:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6011237/chi_bears_packers_07.0.jpg)
The search for the Chicago Bears new head coach continues, and numerous names have been mentioned as possible candidates, or people that might be interested. One of those names that jumped out at me was Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator, Tom Clements. According to ESPN, Clements was "flattered" to have received interest, but was currently focusing on the Packers playoff game with the Vikings.
Now, unless I missed a memo, aren't the Packers supposed to be the Bears arch nemesis? Aren't we supposed to despise everything to do with them? In that case, why on earth would we want one of their coaches taking over as the new head coach of our Chicago Bears?
Twitter is a wonderful place for generating some instant discussion, and this is exactly what happened last night when I posed the same question there last night.
I said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Why would any bears fan want a green bay coach to be the new bears head coach? That doesnt sit well with me. Anyone else?</p>— Dave Gilbert (@DaveGilbertNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveGilbertNFL/status/286575609835036672" data-datetime="2013-01-02T20:52:04+00:00">January 2, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
to which our very own Kevin replied :
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-in-reply-to="286575609835036672"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/davegilbertnfl">davegilbertnfl</a> That reads as "why would Bears fans want coaches who win games to be the head coach?"</p>— Kev (@Kev_WCG) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kev_WCG/status/286580182029045761" data-datetime="2013-01-02T21:10:14+00:00">January 2, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So, is he right? Should we just be happy if we end up with a successful coach, who can better the Bears and lead them to championships? I suppose that would be favorable, but it's the Packers!! I thought we hated them.
Then, Erik Duerrwaechter had this to say:
@DaveGilbertNFL An enemy, of my enemy, is my friend. Tom Clements, would be such person.
Is that right, also? I am seriously confused, because my initial reaction to hearing that the Bears might be interested in Clements was: 'no way, he's a Green Bay Packer; what about our supposed rivalry?'
Then someone pointed out that the Bears hadn't really been that competitive with the Packers recently, thus watering down the rivalry to some extent. This sounds like nonsense to me. Surely, if we never beat the Packers again, they are still our mortal enemy. For me it has very little to do with how competitive the two teams are and more to do with just blindly hating them and everything they stand for. A little extreme, perhaps, but isn't that the way it's supposed to be?
So, sensing that many had no problem with the new Bears head coach possibly being a former Packer, I posed this question:
@EDuerrwaechter so what? Bears organization should want nothing to do with packers. Would u want rodgers playing for chicago? Seriously?
To my amazement, this was the reply I received:
@DaveGilbertNFL Given he's the best damn QB in the NFL, I'd be more than happy to have him play for the Bears.
My mouth dropped. Am I alone (again) in dreading the thought of Aaron Rodgers or any other Green Bay player being traded to the Bears and then being expected to cheer for them? Am I missing something? We would cheer for him because he was now playing for Chicago, and literally forget who he used to play for? Our enemy. The Green Bay Packers.
I guess it's hard for me to overcome the fact that I was born in the UK and still live there. I grew up following soccer and being well aware of the hatred that existed between opposing teams.Sometimes, teams that weren't even in the same division anymore, and no longer even played each other. But there still exists definite dislike between the team's supporters.
Yes, this is probably a little misguided and immature, but for those people, the hate for the opponent was almost as strong as the love for the team they followed. It wasn't really about what went on in terms of the actual game on the field. It was more a state of mind. And that is my state of mind. I support the Bears with all my heart, and by proxy, I dislike the Packers with the same passion.
It would not go down well with me if Clements was named the head coach of the Bears. I realise that this may be a little old fashioned and reactionary, but that's just the way I feel. Now, who's with me?