Okay, I admit it. I predicted that Chicago would win the bid for the 2016 Olympics. When it was announced that Chicago had lost in the first round, I was stunned — although judging by Chicago sports I should not have been surprised by a “playoff” loss. I didn’t really care if Chicago got the Olympics; I just thought it was going to happen.

The surprising thing to me was the overall level of apathy the decision garnered in Chicago. Chicagoans seemed split on their desire to host the Olympics. Once the decision came, the whole matter was quickly forgotten.

More Chicago sports fan cared about the upcoming Bears game against the Detroit Lions than they cared about the failed attempt to land the Olympics. Granted, Chicagoans take their sports teams very seriously, but I didn’t think the Olympics would be out of mind so quickly. Sports radio hosts tried to kickstart discussions, but they were met with a resounding silence.

I expected outrage at the Chicago force of President Obama, Mayor Daley and Queen Oprah (where was Court Jester Jim Belushi?) for bumbling the situation. Instead, there was a little moaning and then right back to Bears talk. There was more talk about the offseason plans of the Cubs and White Sox than of the Olympics. Even funnier was the unnecessary spin control from the powers that be to explain how this all happened, but nobody was listening because nobody cared.

I am not sure what this means. Does this speak of an overall disinterest in the Olympics? Does it speak of the fanaticism Chicagoans feel about their own teams above all else?

Even businesses didn’t seem to care. Apparently, the promised increase in tourism either wasn’t believable or didn’t matter. I talked to a few concierges, and they all said their hotels were pretty well booked already.

Chicago lost the bid and nobody really cared. The Bears lost their last two games and the city is in an uproar. It doesn’t take much to understand this. The people have spoken.

– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist