It is, arguably, the best rivalry in sports. The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees bring out the best and worst in people.

The Yankees have won 26 World Championships. The Red Sox haven’t won one since 1918.

Boston fans actually have two favorite teams: the Red Sox and any team that knocks the Yankees out of the playoffs.

People lament about the Curse of the Bambino, when Red Sox owner-Broadway producer Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000 in order to finance the musical “No, No, Nanette” in 1920.

There is no curse.

But the sale of The Bambino does shed some light on the difference between the two organizations.

There have been exceptions but, on the whole, the Yankees have made better personnel decisions over the years.

And, for some reason, lifetime .255 hitters hit .300 for the Yankees while lifetime .300 hitters wind up hitting .255 for the Red Sox.

There is something to be said for the Yankee pin stripes and the tradition and the effect it has on players. Success breeds success.

Players in both cities are under the media microscope. Every pitch, slap shot, dunk, or end run is analyzed. Thin-skinned players need not apply.

In the current climate, the Yankees are the best team money can buy.

Their payroll is $149.7 million. And there is plenty more where that came from. The Mets are next at $116.9 million.

Owner George Steinbrenner gets whatever he needs.

The Red Sox are sixth at $96.6 million. That’s more than enough to win a World Series.

Tampa Bay has the lowest payroll at a mere $19.6 million.

But you have to reluctantly give credit to the Yankees. They know the importance of stocking their minor league system full of prospects who are attractive trade bait if they don’t first wind up in pin stripes.

They are always able to pull off that right-before-the-deadline trade because they have young players other teams seek.

Just because your organization is one of the wealthiest in your respective sport, it doesn’t ensure championships. Just ask the NHL’s Rangers.

The beauty of the Red Sox-Yankee rivalry is the passion.

Bucky Dent is a four-letter word in Boston as a result of his three-run homer in 1978 that decided the playoff game between the archrivals.

Boston is a vibrant blue-collar town with too many people for the land available. It is Congestion Central, but you get used to it. It is a town brimming with college students who often occupy the cheapest seats at Fenway but have the most creative cheers if you can understand them.

New York is, well, New York. The hub of the country. The town that never sleeps. Celebrities everywhere. You can get anything and everything you want in New York. And more – like championships.

Bear connection to ECHL champs

Four guys with ties to the University of Maine men’s hockey program earned Kelly Cup championship rings when their Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies won the East Coast Hockey League championship.

Defenseman Peter Metcalf had four goals and six assists in 19 playoff games, goalie Matt Yeats was 4-1 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .896 save percentage, and former Maine assistant coach Matt Thomas and equipment manager Josh MacDonald of Millinocket had similar roles with the Bullies.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231 or 1-800-310-866. His email address is lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.