CHICAGO — OK, let’s start here: A few minutes before kickoff between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans at Soldier Field on Sunday, there was this vendor walking up our aisle selling hot dogs.
Any hotdog chatter is important to me. If America has produced a better food, I am unaware of it. Now, another thing--if I were playing college football right now, with the new NIL possibilities, it's for damned sure I would be the first collegiate marketer/endorser/advertising star for Vienna All-Beef Hotdogs. Just typing that sentence makes me slobber. Born too late...
Excellent. The best capturing of what it means to be a Bear fan I have ever read. I have lost countless six packs of bear to my Wisconsin sister-in-law in the last 30 years. So, Joe, should you elect the Bears, you will probably duplicate your decades long Browns experiences. Go for it.
I was at that game too! I bought my mom tickets for her [REDACTED]th birthday. She is a lifelong Bears fan (she only cares about the Bears and the White Sox and nothing and no one else in sports) and every Sunday during football season since I was a child I heard screams and swears and cheers.
Despite this she had never gone to a game in her life! So this was her first game ever (my second) and even though we were definitely nowhere near the 50 yard line it's hard to have bad seats at Soldier Field. Also glad she got to visit before the inevitable move.
I didn't know they were showing the actual replay the officials were reviewing at the stadiums either! In fact, if you had asked me, I would say they would NOT show the replays at the stadium (not wanting to get the crowd to enraged) but WOULD show the replays to the tv audience.
That not showing replay is a Baseball thing, and it is maddening. When you are at the game you are in the dark, and when you are watching on TV, you get to see it in super slo mo from as many angles as they have. The last game I went to this year, they actually showed one, so maybe they are changing that, but for many years they decidedthey had to "protect the umpires", showing replays of every mundane play but putting something else on the screen when there was an actual challenge.
Now, the times I have been to an NFL game, we didn't see the exact thing the officials were looking at (I wonder if this is actually true, or just some bullshit while they show the angles they have) but they showed a play over and over again while they were under the hood. Even squiggling back and forth at the key moment, getting the fans worked up. This is why you will hear fans reacting on TV when it looks like it will go the home team's way.
Ironically, as I am reading this essay, I’m wearing a Brian Piccolo jersey. Yes, right now. I wore the jersey today while I met with a young teen I mentor through TreeHouse (treehousehope.org). The Sayers-Piccolo friendship seemed natural and normal to this child growing up in the 60s. Sadly, not enough happened since then to express how natural and normal it could and should be. Fortunately, we can tell their story, so generations learn they modeled friendship, hope, pain, grief, and love.
Joe I think the Dolphins heard you were in the market for a new team and are doing their best to earn your fandom. Probably the most exciting team in the league so far, right? With two amazing and very entertaining wins. McDaniel seems like a fun coach, Tua has some limitations but he certainly has a great heart and seems to have the clutch gene. You could do a lot worse than the dolphins… And you can come down for a visit in December and enjoy some sunshine and 70° temperatures… The bandwagon is filling up but I can still get you a seat
It seems the whole Central Division hates the Packers for their incredible QB luck/run over the past 2 decades with Farve and Rodgers.
My buddy, a life long Vikings fan from Minnesota (and his buddies when they are in town visiting) go with "Green Bay Sucks" followed by "And Brett Farve Swallows".
If you go to any NY Rangers game you will always hear a 'Potvin Sucks' chant at least once despite the fact that Potvin hasn't played since the 80s.
Had a similar experience 20 years or so ago on a baseball road trip. Walking out of Fenway after a Red Sox win over some random team, suddenly a “Yankees suck!” chant starts up. At first I thought maybe some clueless fan wore a Jeter jersey or something to the game. Then I realized, no, it’s nothing like that. One of those things that on the surface makes no sense, but in on another level is completely understood.
No rooting interest one way or the other with the Bears but it seems like football is just more interesting when they’re relevant.
To be fair, there is possibly nothing quite so "on brand" for Chicago than deciding that they and only they are the arbiters of propriety when it comes to nitrate laden death tubes composed of leftover slaughterhouse scraps.
I live in KC but became a Bears fan in 50’s. Before chiefs. Rick Casares and QB Brown we’re my guys. Bill George!! They were good but lost to Giants in Championship by 56-0 leading to lifelong hatred of Giants. Also hated Cardinals because their move from Chi to StL knocked the Bears of the TV IN KC.
I live in Chicago and I'm from its suburbs. Very true, the standard hot dog here is mustard/onion/relish, and the Chicago-style has tomatoes, pickle, and peppers, too. But if you want ketchup, places will hook you up and not give you a hard time about it.
Chicago-style hot dogs have a perfect mix of flavors and textures. Ketchup would probably overpower everything (and it's redundant with the tomatoes).
Any hotdog chatter is important to me. If America has produced a better food, I am unaware of it. Now, another thing--if I were playing college football right now, with the new NIL possibilities, it's for damned sure I would be the first collegiate marketer/endorser/advertising star for Vienna All-Beef Hotdogs. Just typing that sentence makes me slobber. Born too late...
Excellent. The best capturing of what it means to be a Bear fan I have ever read. I have lost countless six packs of bear to my Wisconsin sister-in-law in the last 30 years. So, Joe, should you elect the Bears, you will probably duplicate your decades long Browns experiences. Go for it.
I don't think I would want to be on either end of the exchange of a six pack of bear. Sounds scary.
Jeez--when did they start wearing that uniform? Ugh!
I was at that game too! I bought my mom tickets for her [REDACTED]th birthday. She is a lifelong Bears fan (she only cares about the Bears and the White Sox and nothing and no one else in sports) and every Sunday during football season since I was a child I heard screams and swears and cheers.
Despite this she had never gone to a game in her life! So this was her first game ever (my second) and even though we were definitely nowhere near the 50 yard line it's hard to have bad seats at Soldier Field. Also glad she got to visit before the inevitable move.
The Bears are moving out to the suburbs because their owners suck. This is no time to jump into becoming a Bears fan.
This may already been said, but I think you need to explain quarterback ratings.
Also, I thought this would be funny and was no disappointed.
No one can explain QB ratings - no one. However, I'm pretty sure there's an awesome Joe Pos post in it. I second your request!
I’m calling child services on you Joe.
Ketchup on a hot dog is a crime
You think THAT'S a crime?!?
I once saw a little fourteen year old Visigoth get up from the table, and go and GET ketchup in order to put it on Prime Rib.
Don't talk misdemeanor when I have a felony on the books.
Ketchup for french fries and NOTHING ELSE.
Try it with a grilled cheese sandwich some time.
I didn't know they were showing the actual replay the officials were reviewing at the stadiums either! In fact, if you had asked me, I would say they would NOT show the replays at the stadium (not wanting to get the crowd to enraged) but WOULD show the replays to the tv audience.
I'll never understand the NFL.
That not showing replay is a Baseball thing, and it is maddening. When you are at the game you are in the dark, and when you are watching on TV, you get to see it in super slo mo from as many angles as they have. The last game I went to this year, they actually showed one, so maybe they are changing that, but for many years they decidedthey had to "protect the umpires", showing replays of every mundane play but putting something else on the screen when there was an actual challenge.
Now, the times I have been to an NFL game, we didn't see the exact thing the officials were looking at (I wonder if this is actually true, or just some bullshit while they show the angles they have) but they showed a play over and over again while they were under the hood. Even squiggling back and forth at the key moment, getting the fans worked up. This is why you will hear fans reacting on TV when it looks like it will go the home team's way.
Ironically, as I am reading this essay, I’m wearing a Brian Piccolo jersey. Yes, right now. I wore the jersey today while I met with a young teen I mentor through TreeHouse (treehousehope.org). The Sayers-Piccolo friendship seemed natural and normal to this child growing up in the 60s. Sadly, not enough happened since then to express how natural and normal it could and should be. Fortunately, we can tell their story, so generations learn they modeled friendship, hope, pain, grief, and love.
I love this piece, and I love the idea of thousands of people cheerfully booing something as harmless as ketchup.
It's supposed to be fun.
Joe I think the Dolphins heard you were in the market for a new team and are doing their best to earn your fandom. Probably the most exciting team in the league so far, right? With two amazing and very entertaining wins. McDaniel seems like a fun coach, Tua has some limitations but he certainly has a great heart and seems to have the clutch gene. You could do a lot worse than the dolphins… And you can come down for a visit in December and enjoy some sunshine and 70° temperatures… The bandwagon is filling up but I can still get you a seat
It seems the whole Central Division hates the Packers for their incredible QB luck/run over the past 2 decades with Farve and Rodgers.
My buddy, a life long Vikings fan from Minnesota (and his buddies when they are in town visiting) go with "Green Bay Sucks" followed by "And Brett Farve Swallows".
If you go to any NY Rangers game you will always hear a 'Potvin Sucks' chant at least once despite the fact that Potvin hasn't played since the 80s.
Also, Bear fans especially hate the Packers for wrecking McMahon's career, a move that would result in a multi-game suspension today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev3prLKRLzs
It DID result in a multi-game suspension then, as well.
Thank you for the correction. What I had in mind is that it was not penalized during the game, which is just insane.
He was ejected from the game when it happened, and there was a 15 yard penalty.
Yeesh. Yes. My memory is terrible today.
Had a similar experience 20 years or so ago on a baseball road trip. Walking out of Fenway after a Red Sox win over some random team, suddenly a “Yankees suck!” chant starts up. At first I thought maybe some clueless fan wore a Jeter jersey or something to the game. Then I realized, no, it’s nothing like that. One of those things that on the surface makes no sense, but in on another level is completely understood.
No rooting interest one way or the other with the Bears but it seems like football is just more interesting when they’re relevant.
Chicago, of all cities, thinking they can tell people what's what when it comes to food.
I will say that I'd rather have a Chicago dog than New York or LA. And deep dish is underrated.
Enjoy then, and have that hot dog with literally anything you want on it, because you're a grown, autonomous person.
To be fair, there is possibly nothing quite so "on brand" for Chicago than deciding that they and only they are the arbiters of propriety when it comes to nitrate laden death tubes composed of leftover slaughterhouse scraps.
I second Nato's comment.
This will stand as the best comment in today's newsletter. I laughed out loud, sitting by myself reading it.
Upton Sinclair would be proud!
I live in KC but became a Bears fan in 50’s. Before chiefs. Rick Casares and QB Brown we’re my guys. Bill George!! They were good but lost to Giants in Championship by 56-0 leading to lifelong hatred of Giants. Also hated Cardinals because their move from Chi to StL knocked the Bears of the TV IN KC.
I live in Chicago and I'm from its suburbs. Very true, the standard hot dog here is mustard/onion/relish, and the Chicago-style has tomatoes, pickle, and peppers, too. But if you want ketchup, places will hook you up and not give you a hard time about it.
Chicago-style hot dogs have a perfect mix of flavors and textures. Ketchup would probably overpower everything (and it's redundant with the tomatoes).