So my friend and I got into a heated debate a few days back. He thinks that the Fighting Irish are the most rivaled team in all of sports. I initially said the Yankees, but then moved on to the Cowboys. The stipulation is that we are not talking about the most hated team, but the most rivaled, the team with the most rival teams in their league. Here is my list:

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
3. Duke Blue Devils
4. L.A. Lakers
5. Oklahoma Sooners

Who do you see as the top 5??

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I think my definition of most-rivaled would be the team I most want to stick it to when we play them. So you're talking the over-all most rivaled, and not my own most rivaled, is that right? I think it can change from year to year, also. So, as of now, I would say I think it's:

1. Cowboys
2. Patriots
3. USC Trojans
4. Yankees
5. Lakers

If you asked Rex Ryan, I'd imagine he'd say the Jets are at the top of the list. I think there is a direct correlation between how highly a team and a fanbase think of themselves and how intensely other teams and fanbases feel about the rivalry. 5 or 6 years ago, I'd say the Yankees are close to the top, but not so much right now. A few years ago the Patriots would've probably been #1. Honorable mention goes to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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Yes to this, but no to the other part of your message. We can't confuse rival with hate. For instance, the Packers and the Bears are rivals, but I could really give a shit about the Bears. I don't hate them. This goes back to what you were saying about fans and the team being pompous. I don't hate the Bears because they aren't good, which makes their fans humble. What I'm referring to is what team has the most rivals (other teams), whether or not they are hated. If this is kept in mind, then changing teams throughout time does not work, because it doesn't matter if they are good or not (i.e. Bears, vs. Patriots).

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You're an idiot.

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LOL

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I think the better a team is, and for extensive periods of time, makes rivalries more heated. I think the Yankees are part of many rivalries because of how competitive they are from year to year. I think that's one piece of the equation. I think the other has to do with how arrogant a team is perceived as being from year to year. The teams who are the most competitive and the most cocky on a consistent basis are in the most heated rivalries. The teams that suck and have very low morale are not in rivalries. So I would say that it can change. It takes a long time for the shift to make a huge move, but I think it happens. For instance, about 6 years ago, I might have said that the Yankees were #1. But they aren't right now. Back in their glory days, the Raiders might have been #1. It took some time, but they're no where near the top of the list anymore.

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