ES Debate Series: What sport rules each major sports city? (Currently debating Dallas, starting page 4)

[Forehead]

The idea for this came from the "Second most popular athlete" thread, as there was some debate over who would be #2 behind OVechkin in a few years. It was mentioned that good or bad, Washington is a football town and as soon as the Redskins are good, it wouldn't even be close, even supplanting Ovechkin. The argument (though some argue for the NBA) is that Washington is a football town first and everything else second.

So I figure, why not study each major sports city and figure out where they all stand. People can chime in with opinions or personal experiences if they have lived in the vicinity of said city. For the purposes of this thread, a "major sports city" will be defined as having representation in at least 3 of the 4 major sports, and teams named after a state will be assigned to either the city they are located in, or the closest. So Green Bay (Packers, Bucks, Brewers) can be debated, while Baltimore (Ravens, Orioles) is once again labeled the failure that it truly is, only having two teams.

I'll keep a running list in the OP, along with where the debates are taking place, so folks can chime in.


Atlanta - Baseball Town
Boston - Baseball Town
Chicago - Football Town (Possibly up for debate still)
Cleveland - Football Town
Dallas -

[Forehead]

Why don't we start it off with a tough one, Chicago. Chicago has a number of major sports teams, and representation in all four major sports, sometimes more than once.

So, among the Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks, which sport rules Chicago, regardless of how poorly the team is doing?

[TD_washingtonredskins]

That IS a tough one. I don't know on a year-in and year-out basis, but something tells me a Cubs championship would mean the most to die hard Chicago sports fans. Some of that might have to do with the fact that the other teams have won in the past 25 years...

[The Tris]

So, among the Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks, which sport rules Chicago, regardless of how poorly the team is doing?

Well its clearly Bulls v Bears. Bulls hit higher heights, Bears have history. Having never lived in the region, I do not know.

But as a rule, I am always inclided to side with history when in doubt.

I say Bears.


Just a thought, but maybe we should go alphabetically?

[Forehead]

That IS a tough one. I don't know on a year-in and year-out basis, but something tells me a Cubs championship would mean the most to die hard Chicago sports fans. Some of that might have to do with the fact that the other teams have won in the past 25 years...

Off the top of my head, I'd say the Cubs mean the most as well, though I think Chicago has attached themselves to the whole "lovable losers" thing in that regard. If they actually won, everyone might be a little sad inside. Anyway, the Cubs mean more than the White Sox, and despite their recent championship, I don't think the Blackhawks have the same sway as the others. I'd say it's between the Bears, Cubs, and Bulls.

[Rdskn4Lyf21]

For Chicago, it's the Cubs without a doubt.

[The Tris]

That IS a tough one. I don't know on a year-in and year-out basis, but something tells me a Cubs championship would mean the most to die hard Chicago sports fans. Some of that might have to do with the fact that the other teams have won in the past 25 years...

As the city is split along baseball lines, not sure that you can say that either the Cubbies or White Sox are the tean of the town.

I think we need to qualify that is this what sport rules each town, or what team rules each town, and where college sports count. Sport is personally to broad a stroke for me, JMHO.

[Forehead]

Just a thought, but maybe we should go alphabetically?

Yeah, I thought about that, but it would require me to make a list up front of all the cities that qualify. I picked Chicago on purpose because it was near the top, but we probably should have started with Atlanta or something.

[Forehead]

As the city is split along baseball lines, not sure that you can say that either the Cubbies or White Sox are the tean of the town.

I think we need to qualify that is this what sport rules each town, or what team rules each town, and where college sports count. Sport is personally to broad a stroke for me, JMHO.

It's not team, it's what sport. Complete this sentence...Chicago is a _____ town. And why? College sports don't count for the purpose of this thread.

[The Tris]

Reilly did an article on this a few years back as well, could provide some talking points: http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3593631

For Chicago, this is what he said:

"CHICAGO Bears. The Cubbies are the Windy City's cute Labradoodle pets, but the Bears are in the blood. "Everybody in Chicago loves the Bears," admits Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot. Pro football is to Chicago what airplanes are to Dayton. In third, the Bulls. Fourth, Notre Dame football."

[The Tris]

It's not team, it's what sport. Complete this sentence...Chicago is a _____ town. And why? College sports don't count for the purpose of this thread.

Well, it does for some cities, like Atlanta, where it goes, COLLEGE Football, Baseball, Pro Football. If we are talking just pro sports, then it is more baseball than football. The distinction does matter.

NYC for example, is the home of basketball, but the Yankees are the team of the town. NYC is a basketball town, but a baseball team is the most popular.

[Jacoby6644]

Boston is by far a Baseball city. The Red Sox are way bigger than the Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots.

I would say of the three the Patriots would be #2

[Forehead]

Well, it does for some cities, like Atlanta, where it goes, COLLEGE Football, Baseball, Pro Football. If we are talking just pro sports, then it is more baseball than football. The distinction does matter.

NYC for example, is the home of basketball, but the Yankees are the team of the town. NYC is a basketball town, but a baseball team is the most popular.

Okay, now you're just being combatitve. For the purposes of THIS THREAD, COLLEGE SPORTS DO NOT COUNT. Atlanta will just have to pick a damn pro team, or we'll assign them one.

New York is a ways away, but we'll debate it in good time. Now get back to Chicago.

[Drop]

Well i think we can all agree that the White Sox are dead last in the eyes of Chicago. LMAO

[Forehead]

Boston is by far a Baseball city. The Red Sox are way bigger than the Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots.

I would say of the three the Patriots would be #2

We are debating Chicago currently, thank you.