If you are a Minnesota Vikings fan today, you probably should be more happy than sad seeing Kirk Cousins flying south to Atlanta. Cousins will be the man behind center for the Atlanta Falcons next season. Cousins leaves Minnesota after six seasons as Captain of the Vikings ship. Cousins at 35 years old gets a 4 year deal with the Vikings for 180 million of which the 12 year veteran of the NFL will get 50 million signing bonus to soar with the Falcons. The Falcons may now be the team in the worst division of the NFL, the NFC South that has the best quarterback.

Last year, Kirk Cousins managed to play 8 games in his final year in Minnesota as he tore his achilles in week 8. Cousins had the Vikings at 4-4 at the time and was having a fine season after the poor start out of the gate. Cousins was completing 69.5% of his passes & had 18 touchdown passes with only 5 interceptions. Cousins’ career started with the Washington Redskins where he played his first six seasons in the nation’s capital. He arrived in Minnesota in the 2018 season and played six seasons. Behind center for the Vikings, Cousins’ record was 50-37-1. Cousins only managed to get the Vikings to 3 playoff games won and he went 1-2 in the post-season in a Vikings uniform. Cousins is 1-4 in his career in the post-season where he lost his first two playoff games in a Redskins uniform. Cousins’ career record as a starter is 76-67-2 and has thrown 270 career touchdown passes with 110 interceptions. He is a 4-x Pro Bowler.

The Atlanta Falcons last playoff appearance came in 2017 where they lost in the division round. The Falcons offense was very one-dimensional last year with Desmond Ridder taking most of the snaps. The Falcons were still in the mix of things in the crappy division that features the Saints, Buccaneers, and the Panthers. The Falcons had a strong running game with a pretty good defense that kept them in the thick of things most of the year. The Falcons tried to save their season inserting another X-Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke down the stretch to help juice up the passing game, but the Buccaneers prevailed as the South champs. The team fired their head coach Arthur Smith this off-season. They replaced him with the LA Rams defensive coach Raheem Morris. Morris a few seasons back was the interim head coach of the Falcons when they fired Dan Quinn. Morris went 4-7 as the Falcons played well for him. In the end, he did not get the head coaching job until this off-season as he comes back to Atlanta. Obviously Morris and the front office wanted to fix the quarterback situation as their first priority. Cousins is their answer.

Kirk Cousins in Minnesota had the best receiver in the NFC in Justin Jefferson the last few seasons. Some will say Jefferson may be the best receiver in the game. Cousins had a top tight end in TJ Hockenson and a nice season from rookie wide receiver in Jordan Addison. Now Cousins will have a better back field in hot Atlanta with Bijan Robinson lining up in the back field. The Falcons wide receiver second year man Drake London put up great numbers with a bad quarterback play as he had 69 catches for 905 yards with two touchdowns. Kyle Pitts is no slouch at the tight end position for the Falcons as his numbers will surge with Cousins behind center. Cousins is a middle of the road quarterback in the NFL. You could say that about Matthew Stafford as he was inserted into the Rams quarterback position which resulted in a Superbowl ring. Cousins is like that great fantasy quarterback that can get you a ton of points because his teams can play from behind and have to pass the ball. How will he respond after his injury he suffered last year? Is he better than Bryce Young of the Panthers. Yes. I think I’d rather Cousins than Derek Carr of the Saints. I may give Baker Mayfield the edge in Tampa Bay over Cousins. Obviously the Falcons can add more pieces around Cousins. Where will Cousins get you a first round loss or a Superbowl? I think Vikings fans want something more than a one and done in the playoffs. Other teams like Atlanta may like to get to the post-season. The age of 35 scares me. Sure Joe Flacco played well in regular season for the Browns and he’s older than Cousins. Flacco did not play well in the playoff game in the loss to the Texans. If you are a wide receiver in Atlanta, you’re loving this move bringing in Cousins. Would Atlanta have been better off with a guy like Justin Fields? A younger guy with a young Falcons team? We will see how this will unfold when the season starts. We know one of the biggest dominoes in the free agent market at the quarterback position comes off the board.

Last season, the Chicago Bears struck fast in the free agency market delivering a ton of defensive needs. The Bears first move for the 2024 season is landing a number 1 running back. Last season, the Bears ran the ball by committee with Khalil Herbert and a rookie out of the University of Texas, Roschon Johnson. The Bears let David Montgomery walk out the door as he signed with the Lions and had a monster year. Newly hired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron wants a number one option at the running back position and they sign D’Andre Swift to a 3 year commitment for 24 million. The 25 year old Swift had his best season of his career with the Eagles last year, his lone season in Philadelphia, and he’s a former Lions running back.

D’Andre Swift made his first ever pro bowl, as a guy drafted by Detroit in 2020 out of Georgia University. He was selected in the 2nd round 35th overall. His rookie season in Detroit he had a knack for finding the end zone with 13 rushing touchdowns. Last year with the Eagles, he had his best year running the football as he tallied over 1,000 rushing yards with (1,049). He averaged 4.6 a carry and scored 5 rushing touchdowns. He also added 39 catches out of the back field for 214 yards and 1 touchdown reception. In the last three seasons, he averaged 5 rushing touchdowns as he he has 23 total in his 4 year career.

Last year the Bears leading rusher was Khalil Herbert who played in 12 games and tallied (611) rushing yards. The 3rd year back out of Virginia Tech averaged 4.6 yards a carry and found the end zone twice. Then the rookie Roschon Johnson had 81 touches for 352 yards with 2 rushing touchdowns. He averaged 4.3 yards a touch. Johnson caught 34 balls out of the back field while Herbert caught 20 balls. The veteran D’Onta Foreman chipped in with 4 rushing touchdowns. If the Bears stayed the course with David Mongomery, he had 219 touches for over 1,000 yards as he tallied (1,015) and he found the end zone 13 times. He averaged 4.6 yards a touch. D’Andre Swift looks like an upgrade over Johnson and Herbert. If the Bears would have kept Mongomery, Swift would not be needed for this upcoming season. Anyone can now play Monday morning quarterback as Swift would now be the featured back in Chicago’s offense.

The Chicago Bears have not revealed what they are going to do with the number one pick. Will Justin Fields still be the guy behind center next season or would the Bears draft Caleb Williams out of USC? Williams is predicted to be the best quarterback in the upcoming draft. Whatever move the Bears do at the quarterback position, it will be good to have a solid running back in the back field. Bringing in D’Andre Swift gives the team a bruising style back that can wear down opposing defenses. It would give the Bears offense another weapon at Fields’ disposal. It would certainly help a rookie quarterback in Williams as well. Both Fields and Williams are duel threat quarterbacks and can make things happen by running the football if needed. With a number one threat as a running back, it keeps the defenses guessing about who’s going to to run the ball on certain plays. The Bears have two back up options in last years guys in Khalil Herbert and Rochon Johnson. One of them can be a third down option for this offense next year as well. Shane Waldron’s offense last year in Seattle had a feature back. The Seahawks had two backs that thrived in his system. It opened up play action passes for Geno Smith. I still like to see the Bears add another offensive line piece as we know Fields holds on to the ball too long at times. Another piece to the offensive line gives these backs bigger holes for Swift and others to exploit for big chunks of yardage.

Looks like the circus is back in town on July 20th in Texas. The main event features the baddest man to ever walk the Earth, 57 year old Mike Tyson, versus former MMA fighter now boxer, You-Tuber Jake Paul who is 27 years old. Tyson will be 58 years old when this fight takes place this summer at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Paul was part of the under card fight when Tyson fought last in November of 2020 when Iron Mike squared off against Roy Jones Jr, a guy in the same ballpark as Tyson’s age. Paul that night fought former NBA basketball star turned boxer Nate Robinson who he knocked out in round two in his second professional bout. It has not been ruled an exhibition or professional bout. Can Tyson give this kid a beat down like he deserves while approaching the age of 60? This fight will score more You Tube followers for Paul who has already has 20 million followers. We know it comes down to money being streamed on Netflix.

Who is Jake Paul? Paul is a social media genius making money off his videos. Besides You tube subscribers, Paul has 5.7 followers on Face book. On Twitter/X 4.6 followers, Instagram 25.9 million subscribers, Tik Tok 17.3 million followers. It started with his MMA career & now he’s taking full advantage of the money from the bout and the videos. Paul so far is 9-1 for his boxing career. His only loss came from Tommy Fury. He is the brother of heavy weight champion Tyson Fury.

Jake Paul was paid 3.2 million for that bout versus Fury. All together he might have made 30 million in that fight with all the social media followers. The fight he beat up on Nate Robinson in, earned him 1.2 million and who knows what he earned from that on You Tube. He’s coming off back to back wins over two club level boxers, not killers, that resulted in 2 first round knock outs. He dispatched Andre August and Ryan Bourland. Paul is nicknamed the problem child. His face tattoo is a dragon. He once chomped down on raw cow testicle for kicks. May have resulted in banking a brinks truck taking a bite out of cow. His sketchy past includes criminal trespassing which charges were dropped. Oh my.

Iron Mike Tyson was a symbol of the sport of boxing back in the 1980’s and 90’s. Tyson was bat shit crazy in the ring as we remember him chomping part of Evander Holyfield’s ear off in a championship bout. Tyson was the vilian back then. He was the heavy weight champion of the world and had 58 total fights as he won 50 and suffered 6 losses. Tyson had 44 knockouts in those 50 wins. In 2020, he looked sharp in the Fight with Roy Jones Jr. which was an exhibition match. His last official match for Tyson came in a loss to Kevin McBride on June 11th 2005. His last win came in 2003 when he beat up on Clifford Etienne, a fight that lasted 49 seconds. Tyson was an animal that went to prison for rape and served 6 years for that crime. His face tattoo is a warrior. His story goes back growing up on the tough streets of New York. How he got screwed by boxing promoter Don King. After retiring, you see Mike in a whole new light as he played himself in one of the greatest comedies in the movie The Hangover. It seems like the Hollywood scene has given us a calmer version of the guy that was out for blood and punishment. A guy that may have the all-time most powerful punch in the boxing ring.

I feel if Mike Tyson was 27 years old, he would turn Jake Paul into Glass Joe of Mike’s old Nintendo game. Tyson will be 58 years when this fight takes place. Paul is 30 years younger than Mike. I think this match-up will be better than the celebrity boxing match between Screech Powers of Saved by the Bell and Arnold Horshack from Welcome Back Kotter. Look up that bout on YouTube.

Mike Tyson is always must-see television. I’m sure Netflix will have an additional charge to watch this all unfold. I remember the friend we all hung around with always purchased pay-per-view when it came to Tyson back in the day. Even if you open up the can of beer and the fight is suddenly over, something interesting will occur. Obviously Jake Paul is using Mike Tyson to pad his banking account, and a win could set him up his family for a few life times. I’m sure Tyson will get a big payday. Maybe he is in need of money. Maybe he is bored with life and still needs something to prove. Back then I would have rooted against Iron Mike. Now I hope he makes mince meat out of Jake Paul and teaches him something about the sport of boxing. If one of Paul’s ears are bitten, who would profit more on that situation? Maybe after the bout, Tyson can show Paul how to really chomp down on a cow testicle. Some would call that a burrito.

Russell Wilson is done in Denver as the writing was all over the walls at the end of last season. Head Coach Sean Payton was done dealing with Wilson and elected to go with Jarrett Stidham to conclude the season. The Denver Broncos will flat out release Wilson and take on the consequences like an NFL record of 85 million in dead cap. The Broncos will eat 39 million to be done with Wilson after only two seasons in the Rocky Mountain state. Wilson signed a 245 million dollar extension with the Broncos before taking a single snap. The Broncos gave up the world for Wilson’s talents in a deal with his former team, the Seahawks. Now the former Superbowl champion at 35 years of age is impossible to trade. The Broncos will avoid a 37 million guaranteed money in 2025 by getting rid of the cancer that Wilson was in the Denver locker room.

Originally the Broncos back in 2022 wanted to trade for Aaron Rodgers as they had his former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on board as the new Head Coach. Instead the Broncos settled for plan B and they were fleeced by the Seahawks on what they gave up for Russell Wilson.The Seahawks made out like bandits as they took the cow for some beans in the deal. The Seahawks received a 2022 1st round draft pick, 2022 2nd round draft pick, and a 2022 5th round draft pick. Not quite done yet. They also got a 2023 1st round draft pick, 2023 2nd round draft pick and three players from the Broncos roster. The players were tight end Noah Fant, back up quarterback Drew Lock, and defensive lineman Shelby Harris. The Broncos got Wilson and a 2022 4th round pick. The Broncos then decided to sweeten the pot and give Wilson a contract extension. What are we smoking in Denver? Nobody knew Pete Carol is the devil over there.

The Broncos were dreaming of another Superbowl with the Russell Wilson sugar plums dancing in their mind sets. When the Broncos signed Peyton Manning after he missed a season with a neck injury, it was a risky move. It was worth it. Like changing a light bulb, Manning helped the Broncos win a Superbowl in 2015. Wilson was 33 years old with 9 winning seasons as a quarterback and a Superbowl ring. Should have been two if Seattle would have went beast mode and handed the ball off to Marshawn Lynch in the loss to the Patriots in that Superbowl. It was Wilson’s pass intercepted that sealed the deal for Tom Brady and the Patriots. Wilson had a regular season record of 104-53 as a starting quarterback in Seattle. He threw 292 touchdown passes to only 92 interceptions. He had 37,059 passing yards and was completing 65% of his passes. Maybe the red flag, Wilson had his first losing season of his career in his last year in Seattle. Now he has three losing seasons counting the two he just played in Denver.

Whose fault was this entire scheme of trading everything for Russell Wilson? They should be fired like the guy in charge of the Bud Light advertising should be fired with his wacky scheme. First thing, they hired a head coach with no experience. Nathaniel Hackett did not even last a year and was fired during the season with games left to be played. They give an aging quarterback a Brinks truck coming off a losing season. They give Wilson his own office. What does a football player need with his own office? Now they made the locker room divided. Now wonder if your own players had a bad taste in their mouths as the prima donna got whatever he wanted. Your quarterback needs to be part of the team and go through the grind of training camp and season together. No wonder Sean Payton, the new head coach that came in last season, poked fun at the old regime. Payton was expected to be a miracle worker with Wilson. Wilson did improve from the disaster that was the 2022 season. Wilson was sacked a 100 times in two seasons in Denver. Wilson’s record as a starter in Denver was 11-19 for 6,594 yards as he threw for 42 touchdowns. He threw 19 interceptions as he turned over the ball 26 times in two seasons. Wilson improved with a short passing game like Drew Brees had in New Orleans. Wilson made some deep throws to keep the defensive honest. Over the middle, down the field Wilson was not throwing anything. Wilson can’t escape like he did in Seattle as he was always able to extend plays and make things happen on the fly.

The Broncos started off the season & they were one of the worst teams in the league. Everyone remembers the blow out the Dolphins did to them. Sean Payton was able to turn the Broncos season around as they were in the thick of things for a playoff spot. The wheels on the Broncos bus came off at the end. Frustration between head coach and quarterback was obvious. Is Jarrett Stidham the answer? The Broncos have been searching for their quarterback since Peyton Manning left town and retired. They have tried veterans Case Keenum and Joe Flacco. They have drafted Paxton Lynch who recently struggled in both Spring Football leagues: the XFL and the USFL. Drew Lock got a few chances and he is in Seattle. Brett Rypien did not have any of his uncle’s magic that Mark Rypien had in the 1990’s. How many free agents can the Broncos afford with dead money occupying the salary cap? The Broncos have big decisions to make here. The AFC West means you have to deal with the Kansas City Chiefs still who won back to back Superbowls. The Chargers should be scary with Jim Harbaugh being the head coach and has a stud quarterback in Justin Herbert. The Raiders seem better with Antonio Pierce taking over as the full time head coach. This Wilson trade could set this Bronco franchise back a few seasons. Giving away draft picks can haunt teams for years.

For Russell Wilson, he was a bust in these last two seasons in Denver. How many teams will want to take a flyer on Wilson this upcoming season? The pros of signing Wilson include he should be cheap. He should have a chip on his shoulder to play well and we know he wants that rebound season. To walk away from his football career will be unsatisfying to any professional athlete. He will look to write his own final chapter of his career that has been incredible. The cons include: What teammates are going to welcome this guy in their locker room? Does he have anything left in the tank is the biggest question. Another con is head coach. What kind of offensive scheme can work for Wilson’s strengths? Wilson did not see eye to eye with Sean Payton who is recognized as one of the best offensive minds in the game. Nathaniel Hackett may just be Aaron Rodgers’ caddy as he now is in New York. Jets had no offense as soon as Rodgers was knocked out of that very first game. Where he will go will be one of the big stories this off-season. The best idea for Wilson may be one season taking a back up job. One season to recharge and reset. Perhaps you get a chance to play if an injury takes place on the starter. However, fools rush in. Some team will think Wilson is the answer to their problem. Just like Denver.

Last Sunday, the Chicago Blackhawks raised Chris Chelios’ number 7 jersey into the rafters of the United Center. It was the 9th jersey retired by the Blackhawks and the first from a player from the 1990’s era. Chelios played 26 seasons in the NHL, and he was a three time cup winner with two franchises. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013. He was a 7X all-star. He was a 3X Norris Trophy winner, which is for the top defensemen in the league, and he won it with the Blackhawks twice. He’s probably the best, or one of the best, American born players to play the game. He is a home town guy. He played a big part in USA hockey. Why the mixed feelings over his jersey retirement? Can the entire Blackhawks fan base forgive and forget about the Chelios Red Wings years? It seemed on Sunday the fan base had two celebrations going on during the return of Patrick Kane in the enemy uniform of the those hated Red Wings. Then the ceremony of Chelios’ number 7 being hoisted up to the rafters as we remember those pretty good 1990’s teams. All those guys that we loved, were on hand in support of their teammate.

In sports, we as fans have to get over things. We intend to hang on to the dreaded heartbreaking games over the biggest victories. We see childhood heroes get traded away and some return. We never want to know how a hot dog is made. We eat them. The business side of the sports is the same way. The Blackhawks traded away one of their best players at the time, their captain Denis Savard, to the Montreal Canadians for the hometown kid, Chris Chelios. It’s funny how things work out as Chelios won a cup with the Canadians playing there for seven seasons. Savard would win a cup, his only one with Montreal. Chelios played with the Blackhawks from 1990-99 for a total of 9 seasons. In a Blackhawks uniform, he was your Charlie Hustle. That Pete Rose style of player only on the ice. He was a defenseman with high octane motor who scored 92 goals and dished out 395 assists wearing the Indian head. He was an enforcer as well on the ice as he took no shenanigans from opposing teams. He is still number 1 all time in Blackhawks history with 1,495 penalty minutes. Chelios played on that 1990-91 team that made it all the way to the Stanley Cup and eliminated the Red Wings to get there. It was the first time the Blackhawks played in the Cup finals since the 1960-61 season. It was not meant to be as the Penguins shredded the Blackhawks by sweeping them and killing the dream at the same time. During the 1990’s, fans will remember Chelios speaking words about never playing for the Red Wings or that franchise from the rivalry these original six teams had back then.

Then the trade. Chris Chelios was dealt to the archrival Detroit Red Wings. Here’s where things get interesting about this debate. First red flag is why would any ownership of a sports franchise help their arch enemy in anything. We have to remember Bill Wirtz was an ASS. One of the worst owners in sports. Maybe Chelios wanted to play for a franchise with greener pastures. After this trade, the Blackhawks would head to the dark ages. Crickets would be heard chirping at games. As fans, we put our blinders up. We see Chelios winning two cups with the Red Wings. The fans were mad when Chelios returned to Chicago the first time as they booed him. Every time he handled the puck, boos from the crowd. The family owned restaurant, Cheli’s Chili, seemed like the Cleveland Browns franchise moving their operations in the middle of night. The family chili restaurant opened up in Detroit. Chelios would actually play in Detroit longer than he did in Chicago for ten seasons. Fans remember Chelios wearing the Red Wings sweater at the Wrigley Field Classic winter game in 2009 outside. Then to rub salt on the fans, Chelios brought the cup back to Chicago a couple times and showed it off at the Cubs games. Inside the mind set of Blackhawks fans back then, he was a traitor and a turn coat.

The ceremony on Sunday had all kinds of people from celebrities to old teammates watching Chris Chelios’ big day unfold. Chelios is a guy anybody would love. He showed up to work and played hard. He went out, painted the town red, and loved the Chicago bars. His partner in crime most of the time in Chicago on defense, Gary Suter, said that Chelios would tell him, “If you drink beer at night you’ve got to sweat it out the next day.”

Everyone has a guy in their group that can light the lantern at night and the next day, no sweat no problem and perform like he had 8 hours night of sleep. We know those guys that can’t handle it and are messed up the next business day. Chelios was like Dennis Rodman. Rodman would work out after the game for hours & then go get a steak after he was done. I’m sure he got his drink on and found some female companionship as well. Chelios did those intense workouts. He was riding a stationary bike in the sauna. In the off-season, he prepare himself with intense training over the summer to get even better for the full tilt NHL schedule. In 26 seasons in the NHL, he scored 185 goals with 763 assists for a grand total of 948 points. He racked up 2,891 penalty minutes. He was playing hockey at 48 years of age. After Detroit he went and played for the Atlanta Thrashers for one season. Their affiliate was the Chicago Wolves. He would return home and play his remainder of his career in the AHL, American Hockey League, in front of his hometown wearing the Wolves jersey.

On Sunday, at 62 years old, Chris Chelios was welcomed back with open arms by the Blackhawks faithful with chants of “Cheli, Cheli” in the air. His family was on hand and the Blackhawks did a fantastic job with the entire celebration. Chelios was a guy that lived in my home town of Evergreen Park, growing up in a south Chicago ‘burb. He grew up watching Chicago sports. He followed all of them and was a fan. He met guys when he played from other sports local teams like Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Paul Konerko, and the baseball brain of the operations that constructed the Cubs World Series team, Theo Epstein. He had all his celebrity friends at the jersey retirement ceremony from living on the west coast, like the beautiful Cindy Crawford.

You can either like a guy or hate a guy who rubs elbows with the rich and famous. He seems like he does not forget about the guys that helped bring him to this level of stardom. He still is a family man. His daughter does pre and post games for the Blackhawks television broadcasts. Then I read in a book called The Grim Reaper about Chris Chelios being a dick head. The book was written by Chelios’ former teammate Stu Grimson who was an enforcer and teammate of those early 1990’s teams. This happened after Grimsom hung up the skates. How Chelios got Grimson fired from his job in the NHL union. I think the ESPN series, The Last Dance, tainted Michael Jordan’s perfect storybook career. I really think the group with Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Marian Hossa, and Jonathan Toews winning those three cups helps forget the dark days of Blackhawks hockey. Time seems to take the sting out of all the wounds. Patrick Kane scored the winning goal for the Red Wings on that Sunday affair. The United Center cheered on Kane like he is the next messiah legend in Chicago sports when he hangs up the skates. In life, we do some stupid things we regret and would want to change that about ourselves. Why are we seeing Kane and another X Blackhawks guy we loved, Alex DeBrincat, skating for the Red Wings? Sid the Kid Crosby still playing in Pittsburgh his entire career. Sometimes it is the player. Most of times, especially with the history we have in Chicago, it’s the ownership. The Blackhawks ownership that caused us to have to forgive and forget. They caused the problems. They try to push the blame on the players. Chelios did bring us a ton of great memories with those 1990 Blackhawks teams. He is a Hall of Famer. He may still be a guy you may hate but accept. It’s nice having him and the beloved Dick Butkus of the Bears being two guys from the home town having their jersey being retired. I would like a few other guys from the 1990’s Blackhawks teams to get their day. I can now say I can end my grudge on Chelios and move on. He still will not be my favorite player of all time. His work ethic is what you want for all the guys on the teams you follow. It is just a plain fact.

When it comes to the return of a Chicago sports legend with another team, it can be gut wrenching. It happens everywhere in sports throughout the globe because very few players stay with the one team their entire career. Michael Jordan wearing a Washington Wizards costume at the end. Frank Thomas wearing gold and green of the Oakland Athletics while hitting that home run in his return home to White Sox park. On Sunday, Patrick Kane, wearing the Detroit Red Wings sweater, returned to the United Center to play his former team, the Blackhawks. The crowd gave him a standing ovation after a video tribute by the Blackhawks during the first time out of the game. Kane was like a rock star as he did three encores to the center of the ice waving at the old home faithful. At the end, it was Kane that put the Blackhawks on ice with the game winner in over time.

Patrick Kane scored the over time goal in game six of the 2010 Stanley Cup finals versus the Philadelphia Flyers that ended a 49 year drought for the Chicago Blackhawks. The puck found its way past goalie Michael Leighton of the Flyers and Kane knew it was a goal while everyone else in the rink and watching it on television was not sure what had happened. Then Kane, nicknamed “Show Time” starts celebrating and it was confirmed Blackhawks won it all. Kane was drafted number one overall in the 2007 NHL draft and was a key player that helped bring the Blackhawks franchise out of the dark ages. Kane would play 16 seasons in Chicago and help them win three cups. The 4X all-star scored 446 regular season goals while dishing out 779 assists for a total 1,225 points in 1,161 games. He was traded to the New York Rangers last season at the deadline as the Blackhawks went into a rebuild. He left Chicago number two all-time in points, number three all-time in goals, and 2nd in assists all-time. Kane then became a free agent, had hip resurfacing surgery in the off-season, and then signed with the Red Wings in November. This to team up with his former Blackhawks teammate, Alex DeBrincat.

On the night the Chicago Blackhawks welcomed back Patrick Kane for the first time since he was traded away, it wasn’t the only thing happening. The Blackhawks were honoring one of their 1990’s star defensemen, Chris Chelios. Chelios was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013. On this night, the team was raising number 7, Chelios’ jersey, into the rafters of the United Center. No player will be able to wear number 7 as it’s forever retired by the Blackhawks organization. Chelios grew up in Chicago and knows Patrick Kane was born in Buffalo, New York. Chelios in the ceremony as the Red Wings players watched everything unfold, said to Kane that he will go down as the best American-born player of all-time. Besides playing professional hockey for the Blackhawks and being born in the same state, they both have another thing in common. They both have played for the Red Wings. The hated rival. Cheli chimed in on that as well.

“That jersey looks kind of funny Kaner, but it’ll grow on you and don’t worry, it’ll work out.In the end. You’ll be standing here same as me.”

Patrick Kane at 35 years old will have his jersey retired by the Blackhawks some day as number 88 will hang high at the United Center. Kane has accomplished more than Chelios wearing the Indian sweater as he won three cups in Chicago. Chelios won his elsewhere. We know a few Blackhawks like Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews out of the game at this time will get their honors sooner than number 88. Kane’s break away goal in overtime last night was his 12th of the year for the Red Wings. Kane was ecstatic yelling “Show Time” with his arms in the air as the home crowd on this night were cheering for the enemy in the Red Wings jersey.

We Blackhawks fans saw those16 years which went by like a summer breeze. The Red Wings are a young team and right now in the thick of things as they trying to hold on to a wild card spot to make it to post-season. Remember Marian Hossa being that savvy veteran player helping the young Blackhawks of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. The Red Wings are playing well and some teams will not want to face this team especially with Kane finding his groove back. He has 12 goals & 16 assists for 28 points as he only played in 27 games so far. He’s averaging a point a game for Detroit. The Blackhawks do not face their old rival that many times like these two teams used to be in the same division and square off about a dozen times each season. We don’t know how many times we’ll see Kane back at the UC since you play some teams only twice a season. We don’t know where he will be playing next year. My guess is still with this Red Wings team. It’s a shame the Blackhawks could not build around Kane. The team has a new Kaner, the exciting Connor Bedard, as the torch has officially been passed. Hopefully the organization can learn from this, keep a solid core around Bedard for years to come, and not have to drive down these tough reunion roads that are hard to swallow. Some players should not have to wear the Red Wings duds or the Wizards costume. Chicago legends just don’t look good dressing in the enemy colors with another city’s logo pasted on front. It is sports and this is the nature of the beast at times. For one more night, it was magical with Patrick Kane stealing the show & going out with a bang in this first reunion in Chicago. Let’s make his next reunion night his Indian sweater going up in the United Center rafters, so we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Reunions most of the time are for suckers.

What is the best recipe to beat Patrick Mahomes? On Christmas Day, the Raiders executed a plan that made Mahomes practically human. The Raiders and Chiefs met on Christmas Day and it was the Vegas defense that sacked Mahomes 4 times and landed 10 QB hits on the three time Superbowl Champion. The plan was hatched at the time by the Interim Head Coach of the Raiders, Antonio Pierce. Perhaps this plan cemented his status of landing the full time gig for years to come as Head Coach of the Raiders. The Raiders would win the game. The Raiders defense even scored two touchdowns in that Christmas Day game to add salt to the wounds of the bag of coal in all the Chiefs’ stockings. So how did Pierce do it?

The first thing was to bore the hatred of the color red in all of the Raiders’ brain cells. The Chiefs color. Antonio Pierce used the Detroit Pistons Bad Boys teams of the 1980’s to mold the minds of his defense. The present day of the NFL, Patrick Mahomes has his own set of rules while the rest of the NFL follow another set. On the hardwood floor of the NBA, Michael Jordan had his own set of rules and the rest of the league had their own. Before Jordan won a six pack of championship rings, the Pistons were a thorn in his side back then preventing Airness from taking off temporary. It was no lie back then that the Bulls could not get past the Pistons. Back then, the NBA played a physical game unlike now how the defense can’t touch the offense or even breathe around the shooters. The Bad Boys Pistons that featured the likes of Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars, John Salley, Rick Mahorn, Isiah Thomas, and the hated Bill Laimbeer. They made Jordan think about every time he took the ball down the hole of the hardwood court in those playoff series.

The Bad Boys mugged Michael Jordan, hitting him hard every time he drove to the basket. Hard fouls consisted of elbows to the ribs. Whacked in the face. Maybe a few rabbit punches to the kidneys. It wouldn’t surprise me if Laimbeer whacked the Bulls superstar right in the nuts. The Raiders were watching the old basketball highlights of the old days on the hardwood to insert the punishment they needed to dish out against the new public enemy number 1, Patrick Mahomes, since Tom Brady retired

Have you ever seen the movies called The Dirty Dozen? The plot of these movies was set around World War II as they made two Dirty Dozen flicks. The Americans and the Allied forces needed certain missions completed. Missions that these 12 expendables would complete to get their freedom or die trying to be free. These 12 men were incarcerated by the military for crimes they committed while serving their country. I have constructed my list of my dirty dozen to complete its mission in stopping Patrick Mahomes and driving Travis Kelce into the ground. Kelce and his girl, Taylor Swift, have grown even more annoying each game. If that is possible. Since football has only 11 players on each side of the ball, I call it my Dirty 11 rag tag bunch. These are all guys in the AFC because Mahomes has done it to his own conference over and over as these guys lived the pain. The heart break of defeat by number 15. Some of these guys had some success versus Mahomes in past games. I put them all together to create my Dirty 11 defense to end Mahomes’ dynasty for good. I start off in the secondary.

THE SECONDARY:

I have two corner backs, one on each side of the field. I hate Jalen Ramsey. I’ve read that Patrick Mahomes hates facing Ramsey, who last year was playing for the Dolphins. Ramsey also has played for the Jaguars. Sometimes you need to make friends with an enemy to meet a common goal of stopping Patrick Mahomes.

Sauce Gardner of the Jets is one of the best defensive backs in the league. First of all, a guy with the first name Sauce has to be hot sauce to the opponents. In two seasons, Sauce is already a premiere shut down corner back in the NFL. Let’s take away Mahomes’ best weapon with his coverage.

Derwin James Jr. and Justin Simmons have lived in the same division as Patrick Mahomes for years. Both safeties. Simmons suits up for the Broncos and has the most interceptions all-time against Mahomes with 5. Then Derwin James Jr. can cover Travis Kelce if needed. He once stopped Kelce short of the goal line when the Chargers and Chiefs squared off in a week 3 match up in 2021. He made a hell of a stick on number 87. He’s built like a linebacker with the speed of a defensive back.

MY LINEBACKERS

I like my line backers being three guys that are bone crushers. I can hear them cracking the Mahomes wish bone & snapping him like a twig. Lets start with Roquan Smith of the Ravens, a guy that played like an animal in the second half of the AFC Championship between the Chiefs and Ravens weeks ago. Smith is a tackling machine. He is a guy you can use in coverage and can blitz with the best of them. He will eventually track you down even if you are across the field. Smith gets his man. He’s good at stopping the run. That AFC Championship he was amped up at a higher level if the Ravens offense could have scored more than 17 points. The Baltimore Ravens could have easily won that game as they pitched a shut out in the entire second half.

I have my second New York Jets player on this defense because of the energy Quincy Williams brings to the table. He had 95 solo tackles this past season. Williams has played 5 seasons in the NFL as he started his career as a Jaguar his first two seasons. When he arrived in New York, he has been a valuable line backer for gang green making their unit one of the best in the NFL.

Matt Milano is a play maker at the line backer position. The Bills missed his play in the playoffs versus the Chiefs in the divisional round. Milano only played 5 games last season due to a season ending injury in the London game. Could Milano have made a difference in a one score game? In seven seasons, he has 10 interceptions. He is good in coverage. He can be effective on the blitz as another guy who can stop players in their tracks with good tackling skills.

MY DEFENSIVE LINE

Cameron Heyward from the Pittsburgh Steelers is the beast in the middle of this defensive line. The son of former Saints running back Iron Head Craig Heyward, my favorite New Orleans Saints player of all-time.

Cameron is my guy to get pressure up the middle on Patrick Mahomes and company. He’s a guy that will clog up the middle and stop the run.

I selected Denico Autry, normally an edge rusher, who last year played for the Titans. Autry is a former Colt and Raider. He had 11.5 sacks last year as a Titan. I want him next to Heyward in the middle of this Dirty 11 defense. He can dabble on the edge as well because of his history. He has 59 career sacks and has multiple sacks on Mahomes. He’s on my team, most definitely.

LIVING ON THE EDGE

These two cats are my two most important pieces of my defense. I would love to see Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson just put the Malachi crunch on the Chiefs quarterback.

Trey Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks last season with 3 forced fumbles. In seven seasons, he has tallied 59.5 sacks. Hendrickson and Denico Autry have sacked Mahomes more than once. Hendrickson has been on the Bengals and they have given the Chiefs losses. They have also beaten Mahomes and company in the post-season.

The player that Patrick Mahomes hates playing against the most is Mad Maxx Crosby. Crosby has gotten to Mahomes the most out of any other player in the NFL in sacks. Crosby had 14.5 sacks last season. He has tallied 52 sacks in 5 seasons all with the Raiders.

Maxx Crosby is Archer Maggott played by Telly Savalas in the original Dirty Dozen movie. Sometimes you need crazy to complete the mission in hopes of ending the Chiefs dynasty. Now if only a team could make all the deals to get these guys on the same defensive unit to play Patrick Mahomes and company. The Dirty 11 would get the job done. In the second mission and next on the list, is that weasel Jake from State farm. The award is all the Nuggies you can eat. Freedom or Nuggies? Your choice.

At the age of 52 years, after 24 seasons in the NHL, Jaromir Jagr is still playing professional ice hockey. Jagr wore 9 different sweaters in his 24 year NHL career that ended in the 2017-’18 season skating for the Calgary Flames. The Hall of Fame of many of these professional sports leagues come calling after 5 years of retirement. Jagr ranks 4th all-time in goals scored in the NHL, making him a sure first ballot to the Hall of Fame. The word retire is not in Jagr’s dictionary as he continues to play the game and professionally for his hometown team in the Czech Republic in the ELH Czech Extraliga. Jagr is averaging 15 minutes per contest in the ELH as he provides veteran leadership and is the owner of the Rytiri Kladno which is the team he rooted for growing up in the Czech Republic. Even being the owner he still has that wicked slap shot. He’s still putting the biscuit in the basket. Finally one of his former teams in the NHL will be retiring his number 68 jersey this weekend in Pittsburgh, where he played with the Penguins 11 seasons.

In 24 seasons in the NHL, Jaromir racked up 766 goals playing in 1,733 games. He dished out 1,155 assists which gives him the grand total of 1,921 points in his NHL career. He is an 8x all-star. He helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win back to back cups in 1991 and ’92. In 24 seasons in the NHL, his team made the playoffs 18 of those seasons. He played in 208 additional playoff games in the NHL where he scored 78 more goals & dished out another 123 assists to rack up 201 points. He suited up for the Penguins, Rangers (4 seasons), Capitals (3 seasons), Panthers (3 seasons), Devils (2 seasons), and then one season each for the Flyers, Bruins, Stars, and the Flames. The hockey legends ahead of him in goals features Wayne Gretzky number 1 with (894), Alex Ovechkin number 2 (836), Gordie Howe number 3 (801), and then Jagr 4th with (766). Jagr could have added more to his total as he left the NHL in 2008 and played in the KHL Kontinental Hockey League for three seasons.

The KHL is the Soviet Union Hockey league in which Jaromir Jagr played for Avangard Omsk. He scored 66 regular season goals, dishing out 79 assists in three seasons. He scored 7 goals with 13 assists in the playoffs. In 2011, Jagr came back to the states, played for the Philadelphia Flyers, and would play until 2018 in the NHL with multiple teams. After the NHL, he has played in the ELH where he scored his 1,100th professional goal last February. Jagr has played 37 professional seasons on the ice which is by far the most in the history of the game. He has played in over 2,000 games. He is the most productive European player to lace up the skates. I should mention that he played for his own country’s National teams as well. In 2017, he was named to the list of 100 greatest NHL players of all-time. At the age of 45, he became the oldest player in the history of the NHL to get a hat trick in a game.

I remember the 1992 finals when the Blackhawks faced the Pittsburgh Penguins for the entire enchilada. The Blackhawks had won 11 straight games as they made it to the finals for the first time since 1973. It was the first time in my life & I was only in high school at the time seeing my home team Blackhawks make it this far. The guys wearing the Indian head sweaters that year meant the roster was stacked. We had Michael Goulet who was a veteran savvy player who had been one top players in the games for years. We scored goals with a young Jeremy Roenick. We had Steve Larmer. The captain, Dirk Graham. Our enforcer, Stu Grimson, a guy I wouldn’t want to meet in dark alley being on his list. The Blackhawks had a stud goalie in Eddie Belfour. In game one of the series versus Pittsburgh, the Blackhawks led 4-1 only to see it disappear. Jaromir Jagr then put on a clinic and made the Blackhawks look like a minor league team. Obviously with the help of the great Mario Lemieux, the Penguins erased that lead in game 1. Pittsburgh won that game and ended up sweeping the Blackhawks in the series. The Blackhawks would never get back to the finals with that loaded team and have to wait until Patrick Kane came into the league to get back to that moment.

The Pittsburgh Penguins only have retired two jerseys in franchise history. The Great Mario Lemieux’s number 66 hangs from the rafters. Lemieux played 17 seasons in the NHL all with Pittsburgh as he scored 690 goals. Then the Penguins retired number 21, that of Michel Briere, a young promising hockey star who’s life was way too short. Briere would die from suffering a head injury from a car accident in the 1970’s. He was only 21 years old when he passed. Jaromir Jagr played 806 games for the Penguins and scored 439 goals while dishing out 640 assists. It was only a matter of time when the Penguins would get around to retiring number 68. The Penguins did trade Jagr to the Washington Capitals as the organization had financial problems at the time. It was July 2001. Some Penguin fans booed Jagr when he returned to Pittsburgh wearing the enemy’s colors. It took some convincing to get Jagr back to Steel Town to show him the love when he was just a young pup from over the pond playing a game he was born to play. The longevity of his career is amazing because of how you can last playing a physical sport that long. Kazuyoshi Miura is 55 years old and a Japanese soccer star who is still playing in Portugal. Jagr was a guy who after a game or practice would stay on the ice and shoot another 100 or 200 pucks. In the NFL, seeing Tom Brady play deep into his 40’s was amazing. Nobody really likes Brady as much as we like Jagr. You wonder how close he would have gotten to Wayne Gretzky’s goals record if he stayed the NHL course. You can’t fault a guy trying different leagues as he was traded away from the team that drafted him. That’s the sports business in present days, that not many players play their entire career with one team. He circled the wagons and is playing with guys in his home town that are 30 years younger than him. Jagr is one year older than his head coach. The skating ability, the puck handling, and the shot he had meant Jagr was fun to watch. When he finally hangs up the skates for good, he will be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Pittsburgh, in football, has their head coaches take on the job like the Pope for the Steelers. The way the Penguins retire jerseys, they don’t hand those honors just to anyone. Sid “the Kid” Crosby will be the next one after the Jagr ceremonies conclude. It is amazing he skated with Mario for 7 years, he wore 66, and Jagr wore 68. Usually most sports organizations have retired numbers between 1-10. Two numbers from the 60’s makes it interesting. The Energizer battery company should market around Jagr because we don’t know how long he will go.

Last year, AJ McCarron signed up to play in the XFL for two reasons. First, so his own kids can see him play football. The second reason was to work his way back into the NFL. McCarron found a second home with the St. Louis BattleHawks. McCarron’s played well on the field in the XFL & it earned him a job back in the NFL with the team that drafted him, the Cincinnati Bengals. McCarron signed with the Bengals in September of last year and stayed on the practice squad until the month of December as he was quarterback 3 behind Joe Burrow’s back up, Jake Browning. McCarron saw some action as he played in two games, threw 5 passes, & completed 4 of them for a whopping 19 yards. The XFL and the USFL merged into one league and St. Louis, whose fans have been starving for football, survived. McCarron has the itch once again and asked for his release from the Bengals. The Bengals granted his wish and McCarron will return to St. Louis to scratch his itch behind center for the BattleHawks of the UFL, the United Football League ,which they call it now.

Things were supposed to be different for AJ McCarron. He came from the football powerhouse, University of BAMA. The University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide, is where they manufacture NFL football players. Like Ford or GMC, they make their own sports car as the Tide made their own quarterbacks as well. McCarron helped Bama win two National College Football titles in back to back years of 2012 & ’13. He’s the school’s all-time leader in passing yards with 9,019. He is second all-time in touchdown passes with 77. The Bengals drafted him in the 5th round, 164th overall in the 2014 NFL draft. He came into the league as the back up to Andy Dalton. His stock rose as he started three games in 2015 filling in for the injured Dalton. He went 2-1 as a starter as he played in 7 games total. He completed 66.1% of his passes and had 6 touchdown passes with 2 interceptions. He would not make his next NFL start until 2019 with the Houston Texans. He got in some games, mopping up mostly. His career in the NFL, including last year, he went 2-2 as a starter as he played in 19 games. He completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,192 yards of which 854 of those came in 2015. He had 6 touchdown passes all in 2015 with 3 career interceptions. He played parts of 7 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Bengals, then Texans, and the Raiders. After that first season, he would never show those flashes of brilliance until the 2023 season in the XFL.

AJ McCarron started 9 games in St. Louis and went 7-2 as the starter. The BattleHawks missed the playoffs by an eyelash. During those 9 games, he completed 203 passes out of 295 attempts for 2,150 passing yards with 24 touchdown passes and threw six interceptions.

Those 24 touchdown passes broke Tommy Maddox’s record back in the original XFL in 2001 when he played for the LA Xtreme. By far, the St. Louis fans have the biggest following of any other city in all of these Spring leagues over the last few years. Since the Rams moved back to LA and left St. Louis, this city has been starving for football. They have showed up, supported the BattleHawks, and they love McCarron and this team. Before McCarron asked the Bengals for his release, he said he would only play in the UFL with the BattleHawks and Head Coach Anthony Becht. This is a marriage made in heaven with Becht, McCarron, and the city of St. Louis.

The merger of the XFL and the USFL has come down to 8 teams in the first season of the UFL. That left another 8 teams folding up shop at least for next season as each league last year fielded 8 teams each. That left many talented players available and being drafted by the 8 teams still standing. This new merger should create a league that will be very competitive with no doormats on the schedule. Coming into the league, AJ McCarron is by far the best quarterback, but he will have his work cut out for him as the opposing team’s defenses will be better. With the USFL being around for two full seasons and the XFL just having completed their first season, some teams will be playing together the last three seasons. With McCarron coming back to St. Louis with the same Head Coach and familiar with many of the guys from last year, it will help these teams stay competitive and even get better. It will avoid some of the sloppy games in the beginning of these seasons as teams take a few weeks just knock off the rust. McCarron last year double dipped from the XFL to the NFL, where it’s football all year around as this guy should be ready to go being one of the top guys in this league.

AJ McCarron may be using the UFL as his return to the NFL next season, to sharpen his skills with playing time. McCarron made more money in the NFL as a back up or 3rd string quarterback than what he will be getting in the XFL or this new league, the UFL. The first time he signed with the league, he wanted his kids to see him play. That might still be the case this go around. I think he wants to actually play football, start each game, and be the number one guy. He’s 33 years old and he was behind Jake Browning, a 27 year old. No way he will beat out Joe Burrow. His NFL dreams are reduced to being a back up & in his case he only became the 2nd guy with the injury to Burrow. McCarron can’t say he is in the top 30 quarterbacks in the NFL. The path to get playing time and be a starter is not easy in the NFL. Does the system of whatever team you sign with fit his skill set? McCarron could continue to double dip into both leagues. Right now he is not thinking of that. This is a guy that won College titles at a big time University. I bet he’d rather win on the UFL stage right now than hold the clip board in the NFL. He is risking his NFL future by playing in the UFL, if he gets hurt. I give him credit. Every athlete mentally should want to be out there playing on the grand stage. Some guys collect the money and ride the bench and look like thieves when their number is called. The USFL back in the 1980’s had young talent like Jim Kelley, Steve Young, and Doug Williams. The league back then also had journeymen who left the NFL to play football again. McCarron was fun to watch last year with the BattleHawks. This is that underdog style story which seems only set in St. Louis and the plot centers around quarterbacks. Remember the day Curt Warner left Arena football and bagging groceries for the NFL Rams back then when they were in St.Louis. McCarron too could leave his own legacy in St. Louey.

Steve “Mongo” McMichael played 15 seasons in the NFL as a defensive tackle. He played on the best defense ever assembled, the ’85 Bears, that won Superbowl XX. That 1985 Bears team has produced six and still counting members of the Football Hall of Fame. McMichael was diagnosed with ALS in 2021, which is terminal disease with no cure. In 2023, McMichael has been confined to his bed. The former Bear wants nothing to do with hospitals as he is being cared for in his home in Homer Glen, Illinois. He’s been hanging on for dear life as the pain is off the charts. He even had a few close calls from death knocking at the door. He’s been waiting for the verdict of the NFL Veterans committee, deciding his fate regarding being enshrined in football royalty, Canton, Ohio & the Football Hall of Fame. McMichael is just a shell of himself as he can’t speak as he’s on breathing & feeding tubes. He communicates with a computer’s robotic voice or blinking his eyes. His former Bears teammate, Richard Dent, who is one the six from that ’85 team in the Hall delivered the news on the phone. Face time. Told his longtime friend, “It’s your turn this time brother, it’s your turn.”

Now, Steve McMichael’s long football journey will conclude and he’ll be the in the 2024 class of the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Right now Steve McMichael is 66 years old, born and and raised in the state of Texas. We know Texas loves their football as they sleep and eat the game. It did not take long for McMichael to showcase his talents on the field back in High School. He stayed in Texas and played for the Longhorns during college at the University of Texas. McMichael was a College All-American. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 3rd round of the NFL draft after a great career for the Longhorns. The book ends of his NFL game were the bread of the Bears sandwich during which he played one season in New England and in 1994 signed with the enemy, the Packers to conclude his professional career. The Bears had McMichael for 13 seasons. He played in 213 games in his career, 191 of which were consecutive games for the Bears at one point. He did not miss games. McMichael racked up 95 sacks, which is the 3rd most in NFL history as a defensive tackle. McMichael had 847 tackles, forced 13 fumbles, and had two interceptions. He was a 2x All-Pro. He made two Pro-Bowls. Before getting in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, McMichael has made every level of football royalty. He’s in the Texas Hall of Fame. He made the Longhorns Hall of Fame at the University of Texas. Then he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of fame. Now he has all of them.

Steve McMichael earned the nickname, Mongo, from the character on the movie, Blazing Saddles, the guy riding the bull. The ’85 Bears had all kinds of personalities that meshed perfectly for that one year. Mongo fit perfectly in this group full of superstars. On that stunning Bears defense already enshrined in the Hall of Fame before McMichael are edge rusher Richard Dent and fellow line mate Dan Hampton. Then one of the best linebackers in Bears history, Mike Singletary. You had Da Coach Iron Mike Ditka who led this ragtag bunch to the promised land. On offense the greatest running back in the NFL all-time, Sweetness Walter Payton. The Bears also had one of their offensive linemen make it to Canton in Big Jimbo Covert. Imagine all the other names left out of the conversation like Wilbur Marshall and Otis Wilson, two solid linebackers. Others on the offense line, Keith Van Horne and Jay Hillenburg, maybe the best center in Bears history. The Punky QB, Jim McMahon. The play maker speedster wide out, Willie Gault. This kind of group would divide locker rooms. Ditka did not get along with his defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan so in a way, the locker room was divided offense versus defense. This group lost only one game on Monday Night during that magical year versus the Dan Marino led Dolphins. The Bears players did the Superbowl Shuffle song before winning the big game that year down in New Orleans. Mongo McMichael did the dirty work in the trenches for this team. Lots of stuff that does not show up in the stat sheets. Kill the quarterback was obviously Mongo’s main goal on each play, but he did a great job freeing up the linebackers. Taking out the guy or guys across from him so they could fill the gap and make the tackle. He slapped that bull of an opponent like the strongman named Mongo in Blazing Saddles. They did win the big game at the end by destroying the Patriots back then. These guys are such a tight group most of them are still the toast of the town. Many still live in Chicago. When a brother’s down, they come by. They helped build ramps on their teammate’s house when they heard Mongo was diagnosed with ALS. You really don’t hear stories like that of championship teams still in touch with each other decades after winning the Superbowl. Most championship teams get together for the reunions every ten years. This team has bonds for life.

Everyone has their rock. Everyone has that soul mate, that friendship, that sees the worst and best in that person. Steve McMichael met his wife Misty in Austin, Texas at a bar called the Pearl Oyster bar. Yes, the American love story happening in a bar, saloon, or a pub. That is story of the ages and it is world wide ever since Jesus was playing pin ball at the local Mosses Stone Temple Wine Bar. McMichael was done on the gridiron when he met the girl of his dreams. Since being a multi sport athlete in High School, he had entered the ring as a WCW wrestler.

McMichael wrestled the great Reggie White. He wore his hair in a pony tail. He still wore the Chicago Bears stuff and his number 76 was embroidered on his shorts. Misty, his rock, had never seen his football days but definitely enjoyed the moments watching her husband perform in the ring. They had a wonderful daughter named Macy. Now McMichael’s rock is still by his side through this period when this disease eats away everything accept the brain. They had multiple scares when McMichael went into a coma for short time. They got through it. Now finally after dealing with all this and knowing he’s clinging on for dear life and his chances of getting into the Hall were also hanging by thread. Mike Ditka said he should have been in the Hall ten years ago. Every system has some flaws in voting for these major sports achievements. How many times did we see an athlete pass away & then suddenly they make it to the Hall. This story, even though it is very sad, has that gleaming streak of sunshine of a nice ending. This may not be the ending. The plan is to get Mongo to the ceremony in Canton, which would be something special and amazing at the same time. Like his favorite actor, John Wayne could be shot but still gets the bad guys.

If Steve McMichael was healthy getting the news, can you imagine the celebration he would be having. This is a guy bigger than life. He went rattlesnake hunting. He broke a bottle on his head. His description of his football savvy was entertaining when he was on a local show, Sports Sunday, during his playing days with the Bears. He would sometimes bring his little dog with him on the set. Him and the host Mark Giangreco would conclude my weekend on a high note going over what the Bears did, even if they won or lost the game. I met McMichael when his book was out & got an autograph as well. Unfortunately, that book got lost as my friend read it first. It was at a book signing at the local mall and it was exciting to see a legend up close like that. He seemed like a guy you can have some beers with. McMichael lived his life so far to the fullest, and it may take you or me another 200 years to get to his point of lifetime stories. It would suck not being able to really enjoy the whole experience like most of the players who wore the golden jackets at Canton. I hope he does make it to Canton to see his football legacy unfold in front of his eyes. Nobody deserves a disease like he has. In life, you have to enjoy the moment like he has and is still doing. Because it flashes by. Congratulations MONGO!! it’s about time those SOB’S down in Canton and those sports writers get off their arse, open their eyes, and check the right box. The vote for Steve McMichael should have been years ago, but we will all take it & enjoy this big day in sports.