Rivalries are to sports what spices are to food - they add extra interest and create passion. Rivalries can't be created, they just happen, and there is no formula that makes them great. Some are teams, some are individuals, and some are individuals in team sports. They can even be teammates. Some rivalries are great because they are geographically close (even in the same city) and they play each other all the time - but some are special because they are not, and only compete occasionally. Some rivalries are friendly, some are not. Some are limited to the playing field, some transcend sports, and reflect everything from politics to religion. Some are based on tradition and measure their existence in the hundreds of years, some are very brief, but very intense. And many are as much a result of the fans as they are of the participants. Even making this list can stimulate a fan's passion, as the rivalry of ones favourite team is the only one that matters, and may be ranked too low.
