Rivals!: The Ten Greatest American Sports Rivalries of the 20th Century

Widespread enthusiasm for competitive sports has emerged as an undoubtedly dominant force in American popular culture. While the annals of sports are filled with hundreds of celebrated rivalries, Rivals! The Ten Greatest American Sports Rivalries of the 20th Century focuses on ten of the most memorable match–ups in American sports history, treating them to in–depth historical analysis. Richard Davies reveals not just a deeper understanding of the history of organized American sports, but the nature of competition itself and the complex reasons behind why sports have emerged as such an important part of our everyday lives. He examines enduring college and professional team rivalries, such as the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees and Duke and North Carolina, as well as legendary individual rivalries, including boxers Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, golfers Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, and tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Richly researched and compellingly readable, Rivals! The Ten Greatest American Sports Rivalries of the 20th Century offers a thought–provoking and serious examination of the history of the legendary and contentious sports rivalries that have shaped American culture.