NFL Pop Culture Throwdown is a weekly E! Loves series where we pick one of the football games airing that weekend and put the team's cities against each other in terms of food, music, entertainment and other regional factors. This isn't about the actual teams; just the cities they represent. So if they don't win on the field that week, at least these cities have a chance at winning our pop culture battle! This also serves as a depressing reminder that here in Los Angeles, we have no football team.
The Teams: The Chicago Bears vs. The San Fransisco 49ers
1. The Food
Chicago: Deep-dish pizza, the Chicago-style hot dog and the Chicago-style Italian beef
San Francisco: The birthplace of sourdough bread and the Mission burrito, Fisherman's Wharf
2. Notable Natives
Chicago: Robin Williams, Shonda Rhimes, Bill Murray, Jennifer Hudson, Stephen Colbert and President Barack Obama
San Francisco: Tom Hanks, Bruce Lee, Natalie Wood, Tupac Shakur and Alicia Silverstone
3. Other Pro Sports Teams
Chicago: Bulls (basketball), Blackhawks (hockey), White Sox (baseball), Cubs (baseball), and Fire (soccer)
San Francisco: Oakland Raiders (football), Giants (baseball), Oakland Athletics (baseball), Golden State Warriors (basketball), San Jose Sharks (hockey), and San Jose Earthquakes (soccer)
4. TV Shows Set There
Chicago: ER, Family Matters, Happy Endings, Roseanne, The Good Wife, Married... with Children
San Francisco: Full House, Charmed, Dharma & Greg, Monk, That's So Raven, Party of Five
5. Music Influence
Chicago: Blues, Jazz, House Music, Gospel, Kanye West and Chicago
San Francisco: Rock, Thrash Metal, the Grateful Dead, Metallica and Journey
6. Endorsements from E! Online staffers:
Chicago: "Chicago may only be beautiful for two months out of the year (I do not miss you at all, Chi-beria), but those two months make the 10 miserably cold ones worth it. Watching the sun set behind the skyline while jamming to all the best bands and DJ's at Lollapalooza is an experience like no other!"—Sydney
San Francisco: "Bay to Breakers is the best footrace slash citywide party you could ever be a part of. Also, people might say Irish Coffee was created in, you know, Ireland, but the Buena Vista Café on Hyde St. has hands down the best irish coffee you will ever have in your life."—Bryce
Our Vote: Chicago!
Your Vote:
NFL Pop Culture Throwdown: Week 2
Which teams should we put up against each other next week? And if you are a native of either Chicago or San Francisco, why do you think your city is better?