April 22, 2012

Sorry readers, I finally return from my two day weekend break.  Here at the U of Minnesota we had our annual Spring Jam so I was pretty preoccupied most of the weekend.  I will say that the Cataracs were very good, while the New Boyz were very repetitive and weren't nearly as good.

Even though the Sunday night baseball game between the Red Sox and the Yankees was rained out, I'll still take time to reflect on the best rivalries in sports, which of course the the Sox and Yankees are.  Here's my list of the top 5 rivalries in sports:

1. Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears (NFL)  There is no better atmosphere for a game than between these two ancient rivals, who have now met over 180 times, the most in NFL history.  Be it Lambeau or Soldier, the game is always electric and has played host to some of the best players in NFL history, with numerous hall of famers taking part in this storied rivalry.  Both teams come to play, no matter the records, and this season shall feature two more exciting games, as the Bears are a team on the rise and the Pack is still one of the teams to beat in the NFC.
2. Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees (MLB)  This rivalry features the two most storied franchises in MLB, and always has its shares of fireworks, be it brawls or slugfests, this rivalry is always worth tuning in to.  Fenway and Yankee Stadium have also been venerable venues to house this fiery rivalry, and hopefully will for many years to come.  
3. Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan Wolverines (NCAAF)  "The Game" as its come to be called, is surely that, and much more.  This rivalry has bred hatred for the other school, as well as their entire state.  Both programs are very successful and have routinely battled for Big 10 and national supremacy.  The last few contests have failed to live up to the billing, but the next few seasons should have great contests as both teams begin to rise again.
4. Barcelona vs. Real Madrid (Spanish Soccer)  Though the rivalry has always been hotly contested, the last few seasons have really taken this game to a whole new level.  Both teams are wildly successful and have spent vast sums to make this a game featuring in my opinion the two best teams on the planet.  The recent editions also feature additional storylines such as the battle for best player on the planet between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.  This rivalry could boil over at any time and physical confrontations are not uncommon.
5. Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)  This AFC North battle has intensified in the past few seasons, and is now one of the premier rivalry games in the sporting world.  Each edition is must see TV, and the past few have been close and hotly contested as both teams are AFC superpowers.  A physical and defensive battle is assured when these teams meet, and tempers have flared on numerous occasions.  The fans also know how important this game is, and add their own energy to the game as well. 

Stat Line of the Day (Weekend)

Philip Humber's line vs the Mariners

Today's stat line I actually pull from this weekend, when on Saturday Philip Humber threw MLB's 21st perfect game, utterly confounding the Mariners lineup en route to the feat.  Though he got a small scare in the 9th from a 3-0 count and also a questionable check swing call, Humber was able to survive and write his name into baseball's record books.  Unquestionably, it was a great performance, and also completely unexpected.  It will be interesting to see how Humber continues this season and if he may finally be putting things together to become a complete pitcher as he was once projected.