We have each thrown out our Top 5 rivalries in sports.
Dan H. - contributing writer
5. USA v. Russia (Olympics)
Come on, the Miracle on Ice, the boycotts, the Russian controversial gold over the US basketball team that refused accepting the silver. Besides, who doesn’t get a tingly feeling beating the Commies…er . . . former Commies.
4. OU v. Texas
You can't deny that this is a big one, I'm already thinking about what the loss of Vince Young and a healthy Adrian Peterson will mean for the 2006 matchup.
3. Notre Dame v. Georgetown (Basketball)
Battle of the Catholics. Degrees from both schools and now a paycheck from G-town creates an inner struggle, but I always go Irish. Doesn't help that the last few have been decided in the last few seconds.
2. Green Bay Packers v. Chicago Bears
Screw the 4-12 season, the most disappointing thing about the 2005 season was losing to the Bears, not once, but twice!
1. Notre Dame and USC/Michigan/Michigan State/Navy (etc.)
Let’s just break down the last few years. The fake punt. The Bush Push. Enough said. This quote from a Michigan web site: “My two favorite teams on Saturday are Michigan and whoever's playing Notre Dame.” Ending Wolverine title hopes two years in a row. Enough said. 5-in-a-row at home. Charlie’s first loss. The planting of the flag. Enough said. And you may think that beating a team 42 times in a row is hardly a rivalry, but then you’ve never been to an ND-Navy game. In the past, Navy has promised the entire school a day off of PT if they beat the Irish. And I could throw in the intrastate rivalry with Purdue or the Catholic rivalry with BC for good measure. Does any other team play as many rivalries a year? Easy schedule my ass.
Tom M. - contributing writer
5. Auburn vs. Alabama
Nothing better than this game down south and in the SEC. Always a battle, no matter where the teams are ranked.
4. Lakers vs. Celtics
Or Magic vs. Larry. They had just classic battles back in the 1980's.
3. Red Sox vs. Yankees
Even though the Yankees have way more World Series Championships, this is just a heated rivalry and fueled even more by the Red Sox finally winning in 2004.
2. North Carolina vs. Duke
Every game is a close one, home or way.
1. Browns vs. Steelers
About 100 miles separates these 2 cities and it the hatred for one another always seems to find it's way back to the fans. I've heard rumors of sliced tires in the parking lots of the opposing teams fans.. ouch!
Don - AJS Editor-in-Chief
5. Army/Navy
I know it's not a game that has much influence these days on the BCS championship, but every year, regardless of the outcome, these guys go and play their hearts out and then spend time after the game on each other's sidelines showing respect as the school song for each institution is played. If you want to see true sportsmanship, this is one of the greatest examples out there.
4. North Carolina v. Duke (Basketball)
This has to be one of the fiercest rivalries in sports. Some of the best games in recent memory have come out of this series.
3. Ali vs. Frazier
Three fights that will forever define boxing.
1971 - Fight of the Century in the Garden - Frazier wins
1974 - non-title bout to determine who would get a shot at the title held by George Foreman - Ali wins
Oct. 1, 1975 - The Thrilla in Manila - arguably the greatest fight in pro-boxing history Ali, who called it, "the closest thing to dyin' I know of," won the bout when Frazier's manager wouldn't let him come out for the 15th round.
2. Yankees v. Red Sox
Sure the Yankees have a ton of World Series' but there has been a long history of these two going at each other with much hate on their minds. And to see a defection of a player from one team to the other, has brought more than it's share of pain to both clubs. Man how I hate the mercenarial quality of free agency!
1. OU v. Texas
Just in the time I've been watching, I recall Earl Campbell lighting up the Sooners in '77, Billy Sims returning the favor in '78, the 15-15 tie in 84, the 0-4 Sooners winning in OT in '96, SUPER ROY's dive over the top in 2001, a brilliant performance by Vince Young this past season. Eddie George (formerly of Ohio State), went to the Red River Shootout with Roy Williams a couple of years ago and said he'd never experienced anything like the atmosphere. And he's right, the stadium split right down the middle, half crimson - half puke . . .er . . .burnt orange. You can just . . .FEEL THE HATE! Not to mention, the winner of this game has gone to the BCS championship each of the past three seasons.
Ron - AJS Pro Football and Major League Baseball Editor
5. Notre Dame vs. USC (NCAA Football)
This yearly matchup is usually seen as a true test of what each team is made of. Some of the Irish's best "miracle finishes" have come at the expense of the Trojans as have some of their most heartbreaking losses....like this year, but don't get me started!!
4. Lakers vs. Celtics
Russell vs. Chamberlain followed by Magic vs. Larry. Not much more need be said about two of the winningest teams in NBA history, one from the east, one from the west, battling it out in epic games for the title. Not to mention that Magic and Larry (along with MJ a few years later) completely revitalized an entire sport that was beginning to drift out of the country's collective mind. While it is true both had terrific supporting casts: Worthy, Kareem, Cooper for LA and McHale, Parish and DJ for Boston, Magic and Bird outshone them all and rekindled the rivalry that Wilt and Bill started all those years ago.
3. A. J. Foyt, Jr. vs. Mario, Michael, Jeff and John Andretti vs. Al, Bobby and Al Unser, Jr.
I'm hoping for most of you, this triggers memories of the 70's and 80's. For some it may only trigger memories of the 90's and some may go all the way back to the beginning in the 60's. The constant battle among these three racing families for dominance in almost every form of auto racing through two generations (and now a third with A. J. Foyt, IV and Marco Andretti) is the stuff of legend. While all were racing at Indy, Mario also went and won the Daytona 500. Not to be outdone, Foyt won the 24 hours of LeMans. Fine, said Andretti who then won the Formula One championship. In the meantime, the Unsers were winning everything that could be won at Pike's Peak. And for the record: Foyt-4 Indy wins, Big Al-4 Indy wins, Bobby-3 Indy wins, Little Al-2 Indy wins, Mario-1 Indy win.
2. Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys
It's Cowboys vs. Indians!! At the risk of offending my Native American fans.....what is more steeped in American history than that? Didn't we ALL play Cowboys and Indians when we were kids? Now we get to live vicariously through these two teams, who were obviously CREATED to be rivals. What other reason could there be for a team from TEXAS to be in the EASTERN division? Come on, Dallas is about as much east as Pizza Hut is real Italian food. As a Redskins fan, I have always had respect for the Cowboys, especially the old days with Landry and Staubach and the Drews (Hill and Pearson). And you KNOW the NFL knows it's the best rivalry....what other reason to leave the Boys in the east when they realigned? That's why almost every year they play on Monday night....because even if they are both 2-10, the entirety of football fandom knows that those two teams are gonna put on a show on the national stage. And by leaving them in the east with the Skins, they play each other TWICE every year.....so if the NFL schedules the other game for a captive Sunday night national audience.....CHA-CHING!!!! Tagliabue ain't stupid, baby.
1. New York Yankees vs. Everyone Else
Okay, so for most of you reading this, the first team that comes to mind is Boston, but that's mostly a recent phenomenon. So why the Yankees vs. Everyone? Because everyone wants to beat the best and, like it or not, 26 World Series titles makes the Yankees the best. Besides that, what other team has had a Broadway play (and later movie) made about them and how much they are despised?
Joe – AJS College Football Editor
My top 5 – in no particular order
OU v. Nebraska
Game of the Century, 1971 – and just about every year, the winner of this game would go on to be a contender for the National Championship. Historically, OU/Texas was always more fun, but the Nebraska game was far more important . . .P.S. Rodgers knee WAS DOWN!
Cardinals v. Cubs
Anybody can have a hate filled rivalry, but it takes something special to have a rivalry that causes people to buy beer for each other all over the country.
Bird v. Magic
Eight other guys on the court, but all that mattered to those watching was the one-on-one match-up.
England v. Germany (International Soccer)
England’s fans chant, "Two World Wars, One World Cup." Don’t know what the Germany’s fans are chanting, but it’s probably something along the lines of, "Our cars rock, your cars suck," or "You’re not so bad without America there to watch your back now are you?"
Connors v. McEnroe
Other than these two guys, it take Anna Kournikova to get me to watch tennis, but their matches were epic.
Rick - AJS Basketball Editor
5. Jeff Van Gundy vs. Alonso Mourning.
Their 1998 matchup is largely credited for the explosion of interest in Greco-Roman wrestling that swept America for a few years.
4. The Washington Generals vs. the Harlem Globetrotters.
Founded in 1953, the Generals won exactly once, in 1971. The team was disbanded in 1995, replaced by the New York Nationals, with an equally impressive win streak. Let this be a reminder to all the Cubs fans who say they're "due."
3. The New York Yankees vs. All Of Major League Baseball.
There are two kinds of people: Yankee fans and those who hate the Yankees.
2. Dale Earnhardt vs. The wall of the Daytona Speedway.
"The Intimidator" was unbeaten for years in this matchup until their last meeting. A good lesson for kids about persistence!
1. The Pamplona Bulls vs. Drunken Tourists.
Spoiled out-of-towners with copies of Hemingway in their pockets and pitchers of sangria in their bellies versus five hundred pound charging mountains of angry beef with spikes on their heads. Good times! One of the few rivalries anyone can enjoy, no matter where they're from.
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