State 6), and a combined 18 National Titles (Michigan 11, Ohio State 7). This rivalry is considered the best in Division I college football.
Other Great Rivalries:
SF Giants V.S. LA Dodgers
CHI Bears V.S. GB Packers
TOR Maple Leafs V.S. MTRL Canadiens
PHI 76ers V.S. LA Lakers
Jeff Gordon V.S. Dale Jr.
Up and Coming Rivalries:
NE Patriots V.S. IND Colts
If I missed any big ones let me know, but I think I hit most of the big ones.
