Surprise! New Orleans Saints Win the Super Bowl

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints who upset the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 yesterday in the Super Bowl, witnessed by more than 106 million people, making it the most watched TV event in history. I think the only people who weren’t surprised by the Saints’ victory were New Orleans fans.

There are several lessons we can learn after watching the Saints victory against the Colts

Never underestimate the underdog. Outside the city of New Orleans, few people gave the Saints much of a chance to win the Super Bowl. The Colts had more playoff experience, more talent and a higher profile quarterback in Peyton Manning. The Saints were five-point underdogs, but won the game 31-17 after allowing the Colts to score the first 10 points of the game. Then the Saints offense took over, controlling the ball and the game clock from the second quarter on. Proof once again that championships are not won on paper; they’re won on the field.

Be willing to take chances. Sean Payton’s call for an onside kick to start the second half was a gutsy one. It could easily have backfired had the Colts recovered it cleanly in Saints territory. But the ball bounced off a Colts’ player and was recovered by the Saints, who went on to score a touchdown to take the lead. The play caught the Colts off guard, and they never quite recovered the rest of the game.

Expect the unexpected. How many times have we seen Peyton Manning get picked off with the game on the line? Manning is one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league. You simply do not expect him to make many mistakes in a big game like the Super Bowl. But after cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton’s pass and ran 74 yards for a clinching touchdown with less than four minutes left to play, that sealed the Colts’ fate.

Savor your victories and share them with loved ones. During the on-field celebration, a teary-eyed Drew Brees took in the moment with his infant son in his arms. It was perhaps the most touching scene of the day.

Don Shula: Spygate Would Mar the Pats’ Undefeated Season

It seems the New England Patriots are having as much trouble earning respect as Barry Bonds. The New York Daily News reports that Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, who coached the 1972 Miami Dolphins to an undefeated season, says the Spygate controversy earlier this season will mar the Patriots’ success if they finish with a 16-0 record. The Patriots were caught videotaping the opponents’ sidelines during a game against the New York Jets. Pats’ coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, the team was fined $250,000, and they lost a first-round draft pick. The team was forced to turn the tapes over to the league, but because NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ordered the tapes destroyed, we’ll never know exactly what was on those tapes. “The Spygate thing has diminished what they’ve accomplished. You would hate to have that attached to their accomplishments,” he said.

While it’s obvious that Shula is trying to protect the integrity of the Dolphins’ accomplishment, not many fans agree with the coach. In a survey on Fox Sports Web site, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of respondents said the Patriots should not have an asterisk next to their name if they go unbeaten. What surprises me is how forgiving fans are. It’s obvious that the Pats’ were caught cheating and yet, two-thirds of those who responded to this survey are willing to look the other way. If you’ve got a talented team like the Patriots, why cheat if you don’t have to?

Griese Fingers

I know it’s only one game, but it’s clear to me that Brian Griese is not the answer to the Bears’ offensive woes. After throwing three interceptions, including one for a Lions’ touchdown, in the Bears’ 37-27 loss Sunday, Griese showed he isn't that much better that Rex Grossman, whom he replaced at quarterback. As I mentioned last week in my blog, Griese is only a temporary solution. I still think Grossman has a lot of potential and I think he will rebound from this setback.

Don’t get me wrong. I like Brian Griese – but only as a backup. While he’s had some success as a starter in the NFL, I think he’s better suited in the backup role where he can spell a starter who might leave a game with an injury. The problem I have with Griese is this: if he were as good as Bears fans think he is, then why isn’t he still playing for Denver or Miami? Why hasn’t he had any consistent playing time with any one team? The truth is that Grossman was so awful in many fans’ minds, that they viewed Griese as a much better quarterback than he really is. The truth is, Griese isn’t that much better than Grossman. More experienced perhaps, but not much better.

A local TV station held a poll last week, asking viewers who they wanted to see as the starting quarterback. The winner in the QB sweepstakes was Kyle Orton with 62 percent of the vote, while Grossman got roughly one-third. Griese received none. A couple of sports fans I talked with Sunday during the White Sox finale at the Cell felt similarly. The best Bears’ QB, they told me, is sitting on the sidelines.

Grossman to Sit Out Against the Lions

Bears fans have been begging to see Brian Griese as the starting quarterback since the beginning of the 2006 season. Now they’ll finally get their wish. Griese will start for the Bears this Sunday against the Detroit Lions while Grossman watches from the sidelines.

I’ve always been a staunch supporter of Grossman, even after some of his worst performances last season which prompted most other fans to beg for a change in the quarterback position. But after seeing his showing during the Super Bowl last February and three subpar performances to start this season, I have to agree with coach Lovie Smith that it is time for “a breath of fresh air.” If there had been steady progress in Grossman’s play on the field – namely, fewer interceptions, better ball control and more touchdowns – I would have stuck with him as the leader on this team. I’m sure Lovie would have too. But I have seen nothing in recent weeks which leads me to think that Grossman is comfortable in the starting role. That might be the best thing for him right now. Mind you, this is a temporary solution. Griese is 39-33 as a backup in the NFL and has some solid credentials to his name. Despite his limited success, I don’t expect Griese to be the starter for the remainder of the season, only until he falters himself, gets injured or Grossman regains his confidence, whichever comes first.

Patriot Games: Is New England Spying on the Competition?

With everything that has been happening in the world of sports this year — Michael Vick’s dog fighting allegations, NBA referees charged with gambling, ongoing debates about steroid use in baseball — I probably shouldn’t be too surprised to find out that an NFL team may have violated league rules that ban videotaping of the opponents’ sidelines. I just never thought the New England Patriots, arguably one of the best teams in the NFL during the past decade, would be the culprit.

The NFL is investigating several reported incidents involving the New England Patriots’ use of video cameras to “steal” signals from opposing team coaches on the sidelines.
The most recent incident occurred Sunday when NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots’ employee during their game against the New York Jets. Last season, a similar incident occurred when the Green Bay Packers complained to the league when they noticed a man with a Patriots’ staff credential was carrying a video camera on their sideline.

Earlier this week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell met with Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick about his “interpretation” of the league’s rules, and an ESPN.com reported that Goodell feels the Patriots did violate the videotaping ban. The NFL is expected to rule on the incident on Friday.

It’s understandable that any team or athlete would want to gain some kind of competitive advantage over his opponent, but a team as deeply talented as the Patriots shouldn’t need to resort to those tactics. Yet if these allegations are true, what do these actions say about their team and coaching staff? Are the Patriots insecure about the talent on their team or are they simply playing head games with the NFL and the other teams in the league?

Bears’ Running Game Going Nowhere

Tribune sports columnist David Haugh was right on in his assessment of the Bears’ ineffective running game in Sunday’s opening season loss to the San Diego Chargers. Heading into this season, I was more concerned about the Bears’ ability to run the ball and control the clock than I was with QB Rex Grossman’s offensive struggles. With the departure of running back Thomas Jones, who was traded to the New York Jets during the off season, the Bears must rely on Cedric Benson, a first-round draft pick from Texas now in his third season. Up to this point, Benson has shown little of his talent or promise on the field.

Ideally, an established running game will open up the passing game for Grossman who will have better play options available to him and the offense becomes a more balanced attack. But without a running game, Grossman will have to pass more, which means forcing passes he should not throw, miscues, interceptions and so on.

It all starts up front for the Bears. The offensive line needs to open up holes for Benson. They need to give Grossman plenty of time to see the whole field and make the right pass play choices. And they need to make sure defenders are properly blocked so they’re not running into Grossman’s face.

If the Bears cannot straighten out their offensive attack and running game any time soon, this could be a long, disappointing season for the Bears.

The Legacy of Darryl Stingley

Darryl Stingley, the New England Patriots’ wide receiver who became a paraplegic after suffering a career-ending neck and spinal cord injury in 1978, died in a Chicago-area hospital Thursday from pneumonia and complications as a result of his injury. The Chicago native was 55 years old.

Stingley is one of those few athletes who will leave behind a legacy to his sport that has nothing to do with records, achievements, talent or his love of the game. His legacy to pro football is the rules changes the league made in the aftermath of his injury that protects players on the field. It is sad that Stingley had to suffer in order to make the game better for other players. Despite these rules changes, however, there will always be an element of risk for those who play the game. Football will always be an aggressive sport – that’s simply the nature of the game. There aren’t enough rules or pads or helmets to protect the players.

Chalk One Up for Da Coach

Last week, former Bears’ head coach Mike Ditka announced he sold his 1975 NFC championship ring for $12,000 in an online auction to raise money to assist former NFL players who have become disabled. Ditka, and Jerry Kramer, who both played for the Dallas Cowboys during the 1975 championship season, believe that the NFL isn’t doing enough to help these players.

It looks like Ditka’s emotional announcement made an impact. Earlier this week the NFL and the players’ association announced the formation of 88 Plan, a joint effort to provide funding to families of former players with dementia to help pay for their care and treatment. So far, families of 22 former players who are suffering from dementia have been designated to receive the benefit.

This seems like a great start for the program, but it’s a shame that the NFL did not have a program in place already. It took a couple of high-profile players like Ditka and Kramer to make the public aware that former players need help. In today’s sports world ruled by ego-driven players with mega-million dollar salaries, we often forget that the old-timers who played in the 1960s and 1970s didn’t have the same benefits and advantages that today's players have. At this point, we don't even know how many ex-players are affected.

While I think it's admirable that the league and players union are finally doing something to help former players, I also wonder if it presents questions than it solves. How much financial support is enough? Who gets the support and who doesn't? And will today’s players expect similar treatment in the future?

Briggs Lets His Ego Do the Talking

For the past few weeks, Bears’ linebacker Lance Briggs has taken to the airwaves to complain about how the Bears are not willing to give him a long-term deal. Their offer of $7.2 million for one year just isn’t good enough, Briggs told ESPN, saying that there was not job security in the deal and he wants to be traded. If he wanted job security, why didn't he accept the Bears' six-year, $33-million dollar offer last season? He has threatened to sit out the entire 2007 season.

Briggs also complains that he wants to be treated as the number one guy on defense and as long as he is with the Bears and playing with Brian Urlacher that will never happen. He says that the Bears don’t respect him, but it seems like they respect him enough to offer a deal worth $7.2 million for one year. I know a lot of people who would not turn that kind of money down.

If you listen closely to Briggs, you can almost hear an echo of another high-profile NFL loudmouth – Terrell Owens. It’s no coincidence that the two players have the same agent – Drew Rosenhaus. I don't remember Briggs being so arrogant, so you wonder if this stunt is coming from him and if Rosenhaus is pulling the strings. I picture Rosenhaus manipulating the strings of a marionette puppet, while Briggs is the puppet.

I say, let Briggs sit out the season. After sitting out a whole year whining and grumbling, he'll realize that the six-year, $33 million offer was a pretty darn good deal after all.

Jones’ Deal Opens Door for Benson

With the trade of running back Thomas Jones to the New York Jets on Monday, Cedric Benson now becomes the apparent starting back for the Bears next season. Jones’ trade was sudden and surprising, but then I suppose the two backs could not live happily ever after on the same Bears team. As rivals for the starting running back job, I got the sense that the two did not like each other. The fact is, if the Bears had kept both backs, both Jones and Benson would continue to be unhappy – Benson because he wasn’t getting enough playing time, and Jones, well, I guess he just didn’t like being a Bear. For the sake of keeping the peace, one of them had to go.

I liked Jones; he was reliable and productive, especially with the game on the line. I’m not convinced that Benson can do the same under similar circumstances. Perhaps with Jones safely tucked away in New York, Benson can step up and perform the way the Bears think he can, and give third-string RB Adrian Petersen an opportunity to contribute more. If Benson doesn’t deliver, the Bears better have a decent back-up plan.

Bears Need Lovie

For a team that just appeared in Super Bowl XLI in Miami earlier this month, the Bears have had quite a few coaching changes. That’s highly unusual. QB coach Wade Wilson left to be QB coach in Dallas. Ron Rivera is gone after the team decided not to renew his contract, and linebacker coach Bob Babich replaced Rivera.

Now everyone’s attention is turning to coach Lovie Smith, who will enter the 2007 season in the last year of his contract. He is the lowest-paid head coach in the NFL. With all the other coaching changes, it’s even more critical that the Bears retain Smith as head coach to provide the vision and continuity that the team needs to return to the Super Bowl.

Smith has said he would like to remain the Bears’ head coach for the rest of his career, and the Bears claim they want him too. The fact is, the Bears need Smith more than Smith needs the Bears.

After four seasons under Smith’s leadership, the Bears seem to finally be getting into a groove. I’d like to see that continue if possible. But if the Bears and Smith cannot agree on a deal, it would force the Bears to get used to an entirely new coaching regime all over again.

The "Who Cares?" Bowl

Maybe the NFL Pro Bowl should be renamed to the "Who Cares?" Bowl. Honestly, after last week's Super Bowl hype, who really watches the Pro Bowl? As much as I love football, I usually skip watching the Pro Bowl. I'm ready to move on to other sports.

Is it any wonder that some players decide to skip the game altogether? Bears' linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs did so, citing injuries they re-aggravated in the Super Bowl last weekend. By February, these players just want to get home to their families and prepare for next season.

Why is the Pro Bowl played at the end of the season anyway? To generate more interest in the Pro Bowl, why not give all the teams a bye week in early or mid November rather than staggered bye weeks throughout the season. While most of the teams rest, the all-stars play in athe Pro Bowl, just like the players participate in the NHL, NBA and MLB All-Star Games. Why wait til the end of the season when most people don't care about it?

To make things more interesting, why not do as MLB did, make the game mean something. Play for home field advantage in the Super Bowl. With something at stake, more players may be inclined to play, and more fans may decide to watch.

Were the Bears Jinxed?

The majority of fans in Chicago are blaming the Bears' Super Bowl loss to the Colts yesterday to poor play by Rex Grossman. Those who are more superstitious are pointing their fingers at the Sports Illustrated cover jinx.

When any team or person has graced the cover page, they have been known to suffer adversity, which could be anything from not playing up to expectations to suffering injury or illness, ususually within days or weeks of the issue's publication. Even SI editors cannot explain the phenomenon.

As soon as I saw the Bears' Brian Urlacher on the cover of the pre-Superbowl issue, I knew the Bears were doomed. They not only lost the Big Game, but as of this writing, Brian Urlacher injured his right toe and will not be playing in the Pro Bowl next weekend.

It begs the question -- did the Bears play poorly, or were they jinxed?

Despite the Odds, Bears Do Have a Chance to Win

As I watched the 2006 NFL season unfold, I couldn't help but notice how football experts jumped on the bandwagon of whatever team was hot at the moment. For the first half of the season, the Bears were clearly the NFL's darlings. When they cooled off, the Dallas Cowboys got hot for a few weeks, and experts decided they were the team to beat en route to the Super Bowl. When they ran into problems, everone jumped on the the Philadelphia Eagles' bandwagon because they won five games in a row with backup QB Jeff Garcia.

Now the "team du jour" appears to be the New Orleans Saints, whom many football experts are picking to win today's NFC title game against the Chicago Bears. To hear the ESPN analysts talk, no one is giving the Bears a chance to win today, except perhaps former Bears' coach Mike Ditka. And the scores they're coming up with aren't even close -- 31-17 is common.

If I'm coach Lovie Smith, I'm using these "expert analyses" as psychological ammunition for the Bears. The "nobody believes in us" "we're the underdogs" mindset could actually help the Bears prepare mentally for this game. Last week, a couple of local fans put a sign up near the Bears' practice field that read, "Play Angry." With the Bears clearly underdogs in this game, I'd say they have plenty of reason to play angry today.

The experts aren't giving the Bears defense much of a chance against the Saints. Sure, their offense is very good and has played consistently all season long. But although the Bears have had some problems defensively, they do manage to make big plays when they need to. They bend, but do not break. I think we will see the same thing in today's NFC title game.

Weather will also be a factor. As I write this post, it is snowing in Chicago, and combined with 20-degree temperatures, it could create some unstable footing on the field. The Bears' running backs,Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, have played in this kind of weather before, but what about the Saints' Reggie Bush? Having played for USC and then indoors in the Superdome this season, one wonders if he has been exposed to these conditions. It could slow him down enough for the Bears to catch him.

For the Bears to win today, they will need to establish their running game early and consistently. If the Saints have one area of weakness, it is their run defense, which was ranked 23rd during the regular season. This game will be much closer than the experts are predicting. So close, in fact, that a field goal will decide the game, and a special teams play will be the turning point. My prediction: Bears 23, Saints 20

(Yes, this means I am reversing my previous prediction of the Bears not going to the Super Bowl.)

Is Pro Football Losing Popularity?

Pro football is not as popular as it was a year ago, even though it remains the most popular sport among American adults who follow more than one sport, according to a recent survey by Harris Interactive. In 2006, 29 percent of adults named football as their favorite sport, down from 33 percent in 2005. Baseball is second at 14 percent (unchanged from 2005), college football at 13 percent (also unchanged since 2005) and auto racing at 9 percent. Pro basketball was the favorite sport of 7 percent of respondents, an increase of three percentage points.

Since 1985 when Harris first posed this question, football has maintained its popularity consistently. But other sports have not fared so well. Baseball has dropped nine percentage points from 23 percent to 14 percent. Horse racing and men’s tennis also lost popularity, while auto racing and college football both gained.

While these results are too surprising, I'm curious to know the differences in popularity rates between men and women, and how these rates may have changed over the years.

By the way, if you're interested in participating in online Harris Poll surveys, you can become a member and register at http://go.hpolsurveys.com/HarrisPoll.

No Clear Winner in NFL Playoffs

If anything can be learned from this weekend’s NFL playoff matchups, it’s that there is no clear, dominant team heading into the NFC and AFC championships. A few other observations about the playoffs:

1) The Bears' much-maligned QB Rex Grossman is a very good quarterback. Despite fans’ fears, Grossman played well on Sunday en route to a 27-24 Bears’ victory over the Seattle Seahawks. He completed 21 of 38 passes with one touchdown and one interception for a 76.9 passer rating – respectable by most NFL standards. He did make a few mistakes, especially when he was blitzed by the Seahawks. But he also made some excellent plays, including a stunning 68-yard TD pass to Bernard Berrian and a gutsy 30-yard pass to Rashied Davis on 3rd and 10 in overtime to put the Bears in field goal range. Did he turn a corner? Maybe. Maybe not. But he did Chicago proud, and he played no worse than the Colts’ Peyton Manning and the Patriots’ Tom Brady, who both had subpar performances in their games. Manning completed 15 of 30 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions; Brady was 27 of 51 for 280 yards with two TDs and three interceptions. That proves that even the best quarterbacks in the league can have an occasional bad game. No doubt, Grossman will have his bad days too – most quarterbacks invariably do – but he is also capable of holding his own against the best of them.

2) Place kickers are the most underrated and mentally tough players on the team. The two playoff games on Sunday were decided by last-second field goals. The Chargers missed a 54-yarder that would have tied the game against the Patriots, and Robbie Gould of the Bears hit two down the stretch – a 41-yarder to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and the game-winning 49-yarder in overtime. You would think it would be simple to just swing your foot and kick the football as far as you can through the goal posts. But if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines for most of the game in freezing cold temperatures, and then be called on late in the game when the game is on the line requires a great deal of mental toughness. The Bears’ Gould proved how tough he can be in the clutch.

3) Defense wins games, but not necessarily by the best defensive teams. The Baltimore Ravens were clearly the best defensive team in the NFL this season, but it was the Colts who surprised the Ravens, fans, and probably themselves with their own defense. The Ravens may have held the Colts to no touchdowns and five field goals, but the Colts outplayed them, holding the Ravens to only two field goals.

4) There is no dominant team, no clear winner as we saw when the 1985 Bears won Super Bowl XX. Each of the final four teams has their strengths and weaknesses. Certainly, you have to give an edge to the Patriots who are making their fourth trip to the AFC Championship game in the last six years, and Tom Brady knows how to win. I like the Saints too; they seem to be this year’s “team of destiny.” After everything that team and the city of New Orleans have gone through since Hurricane Katrina, it would almost seem like a divine justice for the Saints to earn a trip to the Super Bowl in Miami – and win it all. The Saints have a lot of offensive weapons, an underrated defense, and solid coaching. I predicted a couple of weeks ago that the Bears will not win the NFC title game. As a Bears’ fan, I hope I’m wrong. I’d love to see the Bears make the trip to Miami. But I also have to be realistic. The Bears’ defense has a lot of holes in it, and if the Saints manage to find those holes, it may be a long afternoon for the Bears.

Payton Named Coach of the Year

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton was named the AP Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 10-6 record and a first-round bye in the NFL playoffs. Really, there was no other choice.

After Hurricane Katrina forced the Saints out of New Orleans before the 2005 season, the team split their home games between Baton Rouge and San Antonio. QB Drew Brees joined the team before the 2006 season, and in early October, the Saints returned home to the Superdome. The Saints surprised most experts by winning their division and making the postseason.

Favre Retirement Watch Begins

Will Brett Favre retire -- or won't he? That is the question everyone is asking today after the Packer QB lit up the Chicago Bears for 285 yards during last night's nationally televised regular-season finale at Soldier Field.

I can see why Favre keeps vascillating on this issue. After watching last night's telecast, my feelings were also split. His performance against the Bears convinced me that he is still one of the best QBs in the game. His skills and the desire to compete are still there. And with four straight victories to end the season, Favre might be tempted to return to the team for one more season.

But Favre's tearful post-game interview may have spoken volumes about his mindset about retirement. NBC analyst John Madden said it best -- if Favre knows he is coming back next season, he would be dry-eyed. Instead, he fought back tears and kept his poise as sideline reporter Andrea Kremer asked questions about his future in football. Anyone watching the interview had to get the sense that Favre already knew the answer to the retirement question, and made sure his performance at Soldier Field on New Year's Eve in front of a national audience would provide a lasting impression.

For all the criticism that the NFL received about broadcasting this game in prime time, maybe the league knew something the rest of us did not. If, in fact, last night's season finale was Favre's last game in pro football, what better way to give him a sendoff than on national TV against the divisional rival Chicago Bears? You could not script a better ending than that.

Favre has said that he will make his decision within the next couple of weeks. Let the countdown begin.

Turnovers Kill the Bears -- Again

Fans watching last night's Bears' miserable effort against the Green Bay Packers on national TV must be feeling very uneasy. Normally, the last regular season game is used as a tuneup for the playoffs. But if last night's game was any indication, the Bears may be in trouble. In the 26-7 loss to their divisional rivals, the Bears looked nothing like a team that won 13 games this season en route to a division title and the best record in the NFC. Rex Grossman reverted to his mid-season shakiness, completing two of 12 passes and throwing three interceptions. Backup QB Brian Griese, whom fans have been clamoring to see play, fared slightly better. Despite throwing a 75-yard TD pass to wideout Mark Bradley for the Bears only score of the evening, Griese looked rusty in his half of play and threw two interceptions. Seventeen of the Packers' 26 points resulted from Bears' turnovers. As the story has been all season long, as long as Grossman and the Bears offense can limit their tunovers, the team will do well. But that is a big IF. The defense will take care of the rest, or so we thought. But last night, it was clear that the Bears defense still has holes in it, and that the team desperately misses lineman Tommie Harris and secondary specialist Mike Brown.

What is also troubling is the loss at home. All three Bears' losses this season came at Soldier Field, so home field advantage may not much of an advantage after all.

The Bears have two weeks to shake themselves out of these doldrums and get healthy. How they perform two weekends from now will show just what the team is made of. My guess is they will come out fighting, with a desire to wipe away the bad taste they put in fans' mouths that didn't come from champagne.

Bears Ring in New Year in Prime Time

There's nothing that says "Happy New Year" like a good old-fashioned Bears-Packers game. The NFL and NBC announced that next week’s New Year’s Eve showdown between the Bears and Packers has been moved to Sunday night beginning at 7:15 p.m. at Soldier Field. Yes, it may be Brett Favre’s final game, which is probably why this game was chosen as the Sunday night game of the week. Bears fans are split on whether this move is a good thing, since it may interfere with their New Year’s Eve plans. Some love it as a way to spend New Year’s Eve. Others had made plans and are forced to make a choice about which event to attend. The best comment I saw appeared on the Chicago Tribune Web site where one fan wrote, “Look at it this way. It’s one way to get Tank Johnson out of the bars on New Year’s Eve.”

Traffic in downtown Chicago will be a mess as many party goers will be heading downtown. But as a Bears fan, I love the idea. I’ll be at a friend’s apartment ringing in the New Year, but as she is not a sports fan, I know I will have to beg her to have the TV on. Go Bears!