Which Chicago franchise do you trust the most?
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Trust is legal tender for pro sports franchises.
Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox ... how do they rank in trustworthiness?
The answer is fluid from season to season, perhaps day to day, maybe even hour to hour amid minute-to-minute news cycles.
So, which teams do you trust with your season-ticket money in the snapshot that is right now? Which do you trust to do what it takes to win championships? Which do you trust to reciprocate the love and respect you routinely and blindly provide?
Here is the order, from worst to first, that I believe our teams are viewed in the court of public opinion.
5. Bears: It’s time somebody at Halas Hall heeds what Jim Rockford once philosophized on the “The Rockford Files.”
“If 50 people tell you you’re drunk,” Jim said, “maybe you oughta lie down.”
More than 50 people are suggesting to the McCaskeys and Ted Phillips that the Bears’ methods are broken and need to be put down.
Most fans who paid thousands of dollars for personal seat licenses in the new Soldier Field want the Bears taken in a dramatically different direction.
Instead, the decision makers appear intent on tweaking what needs to be torn down.
Outcome: Guilty until proven innocent.
4. White Sox: Jerry Reinsdorf and Kenny Williams have squandered just about all the goodwill they earned by winning the 2005 World Series.
The Bears are proof that tickets sold isn’t a gauge of how people think about a franchise but Sox’ attendance has plunged to embarrassingly low levels.
Two words: Adam Dunn. Fans have little reason to keep the faith after a general manager signs a player to a lucrative contract and that player responds with a historically pathetic season.
Outcome: Guilty pending a seemingly futile appeal next weekend at SoxFest.
3. Bulls: This franchise has been upwardly mobile since experiencing the good fortune of winning Derrick Rose in the draft lottery.
However, much still needs to be proved and Jerry Reinsdorf, John Paxson and Gar Forman will have to prove it.
The assignment is to build a championship team around Rose the way — dare we say? — Jerry Krause built six of them around Michael Jordan.
Outcome: Hung jury with the case certain to be refiled after this season.
2. Cubs: Due to the hype it’s tempting to elevate Theo Epstein to king of this list. However, he still must win titles here like he did in Boston.
Good luck to that.
Blueprints are only as good as the paper on which they are doodled. Translating them into reality is always the trick with the Cubs.
Epstein’s grace period won’t last long, so some of the acquisitions for 2012 better at least pretend to be good.
Outcome: Case recessed until October.
1. Blackhawks: It’s precarious at the top. This is an important season for a franchise that won the Stanley Cup a mere two years ago.
The Hawks already are back contending for the NHL’s best regular-season record and poised to make another championship run.
But the bar is high, so are expectations and nothing short of a dynasty will maintain the public’s trust.
The good thing is that Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough understand.
Verdict: Innocent until proven guilty.
Trust me, these rankings might turn upside down during the next news cycle.
mimrem@dailyherald.com
