Champion Chicago

Over the past couple of months, I have been looking at what Chicago sport fans say about their players, teams, and management through different avenues such as articles, social media, and other places on the internet. What it tells me is that there is a vocal subsection that is invested in ways that seem unbelievable. I try to give these "passionate" fans the benefit of the doubt. They are embroiled in the twists and turns that come with being a sports fan, but then I see the sense of community that sport promotes not feeding into the goodwill of people. It is feeding into the panic and despair that feeds into paranoia and negativity.

There was the incident from 2003 with Steve Bartman that should have called for a reflection of sports fans everywhere and not just Chicago Cubs fans. A realization that there is more to the sport than people playing for entertainment and escape from the unnerving reality outside the stadium. The fact that it took a championship that was never guaranteed to get the Cubs organization to apologize is something that should not be supported, it should be taken with a grain of salt. That explosive energy from the outburst toward Bartman should have been channeled into the positive reinforcement that comes from this stoppage of momentum. Still, history cannot be changed but the fandom can move in a direction that champions the teams they love, yet people still act in the same outrageous ways they did with Bartman. Now, the field has expanded into new territories.

The new territory is online with social media and the online publications spreading their word over how it feels to be Chicago fan or why Robin Lehner should know that he is the reason he got traded. While these are definite breeding grounds for unwarranted behavior and opinions, it is small in comparison to when the situation boils over like with Bartman. That boiling point was reached during the NHL Trade Deadline when the general manager, Stan Bowman, of the Chicago Blackhawks was trending over deals made.

TRADE ALERT: The #Blackhawks have acquired a third-round pick in the 2020 #NHLDraft from Calgary in exchange for defenseman Erik Gustafsson. Chicago will receive the earlier of Calgary’s two third-round picks in the 2020 #NHLDraft

The comments were flooded with similar images and phrasing that showed  quite the ugly side of a fan base that has felt more complacent than satisfied. As a former hockey player, this lack of support would have devastated me. With the type of trades that Bowman was making, it is reasonable to see how worry, confusion, and anger would culminate as the team at this moment in the season was only a few points out a playoff spot in a tight race. However, the response is what's key as the tension finally gave way and unleashed thousands of people to spread messages wishing for the pink slip to be handed to Bowman. Its the entitlement that comes with being a fan, expecting something at anytime and then being upset when it doesn't go the right way. 

That thread connecting people to the sport as if it is their life is what needs to break because it not defined by how much you think you care, it reflected through the community. The sports community has this issue of entitlement and lack of support that shows up more with Boston or New York fan-bases, but is still prevalent in Chicago and rising. It never used to be this bad until the Blackhawks won and with the Cubs win, it rose more. This unrealistic expectation winning every year has bred fans that are not satisfied with a slice of cake, they want the whole thing. It would be naive if I was wanting everyone to change overnight. What I am looking for is to have fans take a step in the right direction and actually support the team when things look bleak. 

Now is the perfect time to really showcase the support and resiliency that comes with sports during this postponement as the world is not in the nest of places at the moment. The staff, players, everyone involved with the teams that are in Chicago and throughout the world are human. They feel in the same ways that the fans do when there is a loss. They do not need thousands of people yelling at them about the parts where they screwed up. That is not to say that fans should not be critical, but to remember the words being said will never go away. Trying to bring out the best should be the goal, not tearing them down. It all comes down to how people wish to show themselves.

Its time to put that Chicago pride in display because this is a city of champions. Champions will always stay that way, the title will never fade. Look at the Toronto Maple Leaf fans, they never forget to tell you they won over fifty years ago with strength and vigor. Supporting the team in a slump is where you see the real character of the fan-base. Become the pillars of support needed in sports and show them what a Champion Chicago looks like. Together even in the darkest of times and stronger in the light.