Millions of athletes make up thousands of teams which create hundreds of fierce rivalries.



A rivalry is a contest between two sides competing against one another, whether they be countries, presidential parties, food chains, or, in this case, sports teams.

Today’s top rivalries are created by the media, but, as everyone knows, a true rivalry is created by the amount of competition and fan participation.

Many people around the world have one rivalry that would stick out in their minds as an absolute favorite. Based on a poll, here is how our beloved town of Wareham has ranked the sports rivalries:

Coming in at number five …The greatest rivalry on ice is between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadians. Not only are these two of the “original six” teams, but they are also representing two different countries and lifestyles. Whether it be the regular season or the playoffs (where they have played in an astonishing amount of hard fought match-ups), from the Montreal crowd disrespecting ”The National Anthem” of the 2003-2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs to the infamous elbow-to-the-head shot by Kyle McClaren on Saku Koivu in the 2001-2002 post season, this rivalry will always be remembered as the story on ice. If you’re a die-hard hockey fan or just figuring out how ice is made, this rivalry is well known to all audiences.

Rolling in at number four……The newest rivalry in all of sports, the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and those Indianapolis Colts. These two franchises have been in some of the most gruesome and entertaining games that a crowd can ask for. The way recent games have been played, this rivalry is shaping up to be one for the ages.

Coming in with the bronze……The classic rivalry of the ‘80s between the Los Angeles Lakers and the second coming of the very successful Boston Celtics. This rivalry has to be the most star-studded due to its full lineup of well known all-stars and hall of famers. Robert Parish vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin McHale vs. Kurt Rambis and, of course, Larry Bird vs. Earvin “Magic” Johnson are just a few marquee matchups from those games. They competed by trying to outperform each other with razzle-dazzle plays that would leave any fan from the east or west coast in awe.

Clawing through in second…… a rivalry that even a non-sports fanatic can relate to. It is, of course, our very own Wareham Viking Football team and its rivals from over the bridge, the Bourne Canalmen, who proudly sport those purple uniforms that everyone loves. This rivalry comes around once every year in an always exciting Turkey Day game that showcases the heart of each team as they fight for more than a win. The outcome of the game is worth a full year of bragging rights.

And the number one sports rivalry is …undoubtedly the greatest rivalry in all of sports, viewed not just in Wareham, but nationally.

The history between these two teams goes way back to the 1900s. From the purchase of the “Bambino” to the A-Rod/Varitek fight, or the Bucky Dent and Aaron Boone homeruns to the Pedro/Don Zimmer confrontation, this is the absolute definition of a great sports rivalry.

It’s not whether you’re black or white, blonde or brunette, skinny or fat, it’s whether you’re a Yankees fan or a Sox fan, and that’s how serious this rivalry has become.