It's the early morning hours of Christmas Eve and I'm listening to George Jones sing "Bartender's Blues" on a shady laptop computer in Brooklyn, New York. I'm tired but nowhere near sleep. I'm hungry but my kitchen might as well be in the Bronx. This is the time when I do my best writing - usually in the form of dialogue spoken by two people in a random New Jersey locale. Tonight I'm here.
My favorite quote about Christmas comes from the late-novelist Taylor Caldwell. She wrote, "I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent."
Over the past few years I have been honored and humbled by the number of people who've made this website even the smallest part of their daily lives. Though I use it as an opportunity to voice my hopefully-interesting perspective on the team I love, this site has always been and will always be about you. I hope that somehow my sleepless nights and boundless passion for this ball club in some way make you feel better about yours.
We created DaBearsBlog as a place for those sharing our particular passion to come together without geographical barrier. A place for camaraderie and conversation; for celebration and debate. But also a place for true fans to come when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent.
I don't understand why people love what they love. How did my mother and father produce a human whose two favorite things on earth are the Chicago Bears and the later plays of Eugene O'Neill? The truth is...who cares? That's the way things are. These are the things I love. And in a world where so many people seem on an endless search for happiness, I'm not about to apologize for mine. I love the goddamn Chicago Bears. And if you're reading this, you probably do too.
And I know that sometimes you look in the mirror and think, "Can I really care this much about fifty-three guys I've never met?" Yeah. You can. And there's not a thing in the world wrong with that. Sunday your fifty-three will attempt to win their tenth game in Houston while hoping for a minor miracle in the Metrodome. If it happens, we'll celebrate here together Sunday night and argue for a week about our chances of advancing in the playoffs.
If it doesn't, well, we're here for that too.
Merry Christmas, Bears fans. I'll see you Friday.
#2 Megan said . . .Fantastic stuff. I moved back to Chicago in 2008 and as I look back on the year I am so happy that I did. There is just a sense around the city (and its sports teams) that is so different from anywhere else I've been (and I've done more than my share of traveling/living in different places). I had a dozen of my closest friends over for the game Monday Night and when Alex Brown got that paw up it elicited some utter joy that is hard to reproduce elsewhere in life.
And Saturday night I'm going to go to sleep nervous in anticipation, and I'll watch the games Sunday knowing that we could be 120 combined minutes away from a #3 seed. or nothing. I'm guessing that that sharp of a divide may never have happened before in NFL history with only 1 game left.
Most of my sports blog reading is more analytical, intellectual, SABR, etc, but this place is great to just vent your emotions about something you love with lots of people who you share something fantastic with. I don't post that often but I always read and enjoy the different points of view we can all have while still pulling for the same side.
and finally, First. And a Merry Christmas to all those of you who love the most storied of all teams.
December 24, 2008
#3 Jokey said . . .Jeff,
Merry Christmas to you and yours, I may not say much anymore, but I read. Thanks for making this place possible; I appreciate it and most who come here.
XXOO
Megan
December 24, 2008
#4 BRAD LABATT said . . .Jeff,
Thank You for the blog. I don't post often because my thoughts are captured either by you or others.
Do I love the Bears? I don't know, but I do know that many of the happiest moments in my life happened in 1985 and 2006.
Merry Christmas,
JoeDecember 24, 2008
#5 Wayne Scott said . . .MERRY CHRISTMAS JEFF
LOVE THE BEARS,LOVE THE WEBSITE
THANKS FOR TAKING YOUR TIME
TO SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVEDecember 24, 2008
#6 Rancid said . . .Thank you Jeff. Thank you, and thank you. I saw the responses to the last blog and I feel you. Watching the game made me remember why I lo0ve this team... balls. We aren't the best, but what does that mean? You win or lose period. Win, win, win, that is our destiny now. You are either in it to win it or get the hell out. backseat drivers suck a dick! Get on this teams jock or join another ones! Bears all the way! Can't believe I even to posy this,\.
December 24, 2008
#7 Oaktown34 said . . .To all of you - MERRY CHRISTMAS
To Jeff - Thanks for your passion
To Minny - Fuck You
December 24, 2008
#8 BearDown1982 said . . .Thank you Jeff. This site is a wonderful Christmas present that I enjoy year round. Merry X-mas to all and to all a BEAR DOWN!!
December 24, 2008
#9 Bill from SATX said . . .A Jeff classic. Nice post, man.
Am I the only one who enjoys the holidays that much more when the Bears are in the playoff hunt? It always makes the holidays just a little bit more sweeter.
Happy Holidays everyone...Bear Down!
December 24, 2008
#10 Jakub said . . .I have just started reading the blogs in the last week and I look forward to the next blog every day. This year has been an overall good year. We still have some questions, but not as many as when the season started. With the way last weekend went, I was sure the Bears were going to pull the win out some way and I am confident we will be commenting on the playoffs next week. Things are just aligned to right to think otherwise.
To Jeff and all the readers, I hope you have a Merry Christmas. All I want is a Bears Win and a Division Title!
December 24, 2008
#11 Gin said . . .Merry Christmas!
BTW - I am flying to Omaha today...through Minnesota...you bet I am wearing my Bears jersey =)
December 24, 2008
#12 HesterFan23 said . . .Let's go Bears! I'm flying to Houston tomorrow and meeting up with 3 buddies and we'll be rocking Bears gear all weekend and will be there Sunday to ensure the Bears don't forgot what's at stake. I'm sure we'll be louder than the 300 people in my section. Bear Down.
And go gmen
December 24, 2008
#13 Luke said . . .Another good piece...
December 24, 2008
#14 Jimbo said . . .Merry Christmas, Jeff. I haven't been posting for awhile either like a lot of these cats, but am still a devout reader of everything you've posted since I discovered this site. I'm here EVERY DAY to see if you've got anything new posted because in my opinion you're the best Bears writer there is, but that's not to take away from some of the truly awesome posts of some of this sites regulars are known for making.
You've built an amazing community with some of the best Bear fans contributing regularly.
All you guys kick ass.
"It's lovely weather for a BEAR DOWN together with you."
December 24, 2008
#15 Da Coach said . . .I just got here to the blog, but I'm here to stay. I grew up on the southside and for the last 7 years I have lived in St. Louis. I grew up watching the Bears with my Dad and Uncles every Sunday, Payton, Suhey, Bortz, Hampton, Plank, Fencik, etc.
Thanks for the blog and thanks for the Christmas wishes.
GO SANTA! GO BEARS!!
December 24, 2008
#16 UB said . . .Jeff great post as usual and thank you for developing and maintaining this site! I want to say Merry Christmas to you and your readers.
Rancid your post (#6) had me lauging out loud and just another reason I love this site.
Bear down!
December 24, 2008
#17 Willie from Chicago said . . .Good blog Jeff,
Ilove the Chicago Bears, Thanks for Monday Night, Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2008
#18 Pankster in Da Carolina's said . . .Jeff, thank you for creating a site that brings Bear fans together, thank you for the many hours that you take out of your day to make it possible!
No matter what happens to the queens on sunday, I want a win vs the Texans. 10-6 still means alot, it means that we improved 3 games from last year. So all I want for Christmas is the Bears to give it their all and pull out a win in Houston, if the queens lose, great, if not then its wait till next year.
I'd also like to wish a Merry Christmas to the Chicago Bears who give it their all week in and week out.
And finally, I'd like to wish a merry christmas to Jeff, Noah, Phil, Rancid, Megan, Bill, Brian, WCPF, and everyone else who takes time out of their day to make this blog what it is. Thank you.
ps. Fuck the Vikings
BEAR DOWN!
December 24, 2008
#19 wheres waldo said . . .Jeff- Great Post and thanks for all of your great insight on our favorite ball club Merry Christmas to you and your family,Bears Nation Merry Christmas to all of you and be safe BEAR DOWN AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!
December 24, 2008
#20 Ram in S.A. said . . .i hate it when someone says EXACTLY what i wanted to say, but oh well i suppose copy & paste will work just this once :D
"#6 Rancid said . . .
To all of you - MERRY CHRISTMASTo Jeff - Thanks for your passion
To Minny - Fuck You"
December 24, 2008
#21 jdawg said . . .First of all, I want to say thanks to you Jeff for this awsome site, and merry freaking holiday to all! To Phill and Bill in S.A. Tx. we got to get together and form a Bears club here or is there one already? Well, this weekend we make the trip to Houston to support our Bears, there is going to be 12 of us, so if any body gives us any shit, we will be ready.....every one, have a good one!!!!
Bear down!!!!!!!
December 24, 2008
#22 Portugal Bear said . . .My first memory of the Bears is my dad and relatives going crazy watching Payton run in his 2nd year.
My grandfather actually tutored Halas in chemistry so he could stay on the team in college. My grandfather was the least athletic person I've ever known.
Anyway, happy hollidays to all and let's hope the Vikes choke on Sunday.
ho ho ho
December 24, 2008
#23 NittyGritty34 said . . .Merry Christmas!!!!
December 24, 2008
#24 Sdwat51 said . . .I grew up in Oregon, lived in Alaska, Colorada, and now Idaho. I've never really lived among Bears fans. So the most dialogue I had about them growing up usually involved some stupid 9er fan trashing on Da Bears or the like. I've been reading this here site for about 2 seasons now, and I've finally found my place for dialogue. It's great to be among like minded enlightened individuals. I Love the Bears, even when they suck. I love that, finally, somebody feels me.
Bear Down Bear Nation
Ba Humbug Queens, may your stockings be filled with lumps of coal.
December 24, 2008
#25 BearMan n Cincy said . . .Merry Christmas, everyone.
The very best of everything life has to offer, and Godspeed to the threshhold of your dreams, and beyond....
December 25, 2008
#26 BearsFan from CA said . . .It's so great to see so many die-hard Bears fan, even through the rollercoaster season! I'm new to this blog and loving every minutue of it! Let's all BEAR DOWN! and hope OUR Bears don't go into hibernation against Houston.
December 25, 2008
#27 alexander said . . .Jeff,
I am brand new to your site as of this past week. I stumbled upon your amazing site late on Saturday night as I lay awake at the Westin on Michigan Ave. Yes, I traveled all the way to Chicago from California during the busiest travel time of the year to see the team I love so much play their biggest rival in the coldest game in Bears history. It was the most amazing trip I could ever imagine.
You are the best Bears writer I have found.
Todays blog says it best about how I feel about my Chicago Bears. I actually read your blog aloud to my wife so she could understand that I am not alone in how I feel about our team. It's not easy for someone from California to understand how another person from
California (who had never even visited Chicago) could possibly love a team so much.I am proud to say that we are expecting our first child (and next true Bears fan) in July. We bought his first Bears outfit at Soldier Field this weekend.
Here's to thanking you for being a great fan of the team we love, and for for doing such an outstanding job on a site that I will look forward to reading every day.
Merry Christmas to all!
GO BEARS!!!!!
December 25, 2008
#28 animal said . . .Merry Christmas everyone. This is a pretty great site to read about the Bears, and maybe more importantly, to hear perspectives from the fans, rather than the coaches.
It's funny. I lived in NYC last season and watched games at Josie Woods, before I knew about this site. The only reason I happened to watch games there was because they happened to be showing one while I got out of the rain there once. Weird coincidence.
December 25, 2008
#29 Spanish Bear said . . .Merry Christmas
This is really a great site. Im drunk.
I love that we stray back to positivism.
It is so easy to get negative, but the bottom line is we love our Bears. Hope springs eternal. Lets beat the Texans!!December 25, 2008
#30 RandomName said . . .Feliz Navidad!
December 25, 2008
#31 RandomName said . . .http://imagebin.org/34357 there's your bookmark logo.
http://www.codelifter.com/main/javascript/favicon1.html
There's how to add it... aparently just rename it to favicon.ico and stick it in your rooot directory.
Jeff my Xmas gift to you.
December 25, 2008
#32 shonbear said . . .In fact Jeff you can just save the icon file from here to the root.
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a002014/n/favicon_ico
just scroll down to save.
(simply renaming an image file doesnt work I had to make this into an ico file differently)December 25, 2008
#33 T. Person said . . .Jeff,
I appreciate you so mucch. I'd been online reading only espn nfl.com and da site since I first got dial up internet while stationed in Puerto Rico in 1995. Once a week you'd be lucky to see a useful Bears story in the off season.
Finally, after at the begining of what was to be a rough 2007 post Super Bowl loss season I got stationed in Japan having attended the first two Bears games SD and KC (where my friend had a quick sexual experience with a complete stranger in a port-a-pody outside the Soldier Field tunnel, I digress), then leaving for Japan to face the rest of the miserable season. I discovered your site and it has been a lifeline during hard times, culture shock (not so bad, the women are so hot here, again I digress), preparing for retirement and a getting ready to look for a new job and missing my kids.
All that to say, this site is awesome, I appreciate your thoughtful insight and most all the bloggers. Thank you so much, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, here's to hoping it's extremely happy for all of us who love and live for our Bears.
December 25, 2008
#34 Tone Capone said . . .When is the time to bench Kyle Orton? Throughout his career he looked decent during the 1st half of the season than go in to the tank the 2nd half. Have you seen his quarterback rating the last 4 weeks and lets not say it's because of an ankle injury he had 6 weeks ago. Even before the ankle injury he was on his way to losing to the Detroit Lions. Thinks to him getting hurt & being taken out of that game the Bears were able to pull that game out. Then the following game without Orton the bears played a close game against at that time the undefeated Tennessee Titans.
December 25, 2008
#35 Joseph said . . .Merry Christmas to you all guys!!
December 25, 2008
#36 Who's Laughing Now said . . .Thanks Jeff for this website and Merry Christmas everybody.
I hope Jared Allen chokes on his Christmas Spam!
December 25, 2008
#37 invessPoggife said . . .This is the new dream scenario I've been savoring in my mind. I'm imagining that the Bears not only make the playoffs, but then they go on a REVENGE TOUR, avenging their three worst losses of the year, the three losses they had in their grip and let slip away : Carolina, Tampa, Atlanta. Here's how I think it could work. Bears win, Vikes lose, Cowboys lose, Bucs win. Bears take the 3 seed and play the six seed Tampa at home. Atlanta the 5 seed has to upset the Giants in NY. When they reseed, Atlanta has to come to Chicago for a Bears revenge match beat down. Then the Bears have to pull off one more miracle and travel into Carolina and outfox John Fox. Here are some reasons I think it could happen: 1. The Bears D is finally starting to play well the last two weeks. 2. The Giants could very well lose to Atlanta because even though they pulled it together for the Carolina game, they're still a team in a bit of disarray. 3. Two words why the Bears could win in Carolina: Jake Delhomme. He is Kyle Orton with a stronger arm and a little more seasoning, but the point is: you never know what you're going to get with him. We just have to -- miraculously -- catch him on an off day. 4. We're Bears fans -- we HAVE to believe.
December 26, 2008
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