Oct. 12, 2004 | ESPN.com's MLB playoffs coverage

Rivalries in sports are so special. In the ALCS, we'll see the intensity of the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry. Many believe it's the greatest rivalry of them all, and there is no question in my mind that it's very high on the list. Fans of these two franchises have so much emotion and passion.

It's so great when two competitive teams are going head-to-head with a lot on the line.

But I'm not ready to concede that Yankees-Red Sox is the greatest rivalry in sports. Over the years, there have been so many special ones -- like Celtics-Sixers, Celtics-Lakers, Army-Navy, Michigan-Ohio State, Dodgers-Giants, Cubs-Cardinals.

In college basketball, what about Duke-North Carolina, two campuses separated by eight miles? In the ACC, the stakes are usually so high when these two proud programs meet. These teams have battled so many times over the years with the No. 1 ranking in the nation at stake.

It's so great when two competitive teams are going head-to-head with a lot on the line. Many people will talk about Yankees-Red Sox, especially with the history involved, from Bucky Dent to Aaron Boone to Pedro Martinez-Don Zimmer, to Babe Ruth and on and on.

College basketball fans will argue Duke-Carolina. College football fans will point to Ohio State-Michigan. That's what makes this so much fun to debate. It doesn't really matter who you pick, it's just great to see these games and teams in action.

Just sit back and enjoy the moments that rivalries create for fans year after year.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.