When you haven't had a Super Bowl Championship team since 1985, how do you justify the fact that you're still a Bears fan? Why... you pass a law forcing people to recognize the 1985 Bears as the best ever of course:

For years, the last line of the song Bear Down, Chicago Bears has proclaimed the National Football League team "the pride and joy of Illinois."

If State Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego, gets his way, that sentiment will become official.

Cross, the House minority leader, has introduced a resolution in the state Legislature to proclaim the 1985 Chicago Bear Super Bowl championship team as the greatest football team ever.

And if the resolution passes, Cross might even have fellow legislators singing the aforementioned fight song — something else the resolution calls for. But do we really want to hear Michael Madigan singing "We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation, with your T-formation"?

What's funny, is that if the Bears were any good at all, you wouldn't have to pass a law declaring them the best... people would just know it. You know... because they'd actually win championships more often. Passing a law declaring something so only serves to de-emphasize sporting accomplishments, not the other way around. It's sort of a slap in the face to this year's team, which will probably make the playoffs, and is actually being compared to the 1985 Bears team because of their defense.

Sadly though... the biggest impediment this faces in the Illinois State Legislature isn't the fact that its a stupid idea, or that the legislature has more important things to debate... but rather that there is a Rams fan in the bunch:

Cross expects little opposition to the resolution, although he acknowledged there could be some from downstate representatives who favor the St. Louis Rams. They had their own Super Bowl victory, beating the Tennessee Titans 23-16 in 2000.

I'd shake my head... and say... only in Illinois... but I wouldn't put this sort of idea past anyone in Madison. You know that given the chance, they'd be debating which Green Bay Packer team was the best ever. H/T to The Agitator.