but if there were an option for Anaheim only, they'd be my choice.

Frankly, Boston and NY are too enamoured with each other to qualify for top rival honors with Oakland. The Oakland/Anaheim series has been consistently close over the past few years, and there's no love lost between the two fan bases. (Although where Halos Heaven is concerned, that could apply to pretty much any other team).

I think this is something that is different for everyone.  

For example, some of my closest friends and my significant other are Giants fans.  There will be about 20 of us tailgating on the Saturday game in Oak between the A's and the Giants and I wouldn't want anything more than the A's to beat the Giants.  At that point in time, I'd gladly give up a series against the Angels to beat the Giants.  

I'm sure the same can be said for other people who have close relationships with Yankee or Red Sox fans.  

But as of now, with the current standings, I just want the Angels to lose lose lose.

• Angels 'cause they are fierce division rivals who have celebrated on our turf more than once.
• Giants 'cause they hog bay area territory and media coverage and do so with a sucky non-contending team.

I am of the firm belief that a rivalry is only legitimate if both teams despise/dislike each other. In that light, I voted for Angels and Giants - in that order.

Sure, I hate Boston and the Yankees, but I wouldn't really consider either of those teams to be rivals because if you asked either team's fan base about the A's they would not really have much to say.  For lack of a better analogy I would liken an A's Red Sox/Yankees rivalry to the Illinois v. Michigan/Ohio State 'rivalry' in the big Ten-leven.  Sure Illinois despises Michigan/Ohio State because they are in the same conference, but I know for a fact that Michigan/Ohio State could give a rat's ass about Illinois.  In the same light, to give any credence to an A's v. Yankees/RedSox rivalry exposes us as having a case of little man's syndrome.

There is definately much to hate about the Yankees (for the reasons stated above as well as Giambi's defection and the early 2000 playoff losses) and the Red Sox (2003 playoffs and their fans), but I know for a fact, having lived on the East Coast for three years and being surrounded by all of those pukes that the A's are an afterthought at best.  Here's a very recent example.  My buddy in NYC was approached by a Yankees' fan coworker who asked him yesterday "I bet you guys are really missing Zito?"  East Coasters think the world revolves around them and ESPN does everything in it's power to reinforce this assenine idea.  The only time they pay attention to the A's is when they get our players or play against us in the playoffs.

Angels v. A's, now that is a rivalry!

As much as I love beating LAAAAA, it was great watching them beat the Giants in 02.  I'm glad people are starting to realize that Boston is just a slightly cheaper and more annoying version of the Yankees.  At least the Yankees have some class, and I can't stand how Boston fans think everyone roots for them just because of how much the Yankees are hated.