Introduction

I love sports. For over 50 years I’ve been following the highs but mostly low points of the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox. Yeah I know there is a soccer team but I don’t care.

In these posts we’ll look at present, future and maybe a few references to the past for perspective. In the movie “The Music Man”, the mayor keeps asking to get that man’s credentials. Here’s what I’ve seen:

Chicago Bears- Sayers, Butkus were the only things to watch on bad to mediocre teams. The greatness of Walter Payton who capped his career with a Super Bowl ring for Ditka/Ryan team in 1985. The next 2 years, first round exits from playoffs. Bears have for the most part been bad albeit 2007 Super Bowl appearance when Lovie Smith kept insisting Rex was our quarterback.

Chicago Blackhawks- Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Lloyd Pettit’s a shot and a goal are early memories of a good Hawks team who went to the 1972 Stanley Cup finals but coughed up a two goal lead in the seventh game. Denis Savard and Tony Esposito teams were entertaining although no Cups. Dino (Ciccarelli) still sucks. From being voted worst organization in pro sports to the model they are now, with 3 Stanley Cups, Kane, Toews and Pat Foley’s Hawks win Hawks win.

Chicago Bulls- I still remember the 1966 inaugural season with Johnny Kerr coaching and my favorite player on that team, Guy Rodgers. Dick Motta, Chet Walker led teams that choked before reaching NBA Finals, most notably losing sixth game at home up 3-2 against Golden State. The greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan and 6 championships. The rise and fall of Derrick Rose, GarPax.

Chicago Cubs- Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ferguson Jenkins. After years of being bad to one of the best teams never to win a championship, these were exciting times. Later on a smattering of good years with gut wrenching playoff losses to Padres and Marlins. In comes the savior Theo Epstein. He has a plan. Cubs are 2016 World Series champs.

Chicago White Sox- Where loyalty trumps winning. In 1967, in my opinion the best pennant race in history, 4 teams had a chance to win in the last week. The Sox were swept in 2 doubleheaders by bottom feeders Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics. Boston wins and plays epic World Series vs. Cardinals. Bad teams come next until 1983 playoffs, first post season game in Chicago since 1959. Next, a couple of first round playoff ousters and finally winning the World Series 2005. Thanks to Kenny Williams for keeping the White Sox bad since then. One last thing, nice exhaustive managerial search.

On Deck: Chicago Bears