Go Broncos!

Mke - I'm not so worried about the Ice Age, and Iran with a Nuke is pretty bad, but I do agree that if they stop brewing Miller LIte, that would be a really bad thing. Ha! Ha!

Ed - I was speechless after the Bama loss to Auburn. But that Bowl game Bama was in. They didn't want to be there and they just seem to quit after the first quarter. Speaking of football. You know better than most about how it goes here in Texas The championships just finished up before X-Mas. The 4A Championship drew 38,000 + fans and the 5A game drew 54,000 + fans. Pretty good crowd for a High School game.

Suzi, Jack, and other Bear fans. Management lost their minds. Three more years for sure of an Ego-Maniac, whinning, jerk-off Jay Cutler. In 5 years he is 44-36, which is 55% winning record. He has been in two playoff games and is 1-1. Now he is the highest paid player in the NFL. Give me a break. They should have offered Mccowan a 3 year, $9 million contract and drafted a QB, along with some defensive help. It just makes me sick.

Linda - How is that AAA Team with the goofy name coming along?

Ya'll stay warm up there in that Midwest!! Predicting the 70's here by Saturday.

01/08/14 06:15 PM

#4206

Before I answer you on Cutler, Rod, I want to give you a little test. Try to figure out who these geezers are without looking at the name tag. Best Bears analysts in the business.

01/08/14 06:31 PM

#4207

Then, there are people in orange who have moved on to Illini basketball. Mark Lyon, Mary Giermann's son, and his fiance Suvannah Bernal, flew all the way up here from Texas to watch Illinois play. I ran into them again a couple of weeks ago in the same posh hotel in Chicago's financial district. They bought me the same great pancakes which fattened me up sufficiently to be able to withstand the bone jarring cold which was about to come.

I might add that Suvannah, Texas born and bred, is a Green Bay Packer fan for no logical reason....about as logical as thinking The Bears would drop Cutler.

01/08/14 08:36 PM

#4208

Ed, I'm not leaving this paradise. Tried to last year, but they drug me back.

High taxes, bad weather, corn, insurance, pot holes, corrupt govrnment, Asian carp, fat bottemed girls, Cubs, and Bears. We've got it all! (We can carry guns now. Maybe that will weed out a few do-good liberals.) BTW, I can marry my boyfriend! Life is good. I wanted to marry myself, but I can't stand me.

01/08/14 09:48 PM

#4209

Ed Stanfield

Mike,

That just may be the perfect response to a post

01/09/14 08:56 AM

#4210

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Hi Rod:

64 degrees here today! I am ready for the warmth but it will dip a little tomorrow. Hope you're warm in East Texas.

As for the baseball team and the new field..........I avoid them like pollution! Yuk!

But......the media is busy trying to sell the concept. The newest thing I heard was that it is a good name because a Chihuahua is a tough, mean dog!

Good grief!

Back to my life! I have to run now.

Have a wonderful day.......y'all!

Linda

01/09/14 09:56 AM

#4211

David Long

Mike,

I'm one of the guys that didn't get drafted. Dropped out of IWU to join the USMC. Then after basic and AIT, turned down orders to Marine Barracks in DC and requested Nam. When I got to Nam, because I had 2 years of college, they wanted to make me the company clerk for the battalion. I really didn't want to do that and requested a field assignment, so at that point they let me pick what I wanted to do, and I chose to be a forward observer and every once in a while when we were short of guys and because I was small enough, I'd head below ground when we found tunnel entrances in our area of operations. While I tried to extend for a 3rd tour, I was reassigned back to the US as an instructor for weekend warriors and Honor Guard for fallen Marines, attending all the funerals in central Ohio from May '69 through April '70 when I got out.

You know the old Chinese curse? May you live in interesting times! '66 - '69 were certainly interesting times.

Semper Fi,

Dave

01/09/14 11:51 AM

#4212

Well David, strange the way things play out. Back in high school, I couldn't have found Vietnam on a map. Now it's forever engraved in my memory. Glad we survived. Salute, to the fallen! Never forget.

01/10/14 07:55 AM

#4213

You know, those little bug-eyed Chihuahua's are mean. When I was a youngster, the neighbor had one. The damn thing bit me, for no apparent reason. Needless to say, I've loved them ever since.

01/10/14 09:47 AM

#4214

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Mike:

I'm sure many people enjoy a Chihuahua as a pet. (I'm not one of them) I think they are ugly, yappy, little beasts!

There is no way I am going to concede that their breed should be the name of a team! Yuk!

I know an older lady who keeps her's in a child's play pen when anyone comes to her house.....so the critter won't bite anyone!

For myself, I no longer keep a dog. If anything eats or poooooos in my house, it better be a grandchild!

Have a lovely day.

Linda

01/10/14 03:28 PM

#4215

Jack - I don't like Cutler as a QB or as a person. Cutler says he is happy being a Bear. I'd be happy too if the last 5 years I produced almost nothing, and now I'm getting 54 million dollars for the next 3 years. Jay is all about Jay. Ask the Devner Broncos about Jay. Now in defense of Cutler. Unfortunately, almost alll Pro Athletes in Team Sports aren't about Championships and the team itself. They are about $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Owners turned Pro Sports into a business and the players bargain accordingly. As far as those old geezer analysts. They are x-players that love the Bears and are too blind to admit to the truth. Anybody can analyze. The real measure of success comes at the GM level, scouting and coaching. I'll tell you this Jack. In this off season, if the Bears don't fix that defense, they will most likely finish 3rd. next year in the Central.

I've watched the Illini play basketball 4 or 5 times on TV down here. They are young, but look really good at times. They will most likely have a rough time getting a bid to the play-offs. Only because the Big 10 seems to be a really strong conference this year. Now if they can just keep the young crop of guys there for a year or two. You know how it is. These guys think one year in college and on to the NBA.

Linda - Spring is on its way. 70 here by Sat.. 64 today. Chihuahua's aren't pets. They are mutant rats that think they are Pit Bulls and never shut up or stop shaken.

Gotta go, but I have a story of my youth and several people in our class, and neighborhood that should remember.

01/11/14 10:32 AM

#4216

Rod,

The two geezers are two Bears greats Doug Buffone and Ed O’Bradovich, not that much older than us. A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of listening and interacting with them in an uncensored session about the Bears, past and present. The Butkus stories were hilarious.

Nobody likes the Bears better than these two guys, and nobody is more critical.

Over the last 10 years, the game has gone to offense, while the Bears were playing defense. As OB pointed out, teams like Green Bay and New England had mediocre at best defenses as they won the Super Bowl.

Trying to get with the program, they brought in Cutler, but didn’t know what to do with him. “They brought in a Rolls Royce with four flat tires (meaning supporting cast)”, said OB. Cutler was getting killed out there. To top off the lack of offensive talent, they had lousy offensive coordinators. “Mike Tice is a nice guy, but he’s stupid” said OB. “The other guy (Martz) thought it was a circus out there”, said Doug, “and we won’t even talk about the guys before him.”

About three weeks ago, OB got on a step-ladder to change a smoke alarm, fell off and hit his head on a chair. Doc told him another inch and he would have been dead. He was off his radio show for two weeks or more. “Nobody over 50 should get on a ladder” he was told. That’s something, besides Cutler, that I’ve been thinking about every time I get on a ladder.

Anyway, I’ll get into why they signed Cutler later.

01/11/14 08:18 PM

#4217

Gosh, I'm getting old. I remember when these guys played! I remember watching the '63 championship game, played at Wrigley Field, (on black and white TV). It was a game that the Bears pulled out, with defense. Little did we know, that it would be 22 years, before another championship. As I recall, Billy Wade was the QB, and Halas was 100 years old! Damn sad that '63 and '85, are all that Bear fans have had to cheer about for 50 years.

01/11/14 11:09 PM

#4218

Mike, what's even more sad is what happens to some of these guys after their playing days. Your Billy Wade has been blind for years, and developed dementia....so he's been slumped over in a wheelchair in a home for a number of years without a clue as to where he is. Revey Sorey (used to spring W. Payton) has major health issues, and former Bears QB "Slo Mo" Bob Avellini has major non-health problems.

You probably know about Jim McMahon and the onset of dementia, and I wouldn't be surprised if Cutler develops some problems later, the way he got banged around without a line to protect him. Money and fame aren't always what they seem.

01/12/14 06:42 PM

#4219

David Long

Linda,

my 1st step-mother had a chihuahua. Nice (but yappy) little girl to those she liked, but after that experience, my current 'little' girl is a 62 pound labradoodle - she was the runt of litter. Never again with a chihuahua

01/13/14 08:16 AM

#4220

Chihuahua's. That's why they sell 5.56 mm FMJ

Thanks for the feed back on the old Bears, Jack. I googled Avellini. He's still around. He does some things for the community, but he does seem to have a drink/drive problem. I found a list of old QB's that were Bears. Not impressive. If a person were to look at an old Bears/Cubs roster, that would explain why they are both perennial losers. Some one once asked, "What's wrong with Chicago sports?" The answer is, "What's wrong with Chicago sports fans?"

Time to raise ticket prices.

01/13/14 11:04 PM

#4221

Terry (Max) Maxwell

I see that the Cubs have a new mascot named Clark... if his last name isn't Kent, I don't think he will do them much good!

01/14/14 10:02 AM

#4222

I would't be surprised if Clark soon finds a new friend, associate or relative named Addison (get it? Clark and Addison). Maybe Addison can help out the hapless Cubs.

Mike, Avellini caught 6 DUI arrests in the last decade or so, but got convicted on only 3. Trouble is, a few days after his third conviction last Fall, he was picked up near his residence in Roselle....again blitzed, but this time without a license, insurance etc.....with the new laws he's in deep doodoo, no driving maybe for life, and prison time. Bad for work. To top it off, he's been in real estate and got caught up in the crash of 2008, so he lost his investments (bank wouldn't take his big building back) and went BK. I kind of feel for the guy.

And Rod, I was trying to find a short easy way to explain why the Bears signed Cutler. There is none......but believe it, GM Emery, coach Trestman, Cutler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall are practically joined at the hip career wise. Emery came in, fixed the offense and we have a receiving corps that is the envy of the league. Cutler had his best year ever this past season. Cutler had absolutely no protection the four prior years, and some hare-braned offensive coordinators. First thing Emery had to do was fix that. He knew the aging defense was cracking, but hoped to hold it together with a band aid while the offense got fixed....then you had the key injuries. Of course the defense is a priority next year.

A lot of people don't like Cutler, and I've been in that camp now and then, but to drop him now when things are working, when he buys into Trestman and Trestman buys into him, would have been a bad business decision, which wasn't going to happen.

01/14/14 11:29 AM

#4223

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

"Addison". Very good!

Waveland or Sheffield, just doesn't chime. There is a pretty cool fire station on Waveland Ave. Great view from the bleachers, (when the Cubs are getting pounded). I DO like to go to Wrigley, and I love the atmosphere on a summer afternoon. Haven't gotten to sing "Go Cubs Go!" in a long time. Bummer.

01/16/14 05:18 PM

#4224

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Mary:

Enjoyed seeing photo of you with your son!

Love ya, Linda

01/20/14 10:03 AM

#4225

Go Broncos!

01/27/14 12:01 PM

#4226

Mike - If those guys make you feel old, think how I feel. I remember watching guys like Harlon Hill, Ed Brown, George Blanda, Bill George J.C. Caroline, Willie Galimore, Joe Fortunato, Richie Betibone, and many more who played in the 50's.Since my Dad was in the appliance business, I was extremely lucky to have TV at a very early age. Here is how much love for the Bears there was in my family. When B/N couldn't pull the Bear game in our area, we would drive to my cousins house in Pontiac. The Chicago stations came on just that far down. Now, even though I loved all the greats, and there have been many, one of my favorite guys was kind of overshadowed. That would be Doug Plank. I got to meet him on time at a charity basketball game. What a guy and what an athlete.

Max - Of all the choices for a Mascot, and management comes up with CLARK. What a joke. When the Bears are losing, this guy will take a beating.

Helen - I was hoping the 49'ers would go all the way in honor of our friend and classmate Jerry Plummer. Now that they are out, on controversial call, I have to go wirh Manning and the Bronco's. It would love to see an old guy, who everyone said was banged up too much, take the big prize. Good Luck.

Jack - As much as I agree with what you said about the asst. coaches, I think you got carried away with thinking that Cutler is a Rolls Royce. I hope I'm wrong, but I still think he is just a real good running Ford with low mileage, that the Bears way over paid for. Oh, and they still need to fix that defense. If you don't think so, just ask the Cowboys how important a good defense can help.

For my youth story that some can relate to. Myself and many many others used to ice skate at Lakeside. Many of our classmates came there and have some fond memories. Living just a block from there, I spent many hours there. I really loved skating and continued skating after H/S. If I do say so, I got very good. Since those early years, I've been on the ice maybe a half dozen times. Two weeks ago, I took my oldest Grandson top the rink. He likes to skate. Well, I just jumped right out there and took off. A mistake. I found out pretty quick that old father time had moved in. Falliing isn't the same feeling as it used to be either. Suddenly I saw this kid about maybe 11. He was short. He could fly, weave, jump, crossover, and was so smooth. I had a flashback of myself. So now, I'm going to get back on the ice much more often. We have a rink about 5 minutes from the house. Maybe I'll get myself laid up with a broken something, Ha! Ha!

Y'all stay warm up north now, ya hear.

01/27/14 02:18 PM

#4227

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Rod... Clark is with the Cubs, not the Bears... but I'm sure you meant that.

And yes Rod, it is cold 'up nort' for sure. I asked myself today... "Why would I live in Wisconsin?" Well... it's so cold that I haven't seen a mosquito all week! (that's the best I could come up with) Weatherman calling for tonight to be -22* with a -40* to -50* windchill. The kids here will be going to school until the 4th of July. We haven't had a complete week of school since before Christmas. Stay warm my friends.

01/27/14 04:28 PM

#4228