Snow Fooling: Bears Not Out of Title Contention

December 9, 2013 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: One of the joys of being in Michigan on a snowy Sunday was the chance to spend time with family. And with watching the Detroit Lions play the Eagles in Philadelphia. In that order of importance of course (you never know when family members in Michigan might be reading).

Fans attending Monday night’s Bears-Cowboys game mght to wear a little more than Caitlin O’Connor does here. Then again, it’s merely a suggestion.

* Speaking of family members, The Wife said Sunday’s edition had several spelling errors. Sad, but true. She suggested writing earlier. A wonderful suggestion. Which, of course, is a possibility (with a probability of not happening). I’d like to blame the typos, errors in grammar, etc. on a balky keyboard, but I balk at doing so because I fear retribution from the computer. Oh, well. At least you now understand how some mistakes make it through. Being one’s own copy editor is not the best idea. Not quite as bad as a lawyer being his/her own attorney (even if some of my mistakes in this space may border on the criminal).

* Speaking of the Lions-Eagles game, Detroit stormed to a 14-0 third-quarter lead that looked insurmountable in a game where you almost expected players to start making snow angels on the field. But Philadelpha prevailed 34-20 when the Lions’ defense failed and allowed 28 fourth-quarter points. Meaning Detroit’s defense really flaked out. Also meaning the Chicago Bears still have a chance to take the NFC North title. Well, provided the Bears start winning some games again.

* Speaking of abundant accumulation of snow, can’t wait for XLVIII in such conditions in New Jersey. Of course, the NFL publicity machine likely would crank out statements from commissioner Roger Goodell on the benefits of such weather that softens the playing field and lessens the likelihood of concussion (not that concussions are really a problem in the NFL, of course).

* Speaking of the Bears (well, we were before a brief snow alert), they play the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football” at Soldier Field. And the reason again that the revamped stadium wasn’t given a dome? Oh, yes, money. As if former mayor Richard Daley really cared about fiscal responsibility — well, for the city; as opposed to making sure he and his cronies could prosper.

* Still speaking of the Bears, the highlight of the night very well could be the halftime ceremony honoring former player and coach Mike Ditka, who finally will have his No. 89 retired. It’s nice for some people — and they know who they are — to live long enough to iron out problems and let the past that might have created ill will remain in the past.

* Speaking of honoring Ditka, the Highland Mint has two items to commemorate the event — and to raise money for the SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation (which benefits the families of active and fallen U.S. Navy SEALs). There is a 12-inch by 20-inch Bronze Coin Pano Photo Frame for $59.99 (limited to 5,000 pieces), and a 13-inch by 16-inch Banner Gold Coin Photo Frame for $99.99 (limited to 5,000 pieces). The SEAL-NSWFF will receive 20 percent of the profits from each sale. To view and/or to purchase, you can go to www.SBFLIP.com.

* Notre Dame (8-4) will play Rutgers (6-6) in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28. Using incredible powers of deduction, the elliottharris.com guess-the-site-of-some-silly-name-for-a-bowl-game department thought the contest might be played at Yankee Stadum. And it was correct. Which means the Irish won’t be around for New Year’s Eve. But the post-Christmas sales in New York can be fun. And more positives regarding the game, ND fans won’t have to purchase tropical apparel to wear for a trip to Florida or Arizona.

* If the bowl people are going to have games at such locations, might we suggest Detroit as a site worthy of a second contest. There already is the Litle Caesars Motor City Bowl. How about adding the Bankruptcy Bowl? It might not be the best name, but there are worse.

* Northern Illinois is going to the Poinsettia Bowl against Utah State. Which, if you don’t know much about flowers, isn’t that far off from being the Rose Bowl.

* Northwestern is going back to the drawing board. Or at least should. At least coach Pat Fitzgerald has left himself plenty of room for improvement in 2014.

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