Vendors Russ Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.
SPORTSWISE
The Chicago Bears
Russ: Fellas, glad to be here in 2021 with you all, so let’s get to it. Today, the topic is the NFL, with an emphasis on our Chicago Bears. Y’all dang well know it’s eating me up to allow you all first blow with this, because I have much to say on the subject. My opinions put on the shelf—for a moment—Don, how do you feel about things? Donald: The Bears, in my opinion, were overmatched. This just wasn’t the year for us. Although we do have a pretty good quarterback in Mitch Trubisky, we still have what I like to call our secret weapon: our backup quarterback Nick Foles. Playing against the New Orleans Saints was a daunting task, so I believed there was a strong possibility that Mitch would take a beating and we’d need to insert Foles. Fortunately, it never got to that as the Bears stayed in the game for the most part. Patrick: I believed we would win this year. From day one, I’d spouted the whole Super Bowl re-shuffle—that we were more than capable to get back to the big game…
and the
and win it. Trubisky seemed to have discovered the self-esteem elixir, because he’d been out there appearing to be a “real” quarterback—what I’d expected to see from him. Even though it would have been nearly a miracle run to get through the Saints and, then, the Green Bay Packers, I thought it certainly doable. A turnover here or there, that missed-catch caught, a special teams’ touchdown or big play…and we could have been in there. John, what’re you thinking? John: Thanks, Patrick. With the Bears having to eventually re-meet the Packers, I didn’t give them a good shot at winning this thing anyway. Considering how weak the NFC was this year, with Seattle Seahawks, Washington Football Team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and L.A. Rams all having exploitable flaws, the Bears could have been in the mix IF they didn’t have
NFL
to meet the Packers. Unfortunately, we never got that opportunity, so next year it is. Russ? Russ: Pure and simple, the Bears were no good this year. Many of you in here—and out there—already know, I am perhaps the biggest Chicago Bears fan who has ever lived, so you know it hurts me to utter those words. Of course, deep down, I’m always rooting for the Bears as if I get a paycheck from them…but I, honestly, never had faith that the Bears had what it took to even get one game during these playoffs. Every game, I tried to fully get behind the Bears, to open up and believe, believe, believe, but whenever I witnessed Trubisky jogging all over the field looking like a college quarterback, I just couldn’t do it. Patrick: Russ, if it means anything, you’re not alone. Now, me with my Super Bowl aspirations, I was, perhaps, damn
in
2021
near alone in this belief… but I didn’t care. If the Bears had bust out with the magic, I wouldn’t have even said “I told you so”; I would’ve, simply, basked in the glory that I got to see three more games than, perhaps, the team should have seen. Shoot, we could say four considering the team backed into the playoffs. It could’ve gotten interesting. Predictions? John: Kansas City Chiefs versus the Green Bay Packers— Chiefs win. Donald: I have Packers over the Chiefs. Russ: I have to go the Chiefs as well. Patrick: Rooting for the Packers, but Patrick Mahomes is on the other side… which makes this tough. I’m going with the Packers—Final answer. So, Don, it’s you and me, my man. Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org
