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Greatest Sports Rivalries Of All Time

Greatest Sports Rivalries Of All Time

7 of 11

Fuentek.com
Fuentek.com

There’s nothing quite like a good sports rivalry, and the blind faith and crazed fervor of the fans make them what they are. No matter if it’s the championship or a regular season game, these match-ups send their respective bases into a frenzy, and millions tune in to see the blood – sorry, the score. Even if you’re not the biggest sports fan, these teams and players are definitely worth watching when they meet up with their sworn enemies.

Muhammad Ali v. Joe Frazier  QueenofSports.com
Muhammad Ali v. Joe Frazier
QueenofSports.com

Muhammad Ali v. Joe Frazier (Boxing)

Though they only fought three times, Ali and Frazier created some of the most significant boxing matches in history. Frazier won the first in 1971, giving Ali his first career loss, but Muhammad came back to win the rematch in 1974. The third didn’t go the distance as Frazier didn’t come out for the 15th round, but the two continued to fight out of the rink. There was a lot of racial tension between the two, as Ali claimed the first fight went to Frazier because of a “White Man’s Decision,” and they even got into a scuffle while on a televised interview for ABC leading up to the second match.

The New Zealand All Blacks performing their Haka war cry before a match against the Australian Wallabies IBM.com
The New Zealand All Blacks performing their Ka Mate war cry before a match against the Australian Wallabies
IBM.com

New Zealand All Blacks v. Australian Wallabies (Rugby)

As two of the biggest rugby countries in the world, it’s no surprise that New Zealand and Australia are ranked one-two nearly every year in the International Rugby Board’s rankings. New Zealand holds the majority of rugby union matches, winning 99 of 146, but Australia has the lead in the rugby league, with 93 of 125. Each year, they fight for the Bledisloe Cup, the biggest trophy in the rugby union and an annual competition between two nations – South Africa, and Argentina (as of 2012). But when it comes to pre-game traditions, the All Blacks undoubtedly have the edge – their “Ka Mate” Māori haka war cry they do prior to each match is seriously awesome.

The Yankees' ARod and catcher Jason Varitek for the Red Sox go at it McAnetWorkAcademy.com
The Yankees’ ARod and catcher Jason Varitek for the Red Sox go at it
McAnetWorkAcademy.com

New York Yankees v. Boston Red Sox (MLB)

The greatest rivalry in America’s greatest pastime, the hatred between Yankees and Red Sox fans (it’s true hatred when a “Yankees suck” chant can be heard at any Boston stadium, regardless of the sport being played) can be traced back to 1919 and the Curse of the Bambino. After the Red Sox owner traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees in order to fund his wife’s Broadway show, “No, No Annette,” the team failed to win a World Series until 2004 while the Yankees went on to become the most dominant team in the league, winning 26 championships. The teams have been more even in recent years but the rivalry remains alive, and spurts of violence can sometimes erupt on the field and off.

Things get heated in a Real Madrid-Barcelona match-up Telegraph.co.uk
Things get heated in a Real Madrid-Barcelona match-up
Telegraph.co.uk

Real Madrid v. Barcelona (Soccer)

Spain has been dominating the international soccer competition in recent years, making the rivalry between its two best clubs that much better. Since 1985, one of the two teams has won all but four of the La Liga championship titles, but Real Madrid holds the advantage at 31 championships to Barcelona’s 20. Even beyond the field, the teams represent the diversity of Spain, with Real Madrid representing the Spanish capital and Barcelona symbolizing the autonomous community of Catalonia. For the steadfast supporters, the match up represents the clash of competing cultures, as well as some truly spectacular soccer.

India vs. Pakistan in 2011 Desi-Living.com
India vs. Pakistan in 2011
Desi-Living.com

India v. Pakistan (Cricket)

The conflict between India and Pakistan extends beyond border disputes and onto the cricket pitch, as they’ve competed against each other eight times in the Cricket World Cup. Although India has come out on top in each of these matches, millions of viewers tune in for each of the face offs – the 2011 World Cup Semifinal attracted 1.5 billion viewers, making it the largest TV event of the year. While the cricket rivalry is a healthier outlet for aggression between the two states than the alternative, there have been some extreme reactions from fans on both sides, and security is always tight at matches.

A common site at Bruins-Canadiens games HabsEyesonthePrize.com
A common sight at Bruins-Canadiens games
HabsEyesonthePrize.com

Boston Bruins v. Montreal Canadiens (NHL)

Hockey is a physical sport under the best of circumstances, so when the Bruins and Canadiens meet on the ice, it turns into a boxing match. Two of the Originial 6 teams of the NHL, and consistently ranked high in the league each year, they have played more times against each other than any other match up in NHL history. The Canadiens have more Stanley Cup wins, and in fact have more than any other team in the league, but it doesn’t stop even the earliest regular season game from devolving into a fistfight. Past games have involved a near arrests, riots, breaking glass, and record amounts of penalty minutes.

Duke fans taunt a North Carolina player as he inbounds the ball SportsInsights.com
Duke fans taunt a North Carolina player as he inbounds the ball
SportsInsights.com

Duke v. North Carolina (College Basketball)

March isn’t the only thing that descends into madness, as even an early season match up between Duke’s and North Carolina’s basketball teams goes off the rails. Two of the most successful teams in NCAA history, the Blue Devils and Tar Heels play each other at least twice a year during the regular season, and more in the ACC tournament if the fates align. The games are always intense and hotly contested, both on and off the court. And the rivalry isn’t for nothing either, as it has produced some of the biggest stars in basketball. Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, and Luol Deng all went to Duke, while UNC turned out the likes of Vince Carter and a little-known player named Michael Jordan.

Nadal (left) and Federer (right) after the legendary 2008 Wimbledon match NYSun.com
Nadal (left) and Federer (right) after the legendary 2008 Wimbledon match
NYSun.com

Rafael Nadal v. Roger Federer (Tennis)

Anybody who can play tennis nonstop for five hours is automatically included in this list, so Rafael Nadal’s and Roger Federer’s performances in the epic 2008 Wimbledon match rightfully earned them a coveted rivalry spot. Two of the kings of the tennis world, they have played each other 30 times, but Nadal has the lead 20-10 (Nadal is considered to have the edge on clay courts, where they have played more often, but Federer dominates on grass). Their rivalry is considered a turning point for tennis, increasing the popular attention it receives, despite the fact that both men continue to show respect and admiration for the other. No physical bouts of violence have erupted mid-match. Luckily, their careers are still young, so there’s time yet.

The Big Game: Ohio State vs. Michigan MaizeandGoBlue.com
The Big Game: Ohio State vs. Michigan
MaizeandGoBlue.com

Ohio State v. Michigan (College Football)

Although the SEC has been dominating college football for years, the Big Ten rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan remains unsurpassed. They save the Big Game for the last game of season every year, and alumni and current students flock from all over to watch the legendary game go down. The rivalry truly began in 1897, but picked up steam from 1969 to 1978 as Ohio State’s coach Woody Hayes and his former assistant coach-turned-head-Michigan-coach Bo Schembechler went head-to-head. But it didn’t end there. The game remains one of the most watched match ups each year, packed with hard hits, exciting drives, and the inevitable taunting and subsequent fighting between fans.

The Celtics-Lakers rivalry through the years Articles.LATimes.com
The Celtics-Lakers rivalry through the years
Articles.LATimes.com

Boston Celtics v. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

As this is the third Boston team that made the list, it’s safe to say that its fan base is one of the most diehard and most likely antagonistic out there. But people in L.A. give them a run for their money in Celtics-Lakers match ups, as the two teams make up over half of all NBA championships (L.A. has 16 titles and Boston has 17). They have met in the finals an impressive 12 times, and are consistently some of the top teams in the NBA (the 2013 season aside). Some of the greats have participated in the rivalry including Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Wilt Chamberlin…and the list goes on.