In NHL, it's Clubber Lang vs. Rocky
The Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks will meet in the Stanley Cup Finals, pitting two of the nation's largest cities against each other with a title at stake.
Across the four major North American sports, Chicago and Philadelphia have met in the postseason 10 times, splitting the series with five wins apiece.
In terms of the championship round, however, Philadelphia holds a 3-1 advantage, winning two World Series and one of two NFL Championship Game meetings. The cities have not met in a championship round since the 1948 NFL Championship Game between the Eagles and the Chicago Cardinals.
However, the fiercest championship matchup between these cities took place inside the ropes …
Chicago tough guy Clubber Lang and Philadelphia underdog Rocky Balboa squared off twice in 1982's "Rocky III." In the first matchup at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Rocky lost his heavyweight crown via a second-round KO to the hungry challenger. Rocky was distraught at the time, having seen his longtime manager Mickey mortally injured by Clubber in a prefight scuffle near the locker rooms. But later, at Madison Square Garden and under the tutelage of former champ Apollo Creed, Rocky returned the favor with a third-round KO of the loudmouth from Chicago.
Notable Quotes
Interviewer: Do you hate Rocky?
Clubber Lang: No, I don't hate Balboa. I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!
Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?
Clubber Lang: My prediction?
Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
Clubber Lang: [looking into camera] Pain!
Clubber Lang: I'm the baddest man in the world.
Rocky Balboa: You don't look so bad to me.
Clubber Lang: What did you say, Paper Champion? I'll beat you like a dog, a dog, you fool!
And of course, for those of you more interested in the conventional sports matchups in the postseason between Philadelphia and Chicago:
NBA
Bulls defeated 76ers 4-1 in 1991 conference semifinals
Bulls defeated 76ers 4-1 in 1990 conference semifinals
NFL
Eagles defeated Bears 33-19 in 2001 divisional game
Bears defeated Eagles 20-12 in 1988 divisional game
Eagles defeated Bears 27-7 in 1979 wild-card game
Eagles defeated Chicago Cardinals 7-0 in 1948 NFL Championship Game
Chicago Cardinals defeated Eagles 28-21 in 1947 NFL Championship Game
MLB
Philadelphia Athletics defeated Chicago Cubs 4-1 in 1929 World Series
Philadelphia Athletics defeated Chicago Cubs 4-1 in 1910 World Series
NHL
Blackhawks defeated Flyers in 1971 quarterfinals
Jason McCallum is a production researcher for ESPN.com.
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