I really don't get the denial of our rivalry in some Spurs quarters, it's like they're having to 'stoop' to West Ham's petty little level by declaring ourselves as rivals... rivals are rivals, be it geographically (which we are) or historically (which we also are) ... rivals don't necessarily have to be equals, just look at Leeds & Man Utd... geographically, they have closer 'options' and in terms of current league status, they're a division apart... but historically, they go way back... and you don't think for one minute that Man Utd don't get 'a little bit more' geed up when they've played (in the cups) in recent years... course they do! It doesn't harm their masculinity to admit having a lower league rival!
The other thing is, you're allowed to have MORE than one!! West Ham clearly have Millwall and Chelsea, and we're probably number 'free on their list!
Likewise, we, of course have Woolwich & Chelsea, but West Ham aren't that far behind...
I see West Ham as rivals purely down to what I grew up understanding... and funnily enough, the Chelsea 'rivalry' in those days was probably more akin to how some see ours and West Ham's these days... when THEY were in the lower leagues (oh yeah kids, Chelsea were proper shit once!) and Spurs/West Ham/Arse were the 3 main London clubs, you're not telling me that any combination of those games wouldn't have an extra little edge to it?
A cup Quarter Final; Spurs v West Ham... midweek, White Hart Lane...
blimey, if you can't get yourself going for that, there's summit seriously wrong!!