The Sports Fan

Born and raised on Chicago’s northside, it’s only appropriate that Gene Siskel was an avid sports fan. Naturally, in a town where the majority of residents are born with Cubbie blue running through their veins, Siskel looked forward to the advent of spring and the possibility that several decades of suffering through championship-less baseball might soon come to an end. But Siskel’s passion for his hometown sports teams was never more obvious than when he attended Bulls games. A season ticket holder with courtside seats, his love for the Bulls was second only to his love for his family and his job.

In his lifetime, Siskel threw out the first pitch at the new Comiskey Park, took a half court shot during halftime of a Bulls game and interviewed a champagne soaked Michael Jordan after the Bulls won the 1996 NBA Championship.