Sports Rivalries That May or May Not Be Real

One of the best things about sports is the rivalries.

Sure, any game is good to watch, but when one involves players, coaches and/or teams that have a history with one another, the intensity and atmosphere is just a little more charged up.

These days, it seems that any time an athlete drops some heat on another guy on social media, we want to establish it as the next great rivalry. In the words of Lee Corso, though, "Not so fast my friend," as it takes more than just a few sparring sentences to make a rivalry real.

So which ones are and are not the real rivalries in sports? I chose a handful of perceived ones to answer that question.

Seattle Seahawks-San Francisco 49ers

Remember two years ago when the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers were being talked about as Super Bowl contenders with the chance to establish a decade-long rivalry because of their young quarterbacks? That sure does seem like a long time ago now.

Yes, the two still have those young signal-callers—Russell Wilson for the Hawks and Colin Kaepernick for the Niners—as well as the whole NFC West thing going for them, but that's about it, as the rivalry has flamed out for several reasons.

First, the Niners failed to live up to expectations during the 2014 season, dropping to a disappointing 8-8 following three-straight NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl trip.

Second, Seattle has become the class of the league. The Seahawks not only have a first-class front-office run their operations, but they also have two-straight Super Bowl appearances, putting themselves into the championship discussion since Wilson took over the starting nod in 2012.

With the departure of Jim Harbaugh from the San Fran sidelines—who had a rivalry with Seattle's Pete Carroll from their Pac-12 college days—and an overhaul of the Niners roster this offseason, it seems that the last meaningful game these teams played was the 2014 NFC Championship, with Seattle sprinting ahead as the 49ers stayed idle ever since.

Verdict: Not Real

Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal

In all of the individual rivalries in professional sports, there might not be one that's more intense than that of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who continue to redefine the sport of tennis with their amazing accolades.

Facing off against one another 33 times in their careers, Nadal is the one player who has been a thorn in the side of Fed, holding a 23-10 record in those meetings, typically beating him in the biggest matches on the grandest of stages.

And while Federer holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles in men's tennis with 17, if it weren't for Nadal, who knows what that number would actually be? The Spaniard has held off his opponent six times in their record eight Grand Slam finals' appearances.

With Federer 34 years old and other worthy opponents vying for those men's singles titles, sports fans can't help but wonder how much longer these two will dazzle and find themselves in the all-too-common matchup with one another. But since 2004, they have provided some of the best tennis ever seen, so let's hope there are a few more battles before all is said and done.

Verdict: Real

Pittsburgh Pirates-St. Louis Cardinals

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Playing in the same division, the NL Central, the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals have developed quite the rivalry over the past few seasons, as the Bucs have become one of the better teams in baseball.

Since breaking their 20-year streak without a playoff berth, Pittsburgh has been to back-to-back postseasons, unable to advance out of either the one-game or best-of-five Wild Card series.

A lot of that has to do with the Cardinals, who, even as they changed managers prior to 2012, remain one of the best franchises in all of sports, earning a World Series trip in Mike Matheny's second season on the bench and holding the best record in the Bigs this season.

Trying to prove that they belong in the World Series conversation, the Pirates know that the one team they'll need to overtake in order to gain respect is the St. Louis Cardinals, and it will be interesting to see if they can shake their rivals off in order to get where they want to be.

Verdict: Real

Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson

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There was a time when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were the undisputed heavyweights in professional golf—ranked No.'s 1 and 2 in the world and vying for major title supremacy.

Unfortunately, inconsistencies and age for the two of them, as well as a new coup of younger players, have put this rivalry aside.

Once considered—or hoped—to be the next Jack Nicklaus-Arnold Palmer rivalry, the two could never really lived up to the billing, failing to ever provide that drama every golf fan wanted to see, as both marched up the 18th fairway of a major championship with everything on the line.

They both remain big names, but it doesn't seem likely that this rivalry will ever become a reality.

Verdict: Not real

Chicago Blackhawks-Los Angeles Kings

While the Chicago Blackhawks didn't need to go through the Los Angeles Kings during the quest for a Stanley Cup title this past season, in the two previous years in the postseason, these burgeoning dynasties did take on one another.

More than just the head-to-head, though, is the fact that in five of the past six seasons, one of these two teams has ended the NHL season hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup, meaning that they've proven to be the class of the entire league.

When they have faced each other, the teams have provided plenty of drama for fans, including an epic 2014 Western Conference Finals that is one of the better playoff series in the past 20-plus years.

Whether on the same ice versus each other or going against another team, the Blackhawks and Kings are in an arms race as they vie to add championship banners to their rafters.

Verdict: Real

Nick Saban-Urban Meyer

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

I don't know if there's much of a case that even has to be made, because Alabama's Nick Saban and Ohio State's Urban Meyer are the two best coaches in college football right now.

Some from other colleges around the country may dispute that statement, but with Saban having four national title rings from two different schools and Meyer having three from two different schools, there's not much argument that can be made.

And when the two get the opportunity to coach against one another, the best comes out of both.

Since 2009, Saban has had the premier program in college football, retooling with blue-chip recruits year after year and, from 2009 to 2012, winning three national championships.

For Meyer, all he has done is go 38-3 during his three years in Columbus, scooping up top prospects along the way and winning last season's national title—with a win over Saban and Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals adding more fuel to the two men's rivalry.

Even as they play in different conferences and would only play during bowl games or in the playoff, the race towards the title of the best coach in America runs through these two. Their rivalry  will continue to be played out until one decides to step down—which doesn't seem to be anytime soon as both prepare for title runs again this season.

Here's to many more matchups between these two—it's good for college football, no matter who you cheer for.

Verdict: Real

LeBron James-Kobe Bryant

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Hands-down the two most dominant players of the past 15 years, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James might have had a rivalry among fans and media because of their success and popularity, but we've never been treated to them facing off on the NBA's biggest stage—the NBA Finals.

While there has been plenty of hype and hope that Bryant and 'Bron would lead their teams to the final round and go head-to-head like greats Magic Johnson and Larry Bird did before them, all there is to grade this rivalry are stats and rings—with Bryant holding the edge 4-2 over James in that department.

Sure, they may be competing for the title of fortune, fame and, possibly, overtaking Michael Jordan in the conversation as best ever, but because they've never taken on one another in the postseason, this "rivalry" seems a bit flamed out.

Verdict: Not real

New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens

Steven Senne/Associated Press

You have heard of that whole DeflateGate thing, right?

You know, the thing where the New England Patriots were accused of deflating footballs during their AFC Championship Game matchup against the Indianapolis Colts as they blew Indy out to reach the Super Bowl? Well, that entire thing may or may not have been tipped off by the Ravens, who have always seemed to act as the little brother to the Pats in the AFC.

Routinely playing one another—especially in the playoffs, where the teams have both won two apiece since quarterback Tom Brady took over the starter's role in 2001—there's no love lost between these two franchises.

Whether it's the trick play from this past season's playoff game that the Ravens weren't all-too-happy with, or Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs refusing to ever mention Brady by name—instead, referring to the passer as "No. 12"—the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens really hate each other, with the hits coming just a little bit harder when both are on the field together.

They come hard off the field, too. 

Verdict: Real

Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Ronda Rousey

While sports fans are compelled by the war of words between undefeated champions of their sports, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ronda Rousey, the unfortunate thing is that a few bad feelings does not make a rivalry.

For that reason, as much as we all want to make it one, these two just don't make the cut.

That doesn't mean that the two don't provide great theater, however, with Mayweather saying in 2014 that he, "didn't know who Rousey was," before the UFC women's champ fired back with her own insult after winning the "Fighter of the Year" Award at this year's ESPYs.

The two will have an ongoing, back-and-forth verbal fight through the media, but unless they can somehow get into the ring or Octagon to actually fight one another—highly unlikely—this falls just short of being a true rivalry.

It sure is fun to watch, though.

Verdict: Not Real

Tom Brady-Peyton Manning

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I mean, who else but the two greatest quarterbacks of the past 15 years to round out this list of questionable and verified rivalries, right?

What Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have done individually in their illustrious careers has been incredible, but what they've given fans while playing against one another has been even better.

Meeting 16 times, the two are off-the-field friends—with Brady even taking a lighthearted jab at Manning in an email that was discovered last week—but that doesn't mean they don't want to beat the hell out of each other when on the gridiron.

With Brady's Pats getting the best of Manning's teams 11 of those 16 times overall, it's clear that Peyton is trying to catch up to his old buddy.

Sure, Manning has nearly every passing record and has actually won the past two playoff meetings, but with four Super Bowl rings to just one, Tom Terrific has the hardware that matters.

Interestingly, the two losses that Brady does have in his Super Bowl career came against—you guessed it—Peyton's younger brother, Eli Manning, and the New York Giants.

Verdict: Real