The one thing that makes sports special in America is rivalries. This is the very essence of sporting competition. Sports rivalries can be the driving force behind an entire sport. Some sports rivalries are between two college teams, and some are between pro teams. Sometimes a sports rivalry is about two specific players or participants. All sports rivalries have several things in common, however - passion, intensity, and excitement. Here is a look at some of the greatest sports rivalries in America:

Duke/Carolina - In the world of sports rivalries, UNC vs. Duke is second to nobody. This old ACC college basketball rivalry dates back decades, and stems from the fact that these two schools are a stone’s throw away from one another. Also, the two schools just happen to be two of the greatest college basketball programs of all time.

Muhammed Ali/Joe Frazier - Frazier and Ali are certainly two of the more flamboyant of the sports rivalry entrants. Ali was the greatest talker of all time in the world of boxing, and arguably the greatest boxer as well. Frazier was one of the very few that could give Ali a run for his money. These two were special from the first time they faced one another.

Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees -The world of professional baseball has more than their share of storied rivalries, and the Yankees vs Red Sox rivalry is chief among them. Since the days of Babe Ruth, these two franchises have been bitter rivals. To this day, they still battle it out as though the baseball world depends on it. Come to think of it, the baseball world does depend on it.

Larry Bird/Magic Johnson - Perhaps no two players in the history of sports are more joined at the hip than Magic and Bird. From the national championship in college to year after year in the pros, Magic and Bird had a rivalry built on mutual respect. These two guys had some of the most magical showdowns in the history of sports.

John McEnroe/Jimmy Conners - This was the one tennis match that nobody wanted to miss. Every time these two tennis legends took to the court against each other, you could be sure to see something funny and excellent competition. They were so competitive, that even people that did not care for tennis watched. That is a powerful sports rivalry.

Ohio State/Michigan - What Duke vs Carolina did for college basketball, Ohio St. vs Michigan does for college football. These two schools are annual power houses in college football, and when they face one another it is special. Nobody would ever miss this game and call themselves a college football fan.

Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears - This is one of the most popular match ups year after year in the NFL. Why? Cold weather plays some part, and the fact that they are in the same division is another good reason. The biggest reason is that they simply do not like each other very much. That makes for great NFL football action.