What makes a good rivalry?
In the Washington area, it’s Cowboys-Redskins — or perhaps Maryland-Duke in basketball. But in talking to professor Richard Davies, a sports historian who teaches a course on the history of American sports at the University of Nevada, Reno, passion is not the only thing that makes good rivalry.
His new book “Rivals! The Ten Greatest American Sports Rivalries of the 20th Century” is the most comprehensive look at what really goes into a rivalry from a historical perspective. It is sure to spark plenty of debate over what makes a good rivalry.
Davies on what makes a great historic rivalry » Let’s take the Giants-Dodgers for instance. The California duo began their rivalry back in New York in 1883 and it is the oldest in baseball. [First] you have the social vision of the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey to bring Jackie Robinson to the major leagues. The brilliant play of the Giants’ Willie Mays and the great battles of the 1960s between the Dodgers’ Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax against [the Giants’] Juan Marichal was pure magic. Today, the fans of the Dodgers and the Giants are as big as rivals as they were back in New York. [Meanwhile], when it comes to individual rivals, like the one between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, you have two friends who were able to step on the court and battle as if they hated each other.
Davies on his favorite rivalry story in the book » That was Yale and Harvard in football. I mean, when you look at the number of great leaders of our country who have played in that game it is astounding. Think of this, you had the future President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, playing on the same team with Walter Camp, who is the father of American football. They call this rivalry “The Game” for a reason.
Davies on if the Redskins and Cowboys qualify as a historic rivalry » You know, I have the Bears-Packers on my list of the top 10. That said, you certainly can make a very strong historical argument for Washington and Dallas. I mean, the Redskins were Texas’ — and most of the south’s — professional football team in the 1940s and 1950s. Even when the Cowboys started in 1960 there were more Redskins fans than Cowboys fans.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
