Out With 2009, In With 2010

As I haven’t written anything in awhile and the new decade stars in approximately 5.5 hours, I thought I might share some of my wishes for sports in oh-ten (I would do a retrospective of the year, but let’s face it, that takes much longer and there is revelry to take part in).  I apologize in advance for demonstrating my proclivity to include my favorite teams and to repeat some topics I may have already discussed, but hey, it’s my blog and my wishes.  Here we go:

1. A revision, almost any revision, of the BCS system

2. The Big Ten regaining some dignity and actually winning some bowl games (unlikely I know)

3. Rich Rod finally getting things sorted out over at Michigan and producing a team that goes to a bowl game (see wish 2)

4. Someone, anyone, other than the Lakers winning the NBA Finals (aside from the Celtics of course)

5. The new Chicago Cubs ownership maintaining the tradition associated with the team and the stadium and overhauling pretty much everything else.  100+ years is way too long

6. The US having a respectable showing in the World Cup.

7. The Bears making it to the playoffs (next season) by whatever means necessary.

8. The Yankees putting together another championship caliber team with all the changes and trades (I’m still nervous about letting go of home-grown guys like Melky.  You know Cano is secretly crying himself to sleep)

9. Professional athletes managing to keep their philandering out of the news.  We all know some pro athletes cheat, they’re no different than the rest of us and probably experience more temptation than the average Joe/Jane.  I just don’t want it to dominate my sports coverage for weeks on end (ahem Tiger).

10. A job as a sportscaster (highly unlikely, but arguably more likely than some of the other items on my list)

Happy New Years everybody!  Thanks for a great 2009 and hear is to an even better 2010!

Is this Year the Year?

Well, we’re talking the Bears and I’m fairly certain the Chicago sports fan (pick any sport, they virtually all apply) mantra is “this is going to be the year.”  This is pretty much always followed by “next year is going to be the year.”  So is this year the year for the Bears?  Probably not, but I’m liking what I’m seeing so far.

Last week in the match-up against the Giants, Cutler looked good (even if his teammates don’t like him).  The return of Forte didn’t hurt either.  In the 17-3 win over the G-Men it was clear that things may be coming together for the Chicago team.  Now I’m a supporter (first love = da bears) of the Giants, but Chicago proved last week that they have the ability to make things happen offensively.  The Bears are always solid defensively, but it was refreshing to see the offense making plays too.

Both teams are still struggling to find their passing game given a young/lack of WR roster, but it was clear that Chicago was able to get around that obstacle last week.  Cutler and Hester still need to learn to connect, but hey, a 17-3 win against another team with some serious potential?  I’ll take it!

And that brings us to this weekend.  Broncos and Bears will meet in Denver with Orton going up against Cutler following the trade that took place this past spring.  It’s going to be a good one.  It’s looking good for my Bears, especially now that Denver announced today that they have suspended WR Brandon Marshall for the rest of the preseason.

Either way, definitely a game worth watching.  A game that I can’t watch all of because I will be flying back to New York.  Why can’t United get live games on their planes?  You’ve already forced me to check my carry-on which I packed unusually sparsely for the exact reason so that I could bring it onto the plane; throw a girl a bone. (I’m clearly still salty about this)

My prediction: Bears over the Broncos with a good amount of points on the board from both teams.  This may not be the year where the Bears go all the way (or they could surprise me), but it is going to be a year for some solid football coming out of Chicago.

For those of you who don’t appreciate the bears in the same way that I do, here is a gift from me to you.