A rivalry renewed

Don't believe the hype, the best rivalry in baseball renew acquaitances moments from now.

As explained in today's Sports Banter, I believe the Cubs-Cards series is the best rivalry in baseball.

Why?

Because it doesn't need the media hype Red Sox-Yankees gets from ESPN.

In fact, markets that do not have a direct correlation between Chicago or St. Louis will probably brush it off as a Midwest thing.

But that's the point.

Cubs-Cards divides friends, families and the state of Illinois. Cities like Springfield and Peoria are split 50-50, while college campuses like SIU or the University of Illinois have the same kind of split among the students, faculty and staff.

It's a fan thing, and really that's what matters the most.

The players will come and go. Managers will get hired and fired. But the fans will always be there.

Sure, this edition of the rivalry doesn't have the player rivalry that Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire gave us.

It doesn't have the hate-filled managerial rivalry of LaRussa and Dusty Baker.

It doesn't have Steve Kline's hatred for Mark Prior.

But it does have two teams, battling for their constituents for bragging rights, and that's what a rivalry is all about.