The games are always sellouts and usually close even with the Reds on a string of losing seasons. Also, these are two of the oldest franchises so there's decades of arguments over whether Ohio is an Indians state or a Reds state.
Take the population figures out and this is really much more of a rivalry than Yankees with years behind them and all of the titles and the Mets.
this guy is an assclown if he can't figure out why Cincinnati and Cleveland are rivals, if nothing else it's because they are in the same state. And like you said, the games are usually close. I am going to Saturday night's game and I am looking forward to it. In other words, I care and that's all that matters to me.