12 Sports Rivalries That Need to Stop Sucking

While every fan should get excited about their team taking the field or court for any game, it's absolutely essential for them to get even more amped up before a big rivalry game.

In the week leading up to seeing a bitter rival, losing a little bit more sleep, being a lot less productive and talking a ton of smack are just a few things that are expected from a fan.

As great as some sports rivalries are, others have fallen flat.

That's why I'm pleading with these rivalry games to start stepping it up so they don't lose their luster.

12. Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather

Why It's Great: They're the two greatest boxers going right now—and definitely the most popular—so it's only natural that they'd schedule a fight, right?

Pacquiao holds a 54-5-2 record and the only eight-division title winner, while Mayweather is 44-0, with the numerous belts and honors to his credit.

Though they've never actually fought, based on the way the two talk smack about each other, you'd think they've fought numerous times.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: Do you really need to know?

Good lord, this thing has been like a TV drama the past couple years, with speculation that they'll schedule the most anticipated fight in boxing for a long, long time.

Though it depends on who you listen to, the thing is either completely dead, or still on life support to actually happen. But until any of us actually see them in the same ring together, I just can't take the speculation seriously anymore.

11. All AFC West Rivalries

Why It's Great: All rivalries in the NFL are pretty solid, and the ones in the AFC West can hold their own against many in the league.

There have been great battles between the Chiefs and Broncos—especially back in the Montana/Elway years—and the Raiders and Chargers seem to always open the season facing off against each other.

With great players and rich history, the AFC West has some of football's best franchises.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: Looking at the teams in the AFC West (Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders), which teams stand out as the most likely to get these rivalry games back on track?

With Peyton Manning in Denver, it seems the Broncos are the team to beat until further notice. But that doesn't mean the Chargers or Chiefs (new head coaches in '13), or the Raiders (they're still the Raiders), will step up their games to really challenge them in the division.

Until the rest of the division catches up with Denver and makes a serious run at the playoffs, the games between them will be nothing more than schedule fillers—albeit compelling for those who are fans.

10. Florida State vs. Miami (FL)

Why It's Great: As two of the top teams in college football over the past 15-plus years, both Florida State and Miami (FL) have often battled each other with a loss ending any chance for a national title.

With players familiar with one another from in-state games since middle school at times, the Seminoles and Hurricanes not only compete for the title of top program in the state, but also for recruits and division titles.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: Sure, the series record over the past ten years is 6-4 in favor of Florida State, but that doesn't mean the games were dramatic and impactful games.

Back when this rivalry was at its best, the two schools were consistently ranked teams, losing no more than two games all season in most cases.

While they'll always be heated rivals because of location and conference ties, it's going to take both teams to jump back into the national title scene until to make this rivalry gain back respect.

9. Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson

Why It's Great: With 19 Major titles between them, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are easily the two most accomplished golfers on the PGA Tour today.

For each golfer who breaks onto the scene like Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson or latest Major champ, Jason Dufner, Phil and Tiger always lead the conversation as the favorites to win any tournament—especially the big ones.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: I mentioned how the two are always favored to win the big tournaments, but that's been the problem lately—the two haven't competed against each other for one in awhile now.

Yes, Mickelson won this year's British Open last month and Tiger did have two top-10 finishes in two Majors this year, but that's not going to cut it when you're the No. 1 ranked player in the world.

Everyone compares these two with each other. While it's cool seeing some publicity to lesser-known guys on tour, it's good for golf to see both Tiger and Phil within striking distance on the final day.

8. Cubs vs. Cardinals

Why It's Great: In the storied history of Major League Baseball, the rivalry between the Cardinals and Cubs is one of the best.

Thanks to the proximity of both cities and some great NL Central battles over the years, these two teams are some of the most prestigious in baseball.

Hell, even the great home run race of '98 included players from these two organizations, with the Cards' Mark McGwire and the Cubs' Sammy Sosa chasing Roger Maris' 61 home run record.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: Take the most recent series between these two teams and you'll see why it's lost a bit of it's edge.

When fans are settling the score with a dance-off, things on the field seem to be lacking.

Shaking it aside, the Cards have won two World Series titles since 2004 (making it to three total), while the Cubs are the lovable losers, with the Steve Bartman incident being their defining moment of the past decade.

If these two ever get back to competing for division and league crowns, then it'll be something for fans to really be dancing about. Until then though, it's nothing to write home about.

7. Liverpool vs. Manchester United

Why It's Great: It's arguably the greatest rivalry in the history of the Premier League, with both teams holding down numerous league and European titles.

And though the "The Reds" have had a tough time keeping up with Manchester United in the EPL—not finishing higher than sixth in the past four years—many believe that this rivalry will always remain as tops in British football.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: For all the reasons I gave you above about why it's so great, the same could be argued that it's why the thing needs a kick start.

Liverpool has lacked any star power, with its biggest name being Luis Suarez, who has made more headlines for bad behavior than solid play lately.

He's good, but not quite the caliber of a Wayne Rooney or Robin van Persie as United can boast.

Until Liverpool makes a serious jump in the standings and becomes more of a threat to challenge for a title, this rivalry will remain middle-of-the-road, no matter how passionate the fans across the pond might be about it.

6. Devils vs. Rangers

Why It's Great: Once referred to as a "Mickey Mouse" organization by Wayne Gretzky, the Devils have always seemed to lack respect from everyone in the NHL.

That is especially the perspective from their state neighbors, the New York Rangers, who find any reason to get after them.

Though New Jersey often doesn't get credit from Rangers fans or players, they have been one of the most consistent teams in the league, winning three Stanley Cup titles in the past 20 seasons, while the Rangers have captured one in the same amount of time.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: Save for an entertaining 2012 Eastern Conference Finals matchup—in which the Devils won in six games—there hasn't been much excitement going on between these two teams (besides on the ice), as one team has been good during the other's string of poor seasons.

With the differences between the glam of Broadway and the supposed staleness of Newark, hockey fans hope the parity of the two teams stretch more than just in location to reboot one of hockey's best rivalries.

5. UCLA vs. USC Football

Why It's Great: Separated by a mere 14 miles, these two schools own the city of Los Angeles, with fans often left to decide whether they'd rather "Fight On" (USC), or chant "Let's Go Bruins" (UCLA).

With 55 Pac-12 (Pac-10 really) titles between them, and 12 national championships in their histories—11 for the Trojans and one for the Bruins—they have proven to be the two most prestigious of teams in their conference.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: Sure, there have been good games here and there, but consider this for a second—since 1999, when USC ended an eight-game win streak by the Bruins, the Trojans have gone on a tear, going 12-2 against their cross-town rival.

UCLA won the last meeting to capture the Pac-12 South Division, so maybe this thing will start becoming competitive again. But until it's more consistent each year, this one seems to be short on excitement.

4. Kobe vs. LeBron

Why It's Great: Unless you absolutely hate sports, you know exactly why this rivalry is the greatest among any athletes in sports—yes, even more than the decision between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

LeBron James is the greatest, most dominant player on the planet, collecting three of the past four league MVPs, and the last two NBA titles.

Kobe is the best of his generation, winning five NBA titles in the past 13 years, a league MVP and climbing all the way to fourth on the all-time scoring list.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: It's great whenever these two go head-to-head, but until we finally get an NBA Finals with them matched-up together, the rivalry is overrated.

Magic had Larry and Jordan overcame Magic. Is it too much to ask for these two to play against each other?

In fact, ever since Nike released those little puppet commercials of the two a few years ago, it seems we've actually regressed in the possibility of it happening.

Bryant is coming back from a torn Achilles and is stuck on a team that doesn't look to be Finals material, and James is making a push for a three-peat with his Heat. The best chance we might have of these two playing in a title round might actually be with each other—but I'm not one to speculate or anything.

3. Mavericks vs. Spurs

Why It's Great: Ever since these two teams have featured All-Star forwards Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki as their franchise's cornerstone, it's been one of the league's best rivalries.

Before the 2013 season, each team had made the postseason 12 consecutive years, with the two meeting five times (and the Spurs holding a 3-2 edge in those series), with the most epic coming during the 2006 second round series when Game 7 went to overtime, and the Mavs prevailed in what ended with a trip to the Finals.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: Both teams might be getting older, but as the Spurs showed this past season when they nearly won the NBA title, there's still plenty of gas left in the tank.

What's lacking here is a second banana for Nowitzki who, after his Mavs organization had hoped to land a major free agent this offseason, finds himself an aging superstar on a middle-of-the-road Western Conference team.

With just a few years left in both of their careers, here's to hoping Duncan and Nowitzki can give us a couple more memorable battles in the playoffs.

2. Mets vs. Phillies

Why It's Great: The two franchises might not be the toast of the NL East these days, but over the past seven-plus years, they had been at each other's throats each season.

This whole thing kind of started when Phils shortstop Jimmy Rollins proclaimed during spring training that his squad was, "the team to beat," back in '07—a season following the Mets winning the division and going to the NLCS.

His team backed him up, winning the division both that year and the next four, including back-to-back World Series trips in '08 and '09—winning it all in 2008.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: As you might imagine, with the success the Phillies have had, the Mets have played second fiddle to their NL East rivals, constantly being in their shadow since that NLCS loss in '06.

And though it's good for baseball to see teams like the Nationals and Braves boast breakout stars like Bryce Harper and Freddie Freeman respectively, it's good for baseball when the Mets and Phillies games actually mean something, rather than playing stale 19 games in a season of 162.

1. Knicks vs. Bulls

Why It's Great: For anyone who grew up watching Michael Jordan and the Bulls take on Patrick Ewing and the Knicks—as I did—you know exactly why this one sits atop my list.

For all you other youngsters out there who didn't see some of the best battles in NBA history, just watch that video of the brawl from '94 and you'll understand why this rivalry is unmatched today.

Why It Could Use a Tune-Up: Besides a few memorable moments recently in this series, sports fans have been deprived of the intensity-filled games that were so often on display in the '90s.

Adding to the lost luster of this rivalry, in the Bulls' eight trips to the playoffs in the past 10 years, they have yet to even play against New York.

And while the playoffs are a crapshoot, during the heydays of these two matching up between '88 and '98, they met six times in 10 seasons, usually providing for great theater.

Simply put, if not for Jordan, Ewing may just have a ring or two on his finger right now.