Rivalrys

[Sandplay]

For those of you that have seen the state of origin rugby league matches in Australia. These games are the best rivals i have seen.

[microcrayfish]

For those of you that have seen the state of origin rugby league matches in Australia. These games are the best rivals i have seen.

Yeah but they need to bring back the biff!

[lumpuckeroo]

College Football

Kansas vs Missouri, in all sports, in all aspects.....

[elcash]

All those European guys take dives every time any defender comes near them (especially the Italians, and Cristiano Ronaldo does it, too, except when he knows he'll get away and score)

Although a lot of people complain about soccer players and their "diving," that's really a part of the game, yeah? On-ball tackling is constant, and if a legitimately spiked player gets up too fast, a lot of things that should happen don't have time to occur, e.g., opposing player gets a card, opposing team outs the ball to stop play, and probably most important- everybody gets a short rest. They say during the course of a match the players run some 8+ miles.

As for Ronaldo, if he's running towards the goal with a defender to beat, he's not trying to take a dive. It's the defenders who chance it and aggressively try to dispossess -- better they reset and deal with a free kick than let him get into the box... It's a little like fouling a basketball player who is about to make a layup. Ronaldo doesn't really get any special treatment from the officials; he gets special treatment from the defenders because he is a threat. If the forward players don't make it clear when they're fouled, and penalties aren't enforced for misconduct, some of those brutish defenders will start to hand out injuries, albeit accidentally or even on purpose. Last thing, never forget that penalties are assessed for the very act of "diving." If there's no contact, or truly incidental contact, you'll see guys get carded for trying to fake it. Rivalrys, then? Cards versus Cubs - Before networks offered ALL the games, every night, people watched and listened to what was available. For about one-third of the US it was either Cardinals or Cubs. UNC versus Duke - Everybody has to take a side. When's the last time you asked somebody with any knowledge or care about sports to pick between these two and they said, eh, who cares? Celtic versus Rangers - People in the US apparently know about this one, even if they know nothing else about association football. Like, for example, they could pick out a Celtic FC Jersey but might think Glasgow is in Sweden...

[~Troy]

Another vote for Michigan vs Ohio State.

College Football

How can you not put Michigan vs Ohio State in there, it's the best Rivalry in College Football. Longer and more tradition rich than all of the ones you have listed.

[Kellfire]

He's right, soccer is for pansies. All those European guys take dives every time any defender comes near them (especially the Italians, and Cristiano Ronaldo does it, too, except when he knows he'll get away and score) Some of the hooligans may act in an intense, violent manner, but this doesn't legitimize the rivalry on the field. American football players take a beating every down, and put their bodies on the line for their team. It's the ultimate team game, and its also very tactical. I think fans here in the US appreciate this more, whereas we see soccer players falling down crying only to magically stand up and appear completely healed after a minute on the ground and a quick spray of that "magic" spray stuff. It's just not very appealing in our culture.

That's got absolutely zero to do with the rivalrys.

[alomar123]

Ohio state vs mich state is huge but has been a little one side as of lately

[enarhi]

Duke/UNC

Mich/OSU

Celtic/Rangers

Man U/Chelsea+Liverpool+Man City etc.

[bIGwIRE]

Packers vs. Bears.

This rivalry has been going for generations. There is nothing like being in Lambeau for a Packers/ Bear game on the frozen tundra.

When the Bears are in town every other song on the local radio is "The Bears still Suck" and half the cars in Wisconsin are flying Packer flags, if not peronalized plates.

How can any other rivalry compete with a shirtless, drunken Cheesehead in late November? Even the girls in Lambeau go shirtless in the snow. Its magical...

[~Troy]

Ohio state vs

Fixed it for ya, lol. It's University Of Michigan, not Michigan State University.

[plark]

Penn State vs. Ohio State

or

Penguins vs. Flyers

[alomar123]

[QUOTE=plark;346197]Penn State vs. Ohio State

to think penn v ohio state is a bigger rivalry then mich is ignorance

[bIGwIRE]

Growwing up I loved watching Detroit Redwings vs. Colorado Avalanche.... seemed to take twice as long because of all the fights.

[Duffy]

Didn't have the time to read all the posts on this one but:

Dodgers/Giants
Woods/ Lefty is emerging as aclassic rivalry.

[MI Rob]

Growwing up I loved watching Detroit Redwings vs. Colorado Avalanche.... seemed to take twice as long because of all the fights.

Agreed.

But for NCAAF I will go with Michigan vs. Michigan State. Always one of my favorites around here.

[caddyshaq]

The Cardinals vs. Cubs rivalry is huge, but not as popular as the Sox vs. Yanks, mostly because of the media and the lack of Cards vs. Cubs brawls.

[TheJuice]

The best franchise in history and the entire NFL.

ESPN actually ranked the best football teams of all time... Cowboys were number one, Packers were number two, Steelers were number three. Sorry man, we are America's Team after all...

You may have more Super Bowls, but those two Super Bowls you won most recently were honestly the most boring championship games I have ever seen.

[iacas]

You may have more Super Bowls, but those two Super Bowls you won most recently were honestly the most boring championship games I have ever seen.

Yeah, two touchdowns in the final 3:00 of the game, including a leaping, gravity-defying grab... boring. Uh hmmm.