Bears Fans Should Root for Team To Lose
Published by Jack Stentwiller on November 23, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
It is one of sport’s classic arguments.
Which is better, mediocrity or ineptitude? Mediocrity gets you nothing. A .500 record will, most of the time, have you sitting at home in January.
Ineptitude gets you change. Change, in the NFL, means optimism, a cushy schedule, high draft picks, and your pick of the next hot young coordinator to become your head coach.
The Bears are, routinely, in that mediocre category. Since 1990, Chicago has been better than 11-5 only twice. They have been worse than 5-11 only three times.
Mediocrity, in the NFL, often means the status quo remains. Drastic changes are typically pushed aside in favor of tweaks. Tweaks are just that, small changes that don’t change the culture of the team.
Bears fans are, rightfully, sick of mediocrity. This is not to say that we would prefer to be Lions fans, but we are ready for changes that may bring about a culture of high expectations.
Fans are ready to take a gamble. Not play it safe with the same old, same old.
Sadly and typically, the only way to bring about drastic change is with miserable failure. Does anybody think this team and coaching staff have what it takes to win a Super Bowl?
Since Ron Rivera’s departure in 2006, the defense has lacked its dominance of old, the offense is the, well, the Bears offense. They are looking very unlikely to even make the playoffs for the third year in a row.
The Bears are now 4-6. Even if the Bears finish a solid 4-2 the rest of the way. That lands them at 8-8 on the year. Look familiar? Same old Bears mediocrity.
Now, it is time to gamble. It is time to look toward the future. So I am pledging to root against the Bears for the rest of this season for the long-term benefit of the organization.
Do I take pleasure in this? No.
Will I catch myself jumping up out of my seat when somebody makes a great play? Sure.
But I am willing to take the heat from the rest of Bears Nation because I am of the opinion that if your team is not capable of winning a Super Bowl, then it is not worth being even mediocre.
I understand if you want to take away my fan card. Heck, I kind of hate myself for doing it. But I have to. God bless all you die-hards who get caught up in the game week to week. Every win from here on in, however, makes them less likely to be great next year.
More of the same is just too much to take anymore. It is time to raise the expectation level. It is just going to take some tough love from fans.
“This hurts me more than it hurts you, Chicago Bears,” I am saying to myself.
But unlike when my Dad said those same words to me, I really mean it.
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