Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Should Make New York Envious

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Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Should Make New York Envious



I have always been slightly envious of fans who live in cities where they have a limited number of teams per sport, and have a fan base that is very prideful and unites for their teams.

Living in New York, there are just way to many teams in each sport and the city is divided with its allegiances. You have the championship Yankees, and the second rate Mets. You have the championship Giants and the second rate Jets (and second rate Bills being that they are the only REAL New York State team). You have the second rate Knicks and Nets (yes the Nets are a NY/NJ team and actually are just as NY as the Giants/Jets given the location of their arena). You have the Rangers, Islanders and Devils playing in a sport that is.....second rate (although I think the Devils are pretty good). Even with college sports there is no consistency given how many New York State and City schools there are, along with the amount of transplants that live in New York City.

Where can the entire city unite? It's virtually impossible

Looking at cities like Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, even dare I say Philadelphia, makes me sometimes wish I was raised in a city where everyone can align with all the teams which means I will have "friends" who I can root with.

In the last decade we have seen how Boston has been blessed with so many good teams and championships and has united in its celebration, just as they were united in their futility of the past (believe me their fan base enjoys reminding you of their success). We have seen Pittsburgh succeed in 2 of their 3 pro sports (one thinks of itself as a AAA team), and even their college program has been solid (along with Penn State who many in Pittsburgh align with.) Philadelphia has had a great decade as well with all 4 of their pro sports teams, and their main college team in Villanova which has been very successful in both basketball and in football where they just won the D1-AA National Championship (although their fan base will never admit to it as if they enjoy being bitter and losing and are more busy heckling opposing fan bases - see post below)

However there is one major city with a very prideful and loyal fan base which has had a terrible history with only one major run of championships - and that was because they had the best player ever in that sport - ever.

Chicago is a city that deserves better. Their top baseball team has not won in over a century, their second baseball team did finally win but that was a long time in the making. Their basketball team has not recovered from the hangover that is Michael Jordan and seems to be getting even worse. Their Hockey team has not had a great decade (and has not won the Cup since 1961) but seems to have ended the decade strong with a solid young team and an appearance in the conference finals last season. Their Football team has NEVER had a franchise quarterback (and was duped into thinking they have found one) and has just one Superbowl win 25 years ago. Even in their Superbowl run a few years ago, the fan base seems to have known they had no chance that year given the quarterback that was running the show that season.

A major city like Chicago deserves better than what they have been experienced. This is not a fan base that is bitter like Philadelphia whether they win or lose, and won't have the inferiority complex (like a small man who buys a big car, Boston is a small town that wants to be a big city) of a city like Boston which loves to gloat about their successes. This is a big time, major city that comes off like a small town (opposite of Boston) with a ton of pride in their teams. This is a city that wants to win, and deserves to win given how long it's been.

All of the above cities have one main thing in common. They unite for their teams as one. Each has its own way to express their pain and their joy. Whether you're winning or losing, having company to enjoy the success or drink away your sorrows is always a must. In these cities, with their loyal, passionate fan bases, and limited number of teams, all the people can unite, win or lose.

This is one thing (the only thing) that I feel I am missing as a New Yorker.


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