USA Today: The 5 rivalries in sports that actually matter

[Brad]

The 5 rivalries in sports that actually matter

 

By Nick Schwartz and Tim McGarry 13 hours ago

 

In an era of constant conference realignment and pro sports parity in most leagues, we’re all guilty of using the word “rivalry” to describe a meeting between two familiar teams a little too often. LeBron James sparked a bit of fan outrage when he said last month that there is no “real rivalry” in the NBA right now — but he’s right. Real rivalries are rare and special things that develop over time and require a delicate mix of ingredients to truly stand out above the rest.

Conditions of being an elite rivalry:

 

1. Meetings between the two teams are appointment television for sports fans nationwide, regardless of fandom.

Eliminates: Flyers-Penguins, USC-UCLA, Stanford-Cal, Kentucky-Louisville, international rivalries like Barcelona-Real Madrid

 

2. Both teams are generally near the top of the standings in the last five years — the rivalry games have to actually mean something.

Eliminates: all NFC East “rivalries,” Army-Navy, Harvard-Yale, Cincy-Xavier

 

3. Teams must meet every year.

Eliminates: Texas-Texas A&M, Kansas-Missouri, Syracuse-Georgetown, Florida-Miami

 

4. Both teams need to be located near each other. Proximity is key to a animosity existing among fanbases between games.

Eliminates: Celtics-Lakers, all other East Coast-West Coast “rivalries”

 

5. Teams may only have one true rivalry counted.

Eliminates: Michigan State-Michigan, Oklahoma State-Oklahoma

That leaves us with the only 5 rivalries in sports that matter (in no particular order):

 

1. Red Sox vs. Yankees

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2. Duke vs. UNC

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3. Michigan vs. Ohio State

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4. Alabama vs. Auburn

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5. Texas vs. Oklahoma

 

(Photos via USA TODAY Sports)

 

 

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/01/the-5-rivalries-in-sports-that-actually-matter/#sthash.ym9W6I3c

[GaUSFBull]

This article is a joke!!! I can't believe USF-UCF didn't make the list!!!!

[bullsbucsfan426]

I actually agree with your post even though its facetious. NOTHING compares to Pakistan-India in cricket.

[knightro]

It is inevitable that one year we will be both on a collision course and the "GAME" will actually mean something,

We were down when you were up....left nothing for excitement...

We were up when you were down...again...nothing but internal hate for each other... 

Our schools have too much talent, and allure to not turn this into something huge for a large national viewing audience.

EVERY week I want you guys to win...except once a year from now on....

[gobulls83]

As funny as ever:

 

Edited January 14, 2014 by gobulls83

[DELdaBull]

As funny as ever:

 

 

 

Man it was cool when they were the butt of our jokes.