Are True Rivalries Dead?

MelroseHawkins

MelroseHawkins

Well-Known Member
Dan Patrick on his show this morning was referring to last nights "30 for 30" show on ESPN covering the old LA Lakers vs Boston Celtics rivalry of the 1980's. They brought up some good points how rivalries are just not the same anymore. Back then teams literally hated each other. There were no hand shakes or man hugs prior to or after the game. Teams would trash each other in the press. Back then, teams got chippy on the court, occasional punches thrown.

There were certain rivalries in different sports where teams just loathed one another. Lakers vs Celtics, Nicks vs Pistons, Yankees vs Red Sox, Ohio St. vs Michigan. These teams kind of had a respect for each others success but there was animosity that was palpable if you were in the arena, field or stadium.

I think these true rivalries are all but dead at this point. In college, students used to go in the middle of the night to a rival university and maybe do something to their campus or field or steal something and take back to their university. There is none of that anymore.

We try to keep these rivalries going or manufacture rivalries, but lets be honest, these usually turn out to be just good competitive games. It's not the old Michigan vs Ohio St. in football like it was back in the 1970's, 1980's or earlier. Iowa vs Iowa St. got so chippy between the teams and fan bases that the series had to be halted for years before it was resumed after Hayden arrived. None of this happens anymore.

Many of you younger guys on here probably don't really understand what the true rivalries were all about and the animosity between the players and opposing fan bases.

IMO, just another sign of pussification of America. Kind of miss the old rivalries in a way.
 
Its like the soccer teams in Europe where the fans get drunk and the game is sold out, but the owners of the teams are friends and more than happy to profit off of the publicity when stuff gets super crazy.
 
MelroseHawkins said:
Dan Patrick on his show this morning was referring to last nights "30 for 30" show on ESPN covering the old LA Lakers vs Boston Celtics rivalry of the 1980's. They brought up some good points how rivalries are just not the same anymore. Back then teams literally hated each other. There were no hand shakes or man hugs prior to or after the game. Teams would trash each other in the press. Back then, teams got chippy on the court, occasional punches thrown.

There were certain rivalries in different sports where teams just loathed one another. Lakers vs Celtics, Nicks vs Pistons, Yankees vs Red Sox, Ohio St. vs Michigan. These teams kind of had a respect for each others success but there was animosity that was palpable if you were in the arena, field or stadium.

I think these true rivalries are all but dead at this point. In college, students used to go in the middle of the night to a rival university and maybe do something to their campus or field or steal something and take back to their university. There is none of that anymore.

We try to keep these rivalries going or manufacture rivalries, but lets be honest, these usually turn out to be just good competitive games. It's not the old Michigan vs Ohio St. in football like it was back in the 1970's, 1980's or earlier. Iowa vs Iowa St. got so chippy between the teams and fan bases that the series had to be halted for years before it was resumed after Hayden arrived. None of this happens anymore.

Many of you younger guys on here probably don't really understand what the true rivalries were all about and the animosity between the players and opposing fan bases.

IMO, just another sign of pussification of America. Kind of miss the old rivalries in a way.
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I guess this is why we should all love Brian Ferentz and his 'accurate' descriptions of rivalry recruiting tactics.
 
Only a common foul called. No technicals. However, watch the aftermath (video linked below). First, Worthy blocks Rambis from getting at McHale after the play and actually knocks Rambis down. In the 30 for 30 last night, Worthy mentions regretting doing that. Then, Larry Bird is the guy who helps up Rambis after he had fallen the 2nd time. Then, McHale goes up to Rambis while the rest of the players are getting into the tussle and says something to him and Rambis walks away. Also, listen to the crowd chant 'Boston Sucks". :)

Different game back then. This was a great show last night (and the rest is on tonight). The Sixers-Celtics rivalry from the early 80's was also pretty nasty. Another gem from last night -- the 'Beat LA' chant from the Celtics crowd actually started when Philly was knocking out Boston from the 1982 playoffs to go to the Finals and face the Lakers. Interesting 3 way rivalry all the way around from back in the day.

 
Robowe said:
Only a common foul called. No technicals. However, watch the aftermath (video linked below). First, Worthy blocks Rambis from getting at McHale after the play and actually knocks Rambis down. In the 30 for 30 last night, Worthy mentions regretting doing that. Then, Larry Bird is the guy who helps up Rambis after he had fallen the 2nd time. Then, McHale goes up to Rambis while the rest of the players are getting into the tussle and says something to him and Rambis walks away. Also, listen to the crowd chant 'Boston Sucks". :)

Different game back then. This was a great show last night (and the rest is on tonight). The Sixers-Celtics rivalry from the early 80's was also pretty nasty. Another gem from last night -- the 'Beat LA' chant from the Celtics crowd actually started when Philly was knocking out Boston from the 1982 playoffs to go to the Finals and face the Lakers. Interesting 3 way rivalry all the way around from back in the day.

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This day and age- in the NBA anyway- there aren't rivalries because the star players know they might one day play on the same team as a star on another team to form a super team. It's in the back of their minds to they won't get too upset at the guy on the other team.
 
Robowe said:
Only a common foul called. No technicals. However, watch the aftermath (video linked below). First, Worthy blocks Rambis from getting at McHale after the play and actually knocks Rambis down. In the 30 for 30 last night, Worthy mentions regretting doing that. Then, Larry Bird is the guy who helps up Rambis after he had fallen the 2nd time. Then, McHale goes up to Rambis while the rest of the players are getting into the tussle and says something to him and Rambis walks away. Also, listen to the crowd chant 'Boston Sucks". :)

Different game back then. This was a great show last night (and the rest is on tonight). The Sixers-Celtics rivalry from the early 80's was also pretty nasty. Another gem from last night -- the 'Beat LA' chant from the Celtics crowd actually started when Philly was knocking out Boston from the 1982 playoffs to go to the Finals and face the Lakers. Interesting 3 way rivalry all the way around from back in the day.

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Yea, I was going to mention the 76'ers. They were kind of different because they were good and would jump around & become a team's rivalry during that years playoffs. They were kind of like a bandwagon rival team.
 
SteveGarvey1 said:
This day and age- in the NBA anyway- there aren't rivalries because the star players know they might one day play on the same team as a star on another team to form a super team. It's in the back of their minds to they won't get too upset at the guy on the other team.
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Also, the style of the game or game play was completely different in the 80's. Players could hand check and they were MUCH more physical. I mean Steph Curry would be good back then as well, but he wouldn't be putting up the points or shots he does now. They'd check him and never let him. He'd get bounced around.

Remember the Detroit Pistons. They would have eaten players like Steph Curry and spit him out.
 
SteveGarvey1 said:
This day and age- in the NBA anyway- there aren't rivalries because the star players know they might one day play on the same team as a star on another team to form a super team. It's in the back of their minds to they won't get too upset at the guy on the other team.
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Rodman killed Jordan and Pippen when he was on the Pistons (physically). Years later, he was a major part of the Bulls second three-peat. They had to ask Jordan if it was OK to get Rodman, but of course, Jordan was OK teaming with him after battling him for many years.

 
The most intense rivalry that I recall is Bulls-Pistons. Good Lord those were some great games! Both teams had incredible players, crazy characters that all had specific roles. Was anyone more hated than Bill Laimbeer??
No hugs back then - more often than not somebody was gonna bleed. Back then it was Man up, eat your Wheaties and wear a cup!
 
Anybody ever watch "jungle jim" Luskatoff play in the nba? Now there was a rivalry in and of itself.

I also remember some blood baths between Iowa amd OSU when Bob White was the buckeye FB. Three yards and a cloud of dust? Nope. Three yards and a fountain of blood.

Good ol' days...
 
SteveGarvey1 said:
This day and age- in the NBA anyway- there aren't rivalries because the star players know they might one day play on the same team as a star on another team to form a super team. It's in the back of their minds to they won't get too upset at the guy on the other team.
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It's the same in all the sports. People meet up and talk after football games and exchange jerseys and stuff in the NFL. Baseball is maybe the most rivalry free sport there is.
 
I haven't watched the ESPN 30 for 30, but they have a way of rewriting the history to make things sound like more than it really was. If you had a drink for every time there was a "What if I told you...." followed by a boring sentence that doesn't even make sense, then the obligatory "It was larger than life......" quote by some random guy.
 
thetrza said:
I haven't watched the ESPN 30 for 30, but they have a way of rewriting the history to make things sound like more than it really was. If you had a drink for every time there was a "What if I told you...." followed by a boring sentence that doesn't even make sense, then the obligatory "It was larger than life......" quote by some random guy.
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Well the Celtics and Lakers really did hate each other. Plus there was the racial aspect as the Lakers were regarded as more of the black team while the Celtics were regarded as a mostly white team. Not my opinion, btw, it was discussed in the 30 for 30.
 
thetrza said:
I haven't watched the ESPN 30 for 30, but they have a way of rewriting the history to make things sound like more than it really was. If you had a drink for every time there was a "What if I told you...." followed by a boring sentence that doesn't even make sense, then the obligatory "It was larger than life......" quote by some random guy.
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You are probably too young to remember the 1980's and appreciate some of the rivalries and hatred certain teams had for each other. Hell, I could watch on TV thousands of miles away and feel the hatred between them. It was just different.

Let me get this straight, you didn't watch but want to make the statement that it was depicted wrong by ESPN. Ok, got it!
 
SteveGarvey1 said:
Well the Celtics and Lakers really did hate each other. Plus there was the racial aspect as the Lakers were regarded as more of the black team while the Celtics were regarded as a mostly white team. Not my opinion, btw, it was discussed in the 30 for 30.
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Oh yea, forgot about that but race did play into it a bit.
 
The 30 for 30s follow a very familiar pattern.

Narrator in promo reads "What if I told you...."

Music starts, archival blurry sports footage plays.

Talking head "No one had ever seen anything like this before...."

Montage of newspaper headlines with music in background.

Second talking head "It was LARGER THAN LIFE!"

Soft focus present day footage of current subject matter or setting.

Cut to commercial break with directors commentary on importance of the documentary you are watching.

Final talking head "You just don't get things like that today...."
 
thetrza said:
The 30 for 30s follow a very familiar pattern.

Narrator in promo reads "What if I told you...."

Music starts, archival blurry sports footage plays.

Talking head "No one had ever seen anything like this before...."

Montage of newspaper headlines with music in background.

Second talking head "It was LARGER THAN LIFE!"

Soft focus present day footage of current subject matter or setting.

Cut to commercial break with directors commentary on importance of the documentary you are watching.

Final talking head "You just don't get things like that today...."
Click to expand...



I get what you are saying to a point. They have to sell it.

I few years ago I would watch a terrific show called "City Confidential". Very entertaining about true crimes committed in certain cities. They did similarly for their show what you outline above. They followed a certain format to increase the mystique.
 
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