Down time in Chicago sports

In six months, everything has changed. From promise to pity. It was not too long ago, April 21, 2009, when I wrote a colum in the Clinton Journal on how great of a time it is to be a Chicago sports fan.
Why wouldn't it be a great time? The Bulls were matching wits with the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, tied at a game apiece heading to Chicago. The Blackhawks led Calgary 2-1 in their first round series. The White Sox and Cubs were both in first place. And the Bears were still happy and glowing about the acquisition of quarterback Jay Cutler.
Now it is December 15, and all of that has changed.
Chicago's two baseball teams were equally disappointing. The Sox finished third behind teams that on paper were worse than them, while the Cubs failed to win one of the easiest divisions in baseball.
The addition of Cutler may have given them a more talented quarterback, but for some reason it also shut down the Bears' run game and prevented the offensive line from blocking well. Cutler himself has been a disappointment, leading the league in interceptins. No one could have anticipated them being out of the playoff race with three weeks to go.
The Bulls look awful right now. They are not even among the top eight teams in the weak Eastern Conference.
The only bright spot at this point would be the Chicago Blackhawks. Who would have thought that three years ago? But even they aren't tearing it up. The only reason they lead their division is because the Red Wings are having an off year. But in the Hawks' case, the postseason is all that matters. It seems like they are the one team that brings Chicago sports fans together, nowadays. Bizzare.
So much hope at the beginning of 2009. The city was a favorite to host the 2016 Olympics. Even better, their sports teams were going to have extended postseason runs and bridge the way to a brighter future.
Some many headaches now. Coaches are on the hot seat. Sox fans are forced to be excited about Juan Pierre coming to town.
Sportswise, it's not that Chicago has it worse off than Detroit, Cleveland, Seattle or even Houston. But there was so much hope and now, we will just have to hope for a better year in 2010.