Best Rivalries of All Time

Best Rivalries of All Time

We love it when rivals get on each other, whether on the gridiron, the tennis court or in politics. The Super Bowl may be anticlimactic, given the history of one of the teams involved, but it could be the start of a new rivalry. 

Packers vs. Bears

The oldest rivalry in the National Football League goes back to 1921. The men are as historic as the NFL itself, with characters like Papa Bear, the Pope of Green Bay and a middle linebacker who was one of the most feared football players ever.
Navratilova vs. Evert

Eighty matches in 15 years is a lot of face-time and a record. Add in political intrigue and a Wimbledon mismatch and you have the makings of a legendary rivalry, as well as a legendary friendship.
Harvard vs. Yale

One of the first college football rivalries ever, going back to 1875, it's intense between these prestigious universities. Notable former Harvard students include over 40 Nobel Prize Laureates, not to mention this graduate. Yale counters quite well and includes a former U.S. president with average grades.
Celtics vs. Lakers

It helps that these are two of the most storied NBA franchises. That two players started as college rivals added fuel. That one team seemed to have the upper hand was another factor. They'll be at it for a while.
Richard Nixon vs. John F. Kennedy

The more you look at this rivalry, the dirtier it seems to become. Some say one stole an election and was unfaithful to his beautiful wife. The other got his political career started through controversial methods, and it ended with the mother of all scandals.
Duke vs. North Carolina

Put two of the most prestigious college basketball programs within 10 miles of each other, then watch as their best coaches become legends, and you can get a taste of the biggest rivalry in college hoops.
Thomas Jefferson vs. Alexander Hamilton

Two of the Founding Fathers, they behaved more like bickering brothers. One wanted a strong central government. The other distrusted big institutions, especially banks. The other advocated the country start one. Sounds like they would fit right in today.
Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson

Rumor has it they do not like each other. One can't stay out of the news, for bad reasons. The other has remained faithful while his wife struggled with her health.
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier

The greatest boxing rivalry ever? Perhaps. It sure got nasty, but you would expect that from people whose objective it is to hit each other in the head. Their fight overseas has become the stuff of legend.
John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg

One was cool on the court. The other screamed at officials. What a contrast! But that makes for a good rivalry. Here's more on their classic Wimbledon match.
USC vs. UCLA

Schools just a short freeway trip apart and bitter rivals, one team has a better record in football while the other was a hoops powerhouse.
Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox

When these two teams play, someone is liable to get hurt. They played in the 1906 World Series, and one of the teams last won the series in 1908. The Cubs become lovable losers, cursed by a goat, finding new ways to maintain their streak of futility. The other team has a charismatic and controversial manager. The ballparks are just a short train ride apart.
Ohio State vs. Michigan

They first played in 1897, and their rivalry was once rated the best in North America. These two schools do not like each other and their coaches have been known to get into the action. Their personal rivalry was called the "Ten Year War."
Jack Nicklaus vs. Arnold Palmer

The greatest rivalry in golf history, it was conducted by two friendly rivals and was likely a changing of the guard in pro golf. Their rivalry put golf on TV, and the sport has never been the same.
Yankees vs. Red Sox

Another bitter baseball rivalry, another curse. The two most legendary baseball franchises hate each other. One calls the other "The Evil Empire." The other bought one of the best players in history from the other for a song. It's great baseball theater when these two rivals get on the field. 
Bobby Riggs vs. Billie Jean King

 The "Battle of the Sexes" featured an over-the-hill men's player against one of the best women players ever. Held at the height of the women's liberation movement, their match may be the most famous tennis game of all time.