Best Chicago sports teams tournament: Elite 8
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Chicago White Sox fans cheer during the victory parade on Oct. 28, 2005. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Editor's note: The tournament has advanced since this story was published. See the latest round.
The first round of our tournament to crown the best Chicago sports team is complete.
No surprise: All the champs moved on.
The biggest win: The '85 Bears received 95% of the vote over the '94 Sox.
The closest: The '63 Bears squeaked by the '84 Cubs by just two votes!
Be smart: It's not just about who won the most games or who was world champion; it's about what that team did to live in our collective Chicago heart.
Fair warning: The next round is harder, especially if your allegiances live on the South Side.
The matchups:
- 1985 Bears vs. 1963 Bears: The only two championships for this storied franchise.
- 2005 Sox vs. 2010 Hawks: Two great downtown parades.
- 2016 Cubs vs. 1993 Bulls: Can the Cubs beat out the first three peat?
- 1996 Bulls vs. 2021 Sky: The Sky's dance party at Pritzker Pavilion vs. Bulls parties at Petrillo.