When Life Imitates Snark

Pretty simple blog post today, just want to bring to light one of my favorite satirists of American sports, The Heckler.  If you are a sports fan and you are not paying attention to The Heckler you are an idiot.  They were Onion Sports before Onions Sports was anything.

While reading The Heckler the other day a couple articles caught my eye.  The one linked here about the prospect of the Wisconsin Badgers football program plucking yet another post grad quarterback, this time in the form of former Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist.  Also the one linked here about a tasty strategy for Cubs manager Dale Sveum to lure free agent first baseman Prince Fielder to the Chicago Cubs.

Both of these articles are satirical and speculative and written well before these entries from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  The first one linked here about Dayne Crist seriously considering spending his final year of eligibility as quarterback of the Wisconsin Badgers and the one linked here about Dale Sveum being used as a tool to help lure Prince Fielder to the north side of Chicago.

Stories so nice they made me laugh twice.

Rynos Don't Wear Shirts

New Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein, has ruled out Chicago Cubs legend, Ryne Sandberg, or any other person without big league coaching experience for any consideration to be the Cubs next manager.  This decision has been met with mixed reviews as the rival St. Louis Cardinals thickened the plot by receiving permission from the Philadelphia Phillies to interview Sandberg, their Triple-A manager.

This isn't about people with or without major league experience (The fact that the Cubs are considering interviewing Dale Sveum proves that.).  This is about Ryne Sandberg.  Not Ryne Sandberg the person, but Ryne Sandberg the concept.  This is about dragging Cubs history and tradition out in front of women and children and putting a bullet through its conceptual head.  Done.  Enough.  No more celebrating 113 plus years of championship free baseball.

I understand that there are feel good stories in sports beyond championship glory, but even the Cubs feel good stories make you feel bad.  The '45 Cubs?  Got cursed by a goat.  The '69 Cubs?  Blew a nine and a half game lead in the final month and a half of the season.  The '84 Cubs?  Blew a 2 games to none lead in the best of five NLCS.  The '89 Cubs?  Lost the NLCS four games to one.  The '98 Cubs?  See Sammy Sosa's congressional testimony and Kerry Woods career arc.  The '03 Cubs?  Blew a three games to one lead in the NLCS vs Florida.  The 07-08 Cubs?  A combined 0-6 in the playoffs.

If I were Epstein I'd tear down the ivy and do away with the pinstripes too.  It's time to bury the past Cubs fans.  Sunshine and Old Style are your enemy.  For now and forever until the Cubs win the title.  Then you can go back and play with all your old toys. 

We're Not Going To Take It

Recently Chris Jones blasted sports fans for their common and frequent pronoun faux pas in this article on Grantland.  For starters Grantland is nothing more than a seething pool of self congratulatory ESPN runoff (which, not surprisingly, is more intelligent than the manure ESPN retains).  So it is not the least bit surprising that Jones is taking aim at the hapless meatballs that wish to enjoy the feeling that they are personally intertwined in their favorite team's fortunes.

I get it.  "We" are not a part of the team.  We are rarely welcome on the field.  We aren't in the union.  We aren't invited to board meetings.  We aren't the athletic trainer.  We aren't even the freaking beer vendor.  But we are a part of the equation.  We are the customers.  We pour in the money.  We are subjected to the sponsor's message.  We make noise when the opposing team is trying to hear.  We shout obscenities at LaRussa.  We are emotionally invested.  Technically still not part of the team, but intellectually pistol whipping folks over this technicality is as played out as "Bill from Waukegan" bitching about how "our" offensive line sucks.

It is the equivalent of keeping rabbits out of your garden with a fully automatic assault riffle.  You know what?  Put up a fence.  Put up a fence and keep you and all your precious little veggies in and let all the happy little dolts run around thinking turning their hats inside out makes a difference.

While there are few things in this natural world as creepy as college sports fans (myself included), it is my pleasure to use America's minor leagues to turn the technicality table.  You see despite never paying a dime on tuition or spending a minute in class at the University of Wisconsin, because I pay state taxes, I am a Wisconsin Badger.  And a Fighting Illini.  And a Missouri Tiger.  My drop in bucket eventually helps finance Bret Bielema's bidet and unlike the disposable income I spend on professional teams, this money's going out whether I like it or not. 

This bleeds in to the realm or professional sports as well.  When the Milwaukee Brewers wanted a new stadium, they didn't set up a collection from the players, execs and support staff, they went to the taxpayers.  There are many five county residents that wish they weren't Milwaukee Brewers.

When Champagne Gets In Your Eyes

There weren't as many crazy finishes in the second half of the Brewers 2011 campaign, but there were plenty of great moments and a National League Central Division championship.  The following are my five favorite Brewers games post all star break.

5. August 3: Brewers 10, Cardinals 5 @ Miller Park
Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee certainly had a forgettable season, but this was his day.  His three home runs fueled a big win over the Cardinals and helped launch the Brewers historic August run.

4. August 13: Brewers 1, Pirates 0 @ Miller Park
Filling in for the injured Chris Narveson, Marco Estrada held the Pirates to one hit over five innings and John Axford pitched around a ninth inning lead off triple to further the Pirates Miller Park miseries.

3. August 9: Brewers 5, Cardinals 3 @ Busch Stadium
Once again Casey McGehee played hero against the runner up Cardinals, blasting a tenth inning go ahead RBI double.  Latroy Hawkins picked up the win as part of four scoreless innings from the Milwaukee bullpen.

2. September 11: Brewers 3, Phillies 2 @ Miller Park
Corey Hart, Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Braun registered consecutive two out hits in the seventh inning to turn a 2-1 deficit in to a 3-2 lead.  Yovani Gallardo struck out twelve in picking up his sixteenth win of the season.

1. September 23: Brewers 4, Marlins 1 @ Miller Park
Ryan Braun's three run eighth inning home run snapped a one all tie and sliced the Brewers magic number to one.  A packed Miller Park stuck around to watch the Cubs finish knocking off the Cardinals, clinching the first ever National League Central championship for the Milwaukee Brewers

Road Guest Vol. VII (Tape Delay)

August has seen Abraham bounce from house of foolishness to house of foolishness with sporadic Internet access, but the home office is back up and running and I'm once again ready to show you my geniousness.

Score:  Milwaukee Brewers 10, St. Louis Cardinals 5

Venue:  Miller Park

Game Day:  August 3, 2011

Roadmates:  Mike, John, Murph

MVP:  Casey McGehee 3-4, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R

Recap:  Since July 25 the Brewers have posted a blisteringly good record of 25-5 and have gone from a half game out of first place to pacing the rest of the division by nine and one half games.  Early in this run I had the pleasure of attending the rubber game of a three game series between the Brewers and second place Cardinals at Miller Park.  At the time the Brewers led the Cardinals by four and one half games.  McGehee led an offensive barrage with his three home runs, all off Cardinals mid season acquisition Edwin Jackson, covering up a shaky start by Randy Wolf.  I was magically inebriated to the disappointment of the Cardinal fans in our section, but through my charm and guile I was able to avoid fights, ejections and vomiting.

A Post Card And A Can Of Worms

The "first half" of the Milwaukee Brewers season was chock full of exciting games.  The following are my five favorite in particular order.

5. June 8: Brewers 7, Mets 6 @ Miller Park
    After Kameron Loe turned a 2-1 eighth inning Brewers lead in to a 6-2 deficit the Brewers battled back in their half of the inning.  Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder each knocked in two runs to tie the game.  In the bottom of the ninth Nyjer Morgan doubled in Craig Counsell for the walk off win, spawning perhaps the greatest post game interview of all time.

4. May 20: Brewers 7, Rockies 6 (14) @ Miller Park
     A back and forth regulation nine innings left the Brewers and Rockies tied at four.  The Rockies drew first blood in extra frames plating a run in the thirteenth, but Yuniesky Betancourt answered with a solo home run.  The Rockies notched a single tally in the fourteenth as well, but this time Fielder put the Rockies down for good launching a walk off two run shot in the bottom of the frame.


3. July 10: Brewers 4, Reds 3 @ Miller Park
    In the final game before the All Star Game the Brewers entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 3-2, but the bottom of the Brewers roster refused to lose.  Mark Kotsay singled in Morgan to tie the game before Counsell's sacrifice fly drove in George Kottaras sealing the club's second walk off win vs. Reds closer and former Brewer Francisco Cordero in three days.

2. June 12: Brewers 4, Cardinals 3 @ Miller Park
    The Brewers trailed by three heading to the bottom of the sixth inning when the bats awoke.  Braun and Kotsay each knocked in a run to set up a two run, go head bomb from Fielder.  Shaun Marcum, Loe and John Axford took care of the rest and the Cardinals were swept out of Milwaukee.

1. May 28: Brewers 3, Giants 2 @ Miller Park
    No win displayed the change in leadership and philosophy Ron Roenicke has brought to the Brewers than this game.  Randy Wolf and Loe coughed up a two run lead in bottom of the eighth inning with help from a Casey McGehee error, setting the stage for a stunning Brewers victory.  In the bottom of the ninth Braun reached third with one out and the pinch hitting Jonathan Lucroy dropped down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt for the thrilling walk off victory.

Bonus Fun

One of my favorite parts of the baseball season is follow the current Brewers as they move up the club's all time statistical lists.  Here is a list of current Brewers in the top 50 of some of my favorite categories.  Current Brewers will be listed in bold behind the historical Brewer they trail.  All stat totals reflect action before tonight's game.

Runs
7.    Ben Oglivie 567
8.    Prince Fielder 529
10.  Gorman Thomas 524
11.  Rickie Weeks 513
14.  Jeromy Burnitz 467
15.  Ryan Braun 454
17.  George Scott 402
18.  Corey Hart 389
43.  Marquis Grissom 216
44.  Craig Counsell 210

Hits
10.  Jeff Cirillo 1000
11.  Prince Fielder 921
13.  Gorman Thomas 815
14.  Ryan Braun  809
18.  Sixto Lezcano 749
19.  Corey Hart 719
20.  Jeromy Burnitz 714
21.  Rickie Weeks 713
41.  Pat Listach 420
42.  Craig Counsell 415
48.  Ernest Riles 364
49.  Casey McGehee 354

Doubles
9.    B.J Surhoff 194
10.  Prince Fielder 185
13.  Gorman Thomas 172
14.  Ryan Braun 168
15.  Cory Hart 163
22.  Jose Valentin 132
23.  Rickie Weeks 131
37.  Dale Sveum 80
38.  Craig Counsell 77
40.  Johnny Briggs 76
41.  Casey McGehee 73

Triples
5.    Cecil Cooper 33
6.    Corey Hart 26
6.    Rickie Weeks 26
9.    B.J. Surhoff 23
10.  Ryan Braun 22
17.  Jose Valentin 18
18.  Craig Counsell 17
48.  Dale Sveum 10
49.  Prince Fielder 9

Home Runs
1.    Robin Yount 251
2.    Prince Fielder 214
9.    Paul Molitor 160
10.  Ryan Braun 144
14.  George Scott 115
15.  Corey Hart 108
16.  Rickie Weeks 106
38.  Glenn Braggs 45
39.  Casey McGehee 44

Runs Batted In
5.    Ben Oglivie 685
6.    Prince Fielder 608
12.  B.J. Surhoff 524
13.  Ryan Braun 482
19.  Ted Simmons 394
20.  Corey Hart 388
25.  Jose Valentin 343
26.  Rickie Weeks 304
38.  Jose Hernandez 210
39.  Casey McGehee 206

Stolen Bases
9.    B.J. Surhoff 102
10.  Rickie Weeks 98
11.  Ryan Braun 82
13.  Cecil Cooper 77
14.  Corey Hart 74
39.  Geoff Jenkins 31
40.  Craig Counsell 30

Wins
15.  Ricky Bones 47
16.  Yovani Gallardo 46
34.  Steve Woodard 25
35.  Manny Parra 24
40.  Bob Wickman 21
41.  Chris Narveson 20
45.  Randy Wolf 19

Strike Outs
7.    Cal Eldred 686
8.    Yovani Gallardo 629
19.  Dan Plesac 448
20.  Manny Parra 418
32.  Bill Parsons 280
33.  Chris Narveson 272
41.  Glendon Rusch 233
42.  Randy Wolf 224

Saves
10.  Doug Jones 49
11.  John Axford 48

Road Guest Vol. IV, V, VI

Just a couple short weeks ago I embarked on an exploratory tour of the east coast that included visiting three different MLB stadiums.  Here are the accounts:

Score:  Chicago Cubs 12, Milwaukee Brewers 7

Venue:  Wrigley Field

Game Day:  June 16, 2011

Roadmates:  Ben (friend)

MVP:  Kosuke Fukudome 3-5, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R

Recap:  I hate when the wind blows out of Wrigley.  It takes a perfectly good baseball game and makes it in to a circus.  I had attended eight games at Wrigley prior to this game and never once was the wind blowing out.  It was every bit as awful as expected.  Everything was a home run.  The Brewers took advantage early hitting homers in the first and second innings, the Cubs followed suit hitting home runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings.  Brewers pitchers Zach Greinke, Daniel Ray Herrera and Sergio combined to suck.  Beautiful day, Ben's first game at Wrigley.....ruined by wind.

Score:  Milwaukee Brewers 4, Boston Red Sox 2

Venue:  Fenway Park

Game Day:  June 18, 2011

Roadmates:  Flying solo

MVP:  Randy Wolf 1-0, 7 IP, 2 ER, 3 K

Recap:  First things first, Fenway is baseball heaven.  Sorry St. Louis, sorry Chicago, but Fenway was like no other.  It has the historic charm of Wrigley, with out being an out dated pile of crap.  Due to the game time change to accommodate the Bruins Stanley Cup parade I had to leave after the third inning to catch my train to Providence, RI.  The three innings were highly entertaining as all six runs were scored in those frames.  I was seated next to a couple incredibly knowledgeable fans.....Brewers fans!  Boston was awesome, Fenway was awesome, Randy Wolf was awesome, I'll definitely come back, maybe for a whole game next time.

Score:  Washington Nationals 1, Seattle Mariners 0

Venue:  Nationals Park

Game Day:  June 23, 2011

Roadmates:  Katie (friend)

MVP:  Jason Marquis  8 IP, 0 ER, 4 K

Recap:  It had been quite a while since I had attended a baseball game in which I did not have a rooting interest and I was treated to a stress free experience of my favorite baseball score, one to nothing.  Both teams pitched very well led by starters Michael Pineda and Marquis.  I was more well wishing for Seattle, as the Brewers originally were a Seattle franchise.  A late pinch runner for Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak forced Adam Kennedy to play first in the ninth.  Kennedy's inexperience cost Seattle as he was unable to catch a playable foul ball and made a poor throwing decision resulting in a fielder's choice, no out that set up a bases loaded, one out situation for former Brewer Laynce Nix.  Nix delivered a sac fly and the Nats walked off winners.  Bizarrely Nats manager Jim Riggleman also walked off...off the job, following the game.  It was a well played game in the Nats generically new stadium.  I'll probably go back to see the Brewers play there, but other than that the Nats are not much of a draw.

Stars And Abrahams Forever

I forced myself to wait until June to fill out my first MLB All Star ballot.  The first list is my deserved All Star team.....hey, sometimes the Brewers are deserving, OK?  The second list is the All Abraham team, which is more a collection of guys I want to see play wiffle ball in the back yard.  Brewers and former Brewers very desrving here.  Since MLB sucks and doesn't let the fans vote pitchers, I picked a starter and closer for each team.  I'll probably fill out another serious ballot in July as some players had similar statistics.

AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL STARS

1B Adrian Gonzalez, Boston
2B Robinson Cano, New York
SS Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland
3B Adrain Beltre, Texas
C   Alex Avila, Detroit
OF Jose Bautista, Toronto
OF Curtis Granderson, New York
OF Matt Joyce, Tampa Bay
SP Josh Beckett, Boston
CP Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL STARS

1B Prince Fielder, Milwaukee
2B Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati
SS Jose Reyes, New York
3B Chipper Jones, Atlanta
C   Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee
OF Lance Berkman, St. Louis
OF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee
OF Matt Kemp, Los Angeles
SP Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta
CP J.J. Putz, Arizona

AMERICAN LEAGUE ABRAHAMS

1B Matt LaPorta, Cleveland
2B Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay
SS Alexei Ramirez, Chicago
3B Kevin Youkillis, Boston
C   Jason Kendall, Kansas City
OF Shin-Soo Choo, Cleveland
OF Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston
OF Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle
SP CC Sabathia, New York
CP Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay

NATIONAL LEAGUE ABRAHAMS

1B Lyle Overbay, Pittsburgh
2B Bill Hall, Houston
SS Craig Counsell, Milwaukee
3B Casey McGehee, Milwaukee
C   Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee
OF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee
OF Carlos Lee, Houston
OF Andrew, McCutchen, Pittsburgh
SP Shaun Marcum, Milwaukee
CP John Axford, Milwaukee

Road Guest Vol. III (The Revenge Of Steve Sparks)

Score:  Milwaukee Brewers 3, Colorado Rockies 1

Venue:  Miller Park

Roadmates:  Gary (dad), Carol (mom), Lauren (wife), Mia (daughter), Isabella (daughter), Solomon (son)

MVP:  Ryan Braun 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI, 1 R

Recap:  When I was fifteen years old I attended Brewers game on April 13th, 1996.  Brewers starting pitcher and knuckleballer Steve Sparks held the Kansas City Royals to just one hit over eight masterful innings of the greatest pitching performance I've seen live to this day.  One small problem.  The one hit was a home run to Michael Tucker following two walks.  The Brewers were only able to muster two runs of offense thanks in part to John Jaha's fat ass not being able to score from second on a ninth inning single, making Sparks a tough luck loser.  Coincidentally I attended a Brewers game in 2004 where Sparks ended up winning a 15 inning affair as a reliever for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Thanks Steve.

I suppose that is either here nor there as May 22, 2011 was Rockies starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez's turn to suffer a Sparksesque indignation.  Jimenez coerced the Brewers offense into a series of weak ground balls, strike outs and feeble pop ups allowing just two hits through eight masterful innings.  But the first Brewers hit was a Braun two out, two strike, two RBI triple following Carlos Gomez and Rickie Weeks reaching base on a walk and hit by pitch respectively.  Braun also scored on a throwing error, providing the Brewers with all the runs they would need in sending Jimenez to the knuckleball circle of baseball hell.

It was beautiful day in Milwaukee, the Brewers stayed hot winning for the eleventh time in fifteen games, the Rockies were swept out of Milwaukee and we had a birthday celebration for grandpa Puder we will never forget.

The Infinite Sadness

The state of Wisconsin's embroiled political turmoil has taken another bizarre turn as Waukesha County clerk Kathy Nickolaus found over 14,000 eleventh hour unrecorded votes turning the state's Supreme Court election from the favor of challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg to incumbent David Prosser.  The official count is currently subject to canvassing and more than likely will be subject recounts.  To me the concern is not so much the election results (be they fraudulent or be they legit), it is once again with the douche bag voters.

Let's start with those who did not vote.  Of the voting age public of Wisconsin, 66% did not register a vote.  66%!  Two thirds of the states voters do not care about the tumultuous direction their government is headed.  Only 28% of the city of Milwaukee eligible voters voted.  Granted the norm for an April election in Wisconsin is a pathetic 20%, but the state teeters on a historically significant ledge.  To a certain extent I understand voter apathy, but now is not the time for sitting on one's hands.

Now on to those who did vote.  No matter which candidate emerges from the political muck, the voting results are a figurative 50/50.  I stop short of referring to this election as a referendum on Governor Scott Walker's neo-con thinking and policy, but it was a litmus test of how the state's voters feel about where Wisconsin is heading.  While 19 counties that voted for Walker were won by Kloppenburg, no sleeping giant arose.  At best a slacker on a couch got up and microwaved a burrito.

Road Guest Vol. II

Score:  White 2, Blue 0

Venue:  Miller Park

Game Day:  April 2, 2011

Roadmates:  Mike (friend)

MVP:  Taylor Green 1-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R  Also he signed autographs well past his time slot up until player introductions.  The guy was awesome.

Announced Attendance:  11,312

Recap:  The Brewers Rising Stars Game was an excellent opportunity to get out to Miller Park even before the opening day crowd.  Seats were just ten dollars and with an announced crowd of just over 11,000 great seats were there for the taking (we sat first row behind first base).  The new scoreboard was on display, but more importantly so was the Milwaukee Brewers top minor league talent, as both teams were made up of Brewers prospects.

Pitching prospects dominated the game with the eight pitchers giving up just two runs on five hits.  I'd love to say this is a great development for the Brewers, but really none of the hitters looked Major League caliber and while the pitchers looked much better none looked like more than fringe players, save for maybe Kyle Heckathorn.

The game experience was a blast.  You could tell the guys were excited to get a chance to play in Milwaukee and the fans were just thrilled to be there.  I won a Lee Haydel jersey in the jersey raffle which was pretty cool, but more importantly I tried a Four Loko for the first time.  My feelings on said semi-legal product are best described here.

Go Brewers!  Get it done now because the future looks, uh, bleak.

Road Guest Vol. I

Well here we go friends, our first live sporting event round up.

Score:  Milwaukee Bucks 110, Cleveland Cavaliers 90

Venue:  Bradley Center

Roadmates:  Gary (Dad) and Mia (daughter)

MVP:  Earl Boykins  18 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds

Recap:  After grabbing a bite to eat in Bayview it was off to the Bradley Center for some top flight NBA entertainment.  Who would have thought a guy like me could get 65 dollar tickets on the street for only 10 dollars.  Was it my good looks and Midwest charm?  Probably, but it also could have been the fact that there was probably fewer than 5,000 "Bucks fans" in attendance.

The Cavaliers boasted a veritable who's who? of NBA "talent".  This point was driven home when the fans chanted "Who are you?" while Cavs forward Alonzo Gee shot free throws.  Despite their lack of name players, the Cavs actually took a six point lead in the first quarter prompting Bucks coach Scott Skiles to pull all his starters and go to the bench.  The move worked swimmingly as Boykins lead the charge.  Boykins got the game back under control, but it was starting point guard Brandon Jennings hot start to the second half that put the Cavs in the rear view mirror and the Bucks bench finished the job with four bench players posting double digit point totals.

The game lacked drama, excitement (I go to the Badger games to see lay ups, I go to NBA games to see face shredding dunks....Keyon Dooling) and crowd enthusiasm.   It lacked a crowd for that matter, but all in all it was fun and the Bucks won, which is a good thing...I think.

 

Road Guest

For those of you that are sick of my socialistic rants and ramblings, good news this post is about sports (kind of) and for those of you enjoying my political posts don't worry there will be more. 

Those of you who know me know I love attending live sporting events.  Anytime I attend an event I intend to follow it up with a blog post and hopefully some pictures.  There are two avenues these posts can follow.  If I take my family the posts will be well thought out, measured accounts and assessments of the contests and its key players.  If I take any of my usual hooligan friends I probably won't remember much of the games and will regale you with torrid stories of tom foolery, near arrests and making out with your girlfriend.  Either way, should be a good time.

On Wednesday (3/9) I will be attending the NBA game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks (you know you are jealous) at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee and will have a full report for my legions.

Torn Like An Old Sweater

The almost two week long protest at Wisconsin's state capitol certainly has gotten the old gears grinding.  Both on a literal level as the majority Republicans and "spectacling" Senate Democrats and their throngs of supporting protesters are firmly entrenched in halting government movement and figuratively as the little engine that could between my ears continues to break down viscosity.  While the protests have been a beautiful, awe inspiring exhibit of public force, I get tired of the notion that the people have drawn a line in the sand.  No they haven't, they've drawn a circle around an issue.  Albeit an important issue, but what happens next?

Governor Scott Walker and his ilk seem to believe that while a majority of eligible voters don't actually show up to the polls, that the citizens of his state have voiced a mandate to disparage the better interests of the poor, the state workers and more importantly further strike down the diminishing voice of workers unions, perhaps the only big political sway left to counterbalance corporate interest, not to mention a champion of his political rivals.  While this may just be political kamikaze, I'm sure if and when the public removes him there will be plenty of corporate board positions available.  So let's say one of the Democrats comes back and the bill passes.  Then the real political fight begins.  General strike?  Recalls?  New voter sentiment in 2012?  Believe it or not this may be better than the alternative.

It is hard to look a grass roots political movement with, for the most part, the betterment of community in mind and say that's great, but......  You can't tell these people to give up, nor should you, so let's say the Democrats histrionics works and the protesters spirit overcomes, and the bill is rebuilt with the removal of collective bargaining restrictions.  Yay, victory, right?  Um, more like pacification.  Unnecessary union concessions to support corporate tax breaks? Retardation and constraint of Badger Care, a program that should be expanded?  State property sold off to no bid contracts?

Much has been made of the impressive number of protesters, reaching upwards of 100,000, but in reality there should be a minimum 300,000 protesters at every state capital every day saying, "Stop, take care of our communities!".  It's impressive the tools the conservative right (mostly religion and Ronald Reagan) has used to scare a large number of otherwise common folk from voting in their communities best interests.  They love to throw the term "wealth redistribution" around to scare folks off from wanting a fair tax system and good social programs, but damn it if they don't love to take from our teachers, nurses, snow plow drivers and prison guards to help bank roll billionaires.  I'm also perversely amused by the division tactic of telling people in the private sector they are unfairly paying for public pensions and health insurance benefits they themselves don't receive.  First pensions are delayed payment of income earned and secondly the United States government tried to provide everybody with health insurance benefits and the conservative right acted as if the feds were taking their precious guns away and now we are left with a cumbersome, bastardized, amateur attempt at socialized medicine.

Maybe someday the masses will see through rhetoric, realize their best efforts are achieved as a community and not as wealth rivals.  Hopefully the labor stand in Wisconsin is the spark that starts the fire.

I Am What Democracy Looks Like

Usually my posts are light hearted, jovial and about sports, but not today my guests.  Not today because my state, my city, where I vote is the back drop for a huge political showdown.  Maybe you've heard.  For the past week tens of thousands of Wisconsin residents and supporters from surrounding states have flocked to their capitol, with Saturday's protests estimated at almost 70,000 people, to voice their disapproval of Governor Scott Walker's controversial budget repair bill that would among other things significantly hamper the strength of several public workers unions (including teachers) by taking away their ability to collectively bargain on everything except salary (which also would be limited), not allow unions to automatically deduct union wages from members pay and force union members to vote on union certification every year.  The bill would also have a large impact on Medicaid, the state's health plan for the poor, elderly and disabled by kicking almost 50,000 residents off the plan and granting unprecedented authority of the program to the Department of Health Services, and to the Joint Finance Committee to make "emergency rules.".  All 14 Democratic senators have left the state to prevent the quarom needed to pass a financial bill.

Wisconsinites shouldn't feel special.  Big corporate interest from both in and out of state are just trying to put us in our place, just like they did with our elected governor.  Only instead of granting us power and wealth they are foolishly trying to beat us down in to shanty towns.

The state of Wisconsin is facing a 137 million dollar short budget shortfall.  Before coming after the poor and working classes of Wisconsin for this money, Walker signed off on 117 million dollars in tax breaks for businesses and health care savings accounts.  Walker claims the moves are to promote job growth in Wisconsin.  Fine, now do mind tell us why you want all the jobs to suck?  I'm not over the top pro union, but I'm also not anti and I believe unions are important in setting a standard of working conditions and wages that pressures non union competition to follow suit or at least stay with in the ballpark.  Walker says he needs to take away the unions collective bargaining rights to allow local municipalities, that are about to experience funding cuts, the flexibility to manage their workforce.  If Walker really is the golden boy with the vision and plan to get Wisconsin back on track, then in budget years going forward conditions should improve, right?  Then guess who no longer has the flexibility to renegotiate their benefits and working conditions?

Politicians and their corporate masters have long been dipping their hands where they don't belong and it's relatively alarming that it has taking so long for the public to voice their rage with such force.  There was no huge public outcry when in 2009 Mercury Marine leveraged the threat of moving jobs from Fon Du Lac to Stillwater, Oklahoma to get deep concessions from their workers union.  The real mistake the Republicans made was firing a shot that hit our kids in the head.  Pick on people's kids' education and they get pissed.  Plus the Governor doesn't have the leverage to move these jobs to Oklahoma (he'll just drive quality teachers to states that will respect them) and the teachers union has the muscle to put serious pressure on citizens by making them take care of their own damn kids.

I'm not afraid of taxes.  I like quality public services.  I happen to like it when my income, sales and capital gains tax dollars go to education, health care, health care workers, fire departments, road maintenance and my less fortunate neighbors.  I get real sick of being asked to pull my weight and seeing Walker's Kochsucking cronies reap the benefits.

I hate to be a kill joy, but it seems that this bill will pass.  The Republicans have the votes they need, they don't give a crap about the mass protests and the Democratic senators can't stay in Illinois forever.  The heartening part is corporate interests can't really stand up to the people, the people just need to be doing this at the right time.

I was at the protests on Saturday and much to my surprise my favorite sign was held by a Tea Party supporter that read "Elections are what democracy looks like".  This budget bill attack on the working class is a well organized and prepared effort by the conservatives looking to broaden their power and make the protests (while awe inspiring and an important arm of the democratic process) look like a pathetic flailing by contrast.  Don't forget what is happening.  Seize this energy and passion and sign the recall petitions and support public worker strikes.  When the 2012 elections come around take time to learn about the candidates.  Don't like the candidates?  Understandable.  Get involved in your community and find people who think like you think and share your beliefs  Identify leaders in your community you would want in public office and most importantly vote!  If you don't your corporate overlords will be happy to do it for you.

Here are links to a couple really cool videos documenting the protests in Madison.  In state guests already know, but for my out of state guests can see first hand the passion and spirit of Wisconsinites that make the state the standard bearer in the fight to save America.

Numer One. In Your Face.

I'm a relatively busy man and can't devote much time to the massive college basketball world outside of the sphere of the Big 10....11....12 conference, but I'm going to go on record and say the most noteworthy game of the season took place in Madison, WI this past Saturday (2/12/11).  For those of you that don't know what I'm referencing, the University of Wisconsin's mens basketball team knocked off the previously undefeated (24-0) and number one ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, rallying from fifteen points down in th second half.

Also for those of you that don't know, the Buckeyes have a better basketball team than the Badgers.  Probably a fifteen point better team than the Badgers.  When they put William Buford, Aaron Craft, Jon Diebler, David Lighty and Jared Sullinger on the floor they can score from all five positions.  Four of the five can create their own shots and the other (Diebler) is about to become the Big Ten's most prolific three point shooter.  But in Madison you can spot the number one team in the country fifteen points and they will be lucky to lose by only four.  Under coach Bo Ryan, at the Kohl Center, the Badgers have a staggering record of 149-11, including 75-6 in conference, 75-6 in conference play and 24-7 vs top 25 ranked teams.  Thad Matta and Tom Izzo are 0 for the Kohl Center against Ryan.

Here's a look at the Badgers starting five (from the season opener) in each of Ryan's seasons and the top 25 (ESPN poll) that were felled on Dayton St.

2001-02 (19-13, 11-5)

Starters:  Charlie Wills, Dave Mader, Travon Davis, Kirk Penney, Devin Harris

Top 25 home victims:  #15 Marquette 86-73, #7 Illinois 72-66, #22 Ohio State 94-92 (OT)

2002-03 (24-8, 12-4)

Starters:  Penney, Mike Wilkinson, Mader, Freddie Owens, Harris

Top 25 home victims:  #14 Illinois 60-59

2003-04 (25-7, 12-4)

Starters:  Wilkinson, Mader, Boo Wade, Owens, Harris

Top 25 home victims:  #23 Marquette 63-59

2004-05 (25-9, 11-5)

Starters:  Alando Tucker, Wilkinson, Andreas Helmigk, Clayton Hanson, Kammron Taylor

Top 25 home victims:  #12 Maryland 69-64, # 18 Alabama 76-62, #15 Michigan State 62-59

2005-06 (19-12, 9-7)

Starters:  Jason Chappel, Tucker, Brian Butch, Ray Nixon, Taylor

Top 25 home victims: # 7 Michigan State 82-63, # 24 Indiana 72-54, # 12 Ohio State 78-73

2006-07 (30-6, 13-3)

Starters:  Butch, Tucker, Chappel, Michael Flowers, Taylor

Top 25 home victims:  # 2 Pittsburgh 89-75, # 5 Ohio State 72-69

2007-08  (31-5, 16-2)

Starters:  Marcus Landry, Butch, Greg Stiemsma, Trevon Hughes, Joe Krabbenhoft

Top 25 home victims:  # 11 Indiana 62-49, # 19 Michigan State 57-42

2008-09 (20-13, 10-8)

Starters:  Landry, Keaton Knankivil, Hughes, Jason Bohannon, Krabbenhoft

Top 25 home victims:  # 23 Illinois 63-50, # 24 Ohio State 55-50

2009-10 (24-9, 13-5)

Starters:  Jon Luer, Knankivil, Hughes, Bohannon, Tim Jarmusz

Top 25 home victims:  # 6 Duke 73-69, # 15 Ohio State 65-43, # 4 Purdue 73-66, # 5 Michigan State 67-49

2010-11 (to date 19-5, 9-3)

Starters:  Jarmusz, Josh Gasser, Knankivil, Luer, Jordan Taylor

Top 25 home victims:  # 14 Minnesota 68-60, # 16 Illinois 76-66, # 11 Purdue 66-59, # 1 Ohio State 71-67


So take heart Buckeyes, it happens to the best of them and suffice to say, I'm not looking forward to the rematch in Columbus.  One last word of caution though, Sullinger seems to be a lot more Terence Dials that Greg Oden.

Brett Favre Is A Pimp

Well folks, the Green Bay Packers went ahead and ruined a perfectly good NFL season.  Ok, I take that back.  If anything I'm just pissed at the Bears.  They had two shots to put a bullet in that iconic "G" and both times the gun jammed.  But I'm not really here to reflect on Super Bowl XLV, if like it you already know and if you don't there is no reason to go back down that road.  There will be some reflection, however, hearkening back to a time when Brett Favre and the Dallas Cowboys ruled the NFL.

In the post Super Bowl afterglow much has been made of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers moving out from under the shadow of Favre.  While the two will forever be liked through Favre's seeming endless and overwhelmingly uncomfortable "retirement", it's just as unfair to compare Favre to Rogders as it is to compare Rodgers to Favre.  They are both spectacular quarterbacks that happen to have played for the same franchise in succession, but each is his own entity.  If any one has been validated in relation to Favre it's Packers General Manager Ted Thompson.  In bringing joy to the hearts of Packers fans Rodgers has taken a huge leap towards Favre, but in relation to the impact and legacy Favre has left behind, Rodgers has taken but a baby step.  It is also in the best interest of the Packer fan to let Rodgers be Rodgers and not Favre, because Brett was once a young, brash extrovert, not unlike Rodgers, but when it was all said and done Favre was just a good old fashioned 'vert.

Secondly, as punishment for losing Super Bowl XLV we will reminisce about the Steelers previous Super Bowl failure, Super Bowl XXX.  In a time when the wild and crazy Dallas Cowboys were easily NFL public enemy number one, the nation welcome the thought of the return to glory of the famed "Steel Curtain".  Dallas had destroyed the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII by a combined score of 82-30, but the juggernaut was ripe for the picking in Super Bowl XXX.  Twice in the second half the Steelers were with in six points or fewer of the Cowboys, but Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell couldn't help throwing the ball to Cowboy's cornerback Larry Brown who snared two passes, setting up 14 Cowboys second half points en route to a 27-17 victory.  Maybe if somebody had told then Steelers linebacker Kevin Greene "It's time!" everything would have been different.

Well that's it folks, Abraham's House Of Foolishness has thrown yet another football season in to the trash and not a moment too soon.  Now time to focus on basketball, beer and movies before the boys of summer start rustling around in earnest.

Corn Bowl XLV

Super Bowl XLV, Steelers and Packers?  Seriously?  Could you pick two cornier franchises?  Heck, one team actually plays in a cornfield.  The Packers and Steelers are the go to choices for football fans who don't like the local team or don't have a local team, making them more annoying than previously stated.  A couple things to remember while ESPN washes you with the glory of these two franchises.  Despite being in a professional football organization for seventeen more seasons than the Cleveland Browns the Steelers have won two fewer championships and despite being the NFL's leader with twelve championships the Packers have won just one since 1967.  Since then ten franchises have won at least two championships.  The Packers and Steelers certainly have earned their respective glories, but in typical ESPN/NFL wonk fashion, it's over played.

Well, now that my bitter feelings are out of the way we can take a look at the game which is a very interesting match up with much more pleasant prospects than listening to Steelers fans or looking at Packers fans.  The game is both an endorsement of the 3-4 defense and a barometer of how important running the football is to the modern NFL.

The Steelers and Packers were the league's top two regular season defenses concerning points allowed respectively and feature aggressive line backers and game changing secondaries.  Both teams are stout against the pass, but as the league's best run defense Pittsburgh holds a significant advantage against the rush.  Both teams have overwhelmed opponents this season with blitzing linebackers, so it will be interesting to see how both teams like a taste of their own medicine.

Green Bay caught a huge break when the Steelers pro bowl center Maurkice Pouncy was injured in the AFC championship game.  It's unclear whether or not Pouncy will be able to play in the Super Bowl, but it is clear that either a banged up Pouncy or his back up will be lined up against the Packers DT B.J. Raji, who may be playing the best football of anybody in league over the last six weeks.  If Pittsburgh is to win the game they will have to pound the Packers on the ground with their bulldozing back Rashard Mendenhall, get into the end zone and not give the Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers time to survey the field and find his various explosive receivers.

Green Bay has never trailed a game by more than seven points during this entire season and playoffs, which I find utterly amazing.  They are on a run reminiscent of the 2007 New York Giant that won ten consecutive road games, including three in the playoffs, before knocking off the Super Bowl success laden Patriots.

Official prediction:  Packers 28, Steelers 27

Jay Cutler Is The Best Quarterback In Bears History

That's right.  You heard me.  Jay Cutler is the best quarterback in Bears history.  This really more on an indictment on Bears quarterbacks than an unworldly achievement by Cutler, but the point is, for reactionary Bears fans, Cutler is the best thing to happen to the Bears passing game since the 1940s.  After just two seasons he is already eighth on the franchise's passing yards list and seventh in passing touchdowns.  He has thrown as many touchdowns in two season as Jim Harbaugh threw in seven seasons.  Sid Luckman is the Bears most legendary quarterback, holding the franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns.  In Luckman's first season, 1939, there were ten teams in the NFL, in his last, 1950, there were thirteen.  In Luckman's best season, 1943, there were zero black players in the NFL and in 1947 he threw 31 interceptions in 12 games.  Cutler is 26 years old and has four years of NFL experience, but because he was knocked out of the NFC championship with an MCL sprain game people conveniently forget the abuse he took playing behind one of the NFL's worst offensive lines.  Not to mention quarterbacking the Bears to the NFC championship game despite said line.  People forgot him running over Seattle defenders just one week earlier.  Quit, yeah right.

I'm not going to spend much more time sticking up for Jay, I believe Steve Rosenbloom said it best, Cutler doesn’t care about his image, so why should you?  I also think Lovie Smith hit the nail on the head by telling the media they don't put players on the field that can't defend themselves.  I'd like to see some of these dopes blasting Cutler try to fend off Clay Matthews with out being able to firmly plant one of their legs.  Then we'll see who's tough.

There was plenty of legitimate disappointment regarding the Bears performance against Green Bay, much of it stemming from Cutler's pre-injury performance.  It was pretty disheartening to see third string quarterback Caleb Hanie put together more touchdown drives against Green Bay in about a one and a half quarters than Cutler did in two and a half games.  Here's a quick recap of the Bears post season exploits.

NFC Divisional Round:  Bears 35, Seahawks 24 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  On the Bears first offensive drive of the game they used play action on third and short, fooling Seattle safety Lawyer Milloy.  Tight end Greg Olsen went streaking by, Cutler hit him for a 58 yard touchdown and the rout was on.

Player of the game:  Cutler
The Bears quarterback completed 15 of 28 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.  He also rushed eight times for 43 yards and two scores, becoming the only player other than Otto Graham two throw and run for two scores in a playoff game.

NFC Championship Round:  Packers 21, Bears 14 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  After finally getting on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter and pulling to within 14-7 the Bears faced third and four from deep inside their own territory.  Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers brilliantly dialed up a zone blitz and when the inexperienced Hanie tried to get the ball to Matt Forte short over the middle he never saw B.J. Raji.  The Packers defensive tackle snared the pass and rumbled in to the end zone for an 18 yard score.  The Bears would get in to the end zone less than two minutes later and had the ball in Packers territory inside of the game's final two minutes with a chance to tie, but they would turn the ball over and Raji's score turned out to be the deciding points.

Player of the game:  Greg Jennings
The Packers wide out caught eight passes for 130 yards, including several key grabs that helped the Packers build their early lead.

Going forward it will be hard for the Bears to repeat their 2010-11 success.  The Bears were a very good, well rounded football team and at times very explosive, but they suffered few key injuries and caught their share of breaks along the way.  A bizarre rule saved their bacon in week one, in week eleven they faced Miami's third string quarterback, Detroit's in week thirteen and when they clinched the division in Minneapolis in week thirteen not only did they not face Adrian Peterson, but due to the Metrodome's collapsed roof they didn't have to play in the Vikings true home stadium.

With a possible owner lock out on the horizon, free agency is a relative unknown.  The Bears have 14 unrestricted free agents heading into the 2011 off season, most notably starters C Olin Kruetz, DT Anthony Adams, S Danieal Manning, LB Pisa Tinoisomoa, P Brad Maynard and special teams ace Corey Graham.  I'd like to see Kruetz, Adams and Manning return, but I could take or leave the rest.  I'd also like to see the Bears strengthen the guard position in free agency.  As far a the draft is concerned I'd like for the Bears to look for future starters at wide receiver, cornerback and offensive tackle in the early rounds and reserve linebackers and offensive and defensive tackles in the later rounds.

If you asked me at the beginning of season how I would feel if the Bears won the division and advanced to the NFC title game, I would say I would love it.  Safe to say, despite the disappointing ending, the Chicago Bears 2010-11 season was a great one.

The Holiest Of Holy Wars

You have to believe.  There is no choice.  If you are a Packer fan you have to believe Green Bay is going to win the NFC Championship on Sunday.  If you are a Bears fan you have to believe the Bears are going to win the NFC Championship on Sunday.  There is no choice.  It's too big of a risk to think otherwise

I interact with many Bears and Packers fans and the second the Soldier Field crowd felt the Seahawks were comfortably handled and started the "Green Bay Sucks" chant the excitement and anticipation for the Packers vs. Bears NFC Championship showdown in Chicago was sky high.  And with each passing moment the excitement, anticipation and tension is building.  By Tuesday fans were telling me they were already having trouble sleeping because of the excitement.

There is much to be excited about on both sides.  Most importantly the two greatest rivals in professional sports are playing for a spot in the Super Bowl.  Sunday evening one team's fans will be signing from the mountain tops and the other's will be looking at a decade worth of humiliation.  I one fell swoop one fan base will be given the keys to the Super Bowl, a pair of dancing shoes and a map to the other fan's grave site.

Oh, there also is the matter of what will happen on the field.  If you are a Packer fan reading this you already know how the Packers can win and if you are a Bears fan you don't believe for a second that that is a possibility, so I'm going to focus on how the Bears will win this game.

Even though the Bears beat the Packers in Soldier Field this year and finished ahead of Green Bay for the NFC North division title, public perception once again favors the Packers.  There is reasoning to support this, the Packers have beaten in succession the Giants, Bears, Eagles and thoroughly embarrassed the Falcons.  Combined with the high level of play of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers there is much reason for excitement in cheese land.  Earlier in the season, the slight of Bears bothered me, but the Bears have made a season of doing things they weren't supposed to do and beating teams they weren't supposed to beat, so I'm fine with the Bears being the underdog and I'm sure Lovie Smith is too.  The Bears are also on an impressive run winning eight of their last ten games with wins over the Eagles, Jets and Seahawks.  Being at home should help the Bears, I see this match up as more toe to toe, than a clear advantage for either side.

The key for the Bears when they have the ball will be to run it well and run it often.  The Bears season turned from mediocre to excellent when the coaches started calling more hand offs.  With the Bears athletic guards and mauling tackles, the line is built to run and Bear receivers block down field as well as any group in the league.  Successful runs will help keep the Bears out of predictable passing situations, wear on Green Bay's elite pass rushers and set up play action.  Should the Bears have success running against Green Bay's 3-4, it will be interesting to see if the Packers would go to a 4-4-3 or maybe just play Charles Woodson as a fifth linebacker.

Now the Bears will have to put the ball in the air to win too, so giving Jay Cutler time to find receivers and make good decisions will be crucial.  In this season's match up in Lambeau, the speedy receivers Devin Hester and Johnny Knox were pushed around and a non-factor.  These two are too dynamic for the Bears to let that happen again, they have to find ways to get open. Earl Bennett didn't play in that game, hopefully his presence will help create space for the Bears speedsters.  Having a good play action game going will be big for Greg Olsen, especially if Green Bay has to adjust to stop the run.

Green Bay's offense is coming off an absolute destruction of the Falcon's defense in the Georgia Dome, but the good news for Bears fans is this week the game is outside and the Bears actually have a defense.  In week 16 the Packers put up 45 points, 404 passing yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions on the Giants.  The very next week the Bears held them to 10 points, 229 passing yards, 1 touchdown and picked off Rodgers once.  Getting pressure on Rodgers without blitzing will be the big key for the Bears defense.  Other than bringing nickel back DJ Moore off the edge, the Bears blitz game sucks and the secondary isn't good enough to check the Packers stable of receivers with out help from the front.  Green Bay has struggled to run the ball most of the season, but they feel behind James Starks they now have a new dimension.  This will certainly be put to the test as almost nobody ran well against the Bears second ranked run defense.  Most teams need to use seven or eight defenders to handle a running attack, the Bear can control even good running teams with Julius Peppers, Israel Idodije, Anthony Adams, Matt Toeaina, Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher.  Now the Bears run defense is a full team effort, but those six take a ton of pressure off the secondary.  It will be interesting to see how the Bears handle passes out of the Packers three back wishbone formation that will tempt the safeties to move up.  Turnovers are always a key for any Smith coached defense.  The Bears were third in the league in take aways and while the Packers aren't the most interception prone team, the do fumble, so the Bears will need to make sure the ball is coming out.

The Bears have hands down the best special team unit in the NFL and have for years.  Green Bay better be 110% on any special teams play or the Bears will tip the scales.  Every special teams play, extra points, everything.  A big challenge will be making Green Bay punt from deep inside their own territory forcing the Packers to kick to Hester, or give up field position kicking away from him.

Official prediction:  Several hundred Packer fans being serenaded by tens of thousands of Bears fans.  Run the ball, stop the run.  Bears 22, Packers 20

Seahawk, It's Not A Word.

When I was a kid I was under the assumption that the Buccaneers, Saints and Seahawks would never win the Super Bowl.  Thanks to the bungling of a couple less than choice AFC squads two thirds of this dream has been crushed, but the Milwaukee Brewers of the NFL are keeping hope alive.  Despite winning only seven games in the regular season, the Seahens have not only claimed a playoff spot, but have also knocked of the defending champion New Orleans Saints, shaking the very foundation of the world.  The well rested, second seeded, eleven win Chicago Bears should no problem knocking off a team that shouldn't even be in the playoffs, right?  Uh, well, muh.....suh...

Ok, Ok, calm down, of course the Bears are going to win.  It just will be more annoyingly challenging than necessary.  Not because Seattle is some under valued squad or set to take a magical playoff dream come true, but because there is one big match up issue.  The Bears defensive mind set is keep everything short and make teams execute the length of the field, assuming their will be a mistake (sack, holding or turnover), but veteran Seattle quarterback and his slew of capable receivers are built for methodical, precise execution.  When Seattle beat Chicago in week six Mike Williams torched the Bears for 123 yards on ten catches.

There are some differences in the Bears this time around and, of course, some ways to make sure this doesn't end the Bears season.  The first adjustments will come on offense.  In the first meeting Matt Forte and Chester Taylor combined to run the ball 12 times for 42 yards.  In the Bears final eight games the duo averaged almost 23 carries a game for 91.5 yards a game.  Not only has the commitment to run been improved, but the biggest improvement for the Bears offensive line has been their run blocking on the edges.  Also by earning the bye the team has had an extra week of rest and preparation.  Since the Bears didn't know who their opponent would be until Sunday, they had to start game planning for three different teams, the real value is the Bears had an extra week to scout themselves.  An extra week of prep for offensive coordinator Mike Martz means, the Bears will use their past formation tendencies to set up unpredictable plays, maybe a big end around.

Defensively having linebacker Lance Briggs available will be a boon for the Bears, as he missed first meeting with an ankle injury.  Briggs speed, instincts and tackling are a big reason the Bears can control a team's running game and short passing attack.  Keeping Seattle's backs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett from gaining traction on the ground will also be key.  The two ground out 111 yards and two touchdowns in the first meeting.  Keeping Seattle to 3 and 7's or longer would be huge, as will getting to the quarterback.  Every team wants to pressure the quarterback, but with an aging, beat up Hasselback at the helm and early battering would keep him physically and mentally uncomfortable in a hostile environment.

Prediction:  Bears 23, Hens 13

2010 Chicago Bears Season Review

What a season is was for your Chicago Bears.  A team that generally was expected to finish behind preseason media darlings Green Bay and Minnesota wound up controlling divisional play and ended up NFC North division champions.  Despite winning eleven games, this team was as unpredictable week to week as any in the NFL.  Yes they usually won, but there was no real calling card.  Some weeks it was a big return from Devin Hester that made the difference, others it was a dominating defensive performance leading the way to victory and some weeks the offense simply lit up the skies.  Bear loses were generally highlighted by poor offensive line play and thrown interceptions.

Week One:  Bears 19, Lions 14 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  Detroit appeared to take the lead inside the game's final minute as quarterback Shaun Hill, subbing for Mathew Stafford whom the Bears knocked out in the first half, appeared to connect with Calvin Johnson on a spectacular leaping touchdown catch, but the ball squirted out of Johnson's hand as he was getting up and the officials ruled he had not completed the process of the catch.  Detroit's final two passes fell incomplete and the Bears walked off the field winners.

Player of the game:  Matt Forte
The Bears starting half back posted 201 total yards (50 rush, 151 receiving) and two receiving touchdowns.

Week Two:  Bears 27, Cowboys 20 @ Dallas

Play of the game:  In the final minute of the first quarter Bears quarterback Jay Cutler hit tight end Greg Olsen for a 39 yard touchdown pass.  The pass traveled less than ten yards, but most of the Cowboy defenders has rushed up field and Olsen out raced the rest to the end zone.  This sparked a quick pass strategy and brilliant Cutler performance that neutralized the Cowboys aggressive blitz that had paralyzed the Bears offense for most of the first quarter.

Player of the game: Cutler
Jay completed 21 of 29 passes for 277 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Week Three:  Bears 20, Packers 17 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  With just over two minutes to go in a tie ball game Bears linebacker Lance Briggs caught Packers receiver James Jones near the sideline and fellow linebacker Brian Urlacher arrived shortly after and knocked the ball out of Jones's hands.  Bears cornerback Tim Jennings recovered ball near midfield as both the ball and Jennings narrowly managed to stay in bounds.  The Bears would use the possession to kick the go ahead field goal with four seconds remaining in the game.

Player of the game:  Hester
The Bears punt returner returned three punts for 93 yards including a 62 yard touchdown.  He also caught one pass for 16 yards.

Week Four:  Giants 17, Bears 3 @ New York

Play of the game:  When the Bears offense returned the second half it was revealed that Cutler had suffered a concussion during the Giants first half nine sack barrage and would not finish the game.

Player of the game: Osi Umenyiora
The Giants defensive end recorded four tackles, three of the Giants ten sacks and forced two fumbles.

Week Five:  Bears 23, Panthers 6 @ Charlotte

Play of the game: Bears defensive end Julius Peppers spectacular pass deflection and interception in the first quarter
set up a Bears field goal and was a microcosm of the Bears defensive dominance.

Player of the game:  Forte
Matt put up 188 total yards (166 rush, 22 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns.

Week Six:  Seahawks 23, Bears 20 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  At the start of the second quarter Seattle converted a third and goal from the nine yard line as running back Justin Forsett bowled over the Bears defense for a score.

Player of the game:  Mike Williams
The Seattle receiver shredded the Bears defense time and time again catching ten passes for 123 yards.

Week Seven:  Redskins 17, Bears 14 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  With the Bears leading 14-10 in the third quarter Cutler tried a quarterback sneak from the one yard line, fumbled and the Bear lost possession.  Replays showed that the ball had broken the plane of the goal line, but Lovie Smith never challenged the call and the Bears never recovered.

Player of the game:  DeAngelo Hall
The Washington cornerback made seven tackles and picked off Cutler four times, returning one for the go ahead score.

Week Eight:  Bye

Week Nine:  Bears 22, Bills 19 @ Toronto

Play of the game:  Jennings fourth quarter interception of Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and 39 yard return set up the Bears go ahead touchdown and two point conversion.  At the time of the pick the Bear trailed the winless Bills 19-14.

Player of the game:  Jennings
The Bears cornerback made nine tackles, assisted two others and changed the game with his interception.

Week Ten:  Bears 27, Vikings 13 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  Half way through the fourth quarter the Bears play action fooled the Vikings on third and one from the the Vikings 19 yard line and Cutler hit a wide open Kellen Davis for a touchdown extending the lead to two possessions.  The pass was the only reception of the season for Davis.

Player of the game:  Briggs
The Bears star linebacker made five tackles and an interception, leading a stalwart defensive effort that held the Vikings to 13 points, forced four turnovers and held Adrian Peterson to 51 rushing yards.

Week Eleven:  Bears 16, Dolphins 0 @ Miami

Play of the game:  Near the end of the third quarter Forte crashed into the end zone from two yards out for the games only touchdown and final points.

Player of the game:  Peppers
The Bears big ticket defensive end recorded five tackles, one assist, three sacks and broke up a pass in the shutout victory.

Week Twelve:  Bears 31, Eagles 26 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  The Eagles held the ball mid way through the second quarter at the Bears four yard line trailing by one when safety Chris Harris recorded the first interception of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick off a pass deflected by defensive tackle Tommie Harris.  The Bears offense marched the ensuing possession into the Eagles end zone shortly before the half expired and never looked back.

Player of the game:  Earl Bennett
The Bears wide out caught four passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns in a game dominated by the Bears speed and aggressiveness.

Week Thirteen:  Bears 24, Lions 20 @ Detroit

Play of the game:  Cutler connected with tight end Brandon Manumaleuna from seven yards out mid way through the fourth quarter to give the Bears the four point difference.

Player of the game:  Urlacher
The face of the franchise registered nine tackles, eight assists and his fourth quarter combination sack with D.J. Moore helped ice the game.

Week Fourteen:  Patriots 36, Bears 7 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  The Bears were already trailing by 27 points when rookie safety Major Wright forgot to stay deeper than the deepest and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hit Deion Branch for a 59 yard touchdown as the first half expired.  Even if this play is defensed properly the Bears still get blown out, but it really showed how much more prepared the Pats were than the Bears.

Player of the game:  Brady
The New England quarterback completed 27 of 40 passes for 369 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a driving blizzard.

Week Fifteen:  Bears 40, Vikings 14 @ Minneapolis

Play of the game:  Bears defensive end Corey Wootton's second quarter third down sack of Vikings quarterback Brett Favre near midfield knocked the legendary quarterback out of the game and possibly ended his career.

Player of the game:  Hester
Devin caught two passes for 23 yards and a touchdown, but more importantly contributed 146 kick/punt return yards on three returns including one score.  Hester broke Brian Mitchell's record for kick/punt return touchdowns with his 14th career score.  This number does not include his missed field goal return against the Giants in 2006 or his opening kick off return of Super Bowl XLI.

Week Sixteen:  Bears 38, Jets 34 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  On the Jets opening possession of the second half they tried to convert a fourth and two near midfield with a fake punt using quarterback Matt Sanchez as the punter's personal protector, but the Bears were not fooled.  Wide out and special teamer Rashied Davis sniffed out the play and harassed intended receiver Brad Smith enough to force an incompletion.  The very next play Cutler hit Johnny Knox for a 40 yard touchdown to tie the game and start the victory momentum.

Player of the game:  Cutler
The Bears quarterback completed 13 of 25 passes for 215 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against a defense that ranked sixth in the league in pass defense.  He also ran for a touchdown.

Week Seventeen:  Packers 10, Bears 3 @ Green Bay

Play of the game:  Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit receiver Greg Jennings for 46 yards to the Bears one yard line on a play that expertly victimized the principles of the Bears very effected cover two defense.  The Packers would convert for the game's only touchdown and deciding score.

Player of the game:  Charles Woodson
The Packers star defender made five tackles, one assist, one sack and broke up three passes leading a terrorizing defensive charge.

Top Three Bears Games Of 2010

3. Week Twelve:  Bears 31, Eagles 26 @ Chicago

This game marked the Bears first test against an elite team after the half way point of the season and the Bears showed up aces.  A late touchdown pass from Vick to Brent Celek made the final score closer than the play on the field.  The Bears out ran and out willed the Eagles in all phases of the game and announced to the league they were a serious playoff threat.

2.  Week Three:  Bears 20, Packers 17 @ Chicago 

The Bears validated their surprising week two victory in Dallas by knocking off the Packers in week three.  The Bears took advantage of the Packers sloppy play and shocked the league on Monday night.  It sent a message to Green Bay that the Bears were indeed a good team and anything that sends a Packers fan home unhappy is good by me.

1.  Week Fifteen:  Bears 40, Vikings 14 @ Minneapolis

It is almost impossible to have a season where the Bears beat Green Bay and not have it be my top game of the season, but there was so much good in this one game.  Plus the Vikings are like the Packers ugly girlfriend.  In the same game the Bears won the division title,  Hester broke the returns record, the Vikings learned that playing outdoors is the right thing to do and Favre's career was ended.  Not even beating the Packers can top that.

Bear Of 2010:  MLB Brian Urlacher
There were more serious candidates than usual for this, but after spending 2009 going 7-9 with out Urlacher, 2010's 11-5 record showed how much he means to this team.  The addition of Peppers was huge as were resurgent years from Hester and Forte, a more responsible Cutler and the contributions of coaching additions Mike Martz and Mike Tice, but Urlacher is the engine that drives the Bears.  His ability to control the middle of the field is the main reason the Bears defense is so tough and opportunistic.

Country Roads, Take Me Home

Well cheese doodles, due to the respective play of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, today's NFL regular season showdown between the two greatest sports rivals has been reduced to an extra exhibition game for the Bears (Of course assuming either the Falcons beat the Panthers or Saints beat the Buccaneers, but then again we all knew Joe Webb would lead the Vikings to victory of the Eagles, right?).

I follow a lot of Packer media and know a lot of Packers fans.  Common (but not exclusive) perception among people of this ilk is that the Packers are the better team.  Because they lose more or something like that.  A lot of the perception stems from the fact that when Green Bay wins, the do it with more flourish.  The Packers have a point differential of +141 to the Bears +55.  Really this should serve as a reminder that under Mike McCarthy the Packers are 5-16 in games decided by four points or fewer.  The Bears have won four games decided by four or fewer this season alone.  More importantly in this odd battle of perception the Bears always seem to lose (I guess I'd rather win battle of reality) let us not forget the Bears beat the Packers head to head and while Chicago benefited from a bizarre rule to hold on and beat the Lions in week one, at no point did the Bears actually lose to the Lions.  The Bears may not blow many teams away on the score board, but they are one of the few teams in the NFL that can beat you with offense, defense and special teams.

The Bears have been talking the talk, saying they will go all out to beat the Packers, despited more than likely being locked in to the two seed with a first round bye.  The prospect of sweeping the division and possibly keeping Green Bay out of the playoffs are on the table for the Bears, but that seems like small consolation vs the prospect of having to start Todd Collins in a playoff game.  I think the Bears will pull key starters early in this one.

Let's say the Bears phone this one in, escorting the Packers to the playoffs like a boozed up prom date.  In the playoffs teams aren't very likely to get blown out (remember cheese doodles if you are in, the Giants are out).  Maybe here and there, but a deep playoff run from a wild card (which the Packers would be) would probably take 2-3 wins where the game's final score is with in one possession.  Against teams that have made the playoffs the Packers are 2-3 beating the Eagles by 7 and the Jets by 9 and losing to the Bears by 3, the Falcons by 3 and the Patriots by 4.  By contrast the Bears are 2-1 vs teams that have made the playoffs beating the Eagles by 4, the Jets by 4 and losing to Patriots by 29.  The Bears 1-2 against teams that could still make the playoffs beating the Packers by 3 and losing to the Seahawks by 3 and the Giants by 14.  I didn't list the Packers win over the Giants, because should the Giants make the playoffs the Packers wouldn't rendering their record against anyone moot.

So I guess the Bears would be more likely than the Packers to get beat by multiple scores in the playoffs, but both teams are equally beatable.  In an elimination tournament it doesn't matter if Matt Flynn keeps you within four of the Patriots, fewer points and you are out.  By beating Green Bay in week three and not losing to Detroit, the Bears are in a position to have to win at least one home game and at most one road game to get to the Super Bowl.  If Green Bay gets in, they would have to go to Philadelphia, a place they won this season, but Mike Vick only played the second half, rallying for 17 of the Eagles 20 points to get the Eagles within seven.  If the Pack could duplicate their success in Philadelphia, they would most likely go to Atlanta, where they have already lost and should they advance they would most likely go to Chicago (where they have already lost) or to New Orleans to face the defending champs.  I don't think either of these teams will be playing on super Sunday, but I'd much rather be in Lovie Smith's shoes.

Wait by the phone cheese doodles, but don't be surprised if the Bears don't come calling, they have a date with a prettier team, the New Orleans Saints.

Packers 34, Bears 10  Bears pull starters in the first half, Green Bay pulls them in the second and Abraham clicks over to the Badgers basketball game at five.