A rivalry at work or in sports can bring out the best in individuals or a team. But it sometimes can come with drawbacks in both instances.

A prime example of both sides of the workplace rivalry coin was illustrated in a widely read New York Times article about online sales giant Amazon, where employees openly and frequently critique their colleagues' performance, right up to hours logged in the office.

"Nearly every person I worked with, I saw cry at their desk," a former Amazon employee was quoted as saying.

The company also uses something called the Anytime Feedback Tool, through which employees can offer criticism and praise about their co-workers, with their identities shielded from their targeted fellow employees.

Amazon's amazing success in the marketplace can be seen as giving credence to its philosophy. Even past employees say they were driven to their creative heights while working there.

However, not everyone shares that viewpoint. A recent poll by job-search site Monster showed that 1 in 5 respondents has left a job because of a workplace rivalry, and more than a quarter of respondents said they've considered leaving a job because of that.

When it comes to sports, what could be more exciting than participating in a hard-fought game against a rival? Fans take the passion to extremes, adding further fuel to games that in most cases need no more inspiration. That can vary from defacing an opponent's home field or campus to challenging a heart surgeon, as a young Ohio State fan did.

When Ivan Applin, a 10-year-old loyal Buckeye supporter from Toledo, Ohio, traveled to a Michigan hospital for heart surgery, he had to be reassured by doctors that after the operation, his heart would still love Ohio State over Big Ten rival Michigan.

Rivalries aren't limited to the big names. Researchers at Western Carolina tackled the topic to measure the intensity of college football rivalries. The school names near the top of the list will surprise some people.

Rusty Dowling, executive director of the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association, understands the balancing act in approaching a big game.

"As a coach you may not necessarily enjoy preparing for a rival, but you need to understand that just because you don't want to emphasis a rivalry doesn't mean the community shares your belief," he said. "Communities love to compete with each other."

Jon Rustenhaven, head baseball coach at Texas' Grand Prairie High School and president of the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, embraces the emotions.

"I think rivalries are great! They define a school and community. They are the games that all players and people remember the most," he said. "I stress to my players that our rivals are to be respected but at the same time do your very best to be victorious."

Some schools embrace the passion in unique and productive ways. Two Michigan high schools played off their football rivalry by adding cross country matches to the mix, bringing Friday night attention and fan intensity to athletes who frequently compete outside the spotlight. A traveling trophy was awarded to the school that won two of the three competitions, drawing more of the communities into the event.

That intensity can have an effect on the players too.

"I've been at several schools where it was a two-school town," said Barry Russell, the longtime head baseball coach at Midland (Texas) High School. "The kids would get so keyed up for the rivalry game that we may win that game and the kids were flat for the next two, and we are sitting 1-2. When we de-emphasized that game, we performed way better and might be 2-1 or 3-0."

For big sporting events like the Super Bowl, the game bleeds into the office atmosphere, with rival fans taunting each other. As long as it's good-natured, it's good for the business, according to Lee Igel, an associate professor at New York University.

"It's a sign of a healthy workplace when people are having a good time with sports rivalries," Igel said.

Those words can apply to players on the field and fans in the stands, from youth sports to big-league games.