Are the Chicago Fire really a better team than recent scores have shown?

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty ImagesFans tend to see sporting events through the lens of their own teams. I’m a journalist and I try to avoid this, but I know I’m guilty of it as well.

Here’s what I mean: As Chicago Fire fans, we view the 3-0 loss to the Columbus Crew as a Fire failure, not a Crew success. If someone asked you what happened, you might say “the Fire blew it,” or “the Fire couldn’t finish their chances,” or “the Fire screwed up defensively, again.”

Generally, we don’t see it as “the Crew played great.” We sometimes forget that good teams make things difficult for everyone else.

After Thursday night’s match, the Fire made head coach Raphael Wicky available to the media, along with…