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15 Things No One Told You About Being A Chicago Bears Fan

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15 Things No One Told You About Being a Chicago Bears Fan

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Being a fan of the Chicago Bears can be quite the ordeal sometimes for a number of reasons. Even though they're the heart and soul of Chicago sports, they're not always the most rewarding team to watch. Here are 15 things not all Bears fans know they're getting into when they become a fan.

15. Ownership Is Stingy

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15. Ownership Is Stingy

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The McCaskey family, who owns the Bears, aren't always willing to spend much money. In fact, they're almost never willing to pay much for anything. Big-name free agent available in the offseason? It probably won't matter, because ownership isn't going to shell out the dough for them.

14. Hard-Nosed Defense (Used To Be) the Norm

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14. Hard-Nosed Defense (Used To Be) the Norm

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Until recently, the Bears were known for having a tough defense that didn't ever let the opposing team impose their will on them. Even though their defense has been laughable lately, the team is going to try to get back to their defensive ways of intimidating the opposition. The fanbase, which takes on that tough persona as well, would be thrilled if they could do that starting this season.

13. Packers Have Best QB Luck

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13. Packers Have Best QB Luck

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While you're sitting around wondering why the Bears can never have a successful offense, think about some potential causes. One cause could be the fact the Packers steal all the offensive talent away, especially at the quarterback position. Putting Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers back to back is kind of ridiculous when you think about it.

12. You Have Plenty of Free Time in January

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12. You Have Plenty of Free Time in January

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Since the Bears haven't been very competitive in a while, they usually aren't playing in the playoffs. Since those take place in January, the team and their fans usually have quite a bit of free time during the winter month. While they'll surprise you with a playoff experience every now and then, you're probably safe to make other plans in January.

11. Bears Will Get Your Hopes Up and Let You Down

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11. Bears Will Get Your Hopes Up and Let You Down

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Like so many other sports teams, the Bears will look so promising just to let you down in the end. In the past couple of seasons, they have started 7-3 and 7-1 and in neither season did they make the playoffs. Those seasons are the epitome of what it's like to be a Bears fan.

10. Having Low Expectations Is Essential

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10. Having Low Expectations Is Essential

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Since the Bears tend to be a letdown, expectations are best kept low. The lower the expectations, the less you're let down when the team underachieves year in and year out. Of course, this is much easier said than done since the team really likes to lead its fans on.

9. Walter Payton Is the Greatest of All Time

Chicago Bears: Walter Payton
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9. Walter Payton Is the Greatest of All Time

Chicago Bears: Walter Payton
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If you're a true Bears fan, this isn't even an argument. "Sweetness" was the smoothest running back to ever play the game and was the most dominant player at any position in the history of the game. Of course, there are arguments for other players, but not if you're a Bears fan. There's just Walter Payton and then there's everyone else.

8. Team Legends Become Gods

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8. Team Legends Become Gods

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Amazing players in every era of Bears football instantly become living legends in the eyes of fans. Perhaps more so than any other sport in Chicago, the town immortalizes the great players in Bears history. There really isn't anywhere in town these guys could go without being praised by a loving fanbase.

7. You'll Always Have Hope Even When You Shouldn't

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7. You'll Always Have Hope Even When You Shouldn't

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Getting your hopes up and being let down is a running theme for the Bears. As mentioned before, this team will make you feel like they're ready to make a run at the Super Bowl only to finish the season around .500. When you're feeling optimistic at the start of the season, this little voice in the back of your head will be telling you to temper your expectations. Listen to that voice.

6. Your Jersey Will Become Your Favorite Piece of Clothing

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6. Your Jersey Will Become Your Favorite Piece of Clothing

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There's something so sharp about a Bears jersey that no matter when you wear yours, you'll feel like part of the team. It is so much an historical artifact of the city that wearing your jersey can simply identify you as a Chicagoan. This isn't really true of any other sport, which is why it feels so much better to wear a Bears jersey than anything else.

5. You Will Freeze At Games No Matter What

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5. You Will Freeze At Games No Matter What

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Even if you go to the home opener at Soldier Field in September, you're going to be cold. Since the stadium is right next to Lake Michigan, the wind can get unbearable at times. So even when the weather is 60 or 70 degrees out, the harsh winds will pelt you in the face if you're lucky enough to attend a game in person.

4. You Will Never Have A Competent Quarterback

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4. You Will Never Have A Competent Quarterback

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As Jay Cutler has shown, the Bears may never have a quarterback who can get the job done. It's been decades since the team had a good quarterback, perhaps dating back to the very injury-prone Jim McMahon. Even when they have talented quarterbacks who give you all the hope in the world, they're likely to under-perform.

3. The City Takes On the Personality of the Team

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3. The City Takes On the Personality of the Team

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The rough and tough personality of the Bears is beloved by their fans, and by now they take on that same personality themselves. Most Bears fans are blue-collar workers who can really relate to such a hard working team. When a town can have such a deep connection to their sports team, it's pretty special.

2. Chicago Is a Bears Town

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2. Chicago Is a Bears Town

The Finishing Of Trump Tower, Makes It Chicago's Second Tallest Building
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Despite the other sports teams in town, the Bears are the unofficial team of Chicago. They're the one team the entire city can unite on and have united on for nearly a century. Fans are split on baseball and aren't as passionate about the Bulls. Fans are just as passionate about the Blackhawks, but they haven't been as consistent as Bears fans. That's why Chicago is truly a Bears town.

1. Nobody Will Ever Replace Ditka

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1. Nobody Will Ever Replace Ditka

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Ditka is a god among Bears fans and for good reason: He delivered the team their first and only Super Bowl title. His intense personality really translated well with a passionate fanbase, and he continues to profess his love for the Bears. The Bears could win five straight Super Bowls and the coach of those teams still wouldn't be Ditka.

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