Tyler Skinner Sports Editor
Nothing Can Rival a Good Rivalry Bears against the Packers, Cubs against the able to debate that their team is better than the see the players at their highest level. Because White Sox, Libertyville against Carmel. When others, and so do the players. of the rivalry, every game between them sells these matchups come around, fans all around When asked if the players enjoyed the trash out, and tickets can sell for higher prices. After stop and watch. talk, Murphy said, “Yes, it builds more perthat game, the punch thrown was on the front Clearly sports rivalries run deep, all the way sonal rivalries, and it makes you want to shut page of all the newspapers, there were articles from the professional sports level down to the down your opponent even more.” filling the internet taking sides on what the high school level, but still a question remains: Rivalry games also seem to get the games fallout would be, and everyone in Chicago Are rivalries good for sports? more intense. Whenever the Cubs play the was talking about the next day’s game. UltiWell, it gets the fans and players more into White Sox, games seem to be more heated, mately, that punch renewed the rivalry, and that games. In a typical week, importance to beat the sure, there is talk about crosstown rival has not the Bears, but when it is dwindled. the week of the Bears and Even though the Cubs Packers, suddenly that’s all and White Sox both took people talk about. There last place in their respecare arguments over who tive divisions last year, is better, and excuses in both players and fans advance. “Well Clay Matloved to talk about the thews is hurt.” “The Bears crosstown games. Ticket haven’t been healthy all prices were higher, and year.” “It’s being played in a seat in the last row of Lambeau.” Rivalry games U.S. Cellular to see two completely rachet up the last place teams was sellintensity of fans into these ing for over $50, which I games. learned over the summer High school rivalries as I sat in that last row also run deep, which for $55. For normal create excitement for games, the price of those the fans and players. A seats is under $20. great example is when Another benefit of the Libertyville Icecats rivalries in sports at the (the Libertyville/VHHS professional level is that hockey team) played the for that one game, it does Carmel hockey team on not matter what the teams’ Saturday, November 23. In records are; they are the days leading up to the playing to beat their arch game, kids at Libertyville rivals. Historically, the St. were talking about Wildcat Louis Cardinals have better Photo courtesy of MCT Campus records than the Cubs, and hockey more often than Bears running back Matt Forte stiff arms the Packers B.J. Raji in a rivalry game earlier this season. the Blackhawks. Because have won 11 World Series it was a rivalry game, more from the last time the Cubs fans got excited about and won theirs (1908), but the went to the game. and nobody has to look far for Cubs vs. White records go out the door in these rivalry games. “There were way more fans [at that game]... Sox games being impacted by the rivalry Whenever these teams match up, the games turn out [The rivalry] makes it so exciting and there’s aspect. Many Cubs or Sox fans remember more competitive, and the last seven seasons have a big buildup of importance for bragging in 2006 when the rivalry aspect of the game been a good sample of the evenness of the rivalry; rights,” junior defenseman for the Icecats, Jack boiled over on the field, when former Cubs the Cubs have 54 wins, while the Cardinals have Murphy said. catcher Michael Barrett punched then-White 59. This is not just the Cubs and the Cardinals, but Bragging rights are a huge part of sports Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski in the face in the there are examples of this all over the MLB, NBA, rivalries, and are super important whether it be middle of a game. The fact of the matter is that and NFL. professional, college, or high school. An arguit clearly renewed the rivalry, which benefits Overall, ticket sales are greater, interest ment against sports rivalries would be that they the clubs greatly. from fans is greater, intensity from players is are destructive because all they do is cause When fans see that the players are that into greater… I don’t see how sports rivalries can arguments. The truth is, sports fans enjoy being games, the fans have more interest in going to be anything but a huge positive for the games.
OpinionNews
December, 19 2013
27