February 24, 2008

The Ten Best Individual Sports Rivalries : Men's Vogue lists what they believe are the ten greatest individual sports rivalries in history.

read story | posted by Ying Yang Mafia to General at 3:59 PM CDT (47 comments total)

You got to be kiddin' me!!
I know I'm biased but
No "Bo & Woody"?

posted by bo_fan at 4:53 PM CDT on February 24

Oh, and how about: Bird/Johnson?

posted by bo_fan at 4:58 PM CDT on February 24

Well, bo_fan, you have to admit for once a list isn't USA-centric. I think that is kind of cool. But the article is about individuals, so Bo and Woody would probably be thought of as Michigan/OSU and Bird/Johnson would be Celtics and Lakers(?).

That said, I loved watching the Prost/Senna rivalry. Two great drivers in probably the most prestigious racing circuit going at it like a soap opera. Senna crashing Prost in Japan was just too much.

posted by steelergirl at 5:10 PM CDT on February 24

Very good not to see a US centric list. Senna/Prost was a great rivalry, no quarter asked or given. Think they got it spot on with Ali/Frazier. What more could you ask for. Agree that some individual matchups within team sports were left out but Chamberlain/Russell made it and it was bigger than Bird/Magic, literally and figuratively.

posted by chuck'n'duck at 6:43 PM CDT on February 24

Dear Morons at Mens Vogue,

Chess is not a sport.

Thats right! Lets throw in the spelling bee while we're at it. My son and I go toe to toe every other night at shoots & ladders. Where is our place on the list? I think these lists are ridiculous anyway. "The greatest" is never gonna be agreed upon. Some people will rightly point out that chess isn't a sport, but if it isn't included, some chess geek (a name that i do claim for myself) who has no other sport to claim, will cry because it isn't included. If we include team sports, no Michigan or Ohio state fan will ever accept a #1 that isn't their rivalry, and no Yankee or Red Sox fan will ever accept Michigan/Ohio state.
The only reason to do these lists is to give us sports geeks something to argue about.

For the record there is no rivalry in sports greater than Michigan/Ohio State.

GO BLUE!!!

posted by elijahin24 at 7:13 PM CDT on February 24

Old people...

posted by everett at 7:17 PM CDT on February 24

Although not there personally I saw all three Ali Frazier fights. They were classics. No problem with them being listed number one. But that fact that Bo versus Woody is not in the top ten is unbelievable. Being a Michigan fan and in attendance at the Big House during Bo versus Woody it's apparent that Men's Vogue knows nothing of football.

posted by BlindAlvin at 7:50 PM CDT on February 24

it's apparent that Men's Vogue knows nothing of football.

They know it's not an individual sport.

posted by BoKnows at 8:04 PM CDT on February 24

For the record there is no rivalry in sports greater than Michigan/Ohio State.

GO BLUE!!!
elijahin24

Off topic, but I would have to weigh in with the Steelers/Browns being the "biggest rivalry" in sports. If you are talking football, and talking the U.S. ;)

posted by steelergirl at 11:53 PM CDT on February 24

This is why I'm not a real fan of these "top ten"-type lists ... especially a top ten of sports rivalries by Vogue ... obviously, this magazine caters to a different reader than the avid sports fan.

posted by Spitztengle at 11:57 PM CDT on February 24

you have to admit for once a list isn't USA-centric

Ahem. Apart from chess and motor racing, they all had Americans in them. And a lot of the time, both 'rivals' were.

Chess is a sport. Still the only one that my kids can beat me at, if you don't count those on the Wii.

posted by owlhouse at 12:49 AM CDT on February 25

Off topic, but I would have to weigh in with the Steelers/Browns being the "biggest rivalry" in sports. If you are talking football, and talking the U.S. ;)
It might have been except for the small "leave of absence" caused by Mr Modell so maybe not "all time" in my mind. But I'm sure the Dog Pound still goes crazy.
The Raiders vs Steelers of the 70's, that was the greatest football rivalry I ever read about or saw (on TV). That was hate.

posted by gfinsf at 3:30 AM CDT on February 25

steelergirl,

Thinking about what you said and also thinking of the change in ownership, Cleveland's stadium and all, I'm very interested in why you say that is the best rivalry? I'm not questioning your opinion, just asking to you to explain.
Personally, I think I would look at this like this is a new team (old colors) and thus the old rivalry is kind of lost.
Honestly, just wondering how it has hung on to be the best? Don't you feel a bit sorry for them rather than kicking their A@@es now?

posted by gfinsf at 5:26 AM CDT on February 25

gfinsf, rivalries may be played by teams but they are created and maintained by fans, especially in today's pro sports world.

posted by apoch at 6:06 AM CDT on February 25

gfinsf, ok, maybe not the best rivalry, but it is certainly one of if not the oldest in football, even with the brief time of no Browns in Cleveland. And it is probably one of the most intense. And apoch is right, Cleve/Pitts fans are rough on each other.

I see what you did there, owlhouse. I stand corrected.

posted by steelergirl at 6:36 AM CDT on February 25

Hmm, I don't know what to think. Apparently the "Men" @ Men's Vogue don't watch college football. Sheesh.....

posted by aMAIZEd Mark at 6:37 AM CDT on February 25

If you take the 60s, 70s, and 80s out of the equation, what do you have left? Is it safe to say this time period is the Golden Age of sports? Yes, if you created this list..

There is no doubt Top Ten lists are subjective. This person put some thought into his list, but he based it on personal preferences. No football? No SOCCER?! I'm no fan of soccer, but I'm willing to bet there is a major rivalry there somewhere. Those fans are rabid, so there has to be something to it.

I live north of Detroit, so you can easily guess my personal favorite. But I wonder where it would end up on a genuine, unbiased world top ten..

GO BLUE!

posted by mitchigan at 8:23 AM CDT on February 25

Chess is a sport.
Please tell me how chess fits into the definition:

Sport
n.
1. a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
b. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.

Chess is a wonderful board game. It requires no physical aptitude. I would argue that Red Light/ Green Light is a sport before chess.

posted by Hannibal at 8:35 AM CDT on February 25

"it's apparent that Men's Vogue knows nothing of football."

You're right - no mention of Rangers-Celtic, Barca-Real or River-Boca.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 8:36 AM CDT on February 25

I whole-heartedly have a very strict definition of what a sport is or isn't. But easy enough to point out that chess fits definition number 3 above. I don't believe chess is but MY definition of a sport comes from my heart and not a dictionary. I think many activities can be defined as a sport using Webster's.

As for the soccer and football aspect of this list, I don't think there have been many one-on-one rivalries in either sport. That is what this list is about. Man on Man action (the good kind).

posted by Ricardo at 9:05 AM CDT on February 25

(Arguments about what is or isn't a sport are generally outside the realm of discussion of this site. If Men's Vogue wants to include chess, that's fine by me. They cut into SportsCenter to announce Bobby Fischer's death, so it isn't exactly a crazy thought.)

Two years from now, when Men's Vogue revisits this list (and they will, oh yes, they will), I fully expect to see Takeru Kobayashi vs. Joey Chestnut on this list.

Clearly, they categorically excluded team rivalries (no knock on Pitt/Cleveland, steelergirl, but you'll pardon me if I detect a bias there) and national ones (What, no NZ vs. Australian rugby? England/Pakistan crisket? Canada/Norway curling? Whiskey tango foxtrot?) in favor of the actual personal battles. I might quibble with it (there's two chess entries, but no Borg/McEnroe? No Pete Weber/Walter Ray Williams? No Makoto Nagano/Shingo Yamamoto?) but it's fine, especially considering the source.

Although I admit, I only buy Men's Vogue for the cartoons.

posted by chicobangs at 9:05 AM CDT on February 25

Wait. I take that back. I saw Borg/McEnroe on the list, and read it as Fischer/Spassky. I know, I know.

Please swap those two pairs out for each other, and pretend I'm actually able to read properly for comprehension on a Monday morning.

posted by chicobangs at 9:11 AM CDT on February 25

Please keep the discussion on topic. In general, we don't do "is it a sport or not", especially when it has nothing to do with the link.

posted by justgary at 9:12 AM CDT on February 25

Horses? I bet if you could interview them, they would deny any rivalry.

posted by drose92264 at 10:18 AM CDT on February 25

Man on Man action (the good kind).

Richard Simmons V George Michael?

sorry justgary

posted by Folkways at 10:27 AM CDT on February 25

My favorite part of the slideshow, hands down, was this. That cartoon drawing is a riot.

posted by Venicemenace at 11:03 AM CDT on February 25

"Thats right! Lets throw in the spelling bee while we're at it. My son and I go toe to toe every other night at shoots & ladders."

I believe this is called ironic juxtaposition.

posted by Venicemenace at 11:04 AM CDT on February 25

posted by BoKnows at 11:29 AM CDT on February 25

I hate "professional" wrestling but what about Hulk Hogan vs. Rick Flair?

As far as team rivalries, the most intense ever would almost have to be the Red Wings vs. Avalanche in the late 90's. It may not have been a long rivalry but I have never seen or even heard of more "hate" between two teams before or since.

And I still don't see how anyone could see sitting at a table or desk as active.

posted by Hannibal at 11:32 AM CDT on February 25

I have never seen or even heard of more "hate"

You should watch some of the Celtic-Rangers matches then.

posted by Ricardo at 11:39 AM CDT on February 25

"The greatest" is never gonna be agreed upon.

For the record there is no rivalry in sports greater than Michigan/Ohio State.

Okay, that's just confusing.

And, in breaking news, it appears another Men's Vogue reader has been outed.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:41 AM CDT on February 25

Max Biaggi and Valentino Rossi had a pretty heated rivalry in MotoGP a few years back. Here's a great video of those two going at it at 180 MPH. It's in Italian, but that doesn't matter. Here's what is happening:
1) Biaggi elbows Rossi off the track.
2) Rossi cuts Biaggi off and then flips him off.

Oh, and Rossi in on the yellow bike and Biaggi is on the red bike.

posted by NoMich at 11:59 AM CDT on February 25

The article was about INDIVIDUAL SPORTS RIVALRIES

Since when are horses individuals?

posted by drose92264 at 12:09 PM CDT on February 25

Since they don't play team sports, Mr. 92264.

posted by chicobangs at 12:19 PM CDT on February 25

My son and I go toe to toe every other night at shoots & ladders

...and Men's Vogue never interviewed you for inclusion on the list? This is a shocking injustice! (only kidding elijahin)

posted by Howard_T at 12:26 PM CDT on February 25

Since the horses are on the list and their jockeys aren't, why are race car drivers on the list and the cars aren't?

posted by drose92264 at 12:26 PM CDT on February 25

drose, it's their magazine. They can include or exclude who they want.

Sounds like you have a column in you about this.

posted by chicobangs at 12:39 PM CDT on February 25

Nah, not a writer at all. I just think it's silly putting animals on a list of sporting rivalries. But, as you said chico, they can include/exclude whatever they want. These type of lists are all subjective and I just like to see people get so fired up over something so trivial.

posted by drose92264 at 12:53 PM CDT on February 25

These type of lists are all subjective and I just like to see people get so fired up over something so trivial.

So are you trolling to get people fired up or telling us this post is stupid?

posted by yerfatma at 1:48 PM CDT on February 25

More the latter than the former.

posted by drose92264 at 2:06 PM CDT on February 25

Did most of you even read the article? How about the title?

The list creators at Vogue magazine had NO intention of including football or soccer or baseball or hockey. No NCAA. No Rugby. No team sports at all.

The article was about INDIVIDUAL SPORTS RIVALRIES.

Well, except for the Greg Lemond vs Bernard Hinault rivalry, and the Bill Russell vs Wilt Chamberlain and the Alain Prost vs Ayrton Senna rivalries. Hell, in two of those three instances, the rivals are in fact teammates.

posted by tommytrump at 2:14 PM CDT on February 25

And, in breaking news, it appears another Men's Vogue reader has been outed.

Hell no. I just found the link through the yahoo homepage.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 2:17 PM CDT on February 25

I fully expect to see Takeru Kobayashi vs. Joey Chestnut on this list.
Yes, Mr. Chico! Epic!!

The article was about INDIVIDUAL SPORTS RIVALRIES.

I, too, was wondering why all the team stuff was popping up in this discussion.

Since when are horses individuals?

Define individuals.

Since the horses are on the list and their jockeys aren't, why are race car drivers on the list and the cars aren't?

Because cars aren't individuals?

So are you trolling to get people fired up or telling us this post is stupid?
Even thought this question isn't directed at me, my answer would be that I like to fire up the stupid people with my trolling. Or something.

posted by THX-1138 at 2:39 PM CDT on February 25

Since when are horses individuals?

You should visit the locker room. Although CHMN DINGLE and the LAWYER are dominating the discussion, the horse's will have to speak out sooner or later.

posted by BoKnows at 3:32 PM CDT on February 25

...and Men's Vogue never interviewed you for inclusion on the list? This is a shocking injustice! (only kidding elijahin)

i know, right? there is no justice in the world!!

posted by elijahin24 at 4:55 PM CDT on February 25

Is Vogue a gay magazine??

posted by 49ertom at 5:48 AM CDT on February 26

Only when Ying's reading it.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:10 AM CDT on February 26

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