If all goes according to plan in 2015, Chicago fans will be toasting three championship teams before the Bears can fall too far behind in the NFC North.
RedEye has laid out an aggressive set of New Year's resolutions for the city's pro sports franchises. Of course, there are bound to be hiccups, so there are entertaining/relatively acceptable alternatives, too.
BEARS
Resolve to: Take care of that whole head coach and general manager thing. You know, no big deal. Oh, and maybe fix the defense. And offense. And special teams. And lower ticket prices. Might as well shoot for the moon.
Plan B: Smooth things over with Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher. Whatever bitterness lingers in the wake of contract talks, taking the high road never is a bad idea.
BLACKHAWKS
Resolve to: Win the Stanley Cup. Let's face it, anything less will be a disappointment.
Plan B: Trade a backup goaltender. Antti Raanta and Scott Darling have been outstanding-which means they're valuable to a team that really needs a net minder. Just make sure the deal is to a team outside the division.
BULLS
Resolve to: Win the NBA title. If LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have shown us anything, it's that they're vulnerable.
Plan B: Re-sign Jimmy Butler. Yes, that might mean Taj Gibson has to go. But wouldn't it be worth it to keep your starting shooting guard and the team's leading scorer?
CUBS
Resolve to: Finish in third. No one's asking for miracles. Simply prove that signing Jon Lester and Joe Maddon means a huge upgrade in results, not just hype.
Plan B: Get Clark the Cub some pants. It's not too late.
FIRE
Resolve to: Return to the playoffs. They've missed two straight postseasons, which is unacceptable for a team that features a top-notch goalkeeper (Sean Johnson) and ace goal scorer (Mike Magee).
Plan B: Tie every game. The Fire set a record with 18 draws in 34 matches in 2014. If they're not going to win anything, just go for a clean sweep of ties and make history again.
SKY
Resolve to: Win the WNBA title. If the team can reach the finals with star Elena Delle Donne hobbled with injury, imagine what it can do at full strength.
Plan B: Sabotage the Phoenix Mercury, which rolled over the Sky in the 2014 finals. Empty the gas tank of the team bus. Tie their shoelaces together. Anything to slow down that juggernaut.
WHITE SOX
Resolve to: Capture a wild card spot. Winning the division likely is too much to ask with their bullpen, though it can't get any worse. Besides, if Kansas City can nearly win the World Series as a wild card, so can the Sox.
Plan B: Help Ozzie Guillen land a reality show. How has this not happened already?! Also: Jeff Samardzija Wig Night. Make it happen.