The day is here folks, time once again for the greatest rivalry in professional sports to ignite the airwaves of your TVs and radios.  The Yankees are in town for Fenway Park's 100th anniversary and the excitement is electric.  Everyone can feel it when New York comes to Boston; the hate is palpable and the tension can be cut with a butter knife.

I have to drop an obligatory disclaimer: I am a die hard Yankees fan. But I am not a hater; the Sox are an incredibly talented team and one of the best in the league.  Sometimes, fans of both sides focus way too much energy on hating each other, rather than recognizing one another's achievements.  It leads to very unnecessary hostile attitudes when discussing something as easy going as baseball.

However, without further ado, here are the top 5 moments in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.  I am going to keep it within the last ten years for two reasons: one, 2003-2004 was when the best stories happened, and two, it relates more to our generation.  So, here we go:

5. Pedro vs. Don ZimmerWho can really forget this moment?  2003 ALCS, the rivalry was positively on fire this season.  Pitches were being thrown behind  hitters, jaws were being flapped, old men had vendettas against aces.  Why Don Zimmer speed-waddled across the diamond to Pedro is still a mystery to me, but so is Pedro's choice to grab him by the head and heave him to the ground.  Even Big Papi seemed a little vexed and surprised at Pedro's move, but then again, how else do you react to someone charging at you full sprint?  Regardless, this was a huge moment in the rivalry.  The Yankees eventually won the series, going on to lose to the Marlins in the World Series.

4. A-Rod vs. Varitek

Ah, another brawling moment in Yankees-Red Sox history.  This time it's 2004, a humongous and monumental year for Boston as they went on to win their first World Series in 86 years.  Everyone will remember this brawl though; caps off to Varitek for lifting the 200+ lb A-Rod off the ground.  This was arguably one of the bigger fights these teams got in with both benches clearing and Tanyon Sturtze (who was the SP that day too) getting absolutely bundled in a corner by Papi, Millar, and Nixon.  Seriously, how nostalgic is this video?  Nomar, Damon, Sheffield, Bernie, Wakefield.  Oh the glory days.

3. Jeter dives into the stands

1. Tie - Aaron Boone walk-off and Breaking the Curse

How can these two moments not be tied?  I mean, winning the WS for the first time in 86 years is huge, but that Boone homer was one of the best nights of my life.  This why they tie: two fantastic moments in baseball for both sides of the rivalry. I can't watch highlights from 2004; I'll never get over the sick feeling in my stomach from that ALCS.  But after it was clear the Sox were going to win the World Series, I got over it enough to applaud their success.  How could you not? 

Related: Bo-Sox Weekly Wrap Up

Well there you have it folks, some of the top memories of the Yankees-Sox rivalry. Every year they make new ones, and 2012 should be no different.  I'm so happy it's baseball season again. Finally, hockey is almost over and I can watch ESPN and actually have interest in what they're talking about. First pitch is at 3:15 so get ready kids, shit's about to go down like Rihanna on some white lady.