What is the best rivalry in sports right now?
November 18th, 2007 | by Ethanator1088 |What is the best rivalry in sports right now? The way I see it, it is a 4-way race between, Auburn vs. Alabama, Michigan vs. Ohio State, Red Sox vs. Yankees, and Colt vs. Patriots. There are little rivalries everywhere. I am an elitist. I only care about the big four. I am not giving credence to any other rivalries. In fact, if we were going all time, I would only add Celtics vs. Lakers. We are not going all time though.
Auburn vs. Alabama is a heated rivalry like none other. Alabama has only two big schools. You are either an Alabama fan or an Auburn fan. There is no pro team in Alabama. These two teams get all the press and all the fans. It is not a friendly rivalry. Marriages and friendships have been destroyed due to this rivalry. They meet every year in what is known as the Iron Bowl.
Ohio State vs. Michigan is a lot like the Auburn vs. Alabama rivalry except that these teams are in pro states. No one would ever call Ohio or Michigan a college state. They are in very populous states. There are more people in the mix. There are more fans in the mix. It is state vs. state.
Yankees vs. Red Sox, is the best rivalry, if we were going all time. We are not. This is a great rivalry and everyone in the nation picks sides. You could have 20 people form 20 different states and they could be 10 for the Yanks and 10 for the Sox. Everyone watches the games. We even watch spring practice games between these two. They are in the same division. The problem with the rivalry is that it is a rivalry of the fans. The players go at it several times a year. They cannot be caught up every time, as the fans do.
Colts vs. Patriots, is the elite rivalry. What I mean by that is these are the best two teams in the NFL. They are far above the others. They are in the same division. The NFL is the most popular sport in America. They do not go up against each other too much like the Sox and Yanks. It is a new rivalry and it does not have the same feel as the others. It is also Brady vs. Manning and Dungy vs. Belichick.
After saying all of that, here is my ranking.
1. Alabama vs. Auburn. This is a same state rivalry. This is talked about for 365 days a year. These are the ONLY two big schools in the state. Winning is not everything, It is the ONLY thing.
2. Yankees vs. Red Sox. This is the only pro rivalry that stands the test of times. There are countless side stories to this rivalry. These teams are filled with today’s legends and yesterday’s legends. They play a lot, but you might be watching a historic game, every time you watch them play.
3. Ohio State vs. Michigan. This is a lot like number one, but they are in separate states and they are pro states. There is a lot going on besides this rivalry. It might be a more popular rivalry than Bama vs. Auburn, but it is not a better one. I hope I do not make people too mad, but hey, yall are number three. J
4. Colts vs. Pats. This Rivalry is just too new. It is the best-trained athletes going against each other like gladiators, but it is just not one of the top three. It is two of the best coaches in the best sport playing chess, but it is too new. In addition, if one of these coaches leave, or QB’s get hurt, this is a null rivalry. Cowboys vs. Redskins is not that good when they are both down.
That is just what I think. You can vote on the poll and go to the forums to continue the conversation with other fans. The forums are 100% easy, fun, and free. Click here to go to the forums.
24 Responses to “What is the best rivalry in sports right now?”
By Andrew Perkins on Nov 18, 2007 | Reply
Yankees/Sox hands down. They play at such a high level every year. You never know what’s going to happen. And, like all other big rivalries, they really don’t like each other. I give them the nod because of the level at which they play. They’re consistently good. You can expect a barnburner every time.
By Ethanator1088 on Nov 18, 2007 | Reply
They play so many times though. It is not the best rivalry. Bama/ Auburn and Ohio State/ Michigan, only comes around once a year. there is a 365 day build up. Every single game can be remembered by the fans.
By Hillbert on Nov 18, 2007 | Reply
My heart will always be with the NFL down deep. Peyton Manning is a legendary former VOL, and we welcome the Patriots down to the heartland anytime so the Colts can kick their butt back home. But where I grew up(WI)nothing beat the trio rivalry of the Packers,Bears, and Vikings.;)
By Ethanator1088 on Nov 18, 2007 | Reply
That is a priceless rivalry. Packs, Bears, and Vikes, is a great trio. I can not put a value on your childhood rivalry. I know it will always be your number 1.
That is the beauty of this question. It can be different for everyone.
By ch on Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
No mention of Army-Navy anywhere?
By Ethanator1088 on Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
Sorry that there is no mention of Army / Navy. It is a great rivalry but not big enough for this elite poll. I think it is one of the top special rivalries. Colts / Pats would fall off of the list and a few others would join, like Celtic / Lakers. Thanks for reading the blog though.
By Nathanator on Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
I like reading your blog Ethanator but if you’re not going to mention the holy war between BYU and Utah State in your list of top rivalries, I will have to start doubting your judgement.
By Tigger on Nov 21, 2007 | Reply
The Iron Bowl is the best!! Hands Down!!!!
By Ethanator1088 on Nov 21, 2007 | Reply
Nathanator is my beloved eldest brother. He lives in Utah. I lived in Utah for 10 years and I saw a small group of fans next to a radio listening to the BYU/Utes game one time before I hiked Mount. Tempanogas. That is the only sport action I had ever seen in Utah. Utah and sports should not be in the same sentence, except to only say that they should not be in the same sentence together.
OK that is a dramatization. You have given me Steve Young and Shawn Bradley. Thank you for the former not the latter.
P.S. I am just playin with ya bro. I am a huge Jazz fan. Karl Malone and John Stockton are #1.
By chris on Nov 22, 2007 | Reply
Well, I will assume you are an SEC fan, and am not surprised by your answer. Lets say this, I definitely think that Auburn Alabama is a great rivalry, but here is why I think OSU/Mich is bigger. It has had more historical implications (and not just lately, conf titles, natioal titles, heismans, bowls, total wins), bigger stadiums, more national spotlight, larger fan bases, been played more. I will say, from all I have read, the iron bowl probably has more in state meaning, but that is not the only value of a rivalry. Plus, wherever you are, essentially its the local rivalry, and then Ohio State Michigan. Go to the east, its Army Navy and then OSU michigan, midwest, OSU michigan, South (iron bowl or OU/Texas) and then OSU michigan, west USC v. Notre Dame and then OSU michigan. Nationaly, its OSU Michigan, GO BUCKS!
By Ethanator1088 on Nov 22, 2007 | Reply
The Iron Bowl has had quite a few national factors as well. I understand that you are a OSU fan. I also understand that you will never respect the Iron Bowl fully. The SEC has the best fans, best attendance, best coaches, best records, best players to the NFL ratio, etc…. and the Iron Bowl is the best rivalry in the best conference. I respect the Michigan/ OSU rivalry enough to put it 3rd. I could have put Duke/North Carolina in it’s place, but I did not.
At the very least we can all agree that the Iron bowl is the best below the Mason Dixon Line and OSU/ Michigan is the best above it.
By TarHeel4Life on Nov 22, 2007 | Reply
North Carolina - Duke. End of discussion.
By chris on Nov 23, 2007 | Reply
I will probably never understand the Iron bowl, but I can appreciate it. How does one quantify having the best fans? Attendance wise, how can you compare the big house and the shoe (which rank one and 4 in stadium size to the iron bowl, which both trail the shoe by about 20K. also, ohio state/michigan has an average attendance rate of over 100% capacity to its games, while auburn and bama combined have less than 100%. and best records? check the records for teams over the last 5/10/20/100 years. you will see michigan as the winningest program of all time, Ohio state, 4th (neither auburn or bama are in the top 5). Over the last 5/10/20 years? ohio state is well above any competitor in the iron bowl, and I am pretty sure, ahead of any SEC team (maybe not florida). Best players to NFL ratio, maybe, but no SEC team has had more first round or total draft picks than Ohio state over the last 10 years (only Miami is ahead). Best coaches? once again, how does one quantify, but I will say, that the SEC does have better coaches right now, but in terms of history, ohio is the bread basket of coaching, and urban meyers, the new SEC poster boy was an ohio boy. Best conference, yes, you guys are the best conference, now. In history of college football, nobody would ever agree on that. And look at the last 15 years, sure, SEC might (might) be better, but auburn and bama game is a battle to see who is going to come in third. The ohio state michigan game determines the winner. As for the Big 10 can’t compete against the SEC, well michigans record is something like 15-4 against the sec. The big 10 has a winning all time record against the SEC and the big 10 has a winning record against the SEC in bowl games in the last 1/5/15 years.
As i said, the iron bowl might be more hated, but there are more factors than that to the greatest rivalry of all time.
http://espn.go.com/endofcentury/s/other/bestrivalries.html
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/3169406
http://cfn.scout.com/2/591649.html
By Ethanator1088 on Nov 23, 2007 | Reply
I knew that my last comment would raise some eyebrows. The name of this post is ” What is the best rivalry in sports right now?”. I was not going by all time records. The Michigan / Ohio State is one of the best. I can not make you believe that the Iron Bowl is the best. It is a personal decision. We can all agree that the Iron Bowl and Michigan/ Ohio State belong in the top 4. You can change their positions on your own blog.
Thank you for your comment though.
By Yankee Fan on Nov 25, 2007 | Reply
I’m a long time Yankee fan. Born and bred New Yorker. But a buddy of mine (from NY) went to school in the South and said that the SEC in general but Auburn Alabama in particular puts every other rivalry in a distant second. College sports in geenral creates better rivalries. There are no Jonny Damons between Aubrun and Alabama.
Case closed!
By kdawg68 on Jan 31, 2008 | Reply
Folks outside of alabama just don’t understand. I’ve lived with diehard Yanks and Redsox fans. It’s so much more than that.
By far the biggest rivalry in all of sports. It is LIFE 365 days a year.
Roll Tide
By em on Apr 16, 2008 | Reply
i grew up in WI. I’m a diehard packer fan and know loyalty to a team when i see it. I always thought that nothing could compare to green bay, wi on a sunday afternoon when the pack was playing chicago or minnesota. I was also a big fan of the Mich/OSU rivalry b/c my parents grew up in Michigan and are big Michigan fans. Then I came down to alabama. Im a student at auburn and i experienced my first auburn football season & Iron Bowl. No one really understands how important this event is util you experience. you are right on when you say that it’s different b/c alabama is not a pro state. the people down here live for college football– there is no alternative. during the season people come into Auburn and literally camp on campus starting wednesday night getting ready for the big game on saturday and they stay until sunday. (i’m curious to find out where these people work, haha, but then again it’s alabama and their employers are probably either in auburn or tuscaloosa too.) When it comes down to it, AUBURN/ alabama has way more tradition than anywhere else. Until you come down to Alabama and hear “WAR EAGLE” & “roll tide roll”, participate in the tiger walk or roll toomer’s corner, you’ll never appreciate this rivalry.
WAR EAGLE!! 6 IN A ROW!!!
By Jeff Campbell on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply
Nathanator, you are absolutely out of you mind to mention BYU-Utah in the mix with the likes of AU-Bama, OSU-Mich and Yankees-Red Sox. There should be a requirement for the teams to actually be good also.
By Bridget on Jul 6, 2008 | Reply
ONLY an SEC *^&^&** would think anything is bigger than ohio state michigan rivarly. Please, everyone, including the idiot that wrote this…go google “best sports rivalries” and find me ONE list (not written by an SEC direlict) that DOESNT have ohio state - michigan at #1. Nothing beats this rivalry, absolutely nothing. It dates back to the 1800’s, ALWAYS determines our conference champion and often, who will be in the national title game. The SEC is a great conference dont get me wrong, but as much as you think you are number 1 at everything you have to accept the fact that ohio state-michigan rivalry is just flat out better than any other rivalry out there.
By Ethanator1088 on Jul 7, 2008 | Reply
Bridget, I like you even though you do not see outside of your Michigan Ohio State box that you grew up in.
The SEC is a great conference. You are right about that. I have said what I need to say about the rivalry. Yall are Number 2 just deal with it.
By buckeyes on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.+Res.+460:
Ohio State vs. Michigan is the greatest.
According to the United States Government.
By person on Sep 20, 2008 | Reply
1. yankees/redsox
2.UCLA/USC
3.giants/dodgers
4.packers/bears-vikings
5.lakers/celtics