[goblue08]

There is a lot of debate which is the best rivalry in sports.

In my opinion it is Michigan Ohio State in college football. The reason why is that most of the time it is for the Big Ten championship and a shot at the Rose Bowl or the National Championship. The majority of the games played in this rivalry have some sort of national meaning to them.

[evolb909]

  It's hard to argue against the Yankees and Red Sox.

[goblue08]

The Red Sox were the red headed step child to the Yankees up until 2004. In order for it to be a rivalry they have to be playing for something. Michigan vs. Ohio State are playing for something each year. It is either for the Big Ten Championship, a trip to the Rose Bowl, or it has national championship implications.

Baseball really doesn't really have rivalries due to the fact the way the season is set up. I would say college sports have more rivalries than pro sports.

[dan641007]

goblue08 Wrote:The Red Sox were the red headed step child to the Yankees up until 2004. In order for it to be a rivalry they have to be playing for something. Michigan vs. Ohio State are playing for something each year. It is either for the Big Ten Championship, a trip to the Rose Bowl, or it has national championship implications.

Baseball really doesn't really have rivalries due to the fact the way the season is set up. I would say college sports have more rivalries than pro sports.

There are a ton of college scenarios: army navy, auburn alabama, florida florida state, I am a big michigan fan so I am biased to michigan and ohio state,  what about usc ucla. Pro sports are bs they get paid and really dont care that much. In baseball I would say yeah red sox vs yanks, basketball maybe celtics lakers, football dallas washington. im sure this discussion can go on and on.

[goblue08]

In pro sports I would say the Lakers and Celtics are a rivalry. If you really want to consider anyone a rival to the Yankees I would say it would be the Dodgers due to the fact that they have played in the World Series so many times. However, the Yankees and Dodgers have not played any meaninful games lately.

I say Michigan Ohio State because it has national significance.

In pro sports the rivalries have gotten watered down over the years.

[evolb909]

  Not one for all-time ranks, but the Red Wings and Avalanche for a while there was as exciting as it gets.  That was a rivalry for sure.  They literally pounded the crap out of each other every time they played for like 4+ years and that was fun to watch.  Not so much anymore, though.    

  How can you say Ohio State v Michigan hasn't fizzled a bit over the last few years?   Ohio State has remained a powerhouse while U of M has turned into a washed-up has been of late.  And I'm a Michigan fan, being from Michigan.  Not to mention I spent 3+ months in their hospital.   They haven't played for anything significant in the last couple years, that's for sure. Seems more like U of M plays the spoiler role more often and ruins Ohio States chances for a National Title.  Not saying it's not an all-time rivalry, but they all have there ups and downs over the decades.

[shelbysaleen]

NASCAR - DAVID PEARSON VS RICHARD PETTY
NFL         - CHICAGO BEARS VS GREEN BAY PACKERS
MLB        - CHICAGO CUB FANS VS CHICAGO WHITE SOX FANS
NCAA     - CAROLINA VS DUKE -BBALL
                 - ARMY VS NAVY FBALL
NHL        - CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS VS DETROIT RED WINGS
PGA       -  JACK NICKLAUS VS ARNOLD PALMER
INDY     - MARIO ANDRETTI VS AJ FOYT
ALL TIME - MARYANNE VS GINGER

[shelbysaleen]

anyone else want to give their opinion

[mo au]

Dale vs. Jeff Gordon..

I'm not really a Nascar fan other than casually watching it while napping on a Sunday afternoon..but you wanna talk about getting some people fired up? While Dale was still alive whether you had a 3 or 24 on your window was a big deal.

Army vs Navy would be my first pick. I don't really know what to say but that is the best. The emotion and intensity is above all.

I don't think Alabama Auburn gets near the consideration it deserves from outsiders..yes Michigan Ohio State has been an important game mostly because other than Penn State (who didn't even join the Big11 until 15 years ago) the rest of the conference has been horrible. Not to mention I don't think national significance is really a big factor. In terms of Michigan Ohio State for the most part if you're from Ohio you rout for OSU and from Michigan for UM. In Alabama we have to live with the people we hate all the time. And trust me Alabama and Auburn people despise everything of the opposite. There's a lot of factors that go into the social hatred that would be hard to explain to an outsider, but it is intense. And because of that it becomes a rivalry for EVERYTHING..it's not just about football.

To me this is what makes the Red Sox/ Yankees rivalry so great..it's a social thing..it's about more than baseball. Red Sox and Yankees fans are different kinds of people and they don't like the other.

Auburn Georgia is a great rivalry although in a different respect. It's more like 2 brothers playing. It makes for a great atmosphere pre game..heres a post Scott Van Pelt wrote on a Maryland message board after an AU/UGA game a few years ago. Sorry about the length but it gives a very good description.

Scott Van Pelt had some really nice things to say about Auburn over on The
Maryland board. Enjoy...

Posted by Scott Van Pelt:

A different world - Non Terps & a lengthy rambling mess

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

Imagine you have been married to the same woman for more than 30 years, you
love her more than anything - nothing could ever change that. You have
shared many of your best memories with her and would never leave her under
any circumstances. Then you spend a day with a woman who in some ways is
more beautiful than your wife...you may never see her again...but you won't
forget her for a while either.

Maryland is my wife...Auburn is " the other woman ".

If you all love college sports - and I assume you do - you really need to
see a game there. I have been lucky to see a lot of places, I have not seen
a lot of places like that. It's an amazing scene in every respect.

Granted, I was there for # 3 vs. # 5...Auburn was 9-0 so it was bound to be
good.

Some highlights:

I arrived at night with the stadium lit up like a Christmas tree. It sits
dead in the middle of campus. A shrine...literally their church - only
services are held on Saturday. Made me say....hmmmm...this is promising.

Gameday scene - tailgating in every available space...and not like some!
field full of RV's - though they had that too. But literally people grilling
and drinking in every available spot for as far as the eye could see. I lost
count of the number of bands and stages and this was at 9 AM.

The Fans - I knew I was in a " red state " from all the Suburbans with W
stickers but the truth of it is, this part of Alabama is an orange state.
Every man woman and child is in the same shade of orange. Not unusual I know
...but THIS was...they are nice, friendly, and polite - to GEORGIA FANS.
Nobody called anyone in Black and Red ***** or *sshole...nobody told them
they sucked.... These people are your friends, you don't know it yet because
you haven't met them
- but when you do - you have met a friend. you want a beer ? some bar- B - Q
? grab some. Let's talk for a while....war eagle...let's have a good game. I
saw this at tailgate after tailgate. Stragglers who wander by are offered
anything that's available - didn't matter what color they were wearing. This
is the oldest rivalry in the South - they call it Brother vs. Brother and
they mean it. Now there are certainly cliche's about down home country
sensibilities - but these folks embodied the best part of the notion of
southern hospitality. Though many did admit it's a tad LESS civil for the
Iron Bowl.

Tiger Walk :

Impossible to describe. Im - possible. A human welcome mat for the team. The
team walks through several blocks to Jordan-Hare through a sea of people. I
asked somebody how many folks were there and was told they could never come
up with an accurate head count but that they were certain it was "well in
excess of 25,000 people." That looked a little light to me...I would have
bought 40 grand. 2 hours before kick the streets in all directions were
completely - and I mean COMPLETELY jammed. It was like a religious
experience. If you can be in the middle of this - and I was lucky enough to
get to walk through it - and not be overwhelmed, you are dead my friend. (I
just went Larry King on your asses - sorry) I was honestly in awe.

Gametime :

The eagle circles as 87,521 people ( less the UGA fans ) cheer
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar EAGLE HEY!!! The eagle pounces on some meat
product and the hair on the back of your neck stands up...then if you are
still unimpressed you get an F-16 flyover and were off and running. Auburn
dominates, the band plays, the fans hoot and holler louder than anywhere I
have ever been (and go Spinal tap and take it to volume 11 when UGa tries to
audible) ... 24 - 6 and it's time for more food and drink...but before
that...

Toomer's corner :

everyone converges on the intersection of college st and whatever the other
road is and they toilet paper every tree in sight. By the time it's over, it
looks like a blizzard has rolled through Alabama. There are no riots, no
police, no cars set on fire. There are families from grandparents to infants
chucking rolls of toilet paper all over the place. Again, i just shake my
head at a loss...and maybe a little jealous.

It's a special place, the best scene I have ever seen for college football.
I have ZERO doubt "our" TEAM could someday be as good. As fans though,
perhaps we should aspire to be as classy as those I was hosted by. The type
of hostile, vile garbage we are subjected to on the road and are certainly
guilty of at home is just embarrassing when you see how they do it
elsewhere. Not preaching here - just some thoughts of one VERY proud
Terrapin after seeing the light Auburn style.

Go Terps - let's get # 5 on Thursday night .

[ninjaone]

Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding