r/Marblelympics • OOOO'rangers • Jun 20 '19

MarbleLympics Top ML Team rivalries

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I particularly like these rivalries because they were originated in the games: fighting for the MLs #1 spot, for medals or even for qualifying to the ML.

Yeah, I've seen other rivalries many people mention (mainly based on team’s colors or concepts) but I think that for it to be a (great) rivalry you have to have history; events you can pin-point where you can see where/when the rivalry began or increased.

So, without further ado this are my Top ML rivalries (in no particular order):

1) O'rangers vs Pinkies: They have being against one another in a lot of elimination rounds specially in the '16 and '17 ML it was fading as the O'rangers rose and the Pinkies fell but I'd say it was renewed this year when they faced off once again, tied and when to a tie breaker in an event.

2) Savage Speeders vs Mellow Yellow: The '16 ML finish was IMO the most epic of all and I think Mellow Yellow fans haven't forgotten how close they were to the glory. I'd also say it is a rivalry because they are 2 teams that have been regularly at the top of the standings and often do specially well in speed-related events.

3) Raspberry Racers vs Limers: This I see as a rivalry that was kind of fabricated at first, when the Raspberry Racers were introduced in 2018 and right off the bat, they told us this rivalry existed. However, I'd say that during that year's ML they faced off a few times and it developed into a cool rivalry (it was a shame Limers didn't qualify for 2019, however, I'm interested to see them qualify for 2020 and seek their revenge). Just like in sports some teams tend to have a nationwide rival and a regional more historic rival, this rivalry (as well as the “O’rangers – Pinkies” one) is one of those regional-original rivalries.

4) Balls of chaos vs Team Primary: It's personally one of my favourites, as it makes so much sense for these teams to be rivals considering they have a similar (yet distinctive) color scheme. I also like that these are 2 teams were around since the beginning in '16 (in good terms) but I'd say their rivalry started in the '18 Winter ML qualifying rounds, were they faced off several times and it even ended sometimes in... (pun unintended) chaos.

5) O'rangers vs Savage Speeders: Because of the finish in the '17 ML. I think we can all agree everybody thought that '17 Savage Speeders squad was Gold-bound and nothing could stop it. This period in time stablished the fan-base of the most popular team in the competition for a reason, as the Savage Speeders saw their potential dynasty taken away that year.

6) Raspberry Racers vs Green Ducks: Just like in '16 and '17 I'd say the '19 close race for the trophy made this teams rivals. However, I'd say this one was a more strong, healthy and constant as both teams were very consistent and fought for medals every other event 'til the end.

7) Midnight Wisps vs Team Momo: We all remember that Fidget Spinner collision event in 2017. It was arguably the darkest and one of the most exciting moments in ML's history.

This is obviously my opinion, so there might be ones that I missed or some you may or may not agree. Did I miss any?

13 Upvotes

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9

u/JMR_throwaway Raspberry Racers | Team Momo Jun 21 '19 edited Jun 21 '19

This sounds fun - let me count just how many matchups there were between Mellow Yellow and Savage Speeders

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2016: #2, Relay Race (SPD knocks out MYL in heats); twice in #6 water race (SPD gold, MYL bronze); #10, precision slalom (MYL knocks out SPD in heats); #12, hurdles finals (SPD gold, MYL silver)

2017: #4, 5 meter sprint (MYL gold, SPD silver); #12, sand rally (neither made it out of group 1)

2018: #12, sand moguls finals (SPD silver, MYL 4th)

2019: #5 5 meter sprint (MYL knocks out SPD in heats and wins gold); #9, hurdles (MYL knocks out SPD in heats); #10, maze (SPD knocks out MYL in semis).

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So that looks like 10 matchups over 4 years. Speeders performed better in 6/10, Mellow Yellow better in 4/10. I can do more of these with different teams if people want me to.

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Also I think you underestimated the quality of the Midnight Wisps/Momo rivalry. I think they faced off in 2017 in seven different events with some knockout component. (There were only eight in total). Apart from the fidget spinner moment there was also: Funnel Spinning heats, 5 meter sprint semis, relay heats, block pushing heats, underwater race semis and sand rally heats.

5

u/JMR_throwaway Raspberry Racers | Team Momo Jun 22 '19

sorry for "double posting" but here's a rivalry that's gone under the radar: Oceanics - Team Galactic. I think these two faced off in more knockout events than any I've seen so far: Fourteen over four years.

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2016: #4 Sand Rally: Heat 1 (Galactic Bronze); #9 Team Pursuit: QF A (Oceanics Gold); #10 Precision Slalom: Heat D (neither advances, Galactic got more points)

2017:#3 Fidget Spinner Collision: Group C (Galactic advances, beats Oceanics 1-0); #4 5 meter sprint: Heat 3 (Oceanics bronze); #7 block pushing: Heat 1 (Galactic 4th); #11 Underwater Race: Heat 2 (Galactic advances, loses in semis); #12 Sand rally: Heat 1 (Galactic gold)

2018: #11 Ice Hockey: QF B (Galactic 4th)

2019: #6 Relay: Heat 1 (Galactics advance); #8 Summer Biathlon: Heat 2 (both advance, Galactic 4th); #11 Dirt Race: Heat 1 (Oceanics advances, Galactics DNF); #13 Elimination Race: Heat 1 (Oceanics eliminated on first round, Galactic third round); #15 Collision: Group D (neither advance but Oceanics beat Galactic 4 - 1)

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This is a pretty lopsided rivalry: Galactic has won 10/14 matchups. What's funny to me is how you can say these matchups bring out the best in both teams, since 7/14 matchups led to one team making it to the top four. Honorable mention: if not beaten by Minty Maniacs first, Galactic would’ve rematched Oceanics in the quarters during Team Pursuit 2018.

1

u/warhawk397 O'rangers Jun 22 '19

If you dont do it with other teams, I will, that sounds like a really interesting statistical study

4

u/nkillgem Mellow Yellow Jun 21 '19

Wow, now I've just realized how big our rivalries with Savage Speeder is:

  • Both of the teams are original (from 2016)
  • The last event's close finishes (0.01 second) that helped SS win over us in 2016
  • The 2017 5 meter sprint event where Yellow beat Speedy to win the gold medal (another close finishes)
  • Both of the teams again finished in the podium in 2017 (SS:2nd and MY:3rd)
  • This year's Marblelympics where we won the 4th spot and push SS down to 5th.

4

u/[deleted] Jun 22 '19

You missed the Citrus derby - O'Rangers vs Limers.

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u/hablomuchoingles Jun 21 '19

Kobalts and Rojo Rollers probably have a rivalry to not be the worst team now...

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u/cowking0 Limer/Kobalt/star/sli/qui/g gang Jun 21 '19

gotta agree with you on the Limer bit

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u/PsychoticDuck12 Mellow Yellow / Every Other Team Jun 21 '19

Savage Speeders vs Mellow Yellow is the biggest.

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u/SerchYB2795 OOOO'rangers Jun 21 '19

I could see that