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[title]We Chicagoans are a passionate fan base, but for the love of Ditka, every time one of our teams drafts or acquires a new stud, stop rushing to Dick’s Sporting Goods and buying the guy’s jersey or sweater. As of this writing, Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky has the seventh-highest-selling jersey in the NFL (according to Dick's Jersey Report) while notching double the amount of turnovers to touchdowns. Many people have faith that he’s the next Sid Luckman incarnate, but we also know how this works: We think we support the lad, but there’s no actual time for growing pains in Chicago, so fans often get stuck with an embarrassing piece of expensive laundry.
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Chicago sports enthusiasts should own athletic apparel—just go with a veteran who has already earned our veneration. Or better yet, heed the advice of Mark Lazerus, sportswriter at the Chicago Sun-Times and author of If These Walls Could Talk: Chicago Blackhawks: Stories from the Chicago Blackhawks’ Ice, Locker Room, and Press Box: “A number of years ago, I was asked what Blackhawks player’s sweater I would suggest someone get. At the time I said Brandon Saad: He is a good player, a generally good guy and young enough that I saw him being on the Blackhawks for decades. The next offseason he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now I suggest you get the jersey of a Hall of Famer; they can’t get traded. Better yet a legend who has died—that way they can’t do anything to embarrass the sweater or jersey.”