The Top 5 Best Sports Rivalries
The best team rivalry in sports history is when I analyze the rivalries that made them one of the best over the years. I will have a top 5 that I will break down. The teams are Yankees and Red Sox, Celtics and Lakers, Michigan and Ohio State football, Duke and North Carolina, and Packers and Bears. These rivalries have hatred, competition, intensity, passion and exciting moments that every person would want to see.
Bears vs Packers
Packers and Bears are probably one of the longest NFL rivalries in history. For the past 80 years, the Bears-Packers series has had all the bitterness, intensity, and animosity normally associated with rivalries. The Bears-Packers rivalry also has featured some of the best moments by some of the greatest players in NFL history. A total of 52 Pro Football Hall of Fame members (28 for the Bears and 24 for the Packers) have participated in the series. The Bears record against the Packers is 92-88-6. The Bears have 18 division championships to the Packers 15. The Packers won 9 Conference Champions to the Bears 4. They combine for five Super Bowls and 54 playoff appearances. Both Bears and Packers have been in the playoffs four times together and played only twice. The rivalry started in 1921, but it really took shape in 1923. At the epicenter of the rivalry stand two of the most irrepressible and influential figures in NFL history-Chicago's George Halas and Green Bay's Earl (Curly) Lambeau. Each entered the league as founder, head coach, and player. Halas controlled the Bears from 1920 until his death in 1983, roaming the sidelines as their head coach for a total of 40 years. Lambeau was the Packers' vice president and head coach from 1919-1949. Halas and Lambeau both were strong-willed, disciplined, and driven to win. Their recurring clashes kept the flame of the rivalry hot. The first ever ejections for fighting in the NFL took place between these two teams. It was when Halas, Bears owner, got the Packers kicked out of the NFL so they will not sign a specific player. The hitting also was intense during the Lombardi era. One of the ugliest incidents in the series came in 1986 when Mike Ditka was coach of the Bears and Forrest Gregg was coach of the Packers. Both men had disliked each other as players. The Bears were the defending NFL champions, and they defeated the Packers 25-12 at Green Bay in their first meeting in 1986. For the rematch in Chicago, Packers defensive end Charles Martin wore a towel that had a hit list of Bears players written on it. Quarterback Jim McMahon was at the top of the list. In the second quarter of the game, Martin proved his list was more than just for inspiration. After McMahon threw a pass, Martin grabbed the quarterback, lifted him in the air, and slammed him to the turf. Martin was ejected for his flagrant late hit. The Bears have 27 members of the Hall of Fame and the Packers have 22 members of the Hall of Fame.
All-Time Packers Leaders
Passing- Brett Favre 61,655 yards 1992-2007 Rushing- Ahman Green 8,322 yards 2000-2009 Receiving- Donald Driver 10,137 yards 1999-2012 Coaching Wins- Curly Lambeau 209 wins 1919-1949
All-Time Bears Leaders
Passing- Jay Culter 14,913 yards 2009-Present Rushing- Walter Payton 16,726 yards 1975-1987 Receiving- Johnny Morris 5,059 yards 1958-1967 Coaching Wins- George Halas 318 wins 1920-1967
Duke vs North Carolina
Duke and North Carolina have been always known as the greatest rivalry in college basketball history. There are more than a few college basketball diehards who object to the fact that The Battle of Tobacco Road is the sport's foremost series and rivalry, but it's an established status that won't be challenged anytime soon. For nearly 100 years, the third-and-fourth winningest programs in college basketball history have fought on Tobacco Road, setting a precedent for rivalries around the country. Both teams located just eight miles apart, Duke and North Carolina have battled for local and national dominance since the first meeting on Jan. 24, 1920. That is when North Carolina beat Duke. The last 83 matchups North Carolina has 42 and Duke has 41 wins. The two teams have not only set historic matchups in ACC play, but have also stood as NCAA powerhouses. Duke is currently fifth all time with NCAA titles in 1991, 1992, 2001, and 2010 while North Carolina stands as third all-time with titles in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, and 2009. Duke has earned 19 ACC tournament titles and is first overall in the conference for most conference titles. North Carolina is second overall in the conference with 17. Other Carolina greats like Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace, Billy Cunningham, Phil Ford, James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Antawn Jamison, Rick Fox, Kenny Smith, Jerry Stackhouse and countless others have contributed to the Tar Heels program success over the decades. The Duke program has fostered countless standout players that have sealed their names in the Blue Devil history books. Duke greats Art Heyman, Dick Groat, Jason Williams, Danny Ferry, Johnny Dawkins, J.J. Redick, Shane Battier, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, and Christian Laettner are just a few Blue Devils who have paved the way for a historically successful program. The result of the dueling philosophies is an unrivaled combination of sustained success. The last 134 times these two have played, at least one has been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The last time neither was ranked by the AP was on February 27, 1960. The last meeting where neither was ranked in either poll was February 25, 1955. In all, UNC has owned a national ranking in 107 of the past 133 meetings with Duke, and the Blue Devils have also been ranked in 86 of those matchups.
Numbers You Need to Know for North Carolina
2100-All-Time Wins 5-NCAA Championships 29-ACC Regular Season Titles 18-Final Fours 9-NCAA Championship Games 109-NCAA Tournament Wins 44-NCAA Tournament Appearances 808-Numbers of Weeks Ranked All Time in the Top-25 of the AP Poll
Numbers You Need to Know for Duke
4-NCAA Championships 15-NCAA Final Four 38-NCAA Tournament Appearances 24-Conference Tournament Championships 22-Conference Regular Season Championships 9-National Player of the Year
Michigan vs Ohio State
Ohio State and Michigan are known as the best rivalry in college football history. They call this rivalry The Game. No other rivalry in the sport approaches the combination of rich history, balanced competition, and consistent championship implications. The first game between the two was in 1897 and they have played each other every year since with seven exceptions: 1898, 1899 and between 1913 through 1917. Michigan dominated the early years compiling a 13-0-2 record in non-conference match-ups between 1897 and 1918. The Buckeyes first win against Michigan came in 1919. Michigan leads the series 58-46-6. From 1968 through 1982, either Ohio State or Michigan won, or shared, the Big Ten Title. The same is true 16 more times in the 22 years between 1984 and 2005. In 1968 Ohio State beat Michigan 50-14 and went on to win 1968 National Championship. It also ushered out Michigan head coach Bump Elliott. The next year, 1969, Bo Schembechler took over as head coach of Wolverines. He broke Woody Hayes 22 game winning streak and knocked #1 Ohio State from atop the college rankings. Some call this game the greatest college football upset of all-time. Woody said he thought his 1969 team, which went 9-1, was his best, even better than the 1968 National Champions. The most heated period the rivalry took place during the Ten Years War between 1969 and 1978. During that time, Ohio State Head Coach Woody Hayes faced off against UM Head Coach Bo Schembechler, who was Hayes former coaching assistant. On five occasions, both teams went into The Game unbeaten. The Bucks won four and the fifth was a tie: 1944, OSU won 18-14; 1970, OSU won 20-9; 1973, 10-10 tie; 1975, OSU won 21-14; 2006, OSU won 42-39. Ohio State spoiled perfect seasons for Michigan in 1944, (OSU won 18-14), 1970 (Ohio State won, 20-9), 1972 (Ohio State won, 14-11), 1973 (teams tied, 10-10), 1974 (Ohio State won, 12-10) and 2006 (Ohio State won, 42-39). People still know this rivalry hasn’t lost it’s luster because this year both teams were fighting during the game. A few players got ejected from both teams.
Michigan Numbers
All-Time Records 910-321-36 Postseason Bowl Records 20-23 National Titles 11 Heisman Winners 3 Conference Titles 42 All-Americans 78
Ohio State Numbers
All-Time Records 849-316-53 Postseason Bowl Records 19-24 National Titles 7 Conference Titles 36 Heisman Winners 7 All-Americans 78
Red Sox vs Yankees
The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is one of the most storied in all of sports. This rivalry is a competition of images, teams, cities, styles, ballparks, fans, and media. History, style, culture, pace, dreams, bragging rights - all are mixed in, mixed up with the rivalry in one way or another. The competition is so much more than a baseball team representing Boston going against a baseball team representing New York. It is, at its heart, a competition between the provincial capital of New England and the mega-municipality of New York City, the different lifestyles, accents, slogans and symbols. Playing in the same division, the teams faced each other often. The teams divided neighbors, colleagues, and families. Red Sox fans blamed the Yankees for all of their problems, and Yankees fans gloated in return. The roots of the rivalry extend all the way back to the first time the teams faced-off on May 7, 1903 at the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston. After a dormant period for the Yankees in the 1980s, and a similar time for the Red Sox in the 1990s, animosity heated back up in the late ‘90s. With stars like Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra, the Red Sox became competitive again. In 1999, the teams met in the ALCS. While the Yankees won decisively in five games, the series was a preview for later competition. The tension reached a high in 2003. Again, the teams played each other in the ALCS – but this time, it went seven games. It ended on a walk-off home run by Yankees third baseman Aaron Boone in the eleventh inning of Game 7. In 2004, the teams met once more in the ACLS. But the Yankees took a 3-0 series lead, all but crushing the Sox. Then the Red Sox did the impossible: they won the next four games to advance to the World Series, becoming the first team in sports to win a seven-game series after going down 3-0. They won the World Series for the first time since 1918, and exorcised the demons of Red Sox fans. Now, though the Yankees still hold a significant edge in World Series titles, both teams are among the most elite in baseball. They are the only teams to win multiple World Series in the past decade. Because both are now competitive, regular-season games are more important and fraught with tension than ever.
Red Sox by the Numbers
World Series Titles 8 American League Pennants 13 East Division Titles 7 Wild Card Berths 7 Retired Numbers 7 Boston Red Sox Hall of Famers 33
Yankees by the Numbers
World Series Titles 27 American League Pennants 40 East Division Titles 18 Wild Card Berths 4 Retired Numbers 16 New York Yankees Hall of Famers 47
Celtics vs Lakers
The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is not only the greatest team rivalry in pro basketball, but also the greatest championship rivalry in America. The Lakers and Celtics have met for the championship 12 times - a record across all major sports. They have won a combined 33 of the 67 NBA championships. In addition to the team's rivalry, basketball's two greatest one-on-one rivalries played out on the Lakers-Celtics stage. The Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell rivalry largely took place while Wilt played for the Warriors and 76ers, but the final chapter was written in the 1969 NBA Finals. The Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry returned the teams back to the Finals spotlight and rejuvenated the fledgeling NBA. The tension between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers goes back to the days of the Eisenhower Administration. This rivalry has met in a championship setting an astounding 12 times—making it quite possibly the best in all sports. Names like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Jerry West, Bob Cousy, Kobe Bryant, and John Havlicek echo in the hallways of "fandom," along with that respectful disdain from their opponents' supporters that remind us this one is has had multiple generations of fans. Overall, the main perception by NBA fans is that the Celtics are the best and most successful franchise, because they have won the most titles, and have dominated the Lakers in the Finals. However, the Lakers are the best franchise; they have been the most consistent, and they have had the most great players, as well as some of the best coaches and the best general manager. The Lakers have also won the most games ever, and have the highest winning percentage of any team in the league, the most playoff appearances, as well as the most division titles. The Lakers also have made it to the Finals an amazing twenty-nine out of sixty-one seasons, which is just under half of the seasons in the league's history. Finally, they are also the most popular team in the league both on and off the court. Even Robert Parrish, the Hall of Fame Celtic, said: "When you talk about dominance, you have to talk about the Lakers." Also, the long time commissioner of the league David Stern had this to say when asked what his dream NBA Finals match-up would be, "Lakers vs. Lakers." He also said "I'd be lying if I told you there wasn't a special fascination with the Lakers." The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics just added another amazing chapter in their ongoing rivalry in National Basketball Association history at the recently concluded championship series for the 2010 NBA title. This series marked the 12th meeting of these two gallant franchises in the NBA finals, with the Celtics winning nine championships while the Lakers grabbed the other three coveted rings, including the 2010 NBA championship. There will be more championship games to see between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics because of what they have shown throughout the history of the NBA. Both teams have what it takes to rise up to the occasion and overcome all adversities as they have proven in the recently concluded 2010 NBA championship. The fascinating game of basketball will continue to thrive so long as there are strong teams vying for the coveted NBA title and the greatest rivalry will no longer be measured by numbers but by the heart and tenacity of the players involved.
Individual Rivalries
Kobe Bryant vs Paul Pierce Pau Gasol vs Kevin Garnett Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Robert Parish James Worthy vs Kevin McHale Phil Jackson vs Red Auerbach Jerry West vs Bob Cousy Jerry West vs Sam Jones Elgin Baylor vs Tom Heinsohn Elgin Baylor vs John Havlicek
Celtics Numbers
NBA Championships 17 Conference Titles 21 Division Titles 21 Retired Numbers 21
Lakers Numbers
NBA Championships 16 Conference Titles 31 Division Titles 23 Retired Numbers 9