Jay Cutler will always have a cult following. People still believe he was the best quarter back in Bears history. Yes indeed he has all the stats to prove that he’s the best. People probably would like him leading the squad in 2017. Even Hall of Famer and former Bear Dan Hampton last weekend said to a crowd if Cutler was the starting quarter back in the 80’s the Bears would of won four titles. Jay Cutler has left his imprint on Chicago as people will talk about this guy for decades to come. Either hardly good, bad or ugly Jay Cutler will be bar stool conversation in Chicago. I figured the next time we were going to discuss Cutler was how he will handle himself in the broadcast booth. My opinion on that is he will probably do well. We know we will get him doing plenty of Bears games as well which will be interesting on what he says. Would you be mean to the people that gave you a few brinks trucks of cash? For right now would he have won four titles with that great defense in the 80’s?

It is not a secret that Dan Hampton has disliked Jim McMahon for a very long time including when they were teammates. I can see people disliking the Punky QB. Especially a straight laced defensive lineman. Lots of people hate the quarter back because they get all the pub and fame.While a Dan Hampton type of player works the trenches does all the dirty work and people want to know what Jim McMahon’s thinks about the game. However they both played the game and as teammates they both won a lot of football games. People always say why didn’t the Bears win another title. Putting hatred aside could Dan be thinking it was the QB position that costed them a chance for another title.

People say if Jim McMahon stayed healthy they would of won another title easily. I do think a lot of factors come into play why the Bears did not win another title. McMahon being hurt was one of the reasons. Especially with the hits he took back then when now a days you can not get away with the crazy hits especially  helmet to helmet contact. The Green Bay defensive lineman body slammed McMahon to turf that lacerated the man’s kidneys. His injuries definitely did stall the team. That team had to many egos. Especially the head coach Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan who hated each other. It seem like it was the tale of two cities. Ryan had the defense Mike had the offense. It did work for one magical season. However Buddy Ryan left after they won the Superbowl to become a head coach and it did not help. The defense loved Buddy Ryan. Even though the defensive unit still played well after Buddy left it still was not the same. These two coaches would only thrive working together, not on separate paths. Then eventually losing Wilbur Marshall. Wilbur is one player on a defensive team of superstars. However he somehow always came up with huge plays at the most important part of the game. Plus his huge hits on quarterbacks was masterful. I still remember when he was in a skins uniform, the lick he put on Troy Aikman.You can’t keep everybody but he would be the one they should of kept. Then everyone seemed to have their own endorsement and their own key to the city. Like in Rocky, he lost his edge. The Bears did well but they did not have the eye of the tiger to repeat.

As a starting QB in the NFL, Jim McMahon was 67-30. That’s 37 games over 500 when McMahon is the starting QB. Jay Cutler finished his sorry ass career last season and his career record as a starter is 68-71. Three games under 500. Cutler has all the tools of a starting QB. So did Jeff George. Both QBs didn’t live up to their hype. McMahon was the leader and he’d find a way to win the game. He showed grit by doing the unthinkable. He had fire in his belly to make the extra yard. Like the game he came off the bench on Monday Night football, the team was down in the second half by a few scores. He brought them back in amazing fashion and the Bears went on to win that game. When McMahon made a mistake he would be pissed off. He would come back to correct his mistake. In Cutler’s world the biggest key of evidence is why Jay would not be able to win four titles even with the 80’s defense. Cutler does not care as he nonchalants his butt to the sidelines after a mistake. He probably thinks about his model girlfriend and what they are having for dinner instead of coming back the next series and making something good happen. Game on the line, McMahon would come up with the big play to seal the deal. While Cutler would make the biggest boneheaded mistake of the game. Maybe Dan Hampton thinks he could guide the poor Cutler and lift his spirits and help make him a better player. Not in the cards because you can’t teach an old dog new tricks and Cutler is a dog. McMahon played with heart and guts. They really did not have anybody else to help lead them when McMahon was injured. Remember Cutler had lots of injuries as well. I think Dan has lost his marbles putting all of his eggs in Cutlers basket. Hampton is probably right – if they had a stable quarterback at that position they might have won multiple titles. If you had Dan Marino, Jim Kelly or Joe Montana they would of been the Bulls and won a six pack of championships. Let’s remember these are the Chicago Bears and they really have no clue what a good quarterback looks like.

If I had to pick a quarterback, the Bears actually had to lead the 80s Bears, only one comes to mind that would do well. Actually Kyle Orton would of been a great quarterback for that team in the 80’s. With that defense the Bears just needed a game manager. Kyle stayed healthy most of his career so he would of kept the quarterback position stable. Kyle never made the big mistakes Cutler has made. See how easy it is to throw Cutler in another topic. The topic in which he arrived in Chicago in the first place. Orton to Denver and Cutler to Chicago is how it all started. At that time almost everyone loved that trade. Now watching that disaster unfold I still can’t believe how many people still stick up for Cutler and make him sound like he was the best ever when he really is just a cancer that ended up getting many people fired. Someone give Hampton some smelling salts to wake up his brain from a deep slumber. He is right about the position not being stable but he’s away with the band with his choice of the guy behind center if it worked out that way.

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This list consists of games that were played involving a Chicago professional team or a Chicagoland College game. I have probably missed a lot of great games. These games I have on my list were games I have been to or games that I have watched and never have forgotten how good they were. I am probably missing lots of games that were equally great or even better than the ones Ive mention. These are teams I have been a fan of as well. This list is my opinion on some of the greatest Chicago moments in sports throughout my life time so far.

#15. 2006 BEARS VERSUS CARDINALS

The Bears won this game 24-23. This was the game of Dennis Green’s famous rant after his team lost a game the Cardinals should of won.

In 2006 the Bears quarterback play had good Rex or bad Rex. On this night they had bad Rex Grossman. The Bears won this game without scoring a offensive touchdown. Devin Hester ran a punt return back. Charles Tillman and Mike Brown had defensive scores to win this game.

 

#14. 1985 NFL PLAYOFFS BEARS VERSUS RAMS

This was the first game on the road to the Superbowl for the Chicago Bears. It was a snowy day in Chicago and Bears defense rose to the occasion as they put on clinic against the LA RAMS. My favorite highlight is Wilbur Marshall taking the ball on defense and running it back for a score in the snow.

Bears won 24-0

#13. 5-1-90 BULLS VERSUS BUCKS IN MILWAUKEE FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS GAME THREE.

I was in high school and I went to Milwaukee with my good friend Phil Zack and his dad to see this game at the Bradley center. Bulls lost this game 119-112 but this was the only game I went to where I saw Michael Jordan play live and he scored 48 points in this loss.

#12. University of Illinois versus Indiana in Hoosier country in 1989.

I loved the 1989 Illinois squad which called themselves the Flying Illini. This game they were on the road in regular season on 3-5-89 and Nick Anderson hit a three to win the game 70-67 against a tough Bobby Knight team.

#11. 7-23-2009 White Sox versus the Tampa Rays. This was Mark Buehrle’s perfect game as the White sox won 5-0. Dewayne Wise made that awesome catch at the wall to keep the perfect game perfect.

#10. THE 1998 IHL TURNER CUP CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHICAGO WOLVES AND THE DETROIT VIPERS

6-15-98 IT CAME DOWN TO GAME SEVEN. I had never gone to game seven in sports at the time. I remember getting these tickets from Carson Pirie Scott the day of at their ticket master outlet. I managed to get like seven tickets and we were in our early twenties. Every ticket was used as we went up to the Rosemont Horizon, now known as All-state Arena. It was a packed house and it was a time the Black hawks were horrible. Nothing but crickets at their games. This game had it all. Wolves ended up winning 3-0 to capture their first ever Turner cup. They even ended the contest with the Vipers with a brawl like in the movie slap shot.

#9.White Sox versus Houston Astros in the World Series in 2005 game three.

This game was one of the longest World Series games in history as it went 14 innings. The White Sox were up 2-0 as this was the first game in Houston. The game went on for a lifetime. I remember hanging out and drinking at my buddy Dan Murray’s brother’s house. I had to work the next day so had to go home in the wee hours of the morning to finally see Geoff Blum’s home run to take the lead. It eventually was the game winner and gave the sox the 3-0 advantage.

#8.Also in 2005 it was the very first White Sox playoff game in that historical run they made. It was the first round White Sox against the Boston Red Sox. Before this game I was happy I just got tickets to go to my first ever baseball playoff game. It was Greg Spatz Senior, Dan Murray and myself and we did some tail gating before the game. The thoughts were we hoped the White Sox would win the game. We didn’t know it was the beginning of something really special. The White Sox destroyed the Red Sox 14-2. Jose Contreras pitched a whale of a ball game as Scotty Podsednik went yard in this contest.

#7 in 2005 University of Illinois versus Arizona in the elite 8.

Illinois was down 14 with only 4 minutes to go. I was at a family Easter party at the Bohemian Garden which recently closed. I remembering watching this contest with the family and the extended family. Kids were doing their eater egg hunt while most of the party hovered around the bar to watch Deron Williams, Luther Head and others make a comeback. They eventually won the game to then move on to the final four. I remember learning my Aunt Dory was a big time basketball fan. PRICELESS.

#6.DA BEARS

1-27-86 SUPER BOWL XX THE BEARS STEAM ROLLED THE PATRIOTS.

If I was an adult during this game I probably would of appreciated this a lot more. But I watched it and I was very excited to see the fridge rumble and tumble in the end zone. To see them carry off Ditka and Buddy Ryan… it was a team with two coaches that hated each other but found a way to win it all. I remember collecting all the Bears posters from the newspapers. Collecting all of the McDonald cards of the players. The city had Bear fever for months. It was a team that should of won many more. When your team wins the big game it is something special when they just demolish their opponent. Would of been cool if Tom Brady was the quarter back.

#5.Jordan’s final shot in Bulls uniform.

1998 June 14,1998 Michael Jordan took a fade away shot to win game six in the finals against the Utah Jazz. He could of had the best walking away in the sunset of all time. But he came back and played for Washington a few years before he retired from the game. He won six championships out of six appearances. Lebron King James is something like 2 or three of eight.

#4.Jordan plays with the flu.

Michael Jordan was sick as a dog on 6-11-97 in game five against the Jazz. Both teams tied 2-2 and game five is always huge in a series, best out of seven. Michael, who looked like he was going to keel over at some point during this game, managed to score 38 points to help the Bulls take the series lead and eventually they went on to win their fifth title.

#3. BLACKHAWKS VERSUS THE FLYERS IN GAME SIX IN THE FINALS IN 2010.

This was very special as this was the first Blackhawk title I have seen. Patrick Kane shooting a walk off goal that nobody but him knew it went in to give the Blackhawks their first title since the 1960s. I remember watching and being like, “what just happened?” Even the announcers were confused. The only player celebrating was Patrick Kane as his shot snuck in the net but got stuck in back of the net. After a few minutes the Philadelphia crowd was as stunned as the Blackhawk fans at home when they found the puck inside the net as that was the game winner.

#2. My first game with my dad.

1983 IN THE OLD COMISKEY.

The first game I ever went to was September 9,1983 – White Sox versus the California Angels.  Going to Pacific Sub before the game for something to eat when they had a neighborhood surrounding the ballpark. Then walking in for the first time was MAGICAL. Then to see the fireworks go off after the first home run, then the second, then the third in a row was like I must of died and gone to heaven. Carlton Fisk, Tom Paciorek, then the Bull Greg Luzinski lit up the scoreboard that night. The Windy City saw colors blasting through the air like it was the Fourth of July. Then to see Britt Burns end up throwing a one hitter. Plus to see hall of famer Rod Carew on the Angels play.

#1. EVERYONE MUST KNOW.. When the White Sox captured the World Series in 2005 breaking a 88 year old drought. I was at Deja Brew for this game when this history unfolded.  It was the red man Dan Murray and Phil Zack as we watched Jermaine Dye drive in the only run of the game. Then we saw Juan Uribe make one hell of a catch diving into the seats for a foul ball. It was a very special night as the song from Journey played, Don’t Stop Believing.