The beginning of basketball season usually coincides with rival games. I have been to many rival basketball games including the Silver Creek vs. Henryville games, New Washington vs. Charlestown, Jeffersonville vs. New Albany, Southwestern (Hanover) vs. Madison, Austin vs. Scottsburg, Orleans vs. Paoli, and Eastern (Pekin) vs. Borden. These are all games that when you mention "rival" most people from those areas mention the other school as one of their rivals if not the main rival on the basketball court.
What makes a rival? Is it a 50/50 win vs. loss percentage? Not really, many games including the Barr-Reeve vs. Loogootee game has a lopsided side winning more than the other (Barr-Reeve is one of the better 1A teams around and Loogootee has a decided advantage in wins over them, of course, Loogootee is also one of the better 1A teams in southern Indiana).
What makes a rival? Is it the close proximity of the towns? Probably. Towns that are no further than 15 miles apart, and really the closer it seems, the more bitter the rivalry. What causes that? Town pride? Pride in the basketball team? Insecurity complex in one town vs. superiorty complex in another? I read one time on one of those chain e-mails that living in a small town is when you think the town ten miles away is either poor and unintelligent or rich and snobby and really they are more like you than you believe.
Makes sense to me. I have lived in/coached at New Washington when we played Charlestown; I have lived in/coached at Henryville when we played Silver Creek; I have lived in/coached at Borden when we played Eastern (Pekin) and many of the same thoughts, beliefs, and menality existed in all situations. I have lived in Sellersburg and hear the things said about Henryville (both good and bad), I coached at Eastern when we played Borden and also heard similar things. I have been on both sides of many rivalries either being with the team that often gets beaten and on the side that often wins.
It is interesting to me when towns, schools, teams have inferiority or superiorty complexes, I mean, we really are pretty similar in southern Indiana. Yes, you will have some differences when a New Albany plays a Floyd Central ("city" vs. suburbs), but even there most of the people involved are similar to each other.
I don't know why I am writing this other than writing out some thoughts. Because the hatred that spews back and forth during these games, both online and and live, is ridiculous. However, there is a fine line because it is that anymosity that makes these types of games so fun to watch. It is that anymosity that creates the energy that is well worth the price of admission. But it is that anymosity that creates ugly scenarios that no one is proud of, no matter which side you are supporting.
