Great Sports Fans

I had a chance to take in a Chicago Bulls game this weekend while in the Windy City.  These Bulls are nothing like yesteryear when players such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, Dennis Rodman and others owned the city.  No, this team is hovering around .500 in a weak central division some 15 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The 2010 lineup includes Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Derrick Rose and Tyrus Thomas.  Other than perhaps Rose, no future hall-of-famers there.

While the Bulls are no threat to win a NBA championship, what struck me was the crowd at the United Center.  The place was packed.  The Bulls were playing an equally mediocre Miami Heat that can only boast of superstar Dwyane Wade yet the fans stayed energized throughout the entire game. 

I shouldn't be suprised.  Chicago sports fans are great.  As a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan, I have experienced the great rivalry with the Chicago Cubs.  I've sat in Busch Stadium and after a heated game, tilted a few cold ones with Cub fans.  For the most part, these are great fans who know and  love their baseball.  Loyal?  How tough is it to get a ticket at Wrigley and when was the last time you saw the Cubs playing past week one in October? 

It's the same in Detroit.  The city got a bad rap after the Pacers-Pistons brawl in 2004, but let's face it: Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson had no business brawling in the stands.  Players should stay on the court; fans should stay in the stands.  You can take the Pistons, Tigers, Red Wings and Lions fans and put them up against the greatest sports fans in the country.  You seldom see disrespectful behavior toward opposing teams and fans.  I have seen one fight in the stands amongst fans in seven years. 

Having lived all around the United States, I'll take the respectful, saavy and fun-loving fans of the Mid-West any day.