Is it just me or do the Chicago teams suffer disproportionately from labor problems in their respective sports? Look at the history:
1986 NFL Strike - The '85 Bears had won the Superbowl in a rout and everyone expected a dynasty to compare with the Steelers and Raiders of the '70s. Instead, the Bears were one and done. Why? Part of it was certainly the departure of defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan and the subsequent weakening of the Bear's defense. Another was the sudden rise of the New York Giants and the "Big Blue Machine" in 1986. But perhaps the nail in the coffin was the 1987 NFL Strike, and the Bears' handling of it. The Bears embraced the idea of replacement players with company man Mike Ditka saying "These are my players now!" Many Bears players from the '87 team have said this "betrayal" hurt team morale, and the Bears haven't won a Superbowl since.
1994 NHL Lockout - The Blackhawks won their division in both 1991 and 1993. Guess what happened next? The Hawks wouldn't sniff the division crown, or go deep into the playoffs, until 2009 when they won it all.
1994 MLB Strike - On August 12, 1994, the White Sox were leading the American League Central with a record of 67-46. That, however, was the last day of the season, because the '94 strike wiped out the rest of it, including the playoffs. It wouldn't be until 2000 that the Sox would win the division again, and not until 2005 that they would win the World Series.
2011 NFL Lockout - This one is somewhat fuzzier, but given the Bears's record before the lockout was 11-5 and included a trip to the NFC Championship where they lost to the eventual Superbowl winners. This season, they're 2-3 and sliding fast. One of the things that's hurting the 2011 Bears is a barrage of injuries to crucial players.... injuries that might not of occurred had there been a full off season and training camp that got canceled because of the lockout!
2011 NBA Lockout - And so now the NBA is locked out. Bulls players are scattering to play across Europe, and the young core of the Bulls can't talk to coaches to learn the system or practice together. Maybe they'll put it together in the end, but I can't help but feel pessimistic about the season...if there even IS a season.
In short, Chicago keeps getting screwed whenever there's labor troubles in sports, and this year seems no different.
No comments:
Post a Comment