Looks like Jay Cutler’s broadcast career is on hold for now. You thought you saw him throw his last interception. Jay Cutler has won the lottery again. He might of earned a million or two for his football insight on Fox Sports. However this week he pulled the lever of the slot machine and has bumped his salary this year up to ten million. Yes, HE’S back and he will be playing for the Miami Dolphins on a one year deal.

Jay Cutler has the life of Reilly. Seriously he has won the Chicago sweep stakes as the Bears have paid him big bucks for what. He has only gotten 117 million dollars in the last 11 years. He has a model wife. He can scratch himself on his boat and his bum is the top story of the day. Oh and he lives in Nashville. Enjoy some honky tonk music and some great BBQ in Music City. He nails an audition for Fox. They hire him. Then the man with the horseshoe so far up his behind gets the best football situation to revive his sorry ass career.

This is how it went down. Last year Dolphins won ten games with their new coach Adam Gase.  He was one of Cutler’s many offensive coordinators in Jay’s career. However Adam Gase got the best out of Jay Cutler. That kind of job was enough for the Dolphins to make Adam their head coach. The Dolphins thinking this guy did the impossible to get someone who just does not care to do well is worth it. Year one Adam Gase gets the Dolphins into playoffs winning ten games. Then it’s like Jay Cutler, Tonya Harding, Ryan Tannehill’s knee (the Dolphins starting quarterback) who went down with a knee injury. Tannehill needs knee surgery and is probably out for the year. Then Cutler has his feet up on the bar stool next to him rocking to some country when he gets the call. Ten million smackers is a lot of cheese. He agrees and like a cockroach who survived a nuclear holocaust apocalypse Cutler will be wearing a fish on his helmet looking to take the money and run.

Could this be a bad move on Adam Gase’s part? Putting all his eggs in the Cutler basket. First of all they only gave Cutler a one year deal. Unless they are like the Bears after he plays very well his first half of the season, and give him an contract extension. However the Dolphins are not that stupid. If this thing fails they can quickly cut ties with the bum and send him packing back to honkytonk town. If this situation goes south and Dolphins go down in a firing wreckage on South Beach, Adam Gase will be criticized. But I think he gets a life line because Tannehill went down right before the first preseason game. Not much available in the dollar bin. That leaves the poor old dusty old Kaepernick model still kneeling there. He must feel like he was picked last in gym class.

If this thing works, Gase will look like a genius. However the Dolphins will have to be buyer beware if they want to risk Cutler again if he has a solid season. It’s like playing the devil at a card game. Jay might understand the Charlie Daniels Band’s song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Playing your fiddle for your soul type of deal. Meanwhile if Jay Cutler does well then he revives his football career. Plus he might win the lottery again with another big payday on the horizon.

Dolphins have an excellent running game. They have some play makers at the receiver position. They have a decent offensive line that could probably keep Jay Cutler standing upright. With new scenery. With a new cast of characters. With some old guidance this perhaps has a recipe of success. Usually players that leave Chicago always come back on another team and do very well. However this is Jay Cutler we are talking about and the Patriots are probably licking their chops on defense as Christmas came early this year -pick sixes for all of my friends.

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.

The Chicago Bulls are on a mission from God as they continue to get the band back together. First thing first is they talked it out with Jimmy Butler as they had sat down and hashed things out. Yesterday rumors had Jimmy wanting the Bulls to trade him to the Cavaliers where he could play alongside the king, Lebron James. However the Bulls and Jimmy are back together again and back on the same page. Today D Wade opted in on his second year with the team. That’s 24 million going to an aging superstar that can’t stay healthy for the whole season. He can’t put up the numbers to get paid that kind of cheddar. It’s business as usual as Gar Belushi and Pax Elwood get their players back on the court in hope they see that playoff magic where they won the first two against the Celtics. It quickly derailed with the Rondo injury. The band will be back in the United Center this upcoming season. Will they have enough instruments to play the same tune they always play?

Next year will be the same old song and dance. The Bulls will make it to the playoffs with a .500 record and be ousted by the number one seed. Can the same team derail the Cavaliers in the East? We know they would not stand a chance against the Warriors in the west. Why bother doing the same plan that obviously does not work The Cavaliers might have one more year left in the tank before Lebron leaves town again. Another get out of contract clause. Yes he will head to LA or some other team he thinks is on the rise with some talent that can help him capture a ring. Meanwhile the Warriors will be around awhile before they go back to the drawing board. Do the Bulls actually have a plan? The big three in Rondo, Wade and Butler are not going to last a long time especially when Wade is on his last leg and Rondo is not the one who helped Boston win years ago. What should the Bulls do? BLOW IT UP!!!!

I know you can not get rid of the owner of the Bulls. If I could I would start there. However if he could just give the word we can send in the bulldozers in to remove the wreckage or carnage that John Paxson and Gar Forman have created.  New Orleans after the hurricane looked better than what these two mental patients have caused. I like John Paxson as a player. He came in and made some crucial threes that helped Michael and the Bulls win their first three championships. First thing get rid of Paxson and his side kick Forman. How many crappy draft picks did these two dum dums pick? How many feuds with coaches have these two been involved in? In 2012 Bulls assistant coach Ron Adams wanted Draymond Green who is a key piece of that Warrior team. Coach Thibodeau was on board with Green as well; it fit his defensive philosophy. Instead they picked Marquis Teague. He probably asks people now a days, “do you want fries with that?”

Dougey McBuckets he’s gone already too. It’s a shame Jerry Reinsdorf is so loyal to some of his former players. On any other team these two would of been fired years ago. Instead they still have more chances than a cat has in lives. They don’t even know what a good coach looks like. They had him. He was winning. The players would play hard for him. Yes Thibodeau is better than the puppet they have now. I don’t know which one has their hand further up Fred Hoiberg’s arse. But the players do not even listen to Fred. Because he’s best at being a College coach. He did get Iowa State into the tournament but he never advanced very far in the tournament. I’d rather have Freddie Boom Boom Washington from Welcome Back Kotter than Fred Hoiberg. Cut off the three headed monster is the first thing I would do. Then they need to hire someone outside the Bulls organization. Not another ex player to run the team. They need a guy that knows how to run a professional basketball team. Like a Theo Epstein type to be president of basketball operations. He’s the one with a vision and a plan. He will get the right people in the building. They need to find someone who can coach. Then with an established brain trust they can seek the right players with the right plan instead of doing it on the fly with the group that’s in place today. As long as they are on the same page and fish out the right talent a team rebuild from scratch will work.

I heard today on the radio that they should make Dwayne Wade the man. Make him the face of the franchise. Have him get the free agents. That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard. I want nothing to do with Wade. He’s in Chicago for 24 million reasons… the money he will be getting. When he was one hell of player he wasted our time with a fake visit as he knew he was going to be playing with the King and Bosch on his Heat team. I don’t care if he is from Chicago, he’s a cockroach. Nothing good will come from him. He will  be paying all his buddies to play on the Bulls’ dime. It’s probably too late but I think the Bulls should cut Wade or trade him for anything (and I mean anything) even if i’ts the team cheerleader with gonorrhea, do It.

I would trade Butler now and get whatever draft picks I could get. Why keep him around? Rome was not built in one day and again the Warriors will be around for awhile. I would continue that with a midnight madness sale and trade away veterans I have on the team. Or if they have to keep some of them, get rid of them when their contract runs out. However if you can get something for the veteran… LETS MAKE A DEAL. I would build with the young players they have. Find out if they can actually play. Discard the ones that can’t make it in this league.  If Paxson and Forman drafted them, then they’re probably better off taking them out back of the shed and eliminate them now instead of wasting our time. I wish the Bulls would have done this already since the draft is this Thursday. It is a draft with some talent in it finally instead of other years. Build the nucleus from the draft. Nothing guaranteed by building the team from the draft. But if you get the right people in there they will not miss the Drayman Greens. Then when the youths get better playing together, add some veteran players to help take the team to another level. Maybe the level of being the new Warriors on the court. This is just a pipe dream because it will be business as usual in Bully land. Maybe Fred Hoiberg will give John Paxson a fat lip on this go around.

 

The Chicago Bears continue to tinker with their roster for the up coming season by adding veteran wide receiver Victor Cruz to a one year deal. Cruz was a weapon of mass destruction for the Giants for years helping Eli Manning win a super bowl against the hated Patriots. For a few seasons Cruz put up Tecmo bowl numbers on opponents as he was the Giants’ main weapon. Then injuries sidelined the all pro receiver. Then to watch the emergence of Odell Beckham steal the show with his one hand grabs. His ability to catch the ball on the run and make defenders miss and take it to the house. By the time Cruz came back he was the forgotten man in the Giants receiving corps.

Cruz was due to make 7.4 million this upcoming season but was cut. Usually veterans get cut for salary cap issues, but the Giants went out and signed Brandon Marshall and the sunny personality he brings to a team’s locker room. Last year the Giants drafted another receiver Sterling Shepard and he put up big numbers along with Beckham making the Giants with a duel threat down field. Cruz stay healthy and played 15 games but he’s seen his numbers drop drastically to only 39 catches 586 yards and only one Touchdown. He even said in a radio interview on 105.1 FM “I felt it all year long. Halfway through the year I’m Ballin! The other half I’m not getting the ball and you’re like whats going on?” Ok. I see what’s happening. Cruz explained “They don’t want me any more.”

Which is probably true because they signed Brandon Marshall who brings cancer to anybody’s locker room. Whatever the deal is the Giants might of saved some money. The Giants might even know something that they are not telling everyone. This could be buyer beware. No one buys more stuff from the dollar bin than the Chicago Bears. I could see Coach Fox and the GM Pace riding the streets on garbage pick up night in a rusty ford truck. Found on the road dead. The bed of the truck filled with veterans ousted by their teams and left on the curb for the Bears to seize before the league permanently disposes of them for good. Like they say another person’s garbage is another person’s treasure.

Bears do desperately need receiving help. Especially if you want the Bears’ wacky quarterback situation to blossom. They need somebody besides Cameron Meredith to throw to who was actually a quarterback in college. They cut veteran Eddie Royal recently. They have first rounder Kevin White on their roster but he can’t stay healthy enough to play half the season. They let Alshon Jeffery walk out as he headed to Philly. Josh Bellamy knows how to get open or other teams just let him be wide open as he drops everything that’s in his bread basket. Yes indeed the Bears need help there and help in other areas as well.

Will Cruz come to the Bears where Receivers go die? In the words of former Bear and Panther Mushin Muhammad, can he be a mentor to the younger receivers and help them get better? At the age of 30, can Victor Cruz put up decent numbers and stay on the healthy track? This is a roll of the dice move for both parties. Cruz is looking for another contract while the Bears hope Cruz can become a staple for their man Mitch to throw to. It’s only a one year deal which if it goes sour both parties can walk away. Will Cruz be kicked back to the curb for another team in a broken down truck to pick him up? Or will the garbage collector take his career away for good? If he does well he’ll probably jump ship after one year and head for greener pastures with another team and help them win a superbowl. That’s the Bears way.

In his first full season as a Blackhawk, Richard Panik had a season he will always remember. It’s a season that put him on the map in the NHL. He was well awarded with a two year extension from the Blackhawks worth 2.8 million dollars a year in the next two seasons. Most likely he would of gotten way more if he became a free agent but he wants to be a Blackhawk and the team wants the left winger to stay in Chicago.

This is the Third move the Blackhawks had made since they were swept out of the first round by the Nashville Predators. The front office of the Hawks promised a huge shake up this off season and they started off by firing Joel Quenneville’s long time assistant coach and long time friend Mike Kitchen. Then they traded Darling to the Hurricanes. Now they have extended Richard Panik to an extension that is generous but the Hawks salary cap does not have much wiggle room as they are fully invested in their Stanley cup champion core and some of the youngsters that have been blossoming. Most likely the new expansion team the Las Vegas Golden Knights will probably select Marcus Kruger which will take three million off the cap. We probably will see other moves in which Stan Bowman will want to improve his roster.

The defense did not look well in the playoffs against Nashville. Brent Seabrook could be on the trading block as he struggled in the playoffs and at the end of regular season. I like the way the young guys are coming around but I do think they need a few guys that have net presence and are able to take the rebound and put the puck in the net. Panik is one of those types of guys. They need more guys that bring their lunch box to work. I think this hurt them in the playoffs. Guys like Andrew Shaw, Bickell and Byfuglien were guys that had like 17 goals during the regular season and then rose up in the playoffs. We did not have that this year. I think Andrew Shaw was missed because he did all the dirty grunt work. He rebound for his shots while taking punishment. He would take hits to get his team the power play. He would give hits to protect his Captain or any other guy on the ice that wore the indian head. He was like a grinder like Killer in Slap shot. He even dropped the gloves and went Blades of Steel on the opponent. For Christ sakes he took a puck to the head and still played and finished the game. You need more of those guys to go along with all the other talent they have.

I hope they have some one like a killer or Shaw in the minors that is ready. If they don’t, I hope they make a trade and land someone that has a big body to camp out in front of the net and block the goalie’s view. Push away the defenders and slap the biscuit in the basket.

The Panik move is far the best move of the off season for Stan Bowman. Yes Darling was going to be a free agent and no way we could of afforded him anymore. But some skeptics believed Crawford should of been traded and Darling should of been kept. The jury will still be out on that decision in the next few years. Richard Panik was by far one of the best trades Bowman has made in the recent years. He Gave the Maple leaves Jeremy Morin for Panik as the leaves at the time did not think he was very talented. Panik is a tough physical player that does a lot of different things to make the team better. He can do the dirty work and work the trenches of the battlefield to get some of his goals. Glad to have him on the team for a few more years. I know he will continue to get better as he is only 26 years old. He will grow with the established core and help the team win by doing a little of everything. Let’s improve that defense and add another guy that can be the new killer on the team. Stan Bowman has his work cut out for him this off season. I believe he will rise to the challenge and find a way to make some key moves to get the Hawks back deep into the playoffs and beyond.

I continue to hear people that are shocked that Colin Kaepernick is not on someone’s roster. I have seen lots of articles claiming the same thing that somebody should add him to their roster. However you never hear the reporter say I want Kaepernick on my team. But sure they want to see him on another NFL team. But How come not your team that you root for? People think he is getting blacklisted from the NFL because he did not stand for the national anthem. What about his play on the field? He has the right to protest. But if his QB skills are declining does he deserve to be on a team? Do the teams in the NFL have to consider taking him? Could it be the baggage off the field and his decline as a productive player?

Football is a team sport. It takes everyone on the field to gel like a well oiled machine to be successful. The quarterback is the most important position on the field as he is the leader of the well oiled machine. He is usually the face of the franchise. He usually gets paid the most money on the field. He is the one that will lead the troops to the promise land. The team leadership Kaepernick has is he wants to protest against police brutality on his team’s time. He started sitting for the National anthem. He wore socks with pigs on them taking a poke at Police officers. He has his own agenda going on and you know it  split the locker room. He had some followers but it was only a handful. He had some more followers around the league, but only a handful. Would you see Rodgers, Breese, or Manning or Brady taking their own personal stand on team time? Now some people were probably gunning for him during the season so everyone has to even play harder to protect him. Some of his own teammates probably did not want to protect him. He could of easily made his stance as a celebrity off the field. I remember people got mad at Brandon Marshall on the Bears because he flew to New York to be part of one the football shows every week. People were critical of him because they thought he should be resting his injury. Even the same year Lance Briggs took off practice for the Bears to fly to Texas and be a part of his restaurant opening. These things made it tough on the team. Kaepernick made it tough for his team.

I would not want him on my team because the NFL has figured him out. He can’t throw the ball down the field like most running QBS. RG3 and Mike Vick were guys that had some success in the NFL but they  took too many hits. Vick had some decent years throwing down the field or throwing on the run. He had one last good year when they let him out of the dog house after sending multiple dogs to death in his back yard in his dog gladiator fights. Kaepernick is the same way. He helped the Niner’s get to the Super bowl when he replaced Alex Smith. After a few good seasons the wheels came off Kaepernick and the niner’s. Jim Harbaugh knew that Kaepernick was not going to be the next Brady. Fighting with the Niners management as well he knew that San Francisco was on it’s way to being a pile crap on a hot summer day. Michigan called and he was on the next flight. Colin Kaepernick can complete short passes and can run the ball. But defenses are prepared to make him throw the ball down the field and he cant. Steve Young is the best running QB I have ever seen. Because he can beat you with his feet and his arm and he had accuracy deep down the field.

Why would your team sign Kaepernick? He can not be the face of your franchise. Unless you cater to thugs or if the Reverend Tim Tom and his squadron of Gospel disciples will make a big stink if he’s being mistreated. You would have to have a head coach that could deal with him and make him tow the company team line. You would need a smart offensive coordinator to make another special offense for him. Then you will have to deal with is he or isn’t he going to stand for the national anthem from all the reporter questions that will be launched at the coach and the team’s front office. Then will he ever get that stellar quarterback play he for a season and half? He’s like Vanilla Ice, a one hit wonder. If the Bears signed him to replace Cutler I think Chicago would of rioted in the streets. They would be begging for Glennon and Trubisky who they drafted in the first round. Plus the biggest thing is he would never be able to lead a team. I can’t see him winning over a locker room and I don’t care how many suits he gives people at the homeless shelter or people that get out of prison. That’s how he should of started his stance against police brutality in the first place. Then he might have a job right now.

Early May brings you Star Wars day and now the Kentucky Derby in the same week. Freaking Han Solo did not get me the day off for the Star Wars day. On Festivus day I will air my grievances about Star Wars day and maybe next year I lean to the Dark side to pull some strings for me. But the Kentucky Derby is the BIG DADDY of all the horse races. It excites you like Opening day in baseball and the Super Bowl. I can’t forget the Indy car 500 for you gear heads out there. Spring is in full force when Kentucky Derby weekend is upon us. The smell of grilling is in the air. Big colorful floppy hats in your sights. Great for people watching with their hats and the outfits they wear. I love when these people wear the hats and outfits on another day. Derby day has Mint Julips dancing in your system. While everyone thinks they have the winning horse handicapped to perfection. It’s like watching a bunch of Fred Flintstones thinking they will get rich from the bet of the year.

DID NOT KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS A HORSE IN PLAY?

 

PATCH

Patch was born in east LA. Lost his eye in a knife fight. Kidding!!! Patch will be running today in the Kentucky Derby as a long shot. He has one eye and he will be on the outside of the starting gate and not able to see the other horses when they start out. He is number 20 and this horse has an inspiring story. He is a three year old horse whose dad is the 2012 Belmont Stakes winner, Union Rags. His grampa won the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders cup. In his circle he went by the name of A.P Indy.

Last year Patch’s eye was swollen. It was causing him pain as it looked like it was not getting any better by the signs. They tried all the treatments they could but nothing was responding. They decided the best for the horse was to remove his eye. Actually Patch will be the fourth horse in Derby history to run the race with one eye. The surgery went well and the horse showed no signs of pain. After his recovery he won his first race he entered.

THE WILD SHAMROCK LONG SHOT TO WIN: PATCH

I hope Patch does well in the race. Obviously for his inspirational story. When I was a kid I went to Ireland and my Aunt Kathleen and my Uncle Joseph had a dog name Patches. He had his eyesight. He was a very cool dog as he had colored patches of fur around his eyes which is how he got his name.

My Mum and dad are big into the horse racing. My mum was always known to have a few mint julips and a floppy hat and always went down to Kentucky and to be present for the derby. Her side kick Dorothy was her Thelma in Thelma and Louise type of friendship of fun in their wild and crazy adventures involving a yellow convertible they called the yellow submarine. This machine saw lots of horse tracks and apple picking days. With my Mum’s Irish eyes smiling and a mint julip in her hand , she is going with

#17 HORSE  IRISH WAR CRY  $2.00 ACROSS

 

WE NOW BRING IN OUR EXPERT

He’s faster than a herd of snails. He’s known as Mr. Big in the casino world. He can eat a slider for any meal of the day. The man has his own seat at the local OTB. He has friends in his circle he calls Cadillac Tom and Vietnam Joe.

Marty the Party Serbins

Marty was born of the North side of Chicago so we will only subtract a few points from him. Marty has loved the horses since he was a wee lad. You hear about kids sneaking down to the ball park to catch a day game of their favorite team. But Marty would return bottles, cut a lawn, massage some old lady’s feet to earn some cash to ride his bike down to Arlington race track to place a bet. The ultimate mecca in his world as he wore his 29 inch waist for decades taking it all in the smell of food in the air with a tint of sweaty animals. I remember the first time walking into Comisky Park, the feeling and the atmosphere so hard to explain… but Marty had that with horses as he was handicapping them at a young age. His biggest jackpot he won on a long shot he invested in a ring for the love of his life. Marty Serbins is the Wild Shamrock Blog expert in the horse world.

Marty’s Kentucky Derby predictions:

WIN: IRISH WAR CRY

PLACE:GUNNEVERA

SHOW:ALWAYS DREAMING

SLEEPER:GIRVIN

We know our picks will not hold Marty’s tighty whities but we will try

WINNER: MCCRACKEN

PLACE:THE CLASSIC EMPIRE

We are picking the Classic Empire in hope that Darth and the gang prevail to secure us next year the day off on Star wars day.

SHOW:GIRVIN

OUR SLEEPER:PRACTICAL JOKE

Because we want to kill the BATMAN

The two people I most want to find about how their NFL career develops is Garrett Bolles and Gareon Conley. Lots going on in both their lives before they even play a down in the NFL. Garrett Bolles is an offensive linemen and he was drafted number 20 by the Denver Broncos. The 24th pick, the Raiders selected corner back Garceon Conley. Both players will bring the baggage of their lives to their new career once training camp begins.

Let’s start with Garett Bolles who was drafted out of Utah. His story is he found GOD. Yes the Broncos love drafting the religious bible thumpers as they drafted Tim Tebow. Now they have drafted the most talented offensive linemen they say in the draft. I’ve seen Dusty Baker use his kids as shields to help him defend off reporters. But Garrett walked down the stairs with his newborn son at the draft. I’ve never seen that as he has to be the first person to have done that. He looked like Doctor Claw from inspector Gadget petting his pussy cat. His dad kicked him out of the house when he was 18 because Garrett was the kind of person that walked on the wild side. Five schools later he finds himself at University of Utah and the good news is a family has taken him in. Plus he has found God. They showed his shoes from College that had all these psalms and scriptures written on them. I feel like some of his money will be going to the book of Mormans. He mentioned GOD a few times in the interview along with the kid. He looks like he has a mean streak in him as he has those wonky tonk crazy eye balls. The eyeballs that would snap your neck in seconds then quote a scripture from the good book. He then would feed his wild side with some Jack Links beef jerky while petting his son like Dr. Claw and his cat.

My Dad always told me nothing good ever happens after midnight. While my mum always said nothing good happens after last call. For Gareon Conley he was in Cleveland having a grand ole time after midnight, maybe even after last Call. He played for Ohio State and was in town working out for the Browns. He met a gal and then the next day the woman is filing Rape charges against him. The typical life of an NFL player. She says he wanted to have an orgy with his friends. What’s with these athletes wanting to share one woman? I guess she said no and she was raped personally by him. No charges have been filed against Conley. He had been cooperating with the authorities. You get drafted by the Raiders and the world finds out on the same day that you had a night out with a woman and you could of raped her. Does he think maybe she said no but her eyes were saying yes? If he just waited until Oakland moved to sin city. Then he can go hog wild with any of his sexual adventures. He can dress up as Betty Boop and be spanked. Plus then he could say things done after midnight in Vegas stay in Vegas.

Maybe Bolles can help Conley find his way in life with the Mormons or the Jehovah Witnesses. Denver and Oakland play each other twice a year so their paths might cross. It will be interesting how their career unfolds. Can Religion take away the football edge How will they balance that out? Will he snap and go down the wrong path? Will Conley avoid shenanigans after last call.? Will he end up in jail if the girl is right? The Raiders and the Bengals take any kind of projects so he will fit in. As long as neither unleashes their animal wild side and throws a snack sausage at the gas station attendant for not having hot dogs cooking for the after midnight snack.

 

A long time ago in a season far far away the Bears had men like Bronco Nagurski, Dick Butkus, and Mike Ditka. Now they added Trubisky. Mitch Trubisky, the man from North Carolina and he’s a quarter back. The great Michael Jordan was from North Carolina University and look what he did for the town of Chicago, six titles for the Bulls. Could this be the answer to all of our prayers? Mitch Trubisky behind center leading us to the promise land? The Bears have not won a Super Bowl since 1985. The last time we have been there was 2006 with Dr.Jekell and Mr. Hyde. Good Rex Grossman bad Rex Grossman. Will Mitch be like Jim McMahon or like Rex Grossman? I hear the words the great Lovie use to say Rex is still our quarterback. Don’t even bring up Jay Cutler who is still sailing on his boat showing his bare bum to his wife.

I want to see the best for the Bears. I really want this thing to work. But deep down the gut feeling is saying DOOM. First thing I was shocked when they traded up and swapped picks with the Niners. I was thinking maybe they wanted Solomon Thomas the next best defensive line men after Cleveland got their junk yard dog. Quarter backs are so valuable in the NFL because its a league now a days with a sparse amount of good quarterbacks. I can see why they wanted one. But it seems like they were bamboozled. Like Pace traded the cow for the beans. Did the Bears have to trade all those draft picks just to swap picks with Niners? I believe if they let things stand pact they would of gotten Trubisky anyways at number three. Here we go again the Bears are bidding against themselves. For all of this they gave the Niners their third round pick, fourth round pick and in 2018 another third round pick. Like Hank Hill would say, “What the hell”.

This reminds me of the Rick Mirer trade which was another first round blunder. It’s like the time they did not franchise tag Cutler to see what his performance would be that year. Instead they were scared they might hurt his feelings and Jay would take his ball and go home. So three brinks trucks later and years of crappy quarter back play with extra tude the Bears were back at the drawing board. Before the draft they went out and got Mike Glennon and they gave him a lot of money. Which now Glennon has seen this before when he was in Tampa he was the starter and the Bucs then drafted Winston. The Bears were so desperate they even signed the butt fumbler Dirty Sanchez who sounds like a cheesy cowboy porn. Well this will give them options. But they will have lots of money invested in the quarterback position and we don’t even know if they got it right.

This year’s draft was a weak quarterback class. Mitch Trubisky is probably one of the better ones. People are comparing him to Ryan Leaf which that is crazy, But that’s the way the cookie crumbles for the Bears as they can’t get that position right. I hope John Fox has a good quarterback coach on his staff because they will need one. If the Bears had Tom Brady he would not be Tom Brady like. He would turn to stone and become a lawn ornament.

What I like about Mitch Trubisky is he is not Jay Cutler. He looks like he has a solid arm. I like the passing accuracy in the short game. He seems like a leader which has been lacking under center with the Cutler. His name is Mitch. The last Mitch we had in town was Mitch Williams who played for the Cubbies. He was nicknamed the Wild Thing. It was like in the movie Major league where the owner says, “that song I hate that song,” when everybody in the crowd would be singing wild thing,

I do not like about Mitch that he has only started 13 games since high school. He’s coming off not a good bowl game. He needs to be aware of his surroundings on the field of play, too many lapses like Grossman. His deep ball is not anything to bring home to mom.

But my stomach is still feeling Doom after this pick. I do like he can sit and watch the first season and soak it all in unless Glennon gets hurt. Then the butt fumbler will probably get booed off the field from the Bears faithful. Oh the fans will probably be chanting Mitch’s name all season until the Bears are backed into the corner and have to play him. Hopefully Glennon plays well and keeps Mitch on the bench. Then the Bears can take their time and build something special with him when it comes time when the new Wild thing takes the controls to lead the Bears over the Packers. DA BEARS!!!