BY BLUE KAUFMAN
Year after year, rivalries in sports have driven players to perform their best, to attain unreachable heights solely to ensure that their opponent doesn’t. Such rivalries have transcended the game, blurring the line between sports and society. Turning neighbor against neighbor and father against son, these games often decide divisions, championships and above all: bragging rights. In other words, it’s the game on the calendar that’s circled with red ink. Here are a few of the best rivalries in sports.
Packers vs. Bears
Deciding the best rivalry in the NFL was not an easy task. While some might believe it’s the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry, a great rivalry should be based off of more than just trash talk. Since 1921, the Green bay Packers and the Chicago Bears have notoriously clashed. The main reason for this can be attributed to the fact that both elite teams are usually evenly matched. In terms of total number of championships won, the Packers are first with 13 titles and the Bears are second with 9. Need more proof? In The Hall of Fame in Canton, the top two teams with players enshrined are the Bears and Packers. Despite the fact that both teams have fanatically loyal fans, there is a unique sense of mutual respect for both teams, making the Packers-Bears rivalry stand out among all others.
Canadiens vs. Bruins
While Hockey is a sport full of bitter opposition between teams, there is no rivalry in the NHL quite like the one between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens. Since they have played each other more often than any two teams, the rivalry is considered to be one of the most bitter in hockey history. Just mention the names Patrick Roy, Guy LaFleur, Ken Dryden, Henri Richard, or Jean Beliveau and you will have any die-hard Bruin fan clenching their fist’s with unexplainable malice. Adding fuel to the fire, the Bruins’ suffered 18 straight postseason defeats to the Habs beginning in 1946 and ending in 1988. Since then, the B’s have retaliated, rebuilding and reforming their organization. Today both teams stand on equal footing, generating a bubbling cauldron of tension that threatens to boil over.
Red Sox vs. Yankees
There was no question about this one. The Boston Red-Sox / New York Yankees have the best rivalry in the MLB and is arguably the fiercest in all of sports. This ruthless contention dates back to 1919, when the Sox’s owner Henry Frazee sold the beloved Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000, thus beginning the legendary “Curse of the Bambino”, an 86-year period where the Red Sox did not win a world series. The Sox blamed all their problems on the curse, and the Yankees (who had won 36 world series in the 1900’s) were not at all gracious in their victories. Despite the breaking of the curse in 2004, the tension between these two teams has not subsided. In the later stages of the rivalry, things even got violent, resulting in brutal brawls amongst both players and fans. Upon building the new Yankee stadium, a construction worker (red sox fan) even attempted to curse the franchise by burying a David Ortiz jersey underneath the Yankee’s new home dugout. Although the plan was found out and the jersey dug up, it ended up costing the Yankees $50,000 in damage. Needless to say, whether you support the Yankee’s “evil empire” or the “underdog” Red Sox, it is a rivalry familiar to everyone, even non-sports fans.
Celtics vs. Lakers
Here is yet another rivalry involving a team from Boston. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record twelve times in the NBA Finals and have won the most championships, the Celtics with 17 wins, and the Lakers with 16. The opposition reached its peak in the 1980’s due to a personal rivalry between all-stars Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. In fact, the NBA’s surge in popularity during this time can be greatly attributed to these two legendary foes. After their retirements, the rivalry simmered down, only to be renewed again in the NBA finals when the Celtics won in 2008 and the Lakers triumphed in 2010. To this day, the legendary chant “Beat LA” can be heard whenever the two teams collide.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
While Real Madrid is a team that yields many rivalries, none of them are more ruthless than the battle with Barcelona. Unlike rivalries in the US, the animosity between these two teams is one that is recognized globally. Whenever they play, millions around the globe gather to watch them clash. Led by star players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, both teams are among the best and most popular clubs in the world. However, despite being two of the biggest powerhouses in the sport, the rivalry also signifies generations of political and historical hostility. Whatever the reason, the fierce Real Madrid/ Barcelona rivalry is one that encompasses both the culture of Spain and the allure of two of the world’s best clubs.
Whether it’s due to geographical proximity or how frequently the two teams meet, rivalries between sports teams have gained much popularity over the last century. The passion and drive to defeat the opposing team is a common pressure felt by players, coaches, and fans alike. For this reason, rivalries continue to smother the world of sports with passion, and will continue to for years to come.
