Top 10 Best Rivalries in Pro Sports

1. New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox (Baseball)

   Best rivalry ever in sports history, no doubt...

   Too bad the Yanks kick their ass so much! Laugh out loud!

   I don't like baseball, but even if you don't know the sport, you know this rivalry.

   You're either one or the other, but NEVER both!

2. Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers (Football)

   Best rivalry in sports besides Ohio State-Michigan.

   True hatred toward each other still exists to this day.

   Both teams always go hard at it!

3. Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Hockey)

   I grew up in a small city in NE Ontario. The NHL was a six-team league, and hockey was the only game in town in those days, making this far and away the ultimate rivalry. I am very biased toward both the sport and the team (Leafs), so for me, there is no greater long-term rivalry.

   This rivalry is the Yankees and Red Sox of hockey. Classic rivalries are the best!

4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics (Basketball)

   Probably the best and the most one-sided rivalry, considering the Celtics always smack the Lakers except for the rigged series in 2010. Nevertheless, the Celtics always reign supreme!

   They have met so many times in the finals. The latest good chapter of the two? 2010, LAKERS BABY! 4-3.

   The '60s - over 10 years, that's sick. Magic and Bird? Come on, they're different players.

5. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings (Hockey)

   This has been going on for so long. The atmosphere at these games is unreal.

6. Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens (Hockey)

   This should be higher up! BIGGEST rivals in the NHL, hands down!

   They've been at it for almost a hundred years... 100 years, man!

   This should easily be #1. The Red Sox and Yankees are close, but they don't beat the crap out of each other every single game they play.

7. New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (Football)

   This is going to be different now that Manning is gone, but Luck could quickly begin to hate the Patriots. Should be interesting.

8. Manchester United FC vs. Liverpool FC (Soccer)

   Liverpool dominated the '70s and '80s, and Man Utd dominated the '90s and '00s. Both clubs have a rich history and have won more in football than all other English clubs combined. They come from the same county, Lancashire, and their grounds are only 40 miles apart. Their rivalry is intense!

   Yeah, we dominated most of the '90s and went on to win 13 league trophies from 1990-2020, 23 domestic cups, and 5 European trophies. Before that, Liverpool were the ones that dominated.

   We've won 20 league titles so far. They've won 19.

9. Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson (Basketball)

   I agree, the NBA Finals were on tape delay before these two came along.

   Basketball would have been done if these two guys didn't come along.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (Football)

    It is such a great rivalry because it is always a low-scoring game. I believe the most points any team scored was between 30-35, not sure though.

    Just look at the intensity involved in the tackling. Remember Ray Lewis meeting Mendenhall and breaking his shoulder.

    This should at least be in the top 5. Ever been a Ravens fan at Heinz Field or a Steelers fan at M&T Bank Stadium? It sucks!

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Collingwood Football Club vs. Essendon Football Club (Australian Rules Football)

    These teams always have thrilling Anzac Day battles year after year.

12. ?

    Geelong Cats vs. Hawthorn Football Club (Australian Rules Football)

    Geelong was cocky in 2008, having only lost one game that year, and Hawthorn came out of nowhere to defeat them in the grand final.

The Contenders

13. Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche (Hockey)

    I challenge you to find a better hockey fight than the Red Wings/Avalanche '97 brawl.

14. Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball)

    Listen to a Cubs-Cards game at 720 AM Chicago to see why. The commentary by Pat Hughes is perfect, and the color commentary was better with the late Ron Santo, but is fine with Keith Moreland. Every game feels like the National League Championship.

    Went to my first Cardinals game at Wrigley in 2015. It's awesome. There really is nothing better.

15. Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders (Football)

16. Celtic FC vs. Rangers FC (Soccer)

    The best derby. American rivalries are plastic compared to the Old Firm. Violence and murder between two sides won't happen in American sports. Celtic or Rangers, Catholic or Protestant, Irish or British - this is the most intense atmosphere in sports.

    BY FAR the biggest rivalry in any sporting event.

17. Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Football)

18. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Hockey)

    Every Flyers fan not only hates the Penguins team but also flightless birds that are black and white and live in Antarctica.

    Always been skill vs. brawn. Philly won their share with that mean Bobby Clarke '70s team. Pittsburgh was all offense with Lemieux and Jagr... Even today, you have Sid the Kid vs. Chris Pronger!

19. Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers (Hockey)

    The Battle of Alberta is relevant in hockey, football, and lacrosse, but since hockey is Canada's national sport, it makes the rivalry so intense. Absolutely extreme.

20. New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers (Hockey)

21. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings (Hockey)

22. New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Hockey)

23. Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Football)

24. Germany vs. England (Soccer)

25. Borussia Dortmund vs. FC Schalke 04 (Soccer)

26. New England Patriots vs. New York Jets (Football)

27. Montreal Canadiens vs. Quebec Nordiques (Hockey)