When one thinks of Chicago sports, one envisions history. Whether it is the green ivy on the 100 year old brick outfield wall of Wrigley Field, the two most recent Stanley Cups that Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks won, the six championships that shine in the hall of the United Center from the Michael Jordan Era, and Walter Payton and the ‘85 Super Bowl champion Bears season come in mind. Needless to say, Chicago is a sports town– an above average sports town that is, with above average fans according to the Bleacher Report (BR).

BR ranked Chicago number nine last year for best sports city to be a fan, which is a surprise to many windy city fans, but considering that the Blackhawks and White Sox are the only Chicago teams to have won a championship in the last ten years, could be why the ranking was lower than expected.

Author Matt King, creator of the list, spoke highly of Chicago sports.

“Chicago’s plethora of sports teams, Midwestern charm and rich history make it a great place to be a fan,” said King.

Senior, Alex Riddle, who follows sports religiously, agrees with King that the rich history is his favorite aspect about Chicago sports.

“The city separates itself from other sports cities because there is so much legacy here,” said Riddle.

The legacy floods the city, from the infamous Michael Jordan “flu game” to the Blackhawks memorable and thrilling two goals in 17 seconds win over the Bruins for their second Stanley Cup, the cities beloved teams continue to make history, which makes this sports town so sacred.

Senior Joe Nosek argues that it could be why the fans are so passionate.

“When the players have Chicago written on the front of their chest, they know they must play with the same fight that the fans have,” said Nosek.

When fans put on there Jonathan Toes or Derrick Rose jersey, they have the same determination as the players because they want their team to be the best, with no exceptions. Players like Patrick Kane recognize and appreciate this quality of Chicago fans which motivates them to succeed.

“I keep saying that it’s the best city in America. It’s the fans—when you’re winning and doing well, they really jump on your back and push you forward, and they’ve been huge to both of our Cup wins. You couldn’t ask for a better city to live in; the support is huge,” said Kane.

Joe Weis, a sociology professor at the University of Washington, provides the psychology behind why fans get so into their respective sports teams.

“If they’re doing well, it reflects on us, in terms of bragging rights, status, prestige and identity,’’ said Weis.

Sounds like a typical Chicago sports fan, right? Because the city thrives on being the best, not only in sports, but in architecture, food, arts and entertainment, and just about every aspect one could think of. We want to brag, we want that status, we want that prestige and identity because it makes the city feel strong, which makes this sports town above average, if not the best.