Forget for a few minutes about Michael Vick and the dogs. Forget for a couple seconds about Lance Briggs and his impending contract holdout. Forget for just an instance about the dozens of former NFL players struggling to survive injuries sustained during their football careers. Forget if only for a moment about all the things that take away from the greatest game on earth.
Forget these things because in four days the Chicago Bears will report to training camp in Bourbonnais. They'll report to training camp to start playing football. Remember football? It's that wacky thing the players do between driving drunk and murdering defenseless animals. Football starts in four days and I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't more excited for this camp than any other in my lifetime. The Bears played in the Super Bowl just six months ago and looking around the rest of the NFC...I don't see any reason they can't get back.
Football starts in four days. Football. The reason this site exists and the reason so many of you have come to visit us over the last couple years. Right now the game has a cloud darker than the worst of David Lynch's imagination hanging over each and every stadium but it has a single indefatigable recourse against the impending storm: the game. The game is good. It is tough and violent and dangerous, yes, but no one will ever convince me it isn't good. The game will overcome the idiots and jerkoffs allowed to play it because that's what great games do. Football is a great game.
Four days...
#2 mikebdot said . . .Yes, I can feel it in the air. I had an idea - how great would it be for one of the DBB faithful who is dedicated enough and lucky enough or perhaps even unemployed enough to go to training camp in Bourbonnais to report to us? Specific updates about things we are interested in going into this training camp - things like Rex, our new draft picks, Rex, Hester on O-Fense, Rex, Okwo vs. Williams for Briggs' position, Rex, how does Archuleta look, and, you know, maybe some Rex updates?
Is anyone going, and would there be any takers?
Agree with you Jeff, never been more excited for the start of a football season. The family was stranded for a while in Chicago with a sick grandpa and I was pleased to learn that we are apparently spending all of our disposable income on Bears paraphernalia to display proudly in Texas - got the big Bear head sticker for the back of the minivan, two posters to frame for the boys' room, and middle boy spent all of his birthday money on an orange Hester jersey and a sweet sideline cap. We are rockin' in Texas!
I can feel it! Go Bears!
July 23, 2007
#3 Phil from SATX said . . .Jeff: no f'in joke, man. Your last statement says it all. Which is why the NBA is probably in trouble...
Phil: I suppose this year you're stoked about having so many evening games since you actually get to see them? Or do you have Sunday Ticket and the whole nine yards?
July 23, 2007
#4 AfroCelt said . . .Mike - When I moved down here in spring of 1994, I spent the '95 season going to sports bars to catch the games. I learned about NFL Ticket and by 1996 was a proud DirecTV customer. This will be the 12th season of NFL Ticket for me.
I think I told this story once before, but there was one year (August of 2003) where my business was going down the tubes and we were cutting everything we could out of our personal budget. Since I was asking my wife to give up things, I felt I had to drop the NFL Ticket, which would save about $180 at the time. I felt terrible about it, but I made the call.
Later that day, I was at one of my son's long flag football practices. I had made friends with a Packer grandpa who hung out there and I happened to sadly mention my cancellation of the NFL Ticket. This old Packer fan told me in no uncertain terms that I was nuts, he didn't care what my financial situation was, I would regret not spending that money.
An epiphany occurred as I realized he was right. I called my wife to talk to her about it and she said, yeah do it - don't cancel the Bears - we'll cut something else. I immediately got DirecTV on the phone, told them the sad story that I had temporarily lost leave of my senses and could I please reinstate the Ticket at my preferred rate. Of course, being DirecTV, they said yes. That ended up being Jauron's last season, 7-9, when we had the wonderful experience of watching Kordell Stewart. Does that mean I regretted paying up? HELL NO! I watched every game, mostly cursing but always there, always a fan. So I'm eternally grateful to old Wayne, die-hard Packers fan and Bears hater.
July 23, 2007
#5 jdawg said . . .Maybe I should get NFL ticket...I could cut food rations...
(poor college student in GB who NEVER gets to see the bears :P )
July 23, 2007
#6 Pissed off said . . .you know, I hate to beat a dead horse but I was more enthused about the upcoming season before the ticket brokers bought all the seats in 10 minutes Saturday. I've never been to a Bears game and figured I could at least get a lousy seat. Shit, its still Soldier Field no matter where you sit.
Anyway, I'll probably perk up in a week or two, but this still sucks, especially for the fans who can't afford to fork over money for tickets starting at 300% of face value.
July 23, 2007
#7 Phil from SATX said . . .Smells like football.......ahhhh.
Dude, check stubhub.com and stop complaining. It may be pricey but you'll get pretty much whatever you want. If nothing is on there now, wait till the season draws near. Most of the peeps selling tix probably havent posted em yet.
July 23, 2007
#8 Pissed Off said . . .AfroCelt, sell blood, platelets, semen, whatever - just get the Ticket! You won't regret it!
On that note, I'm curious to note how many expatriate DBBloggers (of which we know there are many of us - PO'd, Max, Jeff & Noah, Al, Midway (I think) and Megan, to name a few) DON'T have DirecTV and the package.
Surely everyone does - if not, what are you doing? Once they invented Tivo (and the like) the stars became aligned and the world shrank. We may not be able to go to the games but now we can pretend that we're watching on WBBM or WFLD - remember when there was just channels 2, 5, 7, 9 and 32?
BTW PO'd, as big a fan as you are, I think you better make it your goal to see a game in Soldier Field - I know you go to the RollerDome on occasion but don't you deserve a seat in Mecca? (actually maybe should be considered Mecca-lite since they ruined the great original). How about it?
July 24, 2007
#9 Megan said . . .As I said, I planned on going last year but then my wife got knocked up. Now with the little one its going to be tough to get to a game, plus we had all that wedding money before and now thats gone.
Regarding Direc-TV I dont carry it. Mainly because I cant get our local channels here. If that changed, I'd consider it but otherwise no way. Our cable company up here has WAY more channels to offer (and cheaper, with no restrictions to how many TVs I can have hooked up) and more HD channels. There are a bevy of places in my area (bars, restaurants) that carry the ticket and several of them have a nice big screen for me to watch it on. There is a decent size Bears following around here and there are several fans at each location. We have two "go-to" places that I watch the game at every week, and a 3rd or 4th if necessary. But if the game is on regular cable (like if its the game being shown locally on Fox, CBS, or if its the ESPN monday game, Thurs NFLN game or NBC Sun night game) then I'll just watch at home. Due to the Bears being so good over the last few years they have been getting a lot of prime time games so I'm watching 3-5 of them at home primetime. The only time the Bears are shown locally on Fox or CBS for the noon or 3 game is if the Vikes and/or Pack are not on in that time slot. Up here theres a deal with FOX that carries every Vikes game locally when its on at noon or 3. And if their not on or the Vikes play primetime then the Pack game is shown and then if the Pack game is primetime or on at a different time THEN they will show Bears game. Third option, third following around here. Not too bad, I bet in SATX the Bears are about the 10th option on local cable.
July 24, 2007
#10 Pissed off said . . .I suppose I could sell my eggs, I'm not using them anymore. Heck, If Phil says to sell seman, I see nothing wrong with mentioning my unmentionables?
Guys, Thanks for helping me get through the off-season. I am soooo glad that training camp is starting soon. Football can't come any sooner!
I am in Idaho (NO, YOU da hoe) right now with family so my internet access is somewhat limited. Hope all you are well, It's like 98 degrees in the shade and dryer then a witch's, well.. ugh. Never thought I'd say this, but gimme humidity!
XXOO
MeganJuly 24, 2007
#11 Gin said . . .Hey Megan, you want humidity, check the forecast the past three days for Bismarck, ND. Humid as hell, reached 106 yesterday, 105 Sunday, same again today. I'll take a dry heat (like in Vegas) anyday. The heat index here was 115 yesterday because its so humid. Feels like 115, I'll trade you for that dry heat. This heat wave has to stop soon.
July 24, 2007
#12 Al in WI said . . .I read this site a good 5 times a day but have only posted once or twice. I'm a life long Bears fan, season tickets my whole life but moved to NYC 2 years ago. My apartment building doesn't allow Direct TV- the only reason I don't have it- so I'm forced to watch at a bar every week the Bears aren't on prime time.
I'm going to San Diego for the opener (and my fantasy football draft) and was wondering if anyone has any advise for road tickets besides expensive brokers. I'll be attending the Philly game as well. Anyone have any recommendations? It seems these teams don't even sell single game tickets...Thanks in advanceJuly 24, 2007
#13 big rob said . . .Phil,
Got Sunday ticket in 1995 and haven't looked back. It was good timing as with advent of the Wanny era fewer games made national programming.July 24, 2007
#14 Rancid said . . .Gin-
You can normally get them on Ebay for a fairly reasonable price. I just bought Bears-Redskins lower level tickets for $110 a piece last night. The Philly game may be a bit more expensive but for me I have always had luck on Ebay. Hope that helps.
July 24, 2007
#15 Pissed Off said . . .I live in upstate NY and rode a train 12+ hours to get to Soldier Field for the Bills game last year. I took the train because after giving all my cash to stubhub I couldn't swing a plane ticket. It was my first trip to Mecca. It was worth every penny. It was great to see the slaughter (40-7). Broker prices suck, but they're reality, and they are but a tiny annoyance compared to awesome experience of my first live game at Soldier. Stop complaining about the cost and make it happen. You'll never regret it. I'm now saving up for my return trip. Defenitely not this season, but I'm hoping for 08.
July 24, 2007
#16 Al in WI said . . .Remember back in the day when every NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA game wasnt viewable. Heck, they werent even all televised let alone available to anyone with Sunday Ticket, MLB package, NBA package or NHL center ice package. The only info you had on your team was sportscenter or the next days paper. This even goes back to before the internet was around and we could watch real time stats.
Man I'm glad we're out of those caveman times. Now I dont miss a play.
July 24, 2007
#17 JB said . . .Tilman has been re-signed!!!!! 6yr extension through 2013
July 24, 2007
#18 jeff said . . .How great is that? Peanut and Vasher resigned...that is awesome. Next year, sign Tommie back up and we're solid for that 5 year window of Urlachers dominance. In the words of SNL Da Bears guys (talking to Michael Jordan), it's not a question of repeat, or even threepeat...we're talkin minimum eightpeat. I think the BT had a fantastic offseason...this being their second to last move besides signing Bazuin. Now, on to camp.
July 24, 2007
#19 animal said . . .first of all - i don't have directv...i watch the game s at a bar
second - i love when i find out information from YOU GUYS on this site...great job scooping the other sites on the tillman signing...i'm down on tillman a lot but it is nice knowing we'll have the two corners together for the next five years
July 25, 2007
#20 Chi-Town Joe said . . .all the Vick talk only serves to remind me of how the Bears dominated his ass- Urlacher in particular. Remember the game two years ago, on ESPN, in Chicago? Vick sprinted out, looked like he had room and WHAM 54 came out of nowhere and leveled his ass. The rest of the game he obviously didn't want to be there.
Vick sucks anyway.July 25, 2007
Wow that really lifted my spirits about sports. I'm a sox fan, and, as cubs fans would know (no offense), there's nothing worse than knowing exactly what your team needs to be great and knowing you can't do shit to change them.
THANK YOU for reminding me about how much the Bears are gonna kick a** this year.July 26, 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.