One of the greatest scientific rivalries in history was that between paleontologists Edward Cope and Othniel Marsh, often referred to as The Bone Wars.  The two struggled not just to outdo each other but also to destroy each other, resorting to bribery, theft, violence, and any other means they could think of to ruin the reputation of their rival.  The rivalry resulted in the academic and financial ruin of both men but also left us with the discovery of many of the dinosaurs we love today like triceratops, stegosaurus, and diplodocus.