I've been a Bears fan for many years. I've seen Dick Butkus play, Doug Buffone, some great Bear defenders. Of course, the '85 Bears defense was the best defense I've ever seen period. They were like a steamroller, destroying everything in their path. You want to run the ball. The runner would be swallowed up in a maelstrom of tacklers, practically frothing at the mouth. Names like Singletary, Otis Wilson, Dan Hampton come to mind. All were great players. If you were a quarterback, witness Tony Eason in the Super Bowl XX, they went back to pass and it was over. The QB would either throw an incompletion, interception, or get the ball tipped out of bounds or out of play. The pressure a quarterback faced by the '85 Bears was relentless and pounding. In essance, the Bears Defense, became an offense.

Continue reading "Giants Defense Reminds Me of '85 Bears"

I've been to about 50 or 60 Bears games and one that really sticks out is when Gayle Sayers scored 6 TD's in one game. It was back in Dec of 1965. I was a teenager then. Just excited to see the Bears. It was a drizzly, wintry day in Chicago and the Bears were playing the '49ers. Sayers scored on kickoffs, runs, I think a punt return. It seemed whenever he touched the ball, he was a threat to score that year. Kind of like DHester is with the Bears now. By the time he scored his 4th TD, people were flabbergasted. I think Coach Halas took him out with about 3 minutes to go in the game, and people were chanting for a 7th TD, but Halas was afraid that he'd get hurt. The field was wet and conditions were tough to run, but Sayers wasn't affected. I remember him breaking tackles and darting into t

Continue reading "Greatest Performance I've Ever Seen"

What a mess. Roger Clemens was a legend of a pitcher before this steroid mess came down.  He was a pitcher who fought through the supposed "aches and pains" of pitching, to win 354 games. A hands down potential "Hall of Fame" candidate. Now, with murky revelations of "he used this substance" and his denials of using it, the truth is simply not known. If you used anything, just tell us Rogers, we can take it. The problem is, can you?

It seems all of your efforts to "protect" your reputation to date, have not been very successful. That includes, a "60 minutes" interview, and televised congressional hearings, in which you were sworn in. People are left asking, "Is he believable?"  What would be so more courageous, and be more in sync with the pitcher who sucked it up and pitched so tough for so long, would be to tell the truth.  If he used, tell us. If he didn't, tell us that.

Continue reading "Rogers Clemens: Can He Rebuild His Rep?"

The NBA all-star game is coming up this weekend. And, one of the most notable things about this game, is what happens after it. Shaq is supposed to play for Phoenix in the first regular season game after the All-star game. It's a time when you hear what teams are ready to make a 2nd half run, and what teams have helped themselves before the trading deadline. The Nets are tying to trade Jason Kidd, for half the Dallas team and $3million bucks. Shawn Marion looks like he can help out in Miami. If the Heat get a 3rd player who can play, they will not be cellar dwellers for long.

But it's a good time to see how great Kobe Bryant is, and the same for Carmelo Anthony, or Allen Iverson. Watch Steve Nash pass the ball, Chris Paul, look in command, for someone so young. David West of New Orleans can play. This game should be an affirmation of that. The Western Conference is loaded with talent. The East is good, but they will have their hands full. 

Continue reading "NBA All-Star Game: It's Worth a Watch"

I've seen my share of Cubs games. One game that stands out is one that I didn't see to its historical conclusion, and there's another game, years later, where I celebrated by jumping out of the left-field bleacher seats.

I must have been 8 or 9 years old and it was the second game of a Cubs-Cards doubleheader. The Cubs and Cards were a rivalry, but the stakes weren't too high. Cubs teams weren't very good back then. Don Cardwell started the second game for the Cubs. And, he was pitching great. I don't remember what inning I left. I went to the game with a friend of my Dad's, and I was getting fidgety, sitting in a seat all day. So, I think halfway through the game, we left. The Cubs were winning, and I remember the left fielder for the hometeam made a nice grab to keep the no-hitter going, although I don't think I realized it was a no-hitter.

Continue reading "Missed a Cubs' no-hitter, saw a Cubs' no-hitter"

The Chicago Bulls got younger, quicker, and have more offensive punch with this trade. Ben Wallace was a great rebounder, capable of changing the complexion of a game, but his days were coming to a slow end. Joe Smith was a decent guy coming off the bench, but he will be a quick afterthought. The Bulls need a exclamatory now and they seem to have gotten one with this trade. Larry Hughes can score, and the Bulls need someone who can score. Luol Deng is really talented, but he has had an injury prone season. Drew Gooden can provide good minutes and can fit into the Bulls offense, whatever that is.

After more than half a season, maybe there is hope at the United Center. Congrats John Paxson for pulling off this deal. Due the weak Eastern Conference, perhaps the Bulls can even make the playoffs. There could be some excitement in Chi-town, this spring, quite a change from this heretofore disappointing season.

Continue reading "Bulls' Trade Is a Big Plus"

The Chicago Bears signed Rex Grossman to a one-year deal. He will compete for the starting QB job next season. Given the reality of pro-football, this was the right choice for the Bears to make. They get a player who they know, and this is a big if, if he improves, The Bears will have a good chance to be a wild-card contender. The Bears need to improve at multiple-positions, and by signing Grossman, they have a chance at improving.

You can look at what he's done, like throw 31 TD passes and 33 interceptions. That's a lot of int's...and that needs to be cut down. But they Bears need a player who can throw the ball and Grossman has a good arm. The Bears miss Thomas Jones, the veteran running back who went to the Jets.  The Bears had a reliable ground game with him ---and they need to find a running back. Well, finding a good running back is easier than it is a good QB.

Continue reading "A Good Rex is better than No Rex"

It's tough being a Chicago Cubs fan. It's the beginning of spring training and I don't really want to follow the team yet. I am afraid that someone is going to get hurt and be out 2 months.  It doesn't matter who hits for the Cubs. The Cubs can hit. It matters who pitches for the team. The Cubs have won many a game out-hitting another team at home. But that means, they gave up a lot of runs. And, when it gets to August, you need pitching. And, you need good pitching and healthy pitchers in September.  If the Cubs can contend this season, I'll be very happy. But let's see what happens in August. You have to have 2-3 guys who can win 13-18 games. And have one stud who flirts with 20 wins. And, a reliever who doesn't blow saves. Unfortunately, for a Cubs fan. That's asking a heck of a lot.

Continue reading "It's Tough Being a Chicago Cubs fan."