Disclaimer: Before I begin my rankings, I would like to tell all of you I did not want to repeat teams on my list, which is why rivalries such as Cubs/Pirates and Cowboys/Redskins do not appear below. Also, yes, I did purposely leave out NBA rivalries because I do not believe most rivalries can remain competitive in a league that becomes less and less competitive after every free agent signing.

All professional sporting events are competitive, but when certain teams play against each other, they take it to another level. Sports rivalries have always been an important part of not only sports culture, but society in general. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was a second-class misdemeanor to wear a Dallas Cowboys jersey to class at my school, located just outside of Philadelphia. While most teams claim to have a rival team, it's clear that some rivalries are just better than others. These are the rivalries for the ages; the ones that have no future in sight.

1. Red Sox/Yankees

This one is obvious. The rivalry began in 1919, when the Yankees bought Babe Ruth from the Red Sox, after the Red Sox had won the World Series in 1918. After that championship year, the Boston Red Sox would not win the World Series again until 2004. Many Red Sox fans blamed "The Curse of the Bambino," for their lack of success. The Great Bambino, of course, being Babe Ruth.

2. Cubs/White Sox

The battle over Chicago! This rivalry manifested because of how close in proximity these two teams play. The rivalry is arguable better than ever because of how well both teams have been playing recently, relative to how they have been in years past. You can read about what this rivalry means to Chicagoans here.

3. Dodgers/Giants

This rivalry began long before the Dodgers played in Los Angeles and the Giants played in San Francisco. In fact, the first time these two teams faced each other was in 1884, when they were called the New York Gothams and the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1889, they faced each other in the World Series, and the rest is history. Here are some of the rivalry's best moments.

4. Canadiens/Maple Leafs

Hockey, eh? It is no surprise that one of the greatest NHL rivals is between two of the league's Canadian teams. Part of the reason this rivalry is so historical is because both teams were a part of the Original Six.

5. Blackhawks/Red Wings

Ah, another battle between the Original Six. It is no secret that these two teams hate each other, and a lot of players see red when they play, which is usually their own blood after getting checked or punched. The rivalry grew during the era of Gordie Howe and Stan Mikita, two of the greatest hockey players ever. Now, when a player scores a goal, gets an assist and fights another player it is called a "Gordie Howe Hat-Trick." A lot of those are scored for both teams, as they love to fight each other.

6. Flyers/Penguins

I probably could've included a rivalry for every Philly sports team, because they seem to have a deep hatred for almost every team they play. Or, perhaps, it is the other way around. In any case, the rivalry between the Flyers and Penguins is one of the biggest in hockey. These teams compete in the same state, and also the same division, which increases the intensity of every game. Here are some of the teams' most heated moments.

7. Bears/Packers

This is the NFL's oldest rivalry. Both teams are in the NFC North, nicknamed the "Black and Blue Division," because of the intensity between the division rivals.There have been plenty of heartbreaking losses for both, and even though both teams have gone through bad years, the rivalry lives on.

8. Ravens/Steelers

These two teams are division rivals, and boy, do they hate each other. Many people believe that the Browns are the Steelers' biggest rivals, because historically, they have been. In 1996, however, the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. Then, in 1999, the Cleveland Browns were reborn thanks to the expansion draft. The rivalry, however, was not reborn, and the Ravens have been a more competitive opponent ever since.

9. Cowboys/Eagles

This rivalry is another one born from divisional competition, but it is different than others because of the outrageous stories and intense moments between the teams. From The Bounty Bowl, to fans cheering a player with a career-ending injury, to fans knocking out other fans, the animosity between these two teams and their fans is immeasurable.

While I could keep adding more and more rivalries to the list, these nine pairings seem to have dominated the headlines in modern times. Some of these rivalries have been around for over a century, while others are only a few decades old, yet all of them have a significant impact on their team and its fans. We love to watch these games on TV, and when our team is playing, all of the feelings from past games arise. We feel as much hatred for our opponent as love for our team, and we will NEVER say it's "just another game."