For the better part of the week, I’ve encountered more local antipathy for the woeful Bears than in years past. However, newer residents to the Greater Chicago Metro area have surprised me. Their adopted favorites haven’t been as big a disappointment.
We tend to group natives and “citizens by choice” when we measure the pulse of specific teams and their likeability. When sports fans move to new cities they often adopt one of the sports teams as their own, or at least as long as they live there. Other fans can’t shake their native allegiance. Sometimes it’s easier to join them than fight them. I know several people that have moved here from two-team cities and have decided it’s easier to accept both the Cubs and Sox (and maybe ride the hot hand) than to take a stand and make enemies with half the population.
Others prefer the company of happy fans regardless of their choice in teams. Some of those people like to see the Hawks, Bulls, Bears and both baseball teams do well because their co-workers and friends are going to be easier to deal with. Of course, there are folks that prefer to antagonize and will root against their new home (city) at all costs. Some fans are lucky to move to a city that is in the middle of a great run or a spectacular individual. Think of the people that moved to Chicago during the Jordan Era, Sammy Sosa’s big season, or in 2016 or during the Hawks’ three Stanley Cups. Call them the ultimate bandwagon jumpers, but their timing is impeccable.
Case in point, thousands of Bears fans would love to see them lose today to the “hated” Packers, thinking the embarrassment of a 4-13 season will necessarily lead to systemic change. I’ve heard more than a few outsiders root for a win just because they feel for the players and fans who’ve dealt with this crappy season.
For years people wondered why the Atlanta Braves of the 90’s weren’t more popular at home despite their decade-long playoff run. The prevailing explanation at the time was that there were so many non-locals living in Greater Atlanta. On a couple visits to Atlanta, I learned that they were more passionate about college football.
When I went to school in Philadelphia, the only local pro team I rooted for was the Sixers and not because they were coming off a championship. I had been rooting for them since Dr. J came to the NBA from N.J and the ABA. I was ambivalent about the Eagles and Flyers and passionately rooted against the Phillies, but I understood the pressure to conform to “community standards.”
Losing might make for better sports talk radio, but winning makes for better mental health. Yesterday’s 50+ point victory certainly improved my outlook on life.
