Chicago Will Never Get the “Man”

The Reason Why

Sports stars are groomed in Chicago, not bought, and traded for. In 1919, when Babe Ruth demanded a raise or trade from Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, the only two clubs able to afford Ruth services, were the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. The Sox offered Shoeless Joe Jackson and $60,000 dollars, but the Yankees gave Frazee $100.000 cash, and the rest is history.

Chicago sports stars are usually drafted and spend their whole careers in the city. Walter Payton and Brian Urlacher were drafted, so was Frank Thomas Scottie Pippen, Derrick Rose, Sammy Sosa and Gale Sayers. I would include Michael Jordan, but I am convinced he was sent soaring down from an asteroid in the sky, like the hoops version of Smallville.

By contrast when it comes to big name free agents, we never get the “best” when they are the best. We get Ken Griffey Jr., when he was almost 40 or Ben Wallace when he is a coma. We didn’t get A-Rod when he left the Texas Rangers or Shaquille O’Neal when he left the Orlando Magic. We did not get the chance to host the 2016 Olympics games, even after we had endorsements from Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama. When I mentioned this to my friend she asked “are you saying we are losers?” No I’m not saying Chicago is a bunch of losers. The Chicago Blackhawks just won the 2010 Stanley Cup, the 85 Bears are still one of the best, and Jordan and his Bulls teams of the 90’s are still the G.OA.T. No what I’m doing is acknowledging that the hope we have for Lebron coming here, is false hope. We are the “second city”, and people like Lebron James fly first class.

Legend has it, that the name “second city” comes from Chicago’s Arts and Theatre being only second to New York City. I think it describes our attitudes in comparison to New York and Los Angeles. Those two cities demand the stars, and we hope for them. We have been hoping the Cubs win for over 100 years. (Ok I will leave the Cubs out of this) I will conclude my rant by saying, Chicago is the best city in the world and we deserve the best players in the world, period. I hope the sports owners and fans alike will develop the attitude that will demand and not hope for the best teams, year in and year out. Maybe I’m an eternal dreamer who doesn’t realize, it is what it is, or maybe I’m just like my fellow Chicagoan’s, who never give up and hold unto hope, even when is false hope.

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