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A's Biggest Rivals are ... ?

So over on the Chronicle Drumbeat, they have quite a lengthy thread (by Drumbeat standards) going about who the A's biggest rivals are and who we A's fans would like to beat the most.  I figured us, being us, could have our own discussion (mostly because I'm too lazy to register to comment in their thread).  I did a search for 'rivalry' but didn't find any devoted threads, so here we are.  So here's my question - who's our biggest rival?  who do we want to beat the most?  are they the same team?

Star-divide

Prime Candidates
Yankees - The Evil Empire.  Buys divisions championships.  Tries to buy the pennant/title (unsuccessful for a little bit now)  The Goliath of the AL.  Plenty to despise (Jeter, Giambi).  Some to begrudgingly admire (Rivera, ARod)  Their fans are frickin' everywhere when they come to town and incredibly obnoxious (Random question - are there Yankee fans that don't come from New York?  If yes, why?)  Knocked us outta the playoffs twice this decade.

Boston - The Evil Empire, Jr.  The Yankees ugly kid brother.  Win one title after a drought of 80something years and their fans get a big head.  Knocked us outta the playoffs once.

San Francisco - The cross-bay rivals.  A sorta new park with an empty trophy case (still).  Plenty of casual fans that hang out until Bond's last at-bat.  The dominant team in terms of media coverage in the Bay Area.  The only team/city that loves Barry (roids!) and Barry (overpaid!  haw-HAW!).  Pretty evenly matched in terms of head-to-head games since inter-league.

Anaheim / OC / Los Angeles - The neo-rival (in the last 5 years or so).  Very evenly matched despite differences in offensive philosophies.  Plenty to hate (Scoscia, KRod)  Also uses home-grown talent.  Most impact on our success as a division rival.  Has celebrated on our turf.

I've left out other teams like Texas, ChiSox, Twins, Seattle because they're just not disliked on the level as the four teams above.

Poll
Who do we want to beat the most / 2nd most?
Anaheim, Boston
15 votes
SF, Anaheim
8 votes
SF, NY
0 votes
SF, Boston
2 votes
NY, Anaheim
5 votes
NY, SF
0 votes
NY, Boston
3 votes
Boston, Anaheim
1 votes
Anaheim, SF
33 votes
Anaheim, NY
41 votes

108 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 14 comments

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Comments

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Voted Anaheim/SF

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).

by sarchasmic on Apr 10, 2007 10:13 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i voted anaheim/sf, but...

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.

by fadedash on Apr 10, 2007 10:35 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Voted Anaheim/SF also
  • 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.
.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Apr 10, 2007 10:38 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Rivalry

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!

by SwisherSweet33 on Apr 10, 2007 10:43 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Voted Ana/NY

Anahiem for the obvious reason and NY, well because I like watching NY lose as much as I like watching the A's win (not really a rivalry thing).

"I'd like to reference a brilliant post from Left Coast Lumber today" - notsellingjeans

by methodrampage on Apr 10, 2007 10:47 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The Giants and ...

whichever AL West team has most recently stood between us and the playoffs ...

right now, that's the Angels. A few years ago, it was the Mariners. For several years before that, that team was the A's and before that, it was the Twins.

by devo on Apr 10, 2007 10:57 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

We have this discussion every year

and usually the Yankees wind up on top.  It would be interesting to see if the Angels surpass that.  They

by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 10, 2007 11:00 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

really should.

I didn't finish my though.  D'oh!

by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 10, 2007 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Clearly it's Anaheim and someone.

I would have picked Anaheim/Texas if that were one of the options.  I just don't see teams in different divisions, and certainly not different leagues as being rivals.  If you turned it around I'd say the Angel and Ranger fans hate the A's more than any other fans hate the A's.  That should count for something.

by WaddellCanseco on Apr 10, 2007 12:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Voted SF/Boston

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.  

by antigiants on Apr 10, 2007 3:01 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

hating New York is so cliche...

hah.

I don't actaully hate that much on SF... I mean... I live there... I have pride for every bay area team (but... there is A CLEAR AND DISTINCT HIERARCHY).
A's fan for life... but the Giant's are kinda like your rich cousin that you kinda hate but feel bad for cuz he never sees his dad and gets left out of the family christmas picture.

Hello.

by ConditionOakland on Apr 10, 2007 6:50 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

With 92 votes recorded ...

Anaheim has 89 mentions,
NYY 40,
SF 37,
Bos 18,

by devo on Apr 10, 2007 6:56 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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