Chicago -
By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes
John Fox still coach, Ryan Pace still MIA, undeserving mediocre family still in charge. Plus: Cubs Stove League; The Loyola Ramblers Exist!; Coming Soon: The Niko Mirotic Story; Blackhawks Flat As A Pancake; Mystery Soccer Stadium; and Music City, Schmusic City Bowl.
Posted on December 8, 2017
By Martha Irvine/AP
“A protest of racial injustice highlights divisions in Robeson County, North Carolina, the most diverse rural county in America, where voters also helped Donald Trump win the county and the White House.”
Posted on December 7, 2017
By Jack Anderson/The Conversation
As the result of a state-sponsored doping regime in the lead-up to and during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from participating at next year’s games.
Bans from the Olympics are not unprecedented. In the aftermath of the two world wars, certain countries – like Germany and Japan – were not permitted to compete.
Also, the IOC banned South Africa for three decades from the 1960s because of its apartheid regime. Afghanistan was suspended from the Olympics in 1999, partly because of the Taliban’s prohibition on the participation of women athletes. It did not send athletes to the 2000 Olympics.
The ban on Russia from competing at next year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea is, however, unique: it is directly linked to the country’s lack of sporting integrity.
Posted on December 6, 2017
By Jim Coffman
You had to laugh. Bitterly sure, but still, it is amazing how sports work out sometimes.
What else was a fan to do as Robbie Gould screamed at the Bears sideline after his chip shot game-winning field goal Sunday at the end of the Bears’ 15-14 loss to the 49ers. Gould, who is the Bears all-time leading scorer but was summarily cut from the team before last season, had actually said during the previous week that there was no such thing as a “revenge game.”
His actions spoke slightly louder. Or should I say his screams actually were much louder.
Posted on December 4, 2017
Will John Fox Last The Day?
“If you’re keeping a scorecard between the Bears and the 49ers and the big trade for the No. 2 pick, score a win for the 49ers in Round 1 and consider it a setback for the power brokers at Halas Hall,” Brad Biggs writes for the Tribune.
“The 49ers’ 15-14 victory, powered by five Robbie Gould field goals, added further embarrassment in a season gone wrong for the Bears. With the exception of a wild punt return by rookie Tarik Cohen, a 61-yard adventure that required a lot more steps than that in weaving-and-juking flash, the Bears were completely manhandled by what was a 1-10 football team.”
Ouch.
Posted on December 4, 2017
By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes
With all due respect, there seems to be just one way the McCaskeys will do the right thing. Plus: Cat Trick!; Acknowledging The Bulls’ Existence; The Derrick Rose Non-Tragedy; and Should We Be Paying More Attention To Northwestern Football?
Posted on December 1, 2017
And It Could Have – Should Have – Been So Much Worse
“Even by Chicago Bears standards, Sunday’s offensive ineptitude was an all-timer,” Jeff Dickerson writes for ESPN Chicago.
“The Bears finished with 6 rushing yards in their 31-3 loss to the Eagles – the second fewest in franchise history. It was the fewest by any team since the Colts rushed for 1 yard in December 2014, according to ESPN Stats & Information. And on average, the Eagles hit the Bears 1.3 yards into the backfield on designed run plays, the second-worst average before contact since 2009.”
It was, as they say, a laugher.
While Dontrelle Inman was being looked at, Bears sent punt team onto the field on third down. Then after Inman walked off and O regrouped, Bears had to use a TO with only 10 men on the field.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) November 26, 2017
Posted on November 27, 2017
By Jim Coffman
Well, I did tell you the Bears season was over last week. And the team had clearly packed it in on Sunday, offering no resistance (at least on offense – the defense did force three turnovers after all) against the Eagles on their way to a 31-3 loss that, it must be said, could have been much worse.
Then again, as far as the sheer embarrassment factor goes, this might have been the worst weekend in Chicago sports history.
Posted on November 27, 2017
But Make No Mistake, This Is Another Loss That Reflects Poorly On John Fox And Ryan Pace; They Should All Go!
“The Chicago Bears play in a lot of tight games,” Jeff Dickerson writes for ESPN Chicago.
“They also find ways to lose most of those games, too.
“Missed field goals, dropped touchdown passes, late defensive breakdowns . . . the Bears have touched them all in the maddening John Fox era (12-30).
“Chicago now has three losses of six points or fewer in 2017.
“The Bears dropped a combined 12 games by six points or fewer in 2015 and ’16 . . . Chicago is 3-13 in NFC North games under Fox.”
Posted on November 20, 2017
By Jim Coffman
I had a chance to take in most of the Eagles-Cowboys game Sunday night. I tuned in expecting to see Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott play better than he had the week before and former Bear receiver Alshon Jeffrey step up his game for Philadelphia.
Neither happened (although Jeffery did grab a touchdown) as the Eagles gave the Cowboys a 37-9 thumping. And so the storyline I’ve been pushing – that Bears general manager Ryan Pace is the primary culprit for the Bears’ difficulties due to his dubious decisions in the draft and free agency – took a bit of a double hit.
Posted on November 20, 2017
