Find your city's top five: ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DC | DEN | DET | HOU | IND | LA | MIA | MIL | MIN | NO | NY | SF | PHI | PHO | PIT | SD | SEA | STL
The Windy City just doesn't have sports stars like it used to. Superfan favorites Ditka and Jordan are long gone, and Slammin' Sammy plunged from hero to hated in the blink of an eye. But the city's next generation of stars is led by one who's only 24.5. Paul Konerko: Things aren't going well for the White Sox, but it says a lot about Konerko's status on the team that when the manager and the GM talk about the future, Konerko is consulted. One of these days, maybe his bat will heat up.
4. Carlos Zambrano: He's finally getting back to form after a bad start to the season, and every fan has to love the fact that when a brawl breaks out, he'll take out his belt if he has to. Now about that contract ...
Sorry, No Photos
3. Ben Gordon: The Bulls are, finally, back, and Gordon is the biggest reason. He averaged 21.4 points a game last season, and at times even reminded some of his teammates of a certain other Bull.
2. Brian Urlacher: No city loves its middle linebackers like Chicago, and although Urlacher will never be as tough as Dick Butkus, Butkus never had Urlacher's scorching speed -- and never played on a team as good as these Bears.
1. Devin Hester: Yes, he has so far only contributed on special teams. And no, he's not so famous yet that he'd get mobbed while strolling down Michigan Avenue (especially if he's wearing those shades). But get into a conversation with sports fans in Chicago, and watch how their eyes light up when Hester's name comes up. He had the greatest season of any kick returner in NFL history, and the crowd at Soldier Field audibly gasps every time he touches the ball. After one season, many Bears fans think they've seen the next Gale Sayers.
Honorable mentions: If the list had gone to 11, I would have named:
6. Derek Lee
7. Kirk Hinrich
8. Jim Thome
9. Ben Wallace
10. Rex Grossman
11. Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Note 1: Never heard of Blanco? He's a Mexican soccer player about to join the Chicago Fire of MLS, and he's already a star in Chicago's large Mexican-American community.
Note 2: Where are all the Blackhawks? Sorry, but Chicago fans have just about given up on the NHL.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-19-2007 @ 4:48PM
Fornelli said...
How is Luol Deng not on this list? That's my only real beef, though I'd have Urlacher over Hester. Well, that and Ben Gordon is too high.
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6-19-2007 @ 4:59PM
The Roach said...
Man Shytown sports has gone down hill. Other than Urlacher there is not one big star on that list. He is the only one whos name should even be mentioned as tied to the city, like Jordan or Ditka or Sammy. Zambrano and Gordon might leave sometime this year if not next. Hester still has to prove hes not Dante Hall. And I dont think I could pick Konerko out of a line up. I think the wind finally blew all the stars away.
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6-19-2007 @ 5:14PM
The U will be BACK! said...
Hester, baby!
It's all about that "U"!
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6-19-2007 @ 5:54PM
pgr300 said...
http://www.roaminggolfer.com/sportsbeat/?p=7
Chicago made the top 10 baseball franchise list here. Even without a World Series in forever there are still a lot of people talking baseball in this city.
Top individuals, yeah I'd probably agree there was a drop-off there.
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6-19-2007 @ 5:56PM
FDANAYSAYERS said...
You know I can finally start agreeing with the "U"
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6-19-2007 @ 7:00PM
switch2diesel said...
Good job, MDS, for pointing out how exciting the arrival of Cuauhtemoc Blanco is to the Mexican community in Chicago. I was visiting Mexico when the deal was announced, and it made front-page news there. MLS is often overlooked (unless it's in L.A. and you pay a quarter of a billion for David Beckham) so it's good to see it show up on your list.
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6-19-2007 @ 9:25PM
addlib said...
U-lacher is probably the biggest star in CHI-TOWN (#2)right now. The big three on the Sox are slumping (Paulie, Dye, Thome), but should really pull it together in the second half. As for Blanco, I had never really heard of him, but if the hype is on point then we should take notice of soccer in Chi.
What ever happened to Wood & Prior ?? :(
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6-19-2007 @ 9:26PM
addlib said...
U-lacher is probably the biggest star in CHI-TOWN (#2)right now. The big three on the Sox are slumping (Paulie, Dye, Thome), but should really pull it together in the second half. As for Blanco, I had never really heard of him, but if the hype is on point then we should take notice of soccer in Chi.
What ever happened to Wood & Prior ?? :(
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6-19-2007 @ 9:31PM
Trey said...
Urlacher is number 1, for sure. And I'd put Hinrich above Gordon too.
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6-19-2007 @ 10:32PM
Rob said...
Smith, when are you gonna start posting about things you actually know about, like bad haircuts. No way, never, not a chance is Hester better known or lved by Chicago than Urlacher. To Bears fans it's all about defense and nobody represtents Chicago style defense more than Urlacher. Ask any Chicago fan what they remember about the 85 Bears and they will say the dominating defense (and that Payton didn't get a TD in the Super Bowl). It is still the same way. We want a great defense and an offense that can hold onto the ball and score a few points every game. Seriousy, why do write such profoundly stupid articles?
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6-20-2007 @ 12:52AM
Michael said...
Chicago has the potential to win 3 titles in the 2008 calendar year.
The Sox have the "talent" to win the big one but are underachieving this year better then no other. The Cubs are always one year away as well.
The Bears ran into the best team at their hottest time in the super bowl.
The Bulls are one player away from the finals. Beating a team in the west is another story.
WIND CITY IS FULL OF WINNERS!!!NO NEED FOR EGO STARS!!! GET OUT BRIGGS!!!
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6-20-2007 @ 2:27AM
Cubbiessosa said...
You guys are missing perhaps the best athlete. Tommie FRICKEN Harris! He is the best DT in the NFL, perhaps only surpassed by Jacksonville's John Henderson.
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6-20-2007 @ 12:17PM
JON said...
HESTER HAS BEEN DOIN THIS FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS! IT STARTED AT DA U!
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6-20-2007 @ 2:01PM
shawndgoldman said...
I hope you didn't get paid to write this. The criteria are inconsistent with the title, and the list is even more inconsistent with the criteria. Hester more recognizable/popular/familiar than Urlacher? Not even at the U! Gordon above Heinrich or Wallace? Not in the opinion of the city, and probably not nationwide after Heinrich played for USA basketball last summer and given Wallace's time in Detroit.
This list is a joke.
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6-20-2007 @ 2:26PM
Adam said...
Great call on Blanco. I'm flying to Chicago to watch him play this weekend, and then later for the Fire.
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6-20-2007 @ 2:27PM
Dan Chucta said...
Uuuhhh....
Michael Jordan.
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6-20-2007 @ 2:27PM
Dom said...
Hester isn't even close to a top athlete. He's a cornerback, and how many INTs...how many tackles? He's just going to be like Dante Hall, a man with one good year, and then the special teams coaches are going to be able to gameplan for him, and then he's nothing more than an overpriced experiment. What about Vasher? Briggs? Anderson? these are the players that put the Bears in the bowl, not Urlackluster or the flash in the pan returner Hester
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6-26-2007 @ 7:01AM
Scott4DMny said...
This list is seriously a joke! While I am not a Bears fan, Urlacher would have to be number 1. Devin Hester? Can you say "One Year (not hit) Wonder"? Hester has proven NOTHING! Not to mention, Hester probably does not even belong in the top 10. I will give you 10 ahead of Hester, Ben Gordon, Kirk Heinrich, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome, Mark Buerhle, Jose Contreras, and why not make the last one Ozzie Guillen. LOL Those are in no particular order.
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6-26-2007 @ 7:14AM
J-Immortal said...
How "LBJ Da King" LeBron James Ain't On Here. His Team Wouldn't B Nuttin W/o Him. Ben Gordan Gets On Here But His Team Ain't Make It 2 Da Championship This Year So Come ON! Everything Is All Good Tho.
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6-26-2007 @ 7:16AM
J-Immortal said...
How "LBJ Da King" LeBron James Ain't On Here. His Team Wouldn't B Nuttin W/o Him. Ben Gordan Gets On Here But His Team Ain't Make It 2 Da Championship This Year So Come ON! Everything Is All Good Tho.
Reply