The beauty and madness of the American sports rivalry
Castignoli's action proves just how crazy the Sox-Yanks rivalry can get and what great lengths the two teams' loyal followers will go to gain an edge. The Castignoli plot is only the most recent chapter in a long history of curses, superstitions, all-out brawls and intense competition that has thrived between the two teams since the early origins of the game.
The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry has stood the test of time; however, many other rivalries tend to fizzle out over the course of the game. Growing up in New England, I was raised as a New England Patriots fan. As part of the uniform, I quickly grew a deep hatred for the New York Jets. However, as the Patriots have developed as a team, gone through numerous victories and upsetting defeats, the conference-rivalry with the Jets seems to have diminished.
The competitive dynamic between quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning seem to have fueled a new rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts. Last season's massive upset at the Super Bowl (I still haven't quite recovered, by the way) will inevitably fuel yet another intense rivalry with the New York Giants, fueled, of course, by Boston's contempt for New York sports.
I think that Hopkins lacrosse is no different. As of now, Maryland is the team's ultimate rival. With stadiums merely 40 minutes away in a state that thrives on the game of lacrosse, the intense rivalry has created a polarization of fans between the two schools. However, the sport is developing. New teams are finding massive success in the game. Through my experience watching lacrosse, I've seen the origins of what could be a very intense rivalry emerge between Hopkins and the recently-emerged powerhouse of Duke. Combining last year's nail-biting National Championship game with this season's blowout at Durham, both teams seem to have it out for each other.
A similar rivalry could emerge with Syracuse. Hopkins and Syracuse are tied for the most National Championship wins with nine each, and the struggle to emerge on top could make for some heated competition.
One thing is for sure: These intense rivalries definitely make the game more interesting. As my hatred for the Manning brothers gets stronger and stronger each day, I anticipate the upcoming NFL matchups more and more. It makes the game exciting and more fun to watch. As of now, the extent of my personal fan-dom doesn't go much farther than watching the games and arguing with my friends, but as the pressure builds, who knows? Maybe someday I'll find myself in the middle of Giants stadium with a Brady jersey slung over my shoulder and a shovel in my hand.
The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry has stood the test of time; however, many other rivalries tend to fizzle out over the course of the game. Growing up in New England, I was raised as a New England Patriots fan. As part of the uniform, I quickly grew a deep hatred for the New York Jets. However, as the Patriots have developed as a team, gone through numerous victories and upsetting defeats, the conference-rivalry with the Jets seems to have diminished.
The competitive dynamic between quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning seem to have fueled a new rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts. Last season's massive upset at the Super Bowl (I still haven't quite recovered, by the way) will inevitably fuel yet another intense rivalry with the New York Giants, fueled, of course, by Boston's contempt for New York sports.
I think that Hopkins lacrosse is no different. As of now, Maryland is the team's ultimate rival. With stadiums merely 40 minutes away in a state that thrives on the game of lacrosse, the intense rivalry has created a polarization of fans between the two schools. However, the sport is developing. New teams are finding massive success in the game. Through my experience watching lacrosse, I've seen the origins of what could be a very intense rivalry emerge between Hopkins and the recently-emerged powerhouse of Duke. Combining last year's nail-biting National Championship game with this season's blowout at Durham, both teams seem to have it out for each other.
A similar rivalry could emerge with Syracuse. Hopkins and Syracuse are tied for the most National Championship wins with nine each, and the struggle to emerge on top could make for some heated competition.
One thing is for sure: These intense rivalries definitely make the game more interesting. As my hatred for the Manning brothers gets stronger and stronger each day, I anticipate the upcoming NFL matchups more and more. It makes the game exciting and more fun to watch. As of now, the extent of my personal fan-dom doesn't go much farther than watching the games and arguing with my friends, but as the pressure builds, who knows? Maybe someday I'll find myself in the middle of Giants stadium with a Brady jersey slung over my shoulder and a shovel in my hand.
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