Examining The "Long Summer" Phenomenon

**Riczaj01** · 06-23-2012, 12:09 PM

http://www.windycitygridiron.com/201...mer-phenomenon

Summer" Phenomenon

by Steven Schweickert on Jun 23, 2012 7:00 AM CDT in Notes

Chicago's a town of multiple sports teams, and thus, fans of those multiple sports teams (well, excepting transplants, newcomers, fans of other teams [and if you are, I'm sorry].). But one thing most of us on WCG have in common are that we are Chicago Bears fans. And as Bears fans, we have to endure the wait until the first padded practice on July 28, the first preseason game, and the kickoff to the regular season.
But we also have those other teams that we celebrate or otherwise follow, and sometimes when those other teams are struggling, we're often left with the overused phrase "It'll be a long summer" waiting for, in our case here, Bears football to start up.
But, I'd like to ask if you feel like this phenomenon is true at all, on an individual level.

First off, a little more background on myself - outside of being a Bears fan, I'm also a fan of the Cubs (though I hold no ill will towards the White Sox, they just aren't my team of choice), the Blackhawks, and the Bulls. The Bulls' summer ended too early with the Derrick Rose injury, the Hawks' summer ended in part due to a well-aimed shot to Marian Hossa's head, and the Cubs-- well, I think you all get why this topic is being brought up.
Do I want Bears' football to get here? Damn skippy I do. Let's face it, a football blog is a little easier to write for when you have actual on-field product to discuss, instead of the offseason optimism pieces in between free agency, the draft, and training camp and preseason.
But when it comes to the fortunes of my other teams depending on wanting something like Bears season to get here (or if the Bears are going bad, for the next Hawks game or for Cubs season to get here), I don't necessarily think so. Above all, sports are entertainment - sometimes for the players, costly entertainment. But maybe it's just the way I approach the season - some fans completely stop following a team by choice if they don't feel like they're being rewarded by the play of the team. I'm not saying at all that this approach is wrong - different fans have their way of or reasons for following a team.
The main goal of any team is to (eventually in some cases) pursue and win the championship of their sport, I get that. But in instances like this where the implication is that proximity to a title impacts following that sport or waiting for the next (supposedly promising) season to start up - it just doesn't apply, at least to me. In the case of the Cubs, this is a lost season. Yet I'm not pining for Bears season to get here just because the Cubs suck out loud.
Before you bring up declining attendance figures, the discontent of other fans... On a generalized level, it applies, no doubt. But I have a hard time personally rationalizing withdrawing support from your team in that manner.
Do you feel like the "long summer" drives you to want Bears football? Are there other reasons that make you think Bears football can't get here soon enough? Do you think the success of the other teams you follow have as great an impact as the actual moves the Bears make off the field?

Seeing as there have been similar discussions on this board about the long summer I thought it'd be a good article to read.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 06-23-2012, 12:35 PM

One reason it feels like a "long summer" is because of the off-season moves by our new GM, Emery.

My expectations are sky high. I think most Bears fans share this outlook. We should be one POWERFUL team this year.

Consequently it's a long summer ....can't wait for training camp to begin. If I had to, I'd walk there this year, bare foot over hot coals if I had to :-)

As it is, I'm taking vacation time off work and driving with my friends and family. It should be exciting!!!!!!!!

Do you feel like the "long summer" drives you to want Bears football? Are there other reasons that make you think Bears football can't get here soon enough? Do you think the success of the other teams you follow have as great an impact as the actual moves the Bears make off the field?

**Riczaj01** · 06-23-2012, 12:51 PM

Keep us updated during TC JABF99, I'd love to go but that's time money and distance I just cannot cover being in San Antonio.

I that's the one thing he did'nt key on though, the expectations for this team is making fans want to see if it's real or if this is just more hype like we had the several years.

**Henry Burris** · 06-23-2012, 01:31 PM

I guess i'm in my own boat. I'm looking to be going home for good around the time of the Seahawks game, and seeing as football season always goes by too quickly, this one has a special urgency this year.

**BigBadPapaBear** · 06-23-2012, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

I guess i'm in my own boat. I'm looking to be going home for good around the time of the Seahawks game, and seeing as football season always goes by too quickly, this one has a special urgency this year.

How long you been locked up?

**Henry Burris** · 06-23-2012, 09:25 PM

4 years 2 months, a little bit of that time overseas.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 06-23-2012, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

4 years 2 months, a little bit of that time overseas.

I vividly remember getting out of the Marines after 4 years. My commanding officer surprised me by asking if I wanted to go home a few days early - if - I could get checked out everywhere (the red tape stuff). I flew that day like my underwear was on fire and got the checkout paper signed by everyone & skied out of there.

Words cannot express the feeling of being free that day.

It was a really tough time to get a job back then. I was so worried I'd have to go back in if I couldn't get a job. Everyone was worried back then, and some guys did come back. I was blessed to land a job.

Good luck with your last few months!!!

**Riczaj01** · 06-24-2012, 12:49 AM

Thanks to both you guys for serving. No one told me not to talk about medical issues I'd had that I didn't have documents for so I got perm dq'd(a car hit me while I was crossing the street when I was a kid, the ER no longer had the medical records). I was looking Marine then the Navy. Still to this day regret putting that shit on my report.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 06-24-2012, 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Thanks to both you guys for serving. No one told me not to talk about medical issues I'd had that I didn't have documents for so I got perm dq'd(a car hit me while I was crossing the street when I was a kid, the ER no longer had the medical records). I was looking Marine then the Navy. Still to this day regret putting that shit on my report.

Maybe my reason for pulling for Forte to get decent "guarantee" money in a contract is due to the fact I got shafted when I went into the Marines. In the NFL, the contracts are written on toilet paper - except for that guaranteed money. When I went into the Marines I had a signed contract for a certain job (MOS, Military Occupational Specialty).

At the end of boot camp they made me something OTHER than what my signed contract called for. I was such a noob. I respectfully showed the drill instructor the "contract" that had been signed by my recruiter so he could straighten out the mistake. Instead, he laughed at me like a hyena. He said "you can wipe your ass with that contract, it means nothing"....and he was right. So for 4 years I worked at another job. I was made an MP (police officer) instead of what I wanted to be.

But, I have a belief that things work out for a reason. After my discharge I ended up being a police officer. For over 30 years it was a good career. That contract mistake ultimately helped me to have a nice civilian career. I raised a family on that career.

p.s. Henry Burris, I left out the part that once I got that discharge paper signed by my C.O. I threw my civilian gear into the back of an old 1955 Chevy truck and drove 22 straight hours home like my underwear was on fire. That old truck had more rust than paint, and I had 4 re-tread tires........but I felt like the richest man on earth that day driving home. Home. There's no place like home

**Riczaj01** · 06-24-2012, 01:10 AM

That's why during the strike I was more for the owners(economy was down and while money was good it's not great so everyone has to bear the pain) but w/individual contracts I'll almost always side w/the players. They get the shaft outside of the caphit penalties and the guaranteed money. Everyone talks about how the player signed the contract he's obligated to fullfill it; but rarely do you see the owners honering the same contract they also signed. it's a double standard. Then again I root for both the team and the players equally so I guess i'm a little different then most fans.

I was going to MP when I joined. Thanks 2x's then since you were also a cop.

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