New teams, new divisions... new rivalries?

[Squall]

We all know the classic rivalries in American pro sports -- Cowboys vs. Redskins, Yankees vs. Red Sox, etc. It took decades of these teams being division rivals, and meeting in the playoffs time after time, for the seething hatred to develop between both franchises -- and their fans! In other words, without the history between those two teams, the rivalry simply wouldn't exist anywhere but on paper and in the standings.

Now, if we looks at all five major American pro leagues -- the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS -- we notice that all five of them have gone through some major shifting in the last 10 years. All five have added several expansion teams each, and all five have done some realigning of their divisions too.

So, my question is this: While all the classic rivalries remain intact, what pairs of teams do you think have started to evolve as new major rivalries in sports?

I'm really interested in this discussion, so I'll start off by naming two potential candidates:

Buccaneers vs. Panthers -- Carolina joined the NFL in 1995, and these two teams became division rivals when the NFL realigned all its divisions in 2002. Since then, these two teams have really started to develop bad blood for each other, as each year one seems to rob the other of their potential playoff spot (with potentially big payoffs for the winner -- Tampa Bay winning Super Bowl XXXVII, Carolina going to Super Bowl XXXVIII)...

Jaguars vs. Texans -- Jacksonville joined the NFL in 1995 too, and the Texans joined in 2002. The Jaguars may be the first team to truly hate the Texans, because while Houston has struggled in its five year history, they always seem to have good luck when playing Jacksonville. What's worse, Houston has already robbed Jacksonville of a couple of playoff spots while playing spoiler over the last few years, too. While this rivalry may seem more one-sided at this point, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Texans fans start to take the Jaguars fans' dislike of their team personally.

I know, my first two examples are both from the NFL -- but I wanted to lead off on the league I know the most about, by far. Now it's your turn! :)

[jrh31584]

Panthers and Falcons have been rivals longer, as they have been in the same division since the Panthers started play. They're also closer to one another.

Furthermore, I think this would fit better on the entertainment board.

[okendri]

You missed a couple of the easier ones. Baltimore vs Cleveland. Art Modell pulled the Browns out of Cleveland due to stadium issues and then went on to win a Super Bowl with them. They are also in the same division. Also you can the Titans and the Texans to that list for the same reason. I forgot about the Colts and Ravens.

[Squall]

You missed a couple of the easier ones. Baltimore vs Cleveland. Art Modell pulled the Browns out of Cleveland due to stadium issues and then went on to win a Super Bowl with them. They are also in the same division. Also you can the Titans and the Texans to that list for the same reason. I forgot about the Colts and Ravens.

Good point. I was thinking about those three rivalries as I typed up the thread intro... but then I started thinking, "Do these three rivalries really go both ways?"

Sure, the Texans fans hate the Titans, because of Bud Adams. But do Titans fans hate the Texans, or are the Texans "just another team" to Titans fans? Similarly, I know Browns fans hate the Ravens, because of Art Modell, but do Ravens fans hate the Browns? As for the Ravens and Colts... I've heard that Ravens fans still have a soft spot in their hearts for the Colts, in that way that someone might still have a soft spot for an ex-fiancee after a nasty breakup. Heh.

But you know, that's one of the main reasons I started this thread -- I'm hoping to hear from Texans, Titans, Browns, Ravens, and Colts fans (among others) on this subject! :)

P.S. -- I wasn't sure whether or not to put this thread here or on the Entertainment Board. If the mods feel like it may be more appropriate there, then by all means! :cool:

[Duke]

I'll go one step more than Baltimore vs. Cleveland: Baltimore vs. the rest of the AFC North.

Ever since Cinci got good under former Ravens' Defensive Coordinator Marvin Lewis, we've hated them with a passion. And both Pittsburgh and Baltimore are simply delighted when they pound the stuffing out of each other (much like Baltimore did to the Steelers this past weekend, and how we'll do against Cinci tonight).

Another good rivalry is Indy vs. New England. Before then, the two teams didn't have much to do with each other, but Manning & Dungy vs. Brady & Belichik had become one of the hottest rivalries in recent memory.

[Mog]

I have to agree with the Indy/NE call. Though I think it's more of an Indy hate because NE has always had Indy's number when it really counts.

I'm gonna toss in an NBA rivalry and say the Mavs and Suns. They don't really hate each other since Nash and Nowitzki seperated on good terms, but it's always a clash of the titans sorta match.

[purplehairedwonder]

Baseball-wise, allow me to add the Braves and the Mets in the NL East. Tom Glavine went to the Mets (though is apparently interested in coming back), Chipper Jones is the "Met-killer" and with the Mets winning the division this year after all the years of Braves dominance, it's going to get even better. The stadiums are usually full when these two teams play and people sure do get into it.

[Mugen]

(much like Baltimore did to the Steelers this past weekend, and how we'll do against Cinci tonight).



What was that again?:D

[Duke]

What was that again?:D
Well, at least the Ravens are above .500 and will get a 1st round bye. Cinci's going to need a miracle to even get into the playoffs.

[Punisher]

Similarly, I know Browns fans hate the Ravens, because of Art Modell, but do Ravens fans hate the Browns? As for the Ravens and Colts... I've heard that Ravens fans still have a soft spot in their hearts for the Colts, in that way that someone might still have a soft spot for an ex-fiancee after a nasty breakup.As a Ravens fan speaking, the Colts are on the same level of hate as the rest of the AFC North. You don't still have a soft spot for someone when they completly abandon a great football town, especially in the middle of the night. I mean, they left before I was even born and I still hate the Colts with a passion. What they did was absolutely classless, and I rather like it when they flame out in the playoffs every year.

Likewise, I can see why the Browns would hate us, but they got to keep a few good things Baltimore didn't. The Browns kept their name, colors, and history, even after the move. All Baltimore did was basically take the players from Cleveland. The Colts, however, took everything football-related from Baltimore. History, logo, you name it. And they went a step over the line by making Johnny Unitas throwback jerseys. How classless, don't they know Unitas was extremely against the Colts moving from Baltimore? I don't think he ever spoke to the Colts owner again.

With the AFC North, I'm begining to hate the Bengals more and more with each passing week, if only for their rather, shall we say, outspoken fanbase. Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh, both of us play with the same style. A dominant defense, and pounding the ball in via the run. Being so similar is what causes the hate, and being rather close helps. Cleveland hate is basically because they hate us(I guess winning a superbowl with their players will do that) and the Redskins hate is because they're from DC.

A new rivalry to look out for could be Orioles-Nats, though it won't be much of anything I suppose if both teams continue to suck.

[Chris Wood]

Well, at least the Ravens are above .500 and will get a 1st round bye. Cinci's going to need a miracle to even get into the playoffs.

Well, they got a miracle tonight.

[Duke]

Well, they got a miracle tonight.
It's called "squeaking by." Every team gets at least 1 a season. I mean, for all their offense, Cinci only scored 13 points (and the lone touchdown came on a friggin flea-flicker which I'm still amazed isn't defended well by anybody considering it's used by some team every single week), and were 2 plays away from giving up the lead (and the failing of those plays lies more with the Ravens offense more than the Cinci defense).

[Squall]

OK, I'll add Ravens-Bengals to the list of new rivalries. :D

What about the NHL? The NHL has added more expansion teams, and had more teams move cities and change their identities, since the early 90's than any of the other major leagues. Surely some new rivalries have been borne out of all that by now! :cool:

[Weatherman]

Sorry about the game last night Duke. So close.:sad:


New York vs Everyone

No matter what, you pretty much don't liek teams from New York unless you are from New York.


Nats-O's aint gonna be much of a rivalry.
Different leagues. Could be a bit of a fan-base rivalry but I don't see it getting to the level of O's-Yanks or anything like that.


Washington Caps vs Atlanta Thrashers.

After the brawl a little while back there's gonan be some hate in the stands and on the ice on the 15th. It's developing.


Caps vs Carolina.

We just don't like them. Them pasting us the last two games doesn't help.


City of Hartford vs the Carolina owner.

They still hold events commemerating the Whalers. That's some H-A-T-E.


Montreal vs Ottowa

That's getting some good heat going.