QUICK READ: Geneva among best (399) sports cities
The Sporting News recognizes among its annual poll of best American sports cities those burgs with professional or major college teams.
High schools need not apply, but if they did, Geneva mayor Kevin Burns believes his city's standing in the magazine's Oct. 12 issue might be vastly improved.
"Of course, I'm biased," Burns said, "(but) I still believe the greatest return on the investment of a sports dollar is found just a few miles northwest of Elfstrom Stadium at Geneva Community High School."
To be sure, the Cougars lured Geneva spot No. 356 on the list of 399 cities, with the Sporting News undoubtedly factoring in the club's second straight berth in the Midwest League playoffs along with a solid fan base.
The franchise drew 400,040 fans in 65 dates last season, second in the league to Dayton (586,193), and has attracted at least 400,000 spectators in 16 successive summers.
Burns lauds and appreciates those figures and is looking forward to the 20th season of Cougars baseball in Kane County, but also asks why not Geneva's longtime home team, the Vikings?
"I think we are a discerning group of people who love our sports and sportsmanship," Burns said. "It's a lot more prevalent here than in other places I've seen."
Pittsburgh, home of the defending Stanley Cup and Super Bowl champions, ranked first on the Sporting News' list, followed by Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago/Evanston and Los Angeles.
Other Illinois cities on the list included Champaign-Urbana (84th), DeKalb (134th), Normal (139th), Peoria (146th), Carbondale (167th), Charleston (233rd) and Rockford (339th).
Auburn, N.Y., placed 399th and last, a slight to the Auburn Doubledays minor league baseball team. Another New York city Genevans might be interested in also ranked below their home:
Batavia, N.Y., whose Muckdogs are the Short A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, were the 387th best sports city.
Life imitates art: Admitting the ability to detect dialogue from the campy cheerleading flick "Bring It On" is one thing. Lifting it and passing it along as your own is quite another.
The Neuqua Valley football cheerleaders triggered my sensors early during Friday's game at St. Charles North when, with the North Stars driving behind quarterback Jake Bergren for the first time, the Wildcats' biggest fans broke into sing-songy chant:
Knock 'em down/Roll 'em around/C'mon defense, work.
Rinse. Repeat.
I remember too much, for certain, and often wish I could drain some of this knowledge, but my two (swear that's all) viewings of "Bring It On" told me all I needed to know. Like the Toros in the movie, these girls had ripped off something that wasn't theirs. A female employee of Naperville Community Television – someone who has more business knowing this sort of thing than I do – confirmed it at halftime.
"'Bring It On,'" she said. "is my favorite movie."
• Kevin Druley is a sportswriter for The Chronicle. He can be reached at 630-845-5347 or kdruley@kcchronicle.com.
