In his new book, author Richard Davies, Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Nevada, attempts to do the impossible: whittle down the greatest rivalries in all of sports into a neat and compact top-ten list.
It’s hard to argue with the ones Davies included in a book titled, fittingly enough, The Ten Greatest American Sports Rivalries of the 20th Century, although it’s much easier to fight and fuss and piss and moan over the ones left off the list.
As far as college football is concerned, two longtime enemies made the cut -- Ohio State-Michigan and Harvard-Yale.
Here’s the entire list included in Davies’ book:
Ohio State-Michigan (football) Harvard-Yale (football) Duke-North Carolina (men’s basketball) Red Sox-YankeesBears-PackersDodgers-GiantsCeltics-LakersChris Evert-Martina NavratilovaJoe Frazier-Muhammad AliJack Nicklaus-Arnold Palmer
It’s hard to argue with the seven professional rivalries included, and the Devils-Heels is an all-timer in hoops.
Here’s a statement from Davies’ release trumpeting the new book’s arrival in which he gives a little insight as to his criteria.
“Skilled athletes and leading coaches who face off year after year, both winning their share of contests. Their competitive fires must burn brightly, and big upsets and unusual plays also add to great rivalries.”
Needless to say, though, many a great college football rivalry found itself on the outside of Davies’ book looking in.
No Alabama-Auburn Iron Bowl? That would be one that has to rank right up there with the Buckeyes-Wolverines, and well surpasses the Ivy League rivalry in the here and now, and has for many a year.
And wouldn’t it be considered a crime against the game to not mention the Red River Rivalry/Shootout with Texas and Oklahoma? What about Georgia-Florida in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party? I think you could make a case for either of those three to trump Harvard-Yale, although it would be hard for me to argue the inclusion of OSU-Michigan in any top-ten rivalry list.
USC-Notre Dame? Nebraska Oklahoma? And others that are too numerous to mention.
The most egregious absence on the list, from my own little spot in the sports world?
Army-Navy. Nothing better, and it has almost nothing to do with football and everything to do with what those two fine and proud institutions stand for. That’s a rivalry that’s truly bigger than the game.
So, what say ye, CFT readers? Did the author blow it with the two college rivalries he picked for inclusion? As always, feel free to let ‘er rip...
