Chicago Sports Then and Now

In 2005 the White Sox claimed the first World Series title for the city since 1917.

With the first decade of the 21st Century coming to a close, we look back at 10 memorable sports moments for Chicago area sports teams during the last 10 years.

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(10) Cub –Yankee Game—June 7, 2003
In interleague play, the Yankees return to Wrigley Field for the first time since the 1938 World Series. The atmosphere at the ballpark is electric, as Kerry Wood outduels  Roger Clemens to secure a Cub victory.

(9) Bulls-Celtics Playoff Series-April -May, 2009
The Bulls surprise the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs with their tenacious play and amazing  shooting  accuracy. The teams set an NBA record playing four overtime games in a playoff round, but eventually Boston triumphs in game seven to win the series.

The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks played in the 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.

(8)Blackhawks-Red Wings Winter Classic Game—January 1, 2009
It’s a magical setting, an outdoor rink in Wrigley Field, and the Blackhawks and Detroit Redwings play to a capacity crowd on New Year’s Day. Although the Red Wings win the hockey game,6-4,  the Chicago sports community experienced a truly memorable sporting event.

(7 ) Bulls-Heat Playoff Series—May, 2007
The Bulls, for the first time in the post-Jordan era, advance to the second playoff round with a four game sweep of the defending NBA champion Miami Heat. The Bulls fall to the Detroit Pistons in six games in the conference semifinals.

(6) Tiger Woods PGA Championship Win—August, 2006
In one of the most  dominant  golf exhibitions ever seen in the Chicago area, Tiger Woods shoots four consecutive rounds in the 60s, culminating in an 18 under par total at the difficult Medinah course,  to win the PGA Championship.

(5) Blackhawks-Red Wings Semifinal—May, 2009
The  rejuvenated  Blackhawk s are one Series win away from the Stanley Cup Finals. Chicago is excited by this young Blackhawk team as they play the defending NHL champions Detroit Red Wings in the semifinals. Unfortunately, the veteran Red Wings easily handle the Hawks, winning the Series 4-1.

(4) Mark Buehrle’s Perfect Game—-July 23, 2009
Mark Buehrle pitches only the eighteenth perfect game in the history of baseball, retiring twenty-seven straight Tampa Bay batters. The perfect game is saved by a spectacular catch in the ninth inning by reserve outfielder DeWayne Wise, who came into the game at the top of the inning as a defensive replacement.

The Bartman incident triggered a series of events that led to the collapse of the Cubs during the 2003 NLCS.

(3) Cubs-Marlins  NLCS Championship Series—October, 2003
It appears that the Cubs were on their way to their first World Series since 1945. The Cubs were up three games to two in the Series, and were ahead 3-0 in game six, with one out in the eighth and ace Mark Prior on the mound, when things collapsed.  Fan Steve Bartman goes after a foul fly which left-fielder Moises  Alou had a chance of catching. The ball is uncaught,  Prior and the Cubs unravel, and the Cubs lose that game and the next one, to lose the Series to the Marlins.

(2) Super Bowl XLI—February 4, 2007
Devin Hester runs back an opening kickoff return 92 yards to give the Bears an early lead in their second Super Bowl appearance and first in 21 years. However Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts outclass the Bears, and become NFL Champions in a 29-17 win.

(1) White Sox Win World Series—October, 2005
It had been a long wait, since 1917 in fact, but the White Sox finally win the World Series, sweeping the Houston Astros in four consecutive games.  The Sox were amazing throughout the playoffs, winning eleven out of twelve games.