Chris Chelios played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1983-1990, when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. While in Chicago, Chelios twice won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. The fans loved Chelios, and he loved playing in his hometown.

Unfortunately, midway through the 1998-99 season, the Hawks traded the 37-year-old Chelios to the Detroit Red Wings. This was a sad day for Hawks fans, who believed and wanted Chelios to finish his career in Chicago.

Now, ten years later, Chelios is still playing, and his Red Wings are on the verge of knocking the Blackhawks out of the playoffs. Mama Chelios is famous for her dual jersey (half Hawks/half Wings), but most of the Hawks fans are more decisive in their fandom. Many Hawks fans boo Chelios, calling him a traitor. Years earlier, Chelios stated in an interview that he would never play for the Red Wings. This statement has not been forgotten.

I find this all fascinating. Chelios was born in Chicago, went to college in Wisconsin, was drafted by Montreal and was traded to Detroit, aside from his years playing with the Hawks. Yet it is the years as a Blackhawk by which Chicago fans deem to define him. Having talked to many sports fans on my recent trip to Detroit, I assure you that Detroit fans view Chelios as one of their own, too.

Why wasn’t Chelios a traitor when he went north of the Illinois border to the UW-M? Why wasn’t Chelios a traitor when he was with Les Habitants across the Canadian border? Of course, the questions are rhetorical and silly. Chelios is not a traitor. He never wanted to leave Chicago. The management of the Blackhawks then was very frugal and short-sighted. They did not want to pay too much for a player they felt was near the end.

Chelios isn’t a traitor. David Letterman wasn’t a traitor when he left Indianapolis and found success in Los Angeles and then New York. The Beatles weren’t traitors when they came to America and found success. Fran Gallagher wasn’t a traitor when he left Philadelphia for Chicago and then New York years ago (although he did return to his Philly roots). In the regular business world, it is not uncommon to switch companies and cities several times during a career. In business it is called career advancement (and it very seldom gets booed). Why are athletes viewed so differently?

We all know sports is a big business now. In every other aspect, it is treated as a business, yet when a player leaves a town (even if not by choice) he is often booed. If the Red Wings end up winning the title, Chelios will once again raise Lord Stanley’s Cup, and Chicago fans will once again boo him.

It probably isn’t going to be of much comfort to Chicagoans, but I do promise that distribution specialist and blog writer John Wroblewski will always be in Chicago.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist