Condors Blogs

Rivalries - Kevin Truelson

Thursday, August 3rd, 2006 | Condor Confessions

There made in an instant or by an incident. On a Sunday afternoon on the ice or Friday a night under the lights. On the gridiron or in the backyard. In the cold or in the heat. The venue is always different but the feelings always the same. It’s the most exciting and nerve-racking thing in sports, from the player’s to the fans, and the media to the front office. It creates tension and a buzz. Hate and not much love.

It’s the bitter rivalry. North vs. South, East vs. West. Warm vs. Cold, Rain vs. Snow. Paris vs. Nicole, Britney vs. Christina. Made by age or an action.

A punch to the face or a stab in the back. Produced by words or provoked by an action, which in turn, spawns a reaction and then we all know the war is on.

From the fans to the hardwood, the bleachers to home plate, and the stands to the ring there’s nothing like the hatred. The humble vs. the cocky, the brains vs. the brawn. Big vs. little, small vs. tall. What is it that we love about the hate? Who knows but we continue to watch and root one way or the other.

Scenario One, and we all know it and maybe even sick of it, but it’s the Red Sox vs. Yankees. The Sox vs. The Stripes. No explanation needed but we’ll take a quick look. Steinbrenner, Bucky “F’n” Dent, Boone, and “El Diablo”
Damon for New York, lets not mention the incident at home plate. The Sox side holds their own with Fisk, Ortiz, Perdro and four in a row. A rivalry that lives up to the hype and beyond the boiling point, it’s the mother of all rivalries.

Other baseball rivalries have come close but fallen a little short. The Dodgers vs. Giants, a rivalry that moved from coast to coast. From New York to California. We saw Juan Marichal’s crazy bat attack and Jackie Robinson refusing to play for the Giants after ten years with the Dodgers, chosing to retire instead.

And let’s not forget about the Cubs vs. the Cards, Chicago vs. St.Louis. The Midwest battle played out between the birds and the bears. But hey, who really cares about the Cubs, they’re the Cubs.

What about Lakers vs. Celtics. This rivalry has since faded but is still remembered. Magic vs. Bird, The Green vs. The Yellow. Hatred and glory at its finest, watched by all. The Lakers vs. Pistons, MOTOWN vs. Showtime, Hollywood vs. Hollywork!!

Other noteable basketball rivalries are both individual and team related. Shaq vs. Kobe, is personal and overrated. One plays for his team, the other for himself. One wins, the other not so much. One championship to zero since the split, so lets figure it out. How about the Spurs vs. The Mavs, Duncan vs. Dirk. This use to be one-sided but like any good rivalry the Mavs have fought back.

Honorable mentions include Knicks vs. Miami in the 90’s, Miami vs Detriot, Lakers vs. Sixers, Celts vs. Sixers, and Wilt vs. Russell.

There have been two many to count in the ring. Knockouts to split decisions forcing rivalries to live on. Who could forget Haglar/Hearns, Leonard/Duran, or Holyfield/Bowe. And what about maybe the greatest man vs. man rivalry of all time, Ali and Frasier. Frasier knocking down Ali in fight number one, breaking Ali’s jaw but still some how finishing the fight. Two and Three going for Ali, pushing two men to the limit and fans to their feet.

Football and hockey have had their fair share, from blood baths to grass stains, broken bones to broken plays. The Redskins vs. Cowboys, we all should have known, The Browns vs. Steelers is loathe in motion. We have the Bruins vs. Canadiens, Flyers vs. Rangers, and who could forget Colorado vs. Detroit. Claude Lemieux started it, Darren McCarty finished it but both have moved on the hatred still lingers.

We’ve seen more don’t get me wrong but some are media made and just not that strong. Tiger vs. Phil, Graf vs. Seles, Agassi vs Sampras, and Hulk Hogan vs. Andre.

College and high school have rivalries at every school. These probably have the most hatred, and absolutly no love lost, to say the least. From Texas vs.Oklahoma, USC vs UCLA, Florida vs. Florida State, Duke vs. North Carolina, UNH vs. Maine, and Notre Dame vs. Anyone. Twenty thousand students and countless alumni rooting on their team, showing loyalty and love for their boys “to rip the other team’s head off”.

We all remember our high school rivalries, whether it was Friday night or Saturday afternoon. These were the glory day’s, or least that’s what we’ve been told. Who could forgot the pride and hope you had for your school to win. Archies vs. Spellman, Oildale vs. Rosedale and add in your school in between.

So, when you go to the next big game between two bitter rivalries, just remember those feelings come for free.

And the random thoughts continue: the zoo was closed so I went to the elephant bar…some people who can’t see, think I look good…no matter what time or what grocery store I go to, I always get a wobbly cart…when the girl at the bank asks me how I want my money back I say doubled…when someone else makes me a sandwich it just tastes better…”because” is a suitable answer…koko drinks bottled water out of a bowl…Stacy Keibler doesn’t know what she’s missing…got to go people, polly wants a cracker.

#55 Kevin Truelson
ktruelson@hotmail.com