Today marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most exciting moments in Chicago sports history. On January 26, 1986, the Bears crushed the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX by a score of 46-10. The team is widely regarded as one of the best in the history of the NFL, as well as one of the most eclectic and entertaining.
Three decades later, the '85 Bears team still exerts a salient influence on Chicago culture. The club was a rag tag bunch. From "punchy" quarterback Jim McMahon to defensive lineman-turned-running back William "Refrigerator" Perry, the championship Bears felt like a group of guys that you could get a beer with. The strange and unfortunate Super Bowl Shuffle has become the Alamo for Chicago sports fans.
But perhaps the most noticeable impact that the champions of yore have on modern day Chicago is the absurdly high standards that most Bears fans hold. The 1986 Super Bowl victory was the first and only for the Bears, and Chicago sports fans have very little tolerance for failure (just ask Jay Cutler).
Judging by how things have been going for the Bears lately, one shouldn't expect the club to bring home another championship any time soon. Besides, Chicagoans are probably going to spend most of their juju this year trying to end the Cubs championship drought.