America is known for its rivalries in sports. It is the heart of any sporting competition and can be the energy or weakness behind an entire sport.

It can empower a team to win, it can fill them with trepidation causing them to not play their best game or it can even make a team play with too much muscle which can backfire.

All rivalries do have one certain thing in common and that is passion; passion from the players, coaches and especially the fans. Everyone loves a winner.

Here are some great sports rivalries in the country:

Kentucky vs. Louisville

This college basketball storied rivalry took a break from 1959-83 because of Coach Adolph Rupp. He was convinced UK was in a higher class than the Cards plus he hated Louisville so much he refused to schedule them.

Rick Pitino restarted the rivalry after he became head coach in Kentucky. From 1989-97 he lead the Wildcats back to basketball prominence winning the National Championship in 1996. He left the Cats for supposedly greener pastures in the NBA but is now back involved with the rivalry, only this time as the Louisville coach.

1980’s Lakers vs. Celtics

I believe this is the best NBA rivalry of all time. They met in the NBA finals four times during this decade. Unfortunately, the Lakers won three of them.

Yankees vs. Red Sox

Each team hates each other and when they meet on the diamond, both play as if it is the World Series. The Red Sox believe they have been cursed since the team sold the Babe years ago. Out of the 30 World Series the teams have played between them, the Yankees have won 27.

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier

In my opinion there is no greater rivalry between two individuals. The country knew there was something extraordinary when the two first fought. Ali was arguably the greatest boxer of all time with a mouth to match, but Frazier was one that could stand toe-to-toe with Ali. It is a wonder they didn’t kill each other.

And now, perhaps the greatest rivalry from my life…

1979-80 Belfry Lady Pirates vs. Williamson Wolfettes

Sometimes a rivalry can be based on proximity. This was the case years ago with the Bucs and Pack. Although we all knew one another, it wasn’t what you would call a “friendly” competition on the court.

I was point guard for BHS. It was my junior year and the other starters consisted of very talented Janice Towles, Terry Blackburn, Tammy Dearfield and Kathy Spinks.

Starting for the Wolfettes were Alvena Allen, Pam Sword, Kim Maynard, Lisa Watson and Rhoda Smith. All the names for both teams are their maiden names.

The first game was played at Belfry. When the final buzzer sounded we were all tied up at 68. However, overtime was a different story as we won 78-68. During the game there was plenty of smack talk, elbowing (when the refs weren’t looking), scratching, shoving…well, you get the point. While there was one winner, both squads were beaten up!

The second game, of course, was at WHS and the Wolfettes had revenge on the brain. I swear I think Alvena sharpened her long fingernails just for me. I left that game with scratches all over my arms. At halftime, we were up 24-22 in a hard fought, physical game. When at last it was over, we had once again prevailed 56-47.

I think about those games now and realize just how much both teams, along with their fans, wanted a victory. We love our teams and the intensity of great rivalries.

It is sad that this rivalry doesn’t seem to exist anymore and probably hasn’t for a long time. But, if the rafters could talk, they would tell you that once upon a time, there were hard fouls, booing, fans that went a bit overboard and games that the warriors who played in them, will never forget.