Chicago - A message from the station manager

By Mike Luce, Thomas Chambers and Steve Rhodes

Our man on campus and our man on the rail join the show to discuss NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s call to legalize and regulate (and presumably tax) sports gambling, something we’re loosely familiar with – and by loosely we mean tightly. Let’s just say we know people who know people. And they know people too. But would legalized sports gambling really be everything we would hope it to be? Could a Chicago casino include a sportsbook? Would legalization kill the romance? And who do you like in the fourth at Santa Anita? We’ve got the answers.

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Posted on December 28, 2014

The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Year Of The Yuck

By Carl Mohrbacher

Week 1: Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel silences critics of his new “Starter 4 Life” back tattoo by leading Buffalo to an improbable overtime win in Chicago, effectively dooming the Bears’ 2014 season.
Week 2: Defying a trend of epically historic proportions, the Bears coaching staff implements a defensive scheme in the hotel which allowed only five skill players to slip past hall monitors and participate in the all-night conga line at Male Tails Bar ‘N’ Rim.

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Posted on December 25, 2014

The College Football Report Bowl Preview Pt. 2: Porn, Chicken & Bitcoins

By Mike Luce

Miami Beach Bowl
Memphis Tigers 55, BYU Cougars 48 (2OT)
December 22, 1 p.m.
Marlins Park, Miami
If you missed it, the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl ended in a double-overtime shootout and an all-out brawl immediately following the thrilling finish. No one seems to know who started the fight or why. Memphis coach on Justin Fuente: “I don’t know what happened, so I don’t know how upset I am.” The skirmish has forever marred the nonexistent history of Miami Beach’s preeminent, and by that we mean only, bowl game.

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Posted on December 23, 2014

SportsMonday: Jimmy Pickles Proves A Point – About Jay Cutler

By Steve Rhodes

The vast majority of local sports punditry seemed pre-determined to not give any credit whatsoever to Jimmy Clausen – or, by proxy, Marc Trestman – regardless of the outcome of the Bears game on Sunday. I wish they’d get off his case.
Consider: Clausen hadn’t started a game since 2010 and had gone three years without throwing a single pass in a real game until earlier this season – when he threw one.
Also consider he was facing one of the league’s toughest defenses on a team playing for a playoff seed while his own side was in complete disarray – and missing its No. 1 receiver and playing two undrafted free agents on the offensive line.
Given that, I’d say Clausen’s 23-of-39 for 181 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT (on the last play of the game) – plus nine yards rushing on three carries – was pretty damn respectable.

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Posted on December 22, 2014

The College Football Report Bowl Preview Pt. 1: Cheap Trick, Gold Toes & Loaded Potatoes

By Mike Luce

A long slate of bowl games kicks off on Saturday in a postseason that will include the inaugural four-team format to decide the national championship. Before we reach the championship game on January 12, 36 other (non-playoff) match-ups will take place featuring teams from far-flung places (Central Michigan, Western Kentucky) facing off in exotic locales (Boise, Detroit) in historic venues (Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in Mobile, Ala.) with the endorsement of the nation’s preeminent companies (Royal Purple, Duck Commander). Fortunately for you, The College Football Report is here, bringing you an exclusive preview of the biggest games and a sneak peek at those you might not know existed. It’s a holiday miracle. Shout and rejoice.

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Posted on December 19, 2014

The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Go Fightin’ Clausens!

By Carl Mohrbacher

Marred by controversy, the week leading up to the game featured an inside source claiming that the Bears offensive woes were largely the fault of quarterback Jay Cutler and ended with a coach crying in public.
In between, Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer held a press conference.
Making the big news of Week 15 caddy intra-team sniping after a Thursday night loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
While Kromer categorically denied the use of the terms “buyer’s remorse,” or “salary cap albatross” or “cocksucker who’s cost every offensive coordinator he’s worked with a goddamn,” the damage was done.

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Posted on December 18, 2014

SportsMondayTuesday: Fire Away

By Jim Coffman

Don’t feel sad. Four out of five ain’t bad.
The wrong-way Bears were back in action Monday night (a 31-15 loss to the Saints that dropped them to 5-9) but who cares? Not when the four other big-time teams in town are either piling up considerably more wins than losses or giving their fans legitimate optimism that they will do so when their seasons happen in the middle of next year. Right? Are you with me? Hell, I’m not with me.
Because of course fans do care. We can’t help ourselves. People who know Chicago sports know that there are Cubs fans and there are White Sox fans. There are Bulls fans and there are Hawks fans.
Everyone who cares about Chicago sports cares about the Bears.
And they are just killing us, aren’t they?

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Posted on December 16, 2014

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