Listen, yesterday was 9/11 and it's always a pretty tough day for me. I didn't watch the Trade Center fall on television. I watched the Trade Center fall. 9/11 is collection of snap-shot images entrenched in my memory. It was the ash-covered faces running up Lafayette Street. It was the sweat-soaked suits running into my bodega and swallowing down forty ounces of whatever they could just to calm their nerves. 9/11 isn't a concept or a political motivation to me. It was a Tuesday in September seven years ago. It was the worst day of my life.
As I foolishly sat through a few hours of History Channel footage - a means of somber commemoration - it's remarkable how easily a human being can step back into their former self. I'm once again frightened by that horrible smell in the air. I'm once again moved to tears by the frightened eyes of uniformed men and women putting others before themselves as they march into certain death. I'm once again enraged by that evil - unlike anything I ever thought possible.
If you don't think sports were important during that time, ask a nineteen year-old NYU student what it felt like to tell a couple cops that Scott Brosius had hit the home run of his life. Ask him what it felt like to see Mike Brown return interceptions for touchdown in back-to-back overtimes just a month later.
Days like yesterday shouldn't make us feel that our love of football and this team is somehow less significant. Days like yesterday should remind us how important is to love this much. To love anything this much. To be filled with this much passion. To be moved and enraged with equal measure. There are no universal rankings for what is and what is not important. Some people love their Church. Some people love the Chicago Bears. I do.
And when the ball is kicked off in Carolina on Sunday, you'll find me three seats from the end of the bar at Josie Woods rooting like hell for my team to win. If they don't, I won't feel wrong about allowing myself to feel sadness. If there is any lesson I learned seven years, it is simply this: love what you love but love it as hard as you can. That's one of the reasons we started this site and why I've spent so much time trying to improve it over the years. Because I love this team and I love these fans.
So Bear Down, Chicago Bears. Make every play, clear the way to victory. I'll be right here waiting.
#2 jdawg said . . .first and a prediction
September 12, 2008
#3 Anytime said . . .I predict one of those fake reverses won't be a fake and it will go to Davis, not Hester.
great post Jeff, btw.
September 12, 2008
#4 Anytime said . . .Well written Jeff.
I think I speak for all of us who frequent this site that we share the same love and passion for this team as you do, and we appreciate the hard work that you put forth to keep it going and time you spend on every post you write. Keep up the good work.We will truly see what this team is made of this week, whether or not we just played a Colts team that was hindered and weakened by injury, or we are just a damn good football team again. I for one feel like we have a playoff squad this year and have a chance to sneak up on the league like we have in the past. Big weekend fellas.
Bear down.
September 12, 2008
#5 Phillip from NYC said . . .P.S.
Fuck Moose.September 12, 2008
#6 jeff said . . .Great post, Jeff. Don't have much else to say except that I was kinda pissed that all of those politicians were standing around off of Church street yesterday.
Bear down.
September 12, 2008
#7 BearDown1982 said . . .i agree. id much rather they stay away. politicizing that place is sickening.
September 12, 2008
#8 Viva said . . .Well said.
God Bless the USA...and the rest of the world for that matter.And of course...Go Bears!
September 12, 2008
#9 enderwiggin said . . .Semper Fi
September 12, 2008
#10 KidronJesse said . . .Another great post Jeff. I also enjoyed your "behind enemy lines with Sportz Assassin". Keep up the great work
September 12, 2008
#11 jeremy34 said . . .Jeff...
I read a lot of sportswriters and bloggers, the good (Henry Abbott) and the bad (Mariotti). I have been reading here for the last year and a half, and I have really enjoy your perspective.
I am from the north Chicago suburbs, and was running my college radio station in 2001 and I spent all day talking to a handful of record promoters from New York, I had become very close with them and will never forget what it was like to not be able to get a hold of them for a day or two (they were all fine, but many of them lost family members that day) ... I absolutely couldn't imagine if they were my family or long-term friends.
When I they did call me, and shared their stories, I realized how different their experience was then mine that day. I watched the coverage all day and prayed and cried with my family... but I didn't have to run from danger or (in the case of the hero's) run into the danger. The stories of people from New York are the most terrifying testimonials I have ever heard. Despite my vivid memories of that day, and my knowledge of what transpired, those stories still seem unreal to me.
I'm truly sorry that you went through that (that anyone went through it), but I appreciate the people like you that use their experience to inform their perspective and help to spread the wisdom to others. Your viewpoint on the role of sports in the real world is spot on. I remember baseball in particular having such a huge role in showing the world that America was still standing.
Say what you will about the rest of his term, but at a time when
the country was terrified or terrorist attacks, and people were told to stay away from shopping malls and public places, President Bush walked to the mound, looked around at the 60,000 people that had gathered to watch the World Series, and he gave the thumbs up. I thought that portrayed exactly the "Can't keep us down" attitude that the greatest country on earth needed to have.Hell, I even rooted fot the Yankee's that series, and that's saying something.
Anyway, thanks for the perspective Jeff.
September 12, 2008
#12 Jimbo said . . .Great writing Jeff.
September 12, 2008
#13 Oaktown34luv said . . .Jeff. One of the best posts i've read on this blog. Thank you for putting so much effort into a place to talk bears, and thank you to everyone else for the debate/insight/convo. Dabearsblog is an intergral part of my day.
September 12, 2008
#14 Stuck in MN said . . .I echo Jimbo's sentiments. Thanks so much Jeff.
September 12, 2008
#15 Viva said . . .Jeff,
I don't usually have much to say, but I love to read da site daily...it's great. Best post I have read yet, it really hit home...not to minimize it, but I feel like if someone read that to our squad before gametime on Sunday, it would guarantee victory. BEAR DOWN.
September 12, 2008
#16 Viva said . . .I left the Marine Corps in June of 2000, and was back in the gun club October of 2001 (a month after 9/11).
About a week before my Company was to deploy to Iraq in 2003 (Phase 1), I had all of my Marines standing in a formation and one of them was showing signs of fear, and asked: "Sir, why don't we have a choice in this matter?"
I thought about it for a few seconds (and whenever I think about 9-11 I always come back to this same thought) and said: the only choice in this war that I give a shit about is the choice our countrymen faced when they had to decide whether to stay in those buildings and burn, or jump 70 stories to their death.
As it turned out, that kid did things in that war that would make you all proud...
September 13, 2008
#17 Max said . . .PS - Fuck Moose
September 13, 2008
#18 enderwiggin said . . .Fuck Moose.
September 13, 2008
#19 Ted said . . .Where is Shaydy, I need someone to tell me why the PantherMan theme song has been stuck in my head for two days...
September 13, 2008
#20 Z said . . .Yo Bears fans! Just moved to the big apple and wondering if there's a Bears bar somewhere to watch the game and drink PBR.
Also, Mike Ditka is gawd, and be sure to point and laugh at every Patriots fan you see.
September 13, 2008
#21 Phil from SATX said . . .Jeff you are an incredible writer. Powerful words spoken so true. I watched on TV and visited the area 2 years later. I can't begin to empathize with what horror actually being there that day must have been.
As for Da Bears. I hope the bus Moose didn't realize he was putting people under in Chicago hits him hard Sunday. I believe bus #30 or #54 comes thru Carolina at noon. #31 can cause some nasty collisions too. I really hope he is under those numbers, crushed.
Go Bears!!
September 13, 2008
#22 Duane said . . .A truly memorable post, Jeff. Thank you. And thanks to all the heartfelt, well written responses - Viva, great thanks to you and Sgt Duffy and others who read and write here for volunteering to fight for us and others. Here in San Antonio (.Military City USA for those of you who may not know) we have an especially acute appreciation for how special you guys are - want to find a strong family with great values and character and amazing kids? Point to a military family at random and odds are you found one. My next door neighbor is an Army electrophysiologist who served as head of Baghdad ER for six months back a few years ago when it was really hot over there.. He's a cheesehead and a huge Packer fan (of course!) - and I guaran-damn-tee you he can testify to the importance of the distraction of sports in general and NFL specifically in the extreme stress and danger that he and Viva and others volunteered to put themselves through on our behalf. I freaking love our military.
I think the Bears are really going to make some noise this year. It's also surprising to me how much instant respect I am hearing from media people. Even Chris Landry Superscout was speaking in glowing terms about us. He said both teams were going to put a huge rush on the QBs, and gave the slight edge to the Panthers because of the experience edge of Del Homey. However, he closed with a comment about our special teams, short fields and #23 and left with "that may turn out to be the difference in the game." May his words be prophetic.
SEMPER FI
September 13, 2008
#23 animal said . . .I appreciate your comments about 9/11 and the tragedy that day was for America. The spirit shown by many people that day taught a lesson about doing things with passion. it is the only way to truly live, great site and keep up the great thoughts. The Bears teams have always played with passion - Bear Down - Go Bears beat the Panthers!
September 13, 2008
#24 Phillip in NYC said . . .FAVOR FOR A FRIEND
Is there any way someone can post series by series tomorrow? Im not getting the game. It would be awesome to read a summary of each series.September 13, 2008
#25 enderwiggin said . . .hey ted, depends on where you are. Jeff's place is on the lower east side at Josie Woods Pub (near w 4th/NYU) and I'm up at Gael Pub, 83rd and 3rd.
September 13, 2008
#26 animal said . . .Animal. Chicagobears.com should have a link on game day to allow you to listen to WBBM
September 13, 2008
#27 Coxy said . . .THANKS man Ill try it.
Im also looking on StoogeTV- I remember someone saying Bears games would be on there.September 13, 2008
#28 Idonije said . . .Ted, there is also "The Big Easy" - a dump bar on the ues. Usually a decent Chicago contingent there though which is nice.
Just want to say, its been about a year since I have posted. Been reading everything though in the meantime. Last year took a lot out of me. Following the Super Bowl, I thought we were poised to do some damage. Just couldnt really string anything together. I take losses pretty hard - usually don't read anything Bears related until Wednesday following a loss. But after week 1, I am very excited for this year.
PO'd, Jeff, what up.
September 13, 2008
#29 Map said . . ."A strong performance from Griese Sunday may drop serial quarterback dater, Gruden, down on bended knee."
Shit like this is why I hate some of the writers for Yahoo!
http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/Shocker-Special-Brian-Griese-would-humiliate-Je;_ylt=Ak4BQ_etphL5iMxcXVirsFFNC5kB?urn=fantasy,107501September 14, 2008
hi.
just another Bears fan. first-time commenter. and I'm gonna be real with you: normally, I think your blog sucks — though I still read it all the time.
but this here was pretty poignant.
well done, man.September 14, 2008
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.