# Biggest sports rivalry? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 9, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-sports-rivalry/249519 "2004-06-09T20:08:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-sports-rivalry/249519/81 "2004-06-14T00:24:11Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > …and regardless of what home team that the visiting Lakers or Dodgers play, how can you not ignore the crowd chanting “Beat L.A.!”? Our fans get bashed all the time for not being there to support their team (which is horseshit BTW - all fans are like that), especially when L.A. is a huge conglomeration of transplanted fans from the rest of the country as well as world. Well, it sounds real good. “Beat L.A.!” It has a rhythm, you can dance for it. Also, Dodgers suck! Go Giants! This reminds me, I was in a bar the other night, and some baseball games were on TV. I wasn’t really paying attention and didn’t notice who was playing, until I saw an umpire picking up a beach ball off the field. I asked my friend, who was watching “Is this in LA?” And lo and behold, it was. Gosh, how’d I know? I love Chicago, but I agree that Cubs fans can be…I don’t know, something else. They’d be utterly insufferable if the Cubs ever actually won the World Series. Fortunately, this is highly unlikely. And has no one mentioned the 49ers-Raiders? It’s weird, Giants and A’s fans get along pretty well, but turn the conversation to football and watch out. ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-sports-rivalry/249519/82 "2004-06-14T04:06:48Z")
Imagine the rivalry that would develop between Lightning and Panthers fans in Florida should one of those teams win the Stanley Cup? Of course, what are the chances of that happening? 😃 Actually, can any Floridians out there tell me how much rivalry does exist between Lightning and Panthers fans? How does Florida divide up geographically when it comes to the fans of both teams? Looking at the state as a whole, I’d think most of the Northern half would consist of Lightning fans but, starting in Tampa, a gradual mixing of fans would begin, leading to a more even mix midway between Tampa and Miami, before Panthers fans would take over in force. Or are Lightning and Panthers fans less spread out, and more centered around cities or counties (besides the Tampa and Miami areas)? Finally, how are Panthers fans taking the Lightning’s Stanley Cup win? I’d think that, until the Panthers become more of a contender, their fans would be, to some extent, happy for and proud of Tampa’s win. However, I can imagine that, come next season (whenever that is), Panthers fans will be really pumped at the chance to see their team beat the defending champions whenever they face of. Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-sports-rivalry/249519/83 "2004-06-14T04:23:07Z")
Well, hockey isn’t real big down here. I suppose the Bolts winning the Cup will help a bit. But I don’t think the fan base stretches much further than the metro area. Hell we even have trouble getting the baseball stadiums half full down here. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-sports-rivalry/249519/84 "2004-06-14T08:22:05Z")
> [@kellner](#): > > Yes, this rivalry exists and when the Netherlands didn’t qualify there was a huge amount of our trademark Schadenfreude. However I would say that the the rivalry with England is much more “serious”. The _incident_ in 1966 only added to this. Nowadays the German Team isn’t what it used to be and losing against France, Italy or Brazil isn’t that much of tragedy anymore, but losing against England is _not funny_. I don’t know about this… When the fiftth goal went in I was laughing my socks off. Owl (conveniently forgetting far too many other games) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-sports-rivalry/249519.md?page=4)