Whenever I get on an airplane, two things scare the living shit out of me. First I don't like it when there's a celebrity on board, especially celebrities on the B and C lists. I flew to Jacksonville with James Gandolfini (before The Sopranos). I flew to London with Timothy Busfield (good actor). These are the kinds of people that always die in the plane crashes. I also don't like convenietly labeled flights. TWA Flight 800 seemed like it was named by Tom Brokaw so it would sound horrifying on television.
I flew to Jacksonville with Tom Coughlin on Continental Flight 99 and I spent two hours plus in the air assuming I was going to die.
I'm starting to do the same thing with football teams that oppose the Chicago Bears. I'm starting to look for players that (a) are just irrelevant enough to rise to stardom by destroying the Bears in the playoffs and (b) will be easy for me to say "Remember that whoever-the-fuck game in 06 playoffs."
D.J. Hackett. I found him and it didn't take me long. D.J. Hackett has everything. He's crappy. He's irrelevant. And I can see him running go routes past our secondary all day long while Joe Buck repeats, "Are the Bears going to cover Hackett today?" And how GOOD does it sound, sitting on my bar stool in two or three years..."We would have been in that Super Bowl but fucking D.J. Hackett...D.J. Hackett."
Each of their three losses this season came with this type of player. Joey Harrington at Soldier Field. Tom Brady RUNNING the football. Ruvell Martin? Seriously...Ruvell Martin? Look out for D.J. Hackett. Let's hope he misses the team flight and gets on Delta Flight 707 with Dermot Mulroney.
#2 Dermot said . . .Good point. I flew a row behind Megan Mullaly and was inexplicably nervous the entire flight. I saw Ron Glass (RON GLASS!) when he was in first class and I hardly slept on a red-eye. It's why Jeff Garcia is making me ill. Let's hope we get to the next round but, if we do, I'll be feeling like I'm on a flight with Mark Ruffalo.
January 10, 2007
#3 The Pack is Back said . . .If it wasn't for "Career Opportunities," I'd still be a nobody.
January 10, 2007
#4 Pissed off said . . .Don't forget rex. He's certainly irrelevant enough to rise as a star against the bears. I wouldn't want to be around him at the dentist's office, let alone an airplane. Either way, I'm sure most bears fans will be saying "Remember that whoever-the-fuck game in 06 playoffs."
January 10, 2007
#5 jdawg said . . .Great logic, I know exactly what you mean however, this will be a game that wont long be remembered because it will be a non-chalant bears win. They will win by 2 scores and will win as expected in a well played yet dominated game.
January 10, 2007
#6 randomfool said . . .Good post
This sort of addresses the similar issue of playoff games taking on a life of their own. Would we be sitting here wringing our hands if Chris Harris hadn't knocked Peanut off a sure interception on Smith's 2nd big play? What if Roethlisberger doesn't make the shoe string tackle on the fumble recovery in last year's playoff game against the Colts? But you know what? Those were great plays by Smith and Roethlisberger. They saw an opportunity and they grabbed it by the short hairs. Let's hope the Beloved don't get so tight that they don't see a great play staring them in the face.
p.s. that goes for all except Rex, who sees a great play staring him in the face on every play.
January 10, 2007
#7 jeff said . . .As a practical matter, the likelihood of being one of the people on a plane when it crashes is very random. So, to say that an airplane is more likely to crash because a B or C list celebrity is on it is a classic example of attempting to identify a pattern in random events. All that being said, this is one hilarious blog entry. Oh, and it makes a good point about the weaknesses of the Chicago Bears defense and highlights why all Bears fans should be very, very worried on Sunday.
January 10, 2007
#8 Pissed off said . . .i'm a firm believer that when "chicago bears" and "playoffs" are attempting a peaceful co-existence, worry becomes the natural state of things.
January 10, 2007
#9 Pat said . . .I guess randomfool has joined PiBs antics. I will no longer read or respond to his posts either. I suspect he wont be back next week either (along with Pack is Back) after the thrashing that will be put on by the Bears.
January 10, 2007
#10 Pissed off said . . .Great post Jeff.
Regarding randomfool-
I didn't realize Malcolm Gladwell was a commenter here.January 10, 2007
#11 BRIANsong said . . .Right on Pat! I read on the Chicago Tribs website in an article by John Mullin posted the 9th that Chris Harris will be starting at strong safety instead of Todd Johnson on Sunday, I hope I'm not the only one that would rather have Johnson start than Harris. WTF?
January 10, 2007
#12 jdawg said . . .I like Chris Harris in run defense. I wonder if they'd consider swapping him with Todd Johnson on obvious passing downs.
January 10, 2007
#13 Phil in SATX said . . .I like Harris against the run, as long as he raps the guy up and doesnt just try to blow him up.
Johnson is supposed to be a "coach on the field" type of guy, but maybe since Dmanning will be the only rookie out there (in the secondary) they feel they can bring him in on passing downs. Either way, one hit on Stevens and his arms become two feet shorter for the rest of the game.
January 10, 2007
#14 jeff said . . .I'm with you P'O'd - it seems to me that Chris Harris wasn't able to work his way back on the field this year until Todd Johnson got hurt, and the secondary play has suffered noticeably since then (although having other subs may have had something to do with that as well). Hopefully this is not the case - Lovie himself referred to getting Todd Johnson back after the Packer game. He seems to think it's important.
January 10, 2007
#15 The Pack is Back said . . .i've never gone so up and down on a guy in my life but charles tillman's return this weekend is going to be noticeable. if they hold hass under 200 yards, i'm going to write a big time peanut column next week.
January 10, 2007
#16 Phil in SATX said . . .The Pack is Back and will continue to be back even if Seattle were to choke and give the game away. Actually, when the bears lose, it will mark the end of the discussions of how bad rex is and how the defense has fallen by the wayside. Speaking of which, I think its amazing how many people think (is it called thinking?) that guys automatically come back from injuries in the same form that they left. Since when is a guy who is another year older and has recovered from serious injury the same player he was before the injury? Do the bears have the market cornered on guys like that?
January 10, 2007
#17 revdad said . . .Right on, Jeff - I continue to have big fights with my still-in-Chicago brother who is fixated on Peanut-hating after last year. He may not have been great last year, and he may have played a big part in the playoff loss, but this year's been different. I think he has been the Bear's best corner this year, and it's the combination of Tillman/Vasher that works - no other combination seems to. As soon as we got Vasher back, we lost Tillman, so it's been some weeks since they've been together on the field (I think) - and none of those were great weeks for the secondary.
January 10, 2007
#18 max said . . .Hey, I have been away from the internet all week and I have missed alot of good discussions and arguments.
One question I have about the Bears is in regards to Benson, I loved the way he ran against the Packers but it seemed to me when he broke through the secondary, I still knew he wasn't going to take it to the house. It seemed like he didnt have break away speed. Does anyone know his 40?
Excellent post by the way Jeff.
4 days. I havent been this giddy since this time last year. Lets hope the results are better.
Go Rex, Go TJ and Ced, GO RASHIED, and
GO BEARS
January 10, 2007
#19 Mike said . . .that last post by Revdad was actually by me. My apologies
January 10, 2007
#20 jdawg said . . .no doubt. I remember when we brought Ahman Green back after a season-ending injury and automatically installed him as the starting RB. That really should have told us something.
January 10, 2007
#21 The Pack is Back said . . .There was an argument between Hub Arkush and Dan Bernstein about whether Benson is faster that Jones. Hub thought he wasn't and I tend to agree. He doesn't have that fifth gear but that's not why the Bears drafted him. He's a downhill runner who doesn't go down on the first hit and tries to punish tacklers. I don't know that he's got Jone's vision but he's a load and a half. Jones is cut, but ask any gym rat the difference between cut and strong. Benson is up 10 pounds from last year to 230. That's pretty big for a back.
He may periodically visit Lovetron with Dawkins but when he's on the field its all business.
January 10, 2007
#22 jdawg said . . .I think both backs are a little faster than the offensive gaurds but just a tad slower than most defensive tackles in the league.
January 10, 2007
#23 Phil in SATX said . . .If you think about it there aren't that many backs in the NFL that have that fifth gear. LT, Willie Parker come to mind. Does Larry Johnson beat Safeties and CB's in the open field? Does Alexander? I'm hoping Benson runs it right up the gut because Seattle is supposed to be soft along the interior d-line.
January 10, 2007
#24 BRIANsong said . . .Agree with jdawg and comment further that, taking a longer view, and excepting backs like LT, breakaway speed does not seem to correlate with durability over a career, a critical component of great backs. There's only one guy with 5th gear speed on the Bears, and maybe we'll see He Gone showing it some coming up here. I will say that in recent games, and without checking on stats, the 10-20 yard chunks have seem to be coming more rapidly for CB - do a few of those on a drive and the last one will wind up in the end zone.
January 10, 2007
#25 jdawg said . . .Coming into the league, TJ ran a 4.45 40 and Benson ran a 4.55 40. Assuming the years in the league have taken something of a toll, Benson is probably a little faster now but neither has the breakaway speed thirty-five yards down the field.
January 10, 2007
#26 Midway Monster said . . .I prefer Benson's break your facemask speed
January 10, 2007
#27 Pat said . . .**CCRRRRSSSH**
Welcome aboard flight 632 destined for Florida. Today we have on board several celebrities. As such you'll find a easy-to-fill-out Last Will and Testament in your front seat pocket. We thank you for flying with us and remember, we compensate for life events faster than our on-time arrivals.
**CRRRRRSSSH**--Midway--
January 10, 2007
#28 Megan said . . .There is a very Ortonesque photo of Rexy making its way through the internet right now. I am oozing Bears pride right now.
http://kissmesuzy.blogspot.com/
January 10, 2007
#29 jdawg said . . .Midway,
Ba- Bye... Bu bye now... ba-bye...bah-bye...
Thank you for flying and crashing with Crash and Burn airlines!January 10, 2007
#30 The Pack is Back said . . .I actually laughed harder at the comments aimed towards "guy in scarf."
January 10, 2007
#31 jdawg said . . .There's a real great photo out there of rex on the ground, face down, with his ass up. He was just sacked by the Green and Gold and rex looks like he's getting some of his favorite action from the Packer on his knees with his groin adjacent to to rex's back end. The smile on rexxy's face says it all. I'd be happy to pass it on to anyone who would like it.
January 11, 2007
#32 Alley said . . .Sunday's game is starting to scare me less and less. With Seattle's injury bug, our guys getting healthy and finally a game that we give a shit about I think there's a major ass-kicking in the works.
January 11, 2007
#33 Midway Monster said . . .I'm a long time listener, first time caller...er long time reader, first time writer. Anyway as we all get excited for Sunday's game I wanted to pass on this web gem http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/8b6ed54120876fa5bd2e2da998947d9b that you should all watch. I'm admittingly too young to remember this but none the less it filled me with pride for being a Bears fan.
January 11, 2007
#34 paytonrules said . . .Alley...
I am not to young to remember- the man was an animal and scared the $hit out of everyone (Of course I watched on my Black & white TV at the time).
Ole #51 is what got me hooked on the game and the team.--Midway--
January 11, 2007
#35 grnndgld said . . .Still giggling about dying with Tom Coughlin
January 11, 2007
#36 Coxy said . . ."finally a game that we give a shit about. "
This has been hashed over many times. The last game was the first game of the playoffs. The bears got their ass kicked.
January 11, 2007
#37 Pissed off said . . .Good thing the playoffs are double elimination this year I guess.
January 11, 2007
#38 No More Vocal Cords said . . .Jeff kind of steered my thunder away from the Todd Johnson/Chris Harris thing into Peanut Tillman being an X factor. I think Peanut is our best corner, I love what he did against a super tall Plax Burress when they played the giants. I hope he's back to the form he was that game. But with all those 4 wide reciever sets who knows who he'll be covering.
Last night was my first night with a little bit of restless sleep. I thought about the game most of the night and I just cant wait for Sunday. I fear the restless nights will get longer as the week progresses.
January 11, 2007
#39 jdawg said . . .Interesting how much nervousness there seems to be out there in the Windy City. A little Faux confidence issued here and there, but overall you guys are scared to death (i.e. the Crash & Burn analogy) of the defending NFC Champs. Lot's of pressure for Rexy to deal with. Will the oxygen masks drop?
Quick note: Holmgren 14-3 vs. Bears.
Go Seahawks!January 11, 2007
#40 No More Vocal Cords said . . .Seattle can play 4 receiver sets all they want. Name me the 4 receivers and explain how all 4 of them can make it down the field.
Given the weather conditions Sunday I expect to see a heavy dose of Mr. Alexander. He's a big load but with Scott and Johnson in the middle I hope he decides to bounce it outside, which would be an even bigger mistake than running it up the gut.
January 11, 2007
#41 Phil from SATX said . . .Seattle won't play four rec sets on Sunday. Plays right into Bears defensive strengths as proven in September. D Jack, D Branch, Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson will all get their chances, however. Note: DJ Hackett is not likely to play, so you'll have to insert another name in the "We would've been in the Superbowl but that fucking..."
How about Mack Strong or Jordan Babineaux? Hawks probably shouldn't even be there with all of our injuries and patchwork lineups. No pressure for this team, though, for the first time all season.
Low scoring game. Last second field goal to decide the outcome? I like our chances with Josh Brown. Don't give up the 9 points if you want to win money.January 11, 2007
#42 jeff said . . .Quick note: Holmgren 0-1 vs. Lovie. And it was an ass-kicking, wasn't it? Of course, they didn't have Pete "Head" Hunter then, so we'll have to see...
January 11, 2007
#43 No More Vocal Cords said . . .hey vocal cords - i voted josh brown into the pro bowl over robbie gould. i know thats sacrilege around here but brown won both those rams games that ultimately defined the hawks season. could you give us a rundown of what it felt like to be a hawks fan as romo fumbled the snap?
January 11, 2007
#44 Pat said . . .Brown also won the Lions game and the Broncos game for us this year. It's been such an up and down, back and forth season for the Hawks, with so many last second wins and gut wrenching losses (see Vikings, Cardinals, 49ers X 2) the Romo fumble seemed perfectly appropriate. Being there, however, and seeing the ball fall to the ground was pretty unbelievable. Babineaux saved the day, though, by shoestringing him 1/2 yard short of the first down! I like our chances if this game comes down to the last minute.
FYI, Gale Sayers was just on CNBC picking the Chargers over the Eagles in the SuperBowl! What's up with that?
January 11, 2007
#45 jeff said . . .I was wondering when the Sea Fowl would land on our hallowed ground. Somebody get some alka seltzer.
http://www.imagesbrighton.com/1504-1.jpg
January 11, 2007
#46 Pat said . . .why is everyone so down on other team's fans? i think the more the merrier, especially when we're playing a playoff game. i really wanted to know what it would be like to be rooting for the team to win the Romo game. i would have lost my mind.
January 11, 2007
#47 Hawks 12th man said . . .Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have them here too (when they can put a sentence together that includes coherent thoughts). That said, they should expect a few avian flu and Elisabeth Hasselbeck comments just by being here. We owe it to ourselves.
January 11, 2007
DJ Hackett will most likely play and will beat the bears secondary. The seahawks will have something to prove as they stomp a hole in the bear rear sides. The first time we played we didn't have all our guys, now its off to kick some bear asses or just kick some bearass :)
January 11, 2007
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.
