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Editorial: 'Jimmy Fever' and the chance to be united for a while

With the Packers out of the picture and the Bears a distant memory this season, who are you left to root for in the Super Bowl this year?

Jimmy Garoppolo, of course.

The Arlington Heights-born San Francisco 49ers quarterback clearly was saving his arm for bigger things Sunday night against the Pack by handing the ball off to Raheem Mostert so often. Hey, why not pace yourself? The ploy worked like a dream.

During this post-holiday season, crummy weather time of year replete with a contentious impeachment trial that's sure to further divide us from our neighbors, friends and family members, we all need a hero who can unite us. Why not a homegrown kid done good?

Garoppolo played youth football with the Arlington Heights Cowboys before starring at Rolling Meadows High School. He played college ball at Eastern Illinois University before being drafted in the second round in 2014 by the Patriots ostensibly to warm the bench for Tom Brady.

And look who is going to the Super Bowl now.

Jimmy Fever isn't entirely new to us. Had the Pack beaten the Niners Sunday, we likely would be suggesting we rally behind Bryan Bulaga, the Marian Central Catholic product who was born in Barrington and grew up in Crystal Lake. The offensive tackle has been a Packer for 10 years and was on the winning side of Super Bowl XLV.

As a rookie, Garoppolo didn't take any snaps during Super Bowl XLIX, which the Pats won. Now is his chance to shine.

Who remembers Ryan Diem? The Roselle-born offensive tackle played high school ball at Glenbard North. As an Indianapolis Colt his whole career, he won a ring in Super Bowl XLI.

Palatine Village President Jim Schwantz, an Arlington Heights native, also won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Cowboys in 1996.

Don Beebe, born in Aurora, attended Kaneland High School. The wide receiver played for the Packers the year they won Super Bowl XXXI.

And Ken Anderson, who grew up in Batavia and was drafted by the Bengals (playing his entire 15-year career for them) was a big part of a Super Bowl XLIII win.

The suburbs have spawned a great number of professional athletes, too many to mention here. Plenty of pro athletes call the suburbs home, but not many of them come from here.

There is something about cheering on a local kid. Something that transcends the issue of who writes his or her checks. There is a certain Friday Night Lights simplicity to rooting for Jimmy Garoppolo.

We're living in a time when finding things that divide us is all too easy. The 2020 Super Bowl offers an opportunity for at least a brief respite from animosity and, if nothing else, the pleasure of cheering together for a local standout.

Focus on the small things. Catch Jimmy Fever.

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