Rivalry is a driving force in sports. There is not a lot better in sports than Red Sox-Yankees, Lakers-Celtics or Cowboys-Giants. With rivalry comes the bitterness of loss and extreme excitement in victory. Players and fans alike unite in build-up and anticipation for these matchups.
For many years the Portland area enjoyed an incredible I-5 rivalry with the Seattle SuperSonics. That matchup came with many battles, and the fans were the real benefactors of the on-court intensity and shenanigans that came during the 4 games per year. That rivalry was instantly voided when the Sonics became the Thunder and moved to the Midwest.
Spending the last few days in the Midwest I was struck by the rivalries that existed basically by the default geographic relativity of the teams in the same league. Last week the St. Louis Cardinals were in Kansas City for a series with the Royals. All throughout the city there were red Cardinals jerseys and blue Royals jerseys. The rivalry existed in the streets, in the restaurants, hotels, and especially in the stadium.
Portland does have rivalries in the MLS between the Timbers-Whitecaps-Sounders. Also in the Western Hockey League, the Winterhawks enjoy great rivalries. However, this city deserves a major rivalry that will ignite this city to a whole other level of craze.
Last year when Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer were making a strong effort to bring the Kings to Seattle, I was more that excited at the prospect of igniting the I-5 rivalry once again. The youth and athleticism of the Kings against the young, talented roster of the Blazers would have been a fun rivalry for years to come.
Sure, fans get excited about games against the Lakers, but that rivalry is entirely one sided. Basically anytime that the Lakers enter a city, they are seen as a rival. The Blazers have created a small rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs, but there is more respect from the Blazers than there is hatred. I guess, as of right now, the most heated rivalry is with the NBA referees (especially after the playoffs).
At this point, it is almost nice when there is yellow and green Sonics apparel spotted in the Moda Center. That gives me glimmers of the “good times” of when Rip City was embroiled in an intense rivalry. Until there is a new NBA team in Seattle, I don’t see a true rivalry coming into play for the Blazers. There may be individual player rivalries that can crop up (Damian Lillard vs. Patrick Beverley) but this city deserves a true rivalry match-up.
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