h another Yankees-Red Sox series concluded this past weekend in Boston, it made me 
wonder. Have we lost all rivalries in sports? I think perhaps free agency has a lot to do with it. The same guys aren't on the same teams for their whole careers, heck, they sometimes sign with the team that is considered its former teams rival. But I really wonder if rivalries exist anymore or for that fact, matter anymore. When was the last time you heard anything juicy a
bout a Dodgers-Giants series? What about a Celtics-76ers game? Remember when B
ears-Packers games meant something?Now I know everyone is going to say that there are still rivalries alive and strong today. The first exa
mple I will get will be Lakers vs. Celtics. Yea that was a good rivalry in the 60's, 70's and 
80's. Sure they played in the 2008 NBA Finals and they play twice a year, but is there that real hatred for one another? Like in 1984 when Kevin Mchale knocked Kurt Rambis to the ground. Now I'm not advocating violence in order to be considered a rivalry, but there needs to be a general dislike for the other team to take a normal game or meeting to the next level.
mple I will get will be Lakers vs. Celtics. Yea that was a good rivalry in the 60's, 70's and 
80's. Sure they played in the 2008 NBA Finals and they play twice a year, but is there that real hatred for one another? Like in 1984 when Kevin Mchale knocked Kurt Rambis to the ground. Now I'm not advocating violence in order to be considered a rivalry, but there needs to be a general dislike for the other team to take a normal game or meeting to the next level. Red So
x vs. Yankees is another one someone might point out. There re
ally hasn't been any meaningful, hatred games since 2004. But even in that series, nothing crazy happened like in 2003 when, ring the fight bell, Pedro Martinez and Don Zimmer went at it. Sure Sox fans don't like Yanks fans and vice versa, but when Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon can come over from the Red Sox t0 the Yankees and Bernie Williams can be in serious contract talks with the Red Sox, that doesn't mean that the hatred is still alive.
x vs. Yankees is another one someone might point out. There re
ally hasn't been any meaningful, hatred games since 2004. But even in that series, nothing crazy happened like in 2003 when, ring the fight bell, Pedro Martinez and Don Zimmer went at it. Sure Sox fans don't like Yanks fans and vice versa, but when Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon can come over from the Red Sox t0 the Yankees and Bernie Williams can be in serious contract talks with the Red Sox, that doesn't mean that the hatred is still alive.Packe
rs vs Bears, aww yes one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL. When was the last tim
e you cared about a Packers, Bears game? Rivalries also have to affect the national level, not just the local level. That's why Jets-Dolphins, Cubs-Cardinals and Spurs-Mavs don't reach the rivalry level. I honestly think that in pro-sports, the rivalry is dead. College sports is another story. Let me know what you think!
rs vs Bears, aww yes one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL. When was the last tim
e you cared about a Packers, Bears game? Rivalries also have to affect the national level, not just the local level. That's why Jets-Dolphins, Cubs-Cardinals and Spurs-Mavs don't reach the rivalry level. I honestly think that in pro-sports, the rivalry is dead. College sports is another story. Let me know what you think!
Posts
Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers is still a great rivalry every year. You can always count on a several hard penalties and great fighting(Dion Phaneuf and Jarome Iginla usually are right in the mix of it all)!!! BTW, yes, the SPORT of hockey IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE alive and well!!
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was bad of me to leave out hockey rivalries. Do the teams really have a dislike for one another?
ReplyDeleteThey do... there are websites devoted to the hatred from one to the other. You can always count on fans getting into it on the city transit to and from games as well!
ReplyDeleteI agree somewhat with the "decline" of passionate rivalries for the reasons you mentioned, and probably several others. Funny how rivalries become much more intense when the game, or series, is much more meaningful. Case in point, Michigan vs Ohio State football. Still a passionate rivalry, but much more meaningful a couple years ago when the two teams met late in the year #1 and #2 respectfully in the BCS pole. While we're discussing college football how about a blog inviting suggestions for a college football playoff system.
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