SUPER BOWL FORTY-ONE: IN HINDSIGHT

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 SUPER BOWL FORTY-ONE: IN HINDSIGHT I had a couple post-mortem Super Bowl thoughts scribbled down here for awhile. I had intended on one last football-related blog whether the Bears won or not. Hard to believe it's been over a month since the 29-17 Bears' loss in the Super Bowl. I figured it was time to assemble these thoughts into a blog. I probably would have procrastinated even further, but I have other blogs that need to go on, so I figured I should post this first.

I had predicted the Hester runback before the game, but the fact that it happened in the very first seconds was magical indeed. In hindsight it reminds me so much of the Kerry Wood 3-run HR to tie game 7 against the Marlins in the 2003 NLCS. That Wood HR was inconceivable, but yet still probably in the back of a Cub fans' minds at the time. However, it would just be too good to be true. After it actually happened, it seemed to have all the makings of a sure momentum-seizing play. But as I said, in hindsight—both would now have to be considered as simply two of the most exciting Chicago sports plays in losing efforts.

Still, if one were to map out a plan for the Bears to win that game, he could probably identify three blatant factors: 1). Hester needs to score against that coverage team. 2). If you get close to the end zone early, let Rex throw for a TD to get that confidence up right away. And 3). See if you can't get Manning to revert back to his choking ways.

Well sure enough, Hester runs the kickoff back, Grossman connects on a first quarter TD pass to Muhammed, and Manning looked awful on the Colts' first drive (should have been picked off twice—eventually was picked off by Chris Harris to end that initial drive). So it was all set up. If the Colts are still going to win after those three things fall in line, my hat's off. The Bears came out and made the Colts look downright silly and still never had a chance. I can live with that.

I feel sorry for people who let their actual moods be affected by sporting events. I've said before how much I enjoy listening to Boers and Bernstein on The Score. I like them because they're sports fans without caring about sports. They know so much about Chicago sports, but they're above the fray. They maintain an aura of being informed without being involved. It's really quite amazing. There's a sense of arrogance that goes along with that, but I also think they lend the most level-headed, common sense, non-ridiculous take on sports day in and day out.

And the Monday after Super Bowl XLI was no exception. They cut bummed-out callers NO slack. And it was hilarious and actually uplifting. They brought such a sense of perspective to the whole situation that was refreshing and much-needed. After several depressed callers, Boers preached: "Sports is just that…it's a diversion. It wasn't created to be your identity. I just don't get it..."

It was the SUPER BOWL. They reiterated this point over and over. They didn't choke in an early round home playoff game. They made the stinking Super Bowl. Once you're there, anything can happen. It's fifty-fifty at best. Bask in the two weeks of glory and go out and play your best. Bernstein also said that once the Bears fell down 16-14, he knew the game was over. And he got over it by 9:05. That night.

The whole thing was terrible though. The pregame was horrible. The omnipresent commercials for Norbitt were unbearable. CBS' presentation of the actual game was brutal. The weather was awful. The commercials were bad. The turnover-fest was embarrassing. The Benson injury was unpleasant at best. Nothing about it felt like a big time broadcast. Or a Super Bowl for that matter. It looked bad aesthetically-speaking. When Dan Bernstein was talking about how quickly he got over the loss, he summed it up this way: "The Super Bowl, it was…it was wet and it was bad and it was hurt and it looked they covered the camera lens with Vaseline…"

Someone asked me after the Bears advanced to the Super Bowl if that day (when the Bears became NFC champions by beating New Orleans handily) was the greatest day of my life. Perhaps said person was speaking in hyperbole, but the question got me thinking nonetheless. Not only have the Bears made the Super Bowl before in my lifetime (and won it by the way…), but that question in and of itself is painfully absurd. I think anyone who's greatest day of their life has anything remotely to do with sports can blame their parents for doing them a giant disservice. You talk about lack of perspective.

Although I think what hit me the most about the Bears losing the Super Bowl is how much more poignant winning is than losing. And believe me; my teams have done a whole lot more losing than winning. But in terms of big games…winning gives you a chance to bask. To be surreal for a little while. Losing gives you a chance to show maturity and see to it that you don't let it affect you. A chance to pull back and realize what's actually important. And certainly to make sure it doesn't affect those around you. And that's the way it should be. The elation of winning is certainly more powerful than the pain of losing a big one.

And so…while the Bears may not have put up the best fight, I'm still glad the Colts had to earn the ring by playing the best. There's something always a little rewarding when the clear cut top teams from each conference actually make it to the Super Bowl. That's what you want ultimately for your championship in any sport. It's good for history to be able to look back at that game and/or series as the most accurate representation of that specific season. When the White Sox won the World Series in 2005, it all seemed fake and insignificant because it came against the stinking AstrosThis year the Bears were clearly the best NFC team from start to finish, and the same could be said for the most part for the Colts. While the Bears may not have looked the part, if I were a Colts' fan celebrating my first living championship, there would be a certain degree of satisfaction knowing that I had to beat the Bears to get it.

Needless to say I've taken a lot of heat from Colts' fans in the last couple months. But believe it or not, I didn't lose all respect for all Colts' fans (like the kind who actually started wearing their Colts' gear BEFORE January. And like I've said before, being a lifelong fan of the Bulls (and of the 2003 Cubs for that matter), I know all about that.

In the end I think the saddest part is that the Bears never made the Colts beat them. The Colts probably could have beaten them, but we didn't even bother to find out. I was appalled at the way the media fell all over themselves trying to default the Super Bowl trophy to Manning. The main different between Manning's performance and Grossman's were key conversions by Manning on third down. And don't get me wrong, those were huge and probably the difference in the game, but Manning was in no way the Colts' most valuable player on February 5th.

I bought a couple Colts/Bears Super Bowl shirts to commemorate my dream Super Bowl coming true. The result was pathetic, but I'm sure I'll look back on that day someday with fondness. In the meantime, the following images are how I choose to remember Super Bowl XLI:

Last Minute Super Bowl Knowings

Friday, February 02, 2007

Last Minute Super Bowl Knowings


THOUGHTS
I haven't listened to music for two weeks now. For once I don't think the media hype surrounding one game is too much. Funny how that works. I can't get enough of the over-the-top NFL Live shows or whatever talking heads may be spouting nonsense on the Boo-yah channel at any given time.

Beyond that, I have tried to stream Chicago sportstalk radio as much as humanly possible. I don't want to be underprepared, underexposed, or underhyped for this game. Ok, so that's probably not a problem.




One thing about 670 The Score out of Chicago streaming online now is...they actually talk football. They don't just do the celebrity interviews even though they are broadcasting all their shows live from Miami. They are talking Xs and Os and ins and outs and this and that. It's filling my head with enough info to be able to absorb the game as it happen and watch what's happening and why. Maybe. A few of the guys on that station know what they're talking about.




A couple people have asked me my thoughts on the Bears being in the Super Bowl. Nothing really. I guess I just want to take it all in, yes. But I realized earlier this week I'm just flat out excited about watching another Bears football game on TV. It's been two weeks! I just want to see them again. Forget the hype, the commercials, the halftime show. I like watching the Bears play. I like to observe them play football. I like watching Rex throw to Berrian and Davis and Muhammad. I like watching the defense take the ball away from the other team and I like watching the other team running after Devin Hester. I'm just pumped to be able to watch one more Chicago Bear football game this year.




I know it's probably the biggest single sporting event of my life to date. The Bulls never got to a game seven in any of their six championship runs. And while the Cubs had a game seven against Florida in the 2003 NLCS, that wasn't for a World Championship. I was only six when the Bears last had a Super Bowl to win. So this is about as monumental as it's ever gotten for me. For one game.

That said, it's hard to take myself too seriously. I was taught to enjoy sports, but that they were never important enough to stress over, to riot over, to cry over, to lose sleep over, to pray over, son on and so forth. That's why my team can lose a big game and it doesn't ruin my day. Or that's why my team can win a big game and I don't make a fool of myself (it also helps that I don't hate the team they're playing. At all).






AGONIZING DEFEAT?
But I don't know what's worse...a team getting there after years of futility and not knowing if you'll ever get back, or a team that is in the picture every single year and finally has a chance at the big one.





TEAM SPIRIT
You know there are people in every corner of Indy and Chicago who had to go dig to find their Colts or Bears shirt just for these last two weeks. I know some people think it's juvenille or a sign of immaturity for adults to wear clothes supporting sports teams. But it's times like these that I'm glad I have never been afraid to wear my Bears gear year-round (or decade-round for that matter). That way there's no question. There are no front-running accusations. Gameday, offseason, win big, lose big, that's who I've been. That way people know in advance. (In case something ever does go right).

And you know it happens to fans of both teams. People love a winner. I just don't understand why people wait until monunmental wins to show their team pride. That's why I value the few true Colts fans I know that are actually authentic. I'll be glad for them if the Colts win. All these others? Well...(anyone who was alive during the Bulls' dynasty knows what I am talking about).




SMACK
There are people who I didn't even know that they knew what sport the Colts played that are all talking trash now (not to me necessarily, just things I've observed and heard). Again, I know it happens with every winning team, but I've still been taken back by it all.

Before the Kansas Bradley basketball game in the NCAA tournament last March, a bunch of KU fans came over to bradleyfans.com and started talking an unreasonable amount of trash. At the time I found that curious because Kansas was favored in the game! It was a 4/13 matchup! What does the 4 have to gain by trash talking the 13?! If they win, well…they should have. It was a 4 against a 13. And if they lose?! Well…how do you ever live that one down?

Now the Colts aren't as heavily favored as the Jayhawks were, but it's similar. That's why I find all the relentless trash talk somewhat amusing. And surprisingly little of it is backed up by anything even resembling football knowledge. Just a lot of "We're going to stomp 'em." Or sentiments indicating that the game is already over. Riveting. About four weeks ago you couldn't have found a fan base more down and out than that of the Colts. Now it's as if the ring has been theirs along.




FIRST SUPER BOWL
I don't think there's any question that the Bears aren't ready for this. But then, no one is. If the Bears or Colts ever make it back to the Super Bowl, it's a given that--to a man they will say, "Yeah the first time I made it I was a little wide-eyed and got caught up in all the hype. This time it's a business trip and I want to be able to just focus on getting the job done." I just wish the Bears could skip to that step this year. But I don't think it could happen.



WHY ARE THE COLTS FAVORED?
As far as whom the better team is? I don't know. I think it's clear the Bears are a better football team but the Colts have better football players. If that makes any sense. I'm pretty sure that if Manning, Harrison, and Wayne are firing on all cylinders, the Bears have very little chance.

But from a technical standpoint? It's a decent matchup for the Bears. You have the Colts' best unit (world-famous offense) against the Bears' best (sturdy defense). Then you have a sometimes flashy, sometimes inconsistent Bear offense against a statistically weak Colts defense (which is playing better these days). And Adam Vinatieri aside, I think it's been established that the Bears have the edge on special teams.




QUARTERBACKS
The numbers don't lie. One of them has thrown six playoff interceptions in 2006. One has thrown one (in one fewer game, admittedly). Peyton has had one stellar half. But that was the most recent half so that's what people remeber. He destroyed New England in the second half of the AFC Championship. Who's to say what kind of player he will be on Sunday? I really have no idea what to expect out of the guy.

Rex has zero pressure. He's not the one who "can't win the big one." I think he took the pressure off himself by winning the St. Louis game in the regular season, and then again by making the right plays down the stretch in the first two playoff rounds. He made every play he needed to. I'd rather be the guy who used to stink but now may be just good enough, than the best player in the history of the world who better win the big one or else…





BOB SANDERS...
...can't play the pass and the run every play. I think the Nick Harper injury is huge. Even if he does play, he'll need some help from time to time. If they bring Bob up to stop the run, why not pick on Harper? If they keep Bob back to help, what will become of the run defense? I think we've seen that story...




INJURIES ARE PART OF THE GAME,
but I wish Tommie Harris and Mike Brown were healthy. If the Bears had Tommie Harris and Mike Brown (two Pro Bowlers by the way), I really don't think the Colts would have a chance. It affects every aspect of the once mighty Bears defense. What are their two concerns defensively right now? 1) Getting pressure with their front four, and 2) suspect safeties. Enough said. Also, Mike Brown is to the Bears' run defense what Bob Sanders is to the Colts' run defense. Only with more leadership and experience.



DOMINATION OF THE SAINTS
That said, the Bear defense looked as good as ever last time they were on the field. They held the mighty Saints to two scores and forced turnovers like they did in the earlier part of the season. I'm not saying they're going to shut down the Colts, because they won't. But I'd rather be coming off an intimidating and dominating performance like that in the NFC Championship game than the alternative.



KEY PLAYER
Forget Bob Sanders, Peyton Manning, Brian Urlacher, or Devin Hester. Here's my key to the game. Muhsin Muhammad. If he can be a number one receiver just one more time in his career, the Bears will win. If he can bail Rex out and provide something opposite Berrian, the Bears will win. I would love to see that guy step up and play some ball on Sunday. If he plays well, the Bears have a chance.




ANDY DOLAN...
...wrote this yesterday: "Sports Guy ended today's column with this line, 'I haven't run into one person who thinks the Bears can win on Sunday. Not one.' I wasn't aware the Super Bowl winner was decided via caucus."



The funny thing is, I've seen a lot of people picking the Bears. Just not the big names, I guess. I don't believe it's quite as lopsided as people think. I will say this...the people I've heard/read who have picked the Bears (not even counting Chicago people) have delivered articulate, well thought-out corroborations of their arguments. While those picking the Colts have by and large simply spewed the tired AFC-over-the-NFC factor, that Peyton is better than Rex, or the ever-popular "gut feeling."




PREDICTION
I'm still fine-tuning the details, but I might as well get to the prediction. Let me get one thing straight. The Bears can win and probably will win. However, I picked against them last game and it worked. So I'll type the prediction from my head, not the one from my heart. (The one from my head is something like...if the Colts don't get the ball first and march down and score and then Rex throws a pick-six on the very first play from scrimmage making it 0-14, the Bears should win...)

Here goes. I think Hester will go ahead and get his return TD out of the way in the first half, while the Bears defense will hold the Colts to field goals on two out of three promising drives in the first half. The Bears will be up 17-13 at halftime, but the Colts will get the ball to start the second half. When they score on their first possession to take a 20-17 lead, the Bears will be faced with the biggest possession of their lives. If they don't get points out of that drive it will be a tough trail from then on. A three and out would give the Colts the edge they need. Two more TDs and you're looking at a 34-20 final in Super Bowl XLI.

On The Score this week they've been talking about how this matchup is the best the Bears could have hoped for out of the AFC elite teams. And I think I know what they're talking about. I would have taken the Ravens maybe. But with the Colts' suspect run D and shotty special teams coverage, I see what they mean.

It still may not be enough. And if that's the case, it's the best matchup I could have hoped for in terms of grieving a Super Bowl defeat. A loss to the Patriots? Grueling. BUT a loss to the Colts? Well, Manning probably deserves it. Nothing to hate about the Colts. Sure takes some of the sting away. And hopefully that will help me sit back and just enjoy the 60 minute game of American football.

IMAGES OF BEARNESS

Monday, January 29, 2007

IMAGES OF BEARNESS

With the Super Bowl approaching, I felt compelled to compile some of my favorite images from over two decades as a Bears' fan. Admittedly, this list may be recent-heavy, as I had ready access to pictures from the current season.



Three absolute Bear legends. George Halas. Dick Butkus. Gale Sayers. I particularly like the Butkus picture because it is a good image of the Bear Packer rivalry portrayed in an old school fashion.



This uniform set was the gift for my sixth birthday. The box said "Ages 7-12," so I was sad that I had to wait an entire year to start wearing it. Believe me, this was one gift that got every ounce of use imaginable.



I couldn't get enough of the William Perry craze back then.



This was my first Bears' football card ever. I was eating breakfast one Saturday morning in 1987 when Dad told me there was a pack of football cards in the top drawer of his dresser. I didn't finish my Total that particular morning. This card was in that pack.



I just like the colors in this picture. No other major sports team uses the dark dark blue and orange like the Bears do. If you see a Bears' uniform you know it immediately.



And to think that Perry scored but Payton did not in Super Bowl XX.



I couldn't find the picture of Ditka lecturing Harbaugh, but this is a good one as well...



That '85 team seemed so much larger than life in my little brain back then. And I guess they still do to some extent.



I was a young Christian in 1986, but I heard that God answered prayers. So when I went to the store and saw Pete Rose on the cover of Wheaties, I went home and beseeched the Lord that Wheaties might put either Walter Payton or William Perry on the box. I don't remember how much longer it was, but I distinctly remember mom pulling this box out of the grocery bag.



Neal Anderson was my favorite player of the post-85 era. I used to listen every Monday night on WBBM as he and Dave Eanet would host a live radio show. I liked that.



Who didn't love Jim Harbaugh? He beat the Lions at the last second to open the 1992 season and made SI.



My brothers gave me a Cade McNown jersey for my birthday one year.



I like this picture because it encapsulates the magical 2001 season. This is Mike Brown at the end of just one of his unbelievable interception returns. The Bears didn't advance past their first playoff game that year, but 2001 was one of my favorite seasons. The Bears found just about every way imaginable to win that year.



Even though the Bears lost their first round playoff game again in 2005, it was another outstanding season. And even though Devin Hester would match this play with a 108-yarder of his own in 2006, this Nathan Vasher run back against the 49ers last year is still very memorable.



When Lovie Smith took the job he said one of his two main goals was to beat the Packers. Well, in 2005 it happened. Twice. Brett Favre was a mess of a man in his two matchups with Chicago last year. This picture provides a glimpse.



I like the cover of the 2006 media guide because it reminds me of when I first saw it during training camp. The Bears were talking about the Super Bowl like crazy at that time. To be able to look back and see how it all unfolded is good stuff.



The Arizona game was unreal, but this was the key play. Urlacher deciding he needed to strip Edgerrin, and then doing it.



My favorite scene from the regular season: Urlacher shaking his finger at Pennington and the fullback he just leveled during the Jets game.



Likely the most lasting image from 2006: People chasing Devin Hester. The two TD returns in the St. Louis game were unbelievable.



Gould beats the Seahawks.



This catch didn't get nearly the pub it deserved. It was among the best you'll ever see. Key play in the win over New Orleans.



Lovie looking so smooth.



Sic 'em.



She's old!



It happened.




The City has never looked better...




...and here's hoping I'll have to come in and edit in some more celebratory pictures on Sunday night.

The Super Bowl is two weeks, not one game

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

The Super Bowl is two weeks, not one game

I remember when the Fighting Illini were in the NCAA Tournament Championship game against the UNC a couple years ago. After they lost that game, the next day Andy Dolan remarked how he was surprisingly not that bummed out about the loss. After some thought, he figured out why. That was going to be Illinois' last game anyway. They weren't eliminated. They just lost.

And so it is with the Super Bowl. The Bears won't be eliminated from anything if they lose the upcoming Super Bowl. There will be a winner and a loser, but nobody is advancing to anything. It's not "win or go home" anymore. It's "win and/or lose and go home."

And just like that Illini team was so incredibly fun to watch that it would have been a shame for them not to play the absolute maximum, I just kept wanting to see this Bears team play one more time.

And so now they will. One more time.


Do you ever wonder why no one ever talks about winning the Super Bowl? (Sure they mention that Dan Marino never won the big one, Peyton needs a ring, etc.) But by and large you never hear people speak much of "winning the Super Bowl." You hear "get to the Super Bowl" all the time. Because that's the pinnacle. That's the grand stage. That gives you a shot.

I realize the ultimate of any sport is putting on that ring or hoisting the trophy at long last. But it seems that in football more than any other sport…getting there is the goal. The Bears' preseason goal being verbalized over and over and over and over in training camp? Get to the Super Bowl. ("We have a good enough team to get to the Super Bowl." "We expect to be in Miami in early February." "I know that Rex is the guy to get us to the Super Bowl." "Anything short of the Super Bowl would be an extreme disappointment.")

This right here is the ultimate. These two weeks. Think about it. You get the podium and confetti and a huge trophy and big on-field presentation for just getting to the Super Bowl. And then you get two weeks of unadulterated glory.

Sure winning the ring puts you in a very elite group. But really…this is the fun part. If you win the Super Bowl, there is one night of post-game fame. Then what do you have…maybe a parade and then the next week you send a couple guys to the Pro Bowl just like most other teams.

The pressure is in getting there. The pressure is in avoiding the elimination. Now that they're there, I am considerably more relaxed. I don't feel on edge or the sense of desperation for a win (while all the while wanting and expecting one).

OK, so I'm not actually satisfied. When kickoff comes on February 4th, I'm quite sure that I'll be rooting insanely for the Bears to win that stupid thing. But more because it's a Chicago Bear football game on TV than anything else. That's who I am. In regards to it being the Super Bowl, it's almost that I want them not to lose more than I want them to win. I don't want to be the guy whose team lost the Super Bowl. I don't want them to have to live with that demon into next year. And yes, I want them to be the World Champs. Of course I do.


I discussed the following with a friend the other day. Are the Colts or the Bears a better football team? Obviously the Colts' program has had more long term success in recent years, but it's hard to know who has been better this season. The Colts won their games by an uncharacteristically close margin for the most part. But the Bears had an easier schedule. The Colts lost four of six down the stretch, but the Bears were in an unspeakably wretched division. The Colts were 12-4. The Bears 13-3. The Colts scored 427 points this season. The Bears scored 427 points this season (both tied for second in the NFL). The Colts allowed 360 points (23rd in the league). The Bears allowed 255 (third). But that still doesn't tell us much.

The ESPN weekly power rankings are little more than three or four so-called experts submitting a list and then averaging the outcome. Still, it can't be that much less reliable than the NCAA basketball polls that are so crucial to some folks. So I decided to average out the season's worth of power rankings for each of the teams (starting after week one action).

The Colts had the best mark in the NFL on the year with an average weekly ranking of 2.4 (including five weeks in the number one slot). The Bears were a close second with a 3.2 mean (also with five weeks at the top). See what I mean about a sense of satisfaction that the year's two best teams made it to the biggest stage?!?! (See my previous blog). It just feels a lot better this way. No one backed in. No one made a late run. No Wild Card teams. Just the NFL's best reaching the pinnacle.

Now these numbers serve only to provide a glimpse at the average perception of these two teams this year. But it does speak to consistency and national respect, I suppose. For what it's worth, the other solid teams this year came in this way: Chargers (4.2), Ravens (5.4), Patriots (5.9), and Saints (at a whopping 10.0). Furthermore, the Bears and Colts spent six different weeks in some combination of number one and two.

And they will finish one and two. Literally.


After the Bears suffered their first loss to the Dolphins, the luster of a would-be undefeated season was gone and the national talking heads seemed to lose interest. In fact, they were absolutely desperate for a different NFC powerhouse to emerge. They were so anxious for this to happen, in fact, that they began fabricating new teams to be the class of the conference.

First it was the Cowboys. Then the Cowboys fell miserably flat on their face. Then it was the Saints. But the Saints limped into the playoffs having lost two of three. So it had to be the Eagles, right? The Eagles couldn't even get out of the first round! And who's left standing? So much for all the wishings of the Sean Salisburys and Mark Schlereths. The Bears were the dominant team wire to wire. Like it or not.

It has been a magical season for the Chicago Bears. Like I mentioned, it started with (literally) everyone in the organization talking Super Bowl in August in Bourbonnais. Then they won at Green Bay 26-0 on opening day. After that, the 13 wins seemed to pile up somewhat effortlessly. They never truly relinquished their stranglehold on the conference. They said to expect a Super Bowl, and then they went out and exhibited consistency. Maybe that's why I was neither surprised nor overly elated when they blew out the Saints on Sunday (even though I picked the Saints to win…go figure.)

And speaking of which…what better way to get to the Super Bowl than a blowout? Sure the Saints were within two points in the third quarter. But 39-14??? Really?? That wasn't possible. Not only did the experts say the Bears couldn't win the game, they said they wouldn't be able to stop the Saints offense. They held them to 14 points (New Orleans had only scored 14 or fewer once all year long). Furthermore, they wouldn't be able to stop the fun. Deuce McAllister churned out a whopping 18 yards on the ground, while Reggie Bush dwarfed that with his 19.

And then to put up 39 on that defense? Even though the Bears got some takeaways, their defense only actually scored the two points on the safety. The Bear offense did the rest. New Orleans hadn't given up that many points all season long! On the other hand, that makes eight 30-plus point games for the Bears this year.

Something I heard on the radio today really intrigued me. What about the Bears' regular season made anybody think they couldn't hang in with the league's elite (NFC or AFC for that matter)? If anyone put any stock in that week 17 Packer loss, that was entirely foolish. I think the telling point was the three game road trip (Giants, Jets, Patriots) in November.

That stretch was supposed to show us what the Bears were made of to begin with. They started by blowing out the Giants. Then in one of my favorite games of the year, they gutted out a 10-0 road win over the Jets. The Jets proved to be one of the finer AFC teams in the long run. That game was indicative of a team who just knows how to win.

And so it was back east one more time the following week. The dreaded trip to Gillette. And yes the Bears lost, but again—what about that game told us they couldn't hang with the AFC's elite??? It took a Tom Brady fluke juke on a running play late in the game to keep the Bears from a legitimate shot at victory. In the end theylost by four, but that was a real football game. Two great teams battling it out. Two good defenses making plays and forcing turnovers. As Jimmy Johnson said in the postgame, "When you have two defenses like that, those aren't turnovers, those are takeaways." And I think he had a good point for once. That was one of three losses this season, but I kind of look at that as the Bears' statement game in a way.

So the fact that they handled the NFC's 11-5 Saints with relative ease down the stretch on Sunday shouldn't have been that big of a surprise I guess. Still, it sure seems like a good way to be headed to the Super Bowl—firing on all cylinders. At least that's what it looked like.


I know the Bears wanted another shot at the Patriots. At least some of them (Lovie certainly wasn't rooting for that to be sure). And it would have been interesting to get a rematch of 1986. History would have been on our side if nothing else. But a Bear/Colt Super Bowl is the best matchup in years. Hopefully that will translate into good ratings. And it would be nice if it could go down as one of the most memorable Super Bowls ever somehow.

While listening to The Score today, I heard Terry Boers discuss the upcoming showdown. He talked about how it would be a lot easier to develop and nurture hatred if it was the Patriots. It wouldn't take long to summon up some grandiose dislike for Bill Belichek. But the Colts? What's to hate? Said Boers, "I absolutely adore Tony Dungy..." Kind of weird. Then he said something that put into words what I truly feel deep down" "If the worst thing that happens is you go to Miami and lose the championship to Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, I think that would almost be OK."

And that brings me to my original point. Peyton will likely need that ring someday to validate his career (according to some). And he may never get this close again. But I'm not hoping he gets it this time, that's for sure.

But what the heck… This is what it's all about. Two weeks of marinating in Super Bowl glory. The coverage. The outrageously-priced merchandise. The media day. The attention on the late night talk shows. The fluff pieces. The stories behind the stories. All the stuff you hate if your team's not involved. The winner? They get one night to bask. (And oh yeah, a place in history). But this is the last game either way. It's just a good old football game with my favorite team. No pressure. Go out, play well, and either win or lose. But enjoy the stage for everything it's worth. I know I will.

THE BEARS ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE

Sunday, January 21, 2007

THE BEARS ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE

26-0
34-7
37-6
40-7
41-10
38-20
42-27
39-14

Those are scores from eight different Bears' wins from this season. Eight out of the now 15! The Bears have won 15 games this year. And lost three. And they'll probably be viewed as underdogs in February 4th's Super Bowl. And I'm fine with that. They've certainly handled the doubting well so far.

The Bears have had one dominant season. They jumped out to the fast start, and so the initial national media talk was about their chances of an undefeated season. Really? No, that wasn't going to happen. But it gives them something to talk about. Then the Bears were the first to clinch a playoff spot, first to win their division, first to clinch home field...so on and so forth. But somewhere along the line the Bears went from being regarded as the league powerhouse to everyone's favorite team to rip on.

I've heard different people refer to the "lull" that the Bears ran into there for awhile. When was that?! Seriously. They dominated their schedule from week one. So when was the rough patch? Was it when the Dolphins caught the Bears sleepwalking through their week 9 game to interrupt their would-be perfect season? Was it three weeks later when the Bears were finishing a grueling three game east coast road stretch at New England? And they had a chance to steal that win deep into the fourth quarter? Was that the mis-step? Or was it the completely meaningless New Year's Eve game against Green Bay that the Packers had won by halftime so the Bears rested their starters?

See there were no losing streaks this year. Not even in preseason (they lost one, won one, lost one, and won one in that order). Sure they benefited from a little luck in the regular season Arizona win, but still they have rebounded from every single loss with a win. And usually another.

A rough patch would be like when the Patriots lost two crucial games in a row in November (Colts and Jets), or when the Colts lost four of six (including two in a row in the division), or like the Saints finishing the season by losing two of three. But the Bears? Not really. The Bears were just going through their schedule and clinching milestones along the way.

So to recap, they started quickly, lost a couple three times, had some crucial injuries, won a couple lucky games, won some more games, made the playoffs, clinched home field advantage, and now...made the Super Bowl. Good defense. Good special teams. Two good running backs. And a complimentary (sometimes flashy) passing game. Wire to wire. The best team in the NFC and one of the top teams in the NFL. Start to finish. The Bears are who we thought they were.

Rex Grossman's biggest problem was not Rex Grossman. It was Phillip Rivers and Tony Romo. If those two hadn't been overachieving as first time starters, people would have likely cut Rex a lot more slack. But because Rivers and Romo were playing unreasonably well, Rex suddenly was stripped of the excuse of being young. This was Rex' first full year as a starter. That's all you need to know. He played well, poorly and in between. And won. Because the Bears surrounded him with the right people.

And that reminds me, he did have some games were he was "just OK." (See Sunday's game v. New Orleans.) How many times did you hear the ESPNers say, "HAHAHAHA...all the Bears needs is some mediocrity from Rex Grossman!!!! He's either really good or really bad!!! There's just no in between!!!" Then they would spout off the stat of seven games with a QB rating of over 100, and then the five of below 37. "There's just no in between!!!" they would again proclaim. Let's see...seven plus five equals twelve. Last I checked the Bears have played 18 games, no? So needless to say, Rex has been "good enough" several times as well. I don't know what more you could ask out of the guy lately. If you throw out the weightless Green Bay game, he has only thrown one interception since week 13 (and that was the one that Muhammad dropped last week). That's outstanding work under pressure. And those seven games with a rating of over 100? That's second in the NFL this year.

Tommie Harris and Mike Brown. Sure there are other injuries, but those two guys were so huge on defense back when the Bears were dominant on that side of the ball early this season. And now they're gone. So you just replace them??? Well, the Bears have done well enough, I suppose. It would be frightening to see how well they'd be playing if they had Harris' pass rush and Brown at safety to help with the run defense and deep pass coverage. See there is a reason why certain guys start. Because they're better. And they provide identity to a particular unit. Just like Bob Sanders. It's no coincidence that the Colts can all of a sudden stop the run.

The funny thing to me is...when Mike Brown got hurt in the Arizona game, I heard someone on TV say, "well that's a big loss to the Bear defense, blah blah blah...a couple years ago when Brown went down it became a lot easier to run the ball on the Bears, blah blah blah..." And I thought, "You know, he's exactly right. I remember the defense looked average after that." Mike Brown is a huge part of this defensive identity. Not only is he the veteran leader, but he's the most versatile guy in the secondary. So slowly but surely the Bears' defense became more leaky. And shockingly all of the pundits seemed beside themselves as to the reason why. Duh. But inexplicably you didn't hear much if anything about the loss of Mike Brown.

And Tommie Harris. Lovie Smith said that the loss of Tommie Harris made the Bear defense go from special to normal ("just like everybody else"). Turns out, the Bears couldn't generate any kind of consistent pass rush without him. And they became much more vulnerable up the middle. But you play on.

And you keep winning. And you still blow a couple more people out. And you're still the underdogs. But now you made the Super Bowl.

I feel better about it going down this way. Every year after the Bears are out of it I root for the two best representatives from each conference to make it to the Super Bowl. I want history to be able to look back on a given year and remember what a good year the two Super Bowl teams had in that particular campaign. That's why I hate it when a team like the 2005 Steelers absolutely backs their way into the Super Bowl by stringing together some wins at the end of the year.

So the fact that the Bears were--talking Super Bowl from day one of Training Camp, began the year on fire, blew people out, won the NFC in the regular season, and now are rewarded with a trip to Miami... it just feels right that way. Nothing cheap about it. Easy division? Sure? Easy schedule? No question. But the Bears dominated their schedule. And they beat the Saints by 25 points. It's been a superb year any way you cut it.

Now we get to see them play for the big ring to put a lid on a dream season two weeks from today. And so win or lose, the Bears are indeed who we thought they were.

Colt Bear Ramblings

Monday, January 15, 2007

Colt Bear Ramblings

Tom Brady is tired. That's not a good story any more. Peyton Manning is always a good story. The NFL has been ready for him to get a ring for a long time now. I mean the NFL community as a whole. Maybe not the league officials. But I would think even they would want their unofficial spokesman to be known as a winner at some point. I think it's time for the Colts to win the Super Bowl. Or at least get there.

I have never been a conspiracy theorist. I like sport for sport sake and I want to believe everyone else does too. But I'm not dumb. I realize that people can't get enough of the New Orleans Saints story. I think "they" would be more than happy to be force-fed that piece all this week...and then eat it up for two more before the Super Bowl as well. Throw on top of that the Peyton/Archie Manning-New Orleans connection, and you have a storyline worth its weight in gold. The Colts are at home. They will beat the Patriots. The Bears are also at home. But I think they're supposed to lose to the Saints. I feel that's the way the script has been written.

And besides, I have been absolutely dreading a Colts/Bears Super Bowl--as intriguing as it would be. It's always been kind of one of those pipe dreams I guess. My two favorite teams. But now that it's two collective wins away from happening, I am apprehensive. I have too many Colts fans too close (sister, Dad, Megan, roommate, etc) to be at all comfortable with two weeks of buildup and then a football game featuring those two. But I can't root against the Colts at this point. Especially versus the Patriots.

But if it does come down to a Colts/Bears Super Bowl, I need to watch it by myself. Or with another Bears fan. Somewhere. I have to get away. I should.

I guess it seems lightly unfair for Indianapolis fans--they're almost-success of the past few years. The Colts deserve a Super Bowl win somewhere along the way. I was only six when the Bears last won, but at least I remember it. Fairly well, actually. But I also lived in Indy long enough to gain respect for Manning and go to a few games and cheer and whatnot. So some part of me realizes a Super Bowl win would be nice for the Colts. But the Bears are the Bears. I've been a fan ever since I got that Hutch full uniform complete with shoulder pads and chin strap.

I don't know who's window of opportunity is smaller. Manning is still in his prime, and the Colts have seemed to lose a couple pieces here and there and still keep their identity. A few years ago you could have bet that a Colt Super Bowl would have included Edgerrin and Marcus Pollard. Not the case. On the other hand, the Bear defense is still relatively young, and their quarterback is essentially a rookie. But they could go either way so quickly. I feel that...even though the Bears have only recently joined the party of elite teams, their window may be smaller. Lance Briggs may be on his way out. Muhsin is getting old to be sure. Mike Brown is about to break. For good. And Urlacher can't be that dominant forever. I think the Colts' system has more staying power.

For awhile I was hoping that the Colts would hurry up and win their Super Bowl before the Bears got good again (same with the Pacers and Bulls, actually). Neither happened. The Bears are good again, and I feel somewhat badly that the Colts didn't get it yet. But that doesn't change my level of Bear-rooting come gameday, that's for sure.

But as I mentioned before, I don't believe the Bears will get to the Super Bowl. And it may be because Grossman throws three picks and loses two fumbles. It may be because McCallister runs for 137 yards and Bush for another 74. That's all possible. But I wouldn't be surprised to see the Saints somehow make it to the Super Bowl to complete the Colts/Saints/Peyton/Archie/Katrina magical puzzle. I'm not saying, I'm just saying... That would be a couple darn good story line to milk for two weeks.

And so my predictions...

Colts 24 Patriots 23 (AV at the horn)

Saints 28 Bears 17

And if that's the case, I'll be rooting for the Colts with abandon come February 4th. No doubt about that.

WHERE DID THE YEARS GO, WACO?

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

WHERE DID THE YEARS GO, WACO?

As the door begins to slowly but profoundly close on my Texas tenure, I'm primarily left with thoughts of inquiry. And that's not how I drew it up in the beginning. I decided for a long time that I was able to finally know why I moved to Texas... But alas now I only hope it will be clear some time on down the road.

It hasn't all been good, hasn't all been bad. Here are some things I found during my stay in Waco. (Some not having directly to do with Texas.)

I love Baylor baseball, Blue Bell Cantaloupe and Cream, free gameplay in the video game lab. I have great dislike for Casablanca's laundry room, dirty hat, belt buckle, and my research assistantship. I like First Alert 25 pre-spoken word era, hate First Alert 25 post-spoken word era. I love the early Texas Spring. Hate the non-arriving Texas Autumn. I love Bush's sweet tea, cheap rent, and the a sunset at the Baylor tennis center. I don't care for the Whataburger in the fast food jungle, the ne'er do wells on 11th St, or the service at the post office. I love driving to Dallas in the middle of the night with the windows down and the music on. I detest the stretch of I-35 between Ardmore and Oklahoma City.

And it got worse every time I drove it.

I hated going four years with no drums or ping-pong at my disposal. The two talents I had, have been on rot for too long. I love going to get some Brunswick Stew on a would-be chili Fall evening. I liked going to Kohls and buying nothing after a random Baylor volleyball game. I enjoyed thinking I was starting to make some semblance of sense out of my life. Hated getting the entire rug pulled out from underneath me.

I hate the tile on the walls of the Castelaw building. I love the walk from the parking garage to the Castelaw building though.

I hated working for Baylor Dining Services, but loved getting paid for driving around campus on a gator.

My Waco days were easily the best and worst of my life. I lived the hardest and hurt the worst. I went for the home run for the first time in my life only to end up being called out on strikes. I called a long pass play and ended up getting sacked for a loss. And lost the ball on downs. And got cut from the team. I loved more than I ever had, and hated for the first time in my life. I drove way too many miles in the Texas summers in my car with no air conditioner.

I thought "Live Like You Were Dying" was the most hokey song I've ever heard. I thought "Live Like You Were Dying" was extremely profound. I got way better at guitar, way worse at drums (as previously mentioned). I'll miss calling Derek "John" once per broadcast on the China Spring games.

In my first months as a Waco resident, I wrote a sarcastic song called "Wish I Was In Waco." At the time, NOT being in Waco seemed so far away. I don't know if I'll ever wish I was in Waco again or not.

Hope to see you down the road.