Chicago has had two NFL teams before the modern NFL expansion

The Chicago Bears ran their “little brother”, the Chicago Cardinals, out of town in 1959 before the modern NFL expansion era. There hasn’t been another NFL home team other than the Bears in the “Windy City” ever since. Could that change in the near future? One NFL columnist named Chicago on his list of cities that would be a good home for an NFL expansion team.

Chicago has a large population and could likely support a second NFL team. But how many Bears fans would be enthusiastic about the new team? Kristopher Knox, writing for Bleacher Report, cited a quote from Mike Florio about whispers that the NFL could grow to 40 teams. Knox examined possible cities that could host new teams.

Chicago was listed as one of the possible hosts for one of those eight teams for NFL expansion. Here’s what Knox wrote:

If the NFL isn’t willing to add a second team in the Dallas area, perhaps it could be persuaded to have a second one in Chicago. Yes, the city already has the Bears, but adding an AFC counterpart isn’t at all unrealistic.

New York City and Los Angeles, the two cities bigger than Chicago, are both home to a pair of NFL franchises. The Windy City already supports two MLB teams—the Cubs and the White Sox—along with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, the NHL’s Blackhawks, the WNBA’s Sky, the MLS’ Fire and the NSWL’s Red Stars.

The financial challenge of building a new football stadium in Chicago—Soldier Field opened in 1924—could be overcome by adding a second franchise along with the Bears.

“If Bears build their own stadium (like Rams owner Stan Kroenke has done), adding another team to the mix and the extra 10 home games per year that go along with it, a team in a market that can’t or won’t pay for all or most of a new or renovated stadium could be inclined to make the move,” Florio wrote last June.

Chicago is a tremendous sports city and one of the biggest markets in the country. The NFL should be eager to double-dip into that market if the opportunity presents itself.

It would make sense for Chicago to build a stadium to house both teams for economic reasons. Two teams playing more games would mean more revenue… Although some of the lone luster that makes the Bears special could fade by sharing homes with a new NFL expansion team.

Chicago doesn’t need all that drama with an NFL expansion team

Personally, I like having one NFL team in my favorite city. It’s already challenging enough as a White Sox fan that the MLB allows the Cubs to stay in Chicago, but I can understand the “Crosstown Classic” series as a historical relic.  I don’t see many fans wanting to support the Bears and a new team. I could see the move working out more like Los Angeles with the Rams getting most of the support and the Chargers having trouble filling out soccer stadiums.

The worst fear for me as a Bears fan would be knowing that the new team would be parading downtown for a Super Bowl celebration before the “Monsters of the Midway” do. I couldn’t handle a new, unpopular franchise going to heights I’ve never seen the Bears partake in.

There are way too many new cities for an NFL expansion team

There are a lot of cities on Knox’s list that would be better locations for a new NFL expansion team. Give the team to a city that doesn’t have anyone of interest near their hometown. Oklahoma City has a rabid fan base with the Thunder, and the nearby Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys could use a team to watch on Sundays. Austin is also growing yearly, and an NFL team would benefit new residents looking for weekend entertainment.

If the NFL wants to grow Internationally, it should consider adding teams outside of the US. Cities like Mexico City, London, and Tokyo, would be options that could be exciting for fans to travel to. While Chicago is a fantastic city, I’m not sure Arlington Heights is big enough for another team besides the Bears.

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The scene was exactly what the past two June weekends were supposed to be all about: College coaches being able to put eyes on players they are recruiting — and ones they had never seen play before — in a different type of setting and platform.

Hundreds of coaches flocked to Illinois the past two weekends to evaluate high school players from across the state.

For years, decades even, high school players were rarely seen playing with their actual high school basketball team.

Yes, there were some fall open gyms. And there is always a random game during the winter months where a college coach, usually from a local in-state program or coach from a bordering state, will take in a prospect’s game. But with so much more added to the college coach’s plate in recent years, the time to evaluate players during the college basketball season is much more difficult.

Despite the naysayers or some of the uninformed rants that you hear when it comes to club basketball, there is also a definite need for it. The platform grassroots basketball organizations provide is a must in the evaluation process. It brings higher-level talent, from across the country, together under one roof. The overall athleticism and talent level seen in club ball is simply better.

There remain plenty of issues and problems with club basketball. But that’s for another day.

Overall, college coaches are liking the combination of evaluating players with both their high school and club teams in the summer months.

Loyola head coach Drew Valentine sees advantages to both and believes watching a player with his high school and club team is beneficial for different reasons.

Valentine says club basketball provides a chance to see the “elite of the elite from around the country” play one another. It’s a way, he says, to see how high of a level their talent is. But there is no question he finds value in the high school setting.

“I really like it, personally, as it’s fun to see them coached differently and in a different role with their high school team,” Valentine said. “They spend so much more time with their high school coach and their high school team, so it’s good to see how they respond to that, how they interact and to see the culture they are in.”

UIC head coach Luke Yaklich says he “loves” the blend of evaluating players with their high school and club teams. Plus, as a former high school coach in Illinois, he feels the best part is being able to get high school coaches more involved in recruiting.

“The involvement of the high school coach is key in the recruiting process,” Yaklich said of the shift to include scholastic events in the NCAA’s recruiting calendar. “But being able to see these players in different settings is invaluable.”

These past two weekends in Illinois were a benefit for everyone. Riverside-Brookfield and Ridgewood ran out close to 150 teams over the past two weekends. Normal West did a terrific job running its event during the first live weekend.

And while Edwardsville was the one event in Illinois I didn’t attend, it provided an opportunity for several southern Illinois players and many of the St. Louis powers to showcase talent.

Remember, there are many states across the country that provide no opportunities for players to be seen during the two June live periods.

Illinois is a state that was primed and ready to provide that opportunity for its players. Many states weren’t organized last year or equipped to handle live events. The very first year of the new recruiting calendar saw just 19 of 50 eligible state high school associations hold June events.

The recruiting calendar for college coaches to attend events and evaluate prospects seems to always need tweaking and never seems just right. But the blend of watching and evaluating players both in club basketball and with their high school team is a good one. There is value in seeing players play in both.

Playing with the high school team is just different. And the evaluation is different as well for everyone.

“I really like watching a player with his high school team, probably more than even AAU,” said one mid-major head coach who wanted to stay anonymous in fear of ticking off club coaches. “I need to see both [club and high school], but I often dislike what I see with AAU. But it’s the top players against each other, so it’s a must. But many times I consistently see more from maybe a specific player I need to see while watching them with their high school team. That’s where they are typically always theguyon that team.”

There are so many different variables involved when it comes to club basketball. Yes, the idea of more Division I talent and same-level athletes on the floor together, playing against one another, is needed.

However, a player may have to take a back seat to other high-profile players on his team, thus getting less of an opportunity to shine. Maybe an individual player is playing out of position or hardly playing at all. It’s hard to be noticed when sitting on the bench or as a role player when on the floor

There is often a comfort level and more familiarity with the high school team. They play together every day all winter during the season and then practice each day in camp throughout June. Players aren’t coming and going, a problem many club programs battle.

“With my experience as a high school coach, I know these players have had two or three weeks of camp and practice together,” Yaklich said of one difference between high school and club play. “So it’s a setting where there is more structure in place through the amount of practice time they have together.”

Yaklich, along with all college coaches, wants to see players competing in club play.

“You just consistently see, at the club level, size vs. size, athletes vs. athletes, skill vs. skill,” Yaklich said. “But I love seeing a player play in both.”

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At least 11 people were wounded in shootings across Chicago Monday.

Three people were shot and three others were stabbed over several hours late Sunday into early Monday in Lake View East, where police had stepped up patrols after the Pride Parade. About 1:30 a.m., three people were standing outside in the 3100 block of North Clark Street when they were struck by gunfire, police said. A 46-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition; a man, 30, was shot in the knee and taken to the same hospital in good condition; another man, 37, was shot in the leg and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition. Three others were stabbed and a police sergeant hospitalized after being punched while trying to make an arrest. Hours later, two people were wounded in a drive-by shooting in River North. The men were in the 400 block of North State Street about 3:40 a.m. when someone in a black Jeep opened fire, police said. A 29-year-old man was shot in the thigh and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious condition, police said. The second man, believed to be 20, was grazed in the thigh and treated at the scene, officials said.

At least six others were wounded by gunfire across Chicago Monday.

A five-month-old girl was among at least six people killed in shootings across Chicago over the weekend. At least 27 other people were wounded.

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Three children have died and another remains in critical condition following a basement fire in West Humboldt Park early Sunday, according to officials.

The fire began about 12:20 a.m. in the basement of a house in the 4000 block of West Potomac Avenue on the Northwest Side, fire officials said. Four children and two adults were taken to hospitals.

Axel Cruz was pronounced dead at Saints Mary and Elisabeth Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Two more boys, 6 and 11, were hospitalized initially in critical condition but later died, the medical examiner’s office said.

A fourth boy remains in critical condition.

The children all suffered from smoke inhalation, according to police.

Two adults were also injured in the blaze, police said. A 40-year-old woman was taken to West Suburban Hospital with minor smoke inhalation, officials said. She was listed in good condition.

A man, 35, was taken to St. Mary’s with minor smoke inhalation and was in good condition, police said.

Preliminary indications point to the fire being accidental. Area Five as well as arson detectives were sent to the scene.

A neighbor who lived across the street told the Sun-Times she had seen the children just hours earlier. She broke down in tears as she overheard a fire official say that it “wasn’t looking too good” for at least one of them.

Contributing: Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere

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