Feb 5, 2007 7:42 pm US/Central
Expert Offers Bears Fans Hope In Coping With Loss
Dejected Fans Consoling Themselves With Hopes For Next Year
by Derrick Blakley
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Over a meal at the ESPN Zone, a Bears fan takes in the disappointing day-after news of the team's Super Bowl loss.
CBS
Indianapolis Colts fans are riding high and basking in the glow of a Super Bowl championship, while bummed out Bears fans are looking for reasons to hope again and thinking like Cubs fans; "Wait until next year" has become their mantra, too.
In the meantime, there is help for Bears fans fighting those super blues.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley talked to an expert about coping with a heartbreaking loss.
At Manny's Deli, dejected Bears fans consoled themselves with corned beef, chicken soup and dreams of what might have been.
Mike and Judy Sibell were having a heart meal at Manny's just after getting back from Miami Monday.
"We had the Thunderbirds flying over. Then we had Devin Hester. After that, it kind of fizzled out," Mike Sibell said.
And at the ESPN Zone, Bears fans in the sparse crowd were, well, super-depressed.
"Unfortunately, my boss if from Indianapolis so I had to hear it from him when he got in this morning," said Bears fan Ken Klonicki.
Psychologists say when our teams are on a roll, real fans feel real pride.
"In fact testosterone levels in males watching teams win rise. And so, it even has biological effects," said Northwestern University psychologist Mark Reinecke.
But all the anticipation, the hype, makes disappointment so much harder to take.
"The turning point in the game was when we lost those two interceptions. You knew it was just over with," said Bears fan Chris Fields.
"Our self esteem, our feelings about ourselves decline when they lose," Reinecke said.
Still, Bill Burns maintains perspective. He's not thinking about jumping off a bridge.
"Cubs season starts pretty soon. I'll jump off when they lose, right?" Burns said.
Way to look on the bright side, Bill.
And one proud fan was not ready to put her Bears down.
"I'm not disappointed. I am very proud of our Bears. They brought excitement to Chicago again," said Mary Harris.
Reinecke adds we all might feel better if we focus on the Bears' image: muscularity, perseverance, toughness.
It's not about, losing a single game, he says. It's about tenacity carried forward.
In other words, Chicago: bear down.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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