> I fail to comprehend why anyone gives a flying flip whether one U.S. city beats another U.S. city in something or not . . .

Why is nationalism somehow more sensical to you than a similar feeling on the city level?

Sure, it's cool and all when America wins at whatever, but almost everyone else I see everyday is also American. If America beats Greece in some event, that's nice, but I don't know any Greeks. I don't have any rivalry with them, I can't rub it in their face if we win, etc.

Now, if the San Diego Chargers beat the Washington Redskins (which did in fact happen this NFL season) I get to go into work on Monday and talk smack to my office manager who is from D.C.

Sam, I'm really surprised that you, who is so interested by differences between and identities of states and cities, would fail to get why this is interesting. Your problem may be that you don't actually live anywhere near real cities, so you feel no connection to the city that houses all the New England sports teams -- and not only that, you have a particular dislike for Boston.

But don't you see? That sort of particular dislike for Boston is what fuels the great sports rivalries. Don't tell me you wouldn't be happy to see a New Hampshire team beat a Massachusetts team in something.

Stephen