Rivalries in pro sports mean nothing compared to college rivalries IMO. How intense can Boston vs. New York be if they're playing 25 times a year? Plus, there's more loyalty in college sports (at least for the players) than in pro sports. Pros are just mercenaries.
I am beyond pissed that a website I've never heard of and will probably never visit again didn't include UM-OSU.
This.
These.
Those.
The NY Times begs to differ. And if you include Texas-OU and leave out Michigan-OSU, then you shouldn't be allowed near a keyboard, or typewriter in this clown's case since he appears to have the world-awareness of a caveman. Then again, covers.com seems to be as big a deal as Bleacher Report, which of course gave us this gem, which was so awful that even anti-RR people were ridiculing it in the comments.
And don't get me started on UNC-Duke. Sure, it's a big rivalry, but I find it incredibly difficult to take seriously when the only two times that it's ever mentioned outside the state of NC is when ESPN has to talk it up before each of the two games to create hype. Seriously, some of the ESPN basketball guys have the nerve to say that Duke-UNC is the biggest rivalry in sports. For shame.
Level 1: Teams are rivals in bball. See Duke-UNC.
Level 2: Teams are rivals in football. See OU-Texas.
Level 3: Teams are rivals in everything. See UM-OSU.
I seriously take pleasure in not only beating OSU at bball and football, but every other nonrevenue sport, academic rankings, drinking, etc.
Honestly, for a lot of people (on our side of the rivalry, at least), UM-OSU is Level 2. For virtually all other sports, MSU is our top rival.
I disagree. I hate OSU way more than I ever hate MSU.
I read the post wrong... as did a few people I think.
I will add that, by definition, I think Michigan and MSU are rivals in hockey and not really much else. MSU owns basketball. Michigan owns pretty much everything else. It's hard to considerteams to be rivals in a sport in which the results have been so lopsided,
MSU owns basketball.
Thanks so much, Brian Ellerbe and Tom Goss.
Does anyone (who doesn't live in Ohio) consider OSU a bigger rival than MSU in sports other than football? I don't dispute in the least that they're our biggest football rival. And I can understand hating them more than MSU, because our fans generally don't get physically assaulted in East Lansing.
But in other sports it's not the same. Check the attendance numbers for UM-MSU games in other sports compared to UM-OSU. Sparty is the opponent that our fans turn out for. This isn't an opinion - it's fact.
I grew up with the Duke-UNC rivalry and the intensity is year round because all the graduates live and work with each other. Until about 2003, ESPN ranked UM-OSU number one and Duke-UNC number two. Then ESPN bought the broadcasting rights to Duke-UNC from Raycom and our recent futility against OSU began. Our losing streak combined with ESPN's self promotion have caused that game to be so loved by ESPN. I do think that UM-OSU is a better rivalry, but Duke-UNC is special and is the basketball equivalent of the game.
It should be a norm around here (if there isn't already one) about how to properly post a forum topic.
- Informative heading + brief summary or synecdochic quote + link.
Putting up a link, without some super compelling title (e.g., confirmation ex-USC superstar is transferring to UM) and/or some more explanation, doesn't make me want to click on said link. Plus it's just lazy.
Very clearly and succinctly stated.
I am happy you appreciated it.
An inconsequential website I've never heard of didn't give The Game the props it deserves? I'm seriously pissed!
PISSED OUT MY ASS!!!
How in the world is Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer above Michigan and Ohio State? I understand they've had intense matches but come on, it's nothing close to the The Game.
Nadal-Federer will be much bigger after they've played each other for over 100 years.
For chrissakes, fans get more excited at UM and OSU spring practice than they do at Wimbledon. I guess it's hard to show emotion while you're stuffing your face full of berries and cream, though.
Every single team listed in these rivalries has won a championship within the last ten years. Take out the Ravens and its more like 5 years.
What is Covers?
to keep warm at night.
...to keep me warm at night.
The Michigan Snuggie, that is. Not the creepy guy -- NTTAWWT.
I know thats the picutue of you in your State Room as a young officer. ;)
i think alot of it has to do with where you grew up. Growing up in Michigan, too many of my friends and family went to MSU for me to ever hate them the way I do OSU.
Many people make the opposite argument, that because they're from Michigan and know so many people who went to or cheer for MSU, they hate MSU more because they have to hear about them so much more.
Although I'm from MI, I haven't lived there since college so I don't make either argument. And I hate OSU more. ND close second.
Feeding degenerate gamblers (like myself at times) up to the minute as well as historical gambling information. Other than that the site is essentially useless.
They are getting what they want out of the deal: attention.
I say F' em.
If it doesn't include Michigan vs. Ohio St. it's useless. I've lived in quite a few states. Michigan, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Tennessee. I hear about how great the rivalries are (Alabama vs. Tenn., Texas vs. Oklahoma, WVU vs. Pitt) I always tell them you see how geared up you get for that game, ratchet that up 100 times and you've got Michigan vs. Ohio State. It's no contest.
since when is ravens-steelers a rivalry anyone cared about??
i was a steelers fan for some 10 years and the ravens never got anything more than wisconsin level interest from me. yeah you want to beat them but if you dont, youll get over it in a week
seriously. ravens-steelers?
Steelers biggest rival isn't even the Ravens, its the Bengals. This list is too small, doesn't include many other huge rivalries and has a personal rivalry between 2 tennis players thats not even the biggest in the history of tennis.
This list while it does have a few gems in it is just plain ridiculous.