The Media gets it backwards

For so, so long, most everyone in Big Ten country has decried the attention that the ACC has received, but ever since the Big East added about a million teams, that attention has gone to the Big East. The ACC has become almost an afterthought, especially since old favorites like Maryland and Wake Forest have fallen off.
This year, thanks in some part to the high rankings I'm sure, the Big East managed to net 11 teams in the Big Dance, while the ACC, the old guard, as it were, only cobbled together 4 teams. The ACC IS really down, aren't they?
But wait! After the first round, the Big East was only 7-4, while the ACC went 3-1 (ironically, their only loss was against the Big East, West Virginia vs Clemson). After today, the Big East lost another team, West Virginia, while they will lose another when Connecticut plays Cincinnati, and another tomorrow when Syracuse plays Marquette. Suddenly, the Big East is guaranteed a max of 4 teams in the Sweet 16. One of their remaining matchups involves the ACC's Florida State against Notre Dame. If FSU wins, then suddenly both the ACC and Big East have three teams in the Big Dance. It makes you wonder if those at ESPN would have had it right, sticking to their traditional guns. Is the ACC the best conference?
Of course not. The best conference is the Big Ten.

The most overwrought rivalries in the media

Oh yes, we are doing a list with this mofo, and not a slide show, because they are annoying. The rules: these are the most overwrought as I, a Minnesotan with basic cable, sees them.

5.  Michigan-Ohio State - Michigan hasn't been good for a while, and the Big Ten has been a less than superior conference for even longer. Still, this is a traditional powerhouse, and Michigan and OSU are the two most nationally marketable teams out there. So, a two team conference in the world's eye, the plays in the eastern/central time zone... yeah, this one gets way too much play.

4. The entire NFC East - It's the Redskins-Cowboys! It's the Eagles Giants! It's the Giants Cowboys! It's the Eagles Redskins! et al. Somehow, they are all enormous rivalries.

3. Patriots - Jets - Hey, Belichick used to be on the Jets' staff! Bill Parcells! Rex Ryan talks a lot! This rivalry started to get going around 2000, and I think it will continue to plague the NFL fan for the rest of eternity.

2. Duke - North Carolina - Two words: Dick Vitale. It's almost as if the rest of the college basketball world has to stop to honor these two games every year. I can't think of another college basketball game that gets a full week of hype before it is even played.

1. Red Sox - Yankees - There are very logical reasons that this rivalry gets so much attention. It features New York vs Boston (see #3). There are 19 games of these played a season. They are the best two teams in the game, typically. But still. Enough. There are other teams too.

You'll note that the NHL and NBA don't have any rivalries on here. Why? I don't know. I think it's because any both leagues are spread across basic cable networks, rather than making their presence felt only on ESPN, or Fox or what have you (sure, they are on NBC and ABC respectively, but come on) and second, historic rivalries are often pushed aside in those leagues, because they tend to be more player driven. Sid vs Ovie in the NHL, Lebron vs Kobe in the NBA. But what do you think? Thoughts in the comments.