On Sunday, Da Bears will play the BIGGEST game EVER to be played in the City of Chicago. Yes, I know the Superbowls that they've played in have been pretty BIG, but they weren't played IN Chicago. Unless Chicago starts hosting Superbowls in the future (which is certainly highly improbable) or there's a Chicago Subway Series that comes down to a Game 7 (again, both insanely improbable), there will never be a BIGGER game to be played. The setting couldn't be more perfect for a Bears fan. NFC Championship. Soldier Field. Wind chill below zero. Versus the Green Bay Packers. If you can't get excited about this game, then you flat out don't like football and you should probably just buy a deck of Old Maid cards.
In the last 20 years, the home team is 27-13 in Conference Championships (for both leagues of course). Folks, that's a winning percentage at a 67.5% clip. It's called home field advantage for a reason. Which brings me to my next point...
When Da Bears are on offense, and I CAN'T stress this ENOUGH, fans, please, SHUT the FRIGGING MOUTHS!!!
Da Bears are lucky to have such a loyal fanbase, but the fact of the matter is a good 90% of them are mouth-breathing meat-head drunkards, especially the ones who attend the games. They think that yelling at the top of their esophaguses during all points throughout the game is showing support. They couldn't be more wrong. I went to the game last week when they put a shellaking on the Seahawks, but a few times the fans grew louder when the offense was trying to convert a significant down, even as a few of the players on the field motioned for the crowd to quiet down. This isn't baseball dammit. The QB needs to hear the play being called in, the players need to hear the cadence calls on the field so that they can get into position at the correct time for the pre-snap shifts to create mismatches (a staple of the Mike Martz offensive designs), and so the O-line can determine their blocking assignments once they're at the line of scrimmage.
For all these reasons and much more, please be quiet when Da Bears have the ball. Even the jumbotrons say so dumb-dumbs. It's a home field advantage, not DISadvantage.
On a cooler note, in his own words following the game, Coach Smith said that he and his team hate the Packers. And rightfully so. You NEED to hate the opposition every week, especially now when they're trying to take away every thing that you've been working so hard to achieve....a chance at winning the Superbowl. You can hate them, but you still have to respect them. You can't go out there trying to hurt guys. This is still just a game and this is people's livelihood we're talking about.
There's a lot of talk and respect being given to the Packers for having 15 players on the Injured Reserved list, including six opening day starters. While that's all commendable and nice, they really haven't lost any KEY players. They still have Rodgers, Jennings, Mattews, Woodson, etc. They have all the players necessary to still play at a high level within the NFL, especially now in this league's Year of Parity. If it was Flynn under-center, then it would be a different story.
I know it's cliche, but Da Bears need to do what they do and play their game in order to beat the Pack. Play defense and create those turnovers, excell in the Special teams, and be efficient on offense. Martz needs to limit the five and seven step drops like he did on the run they went on after the bye-week.
Tape & Pine Tar:
The Blackhawks are turning the proverbial corner. They played the first thirty games on the schedule while lacking an identity. Consistency was non-existent, let alone obtainable. Patrick Sharp has been the closest thing to Blackhawks' consistency this year. While fourth in the league in goals with 25 and thirteenth in points with 44 (slightly adulterated by a -7 line for +/-) Sharp is the clear-cut MVP of this team. However, Corey Crawford could soon be nipping at his heels if he keeps slamming the door shut like he has the past few games. The hard-cap of the NHL and the savvy of Sharks GM Doug Wilson had a lot to do with Stanley Cup Ring-possessing Antti Niemi moving to San Jose; Crawford, who started the season as a mere back-up who has won over the starting job as well as the faith of the Blackhawks' fandom, has logged more ice-time and has a better save-percentage by .013% (.920 to .907). (The Blackhawk organization is lucky to have the front office that they do and we as a city are as well).
This week only, the Chicago Sports Fix radio show will be moved to Saurday January the 22nd at 2PM!! Tune in as we'll be discussing the win over the Seahawks, previewing Da Bears vs. the Pack as well as Pitt vs. NYJ, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox, and Cubs.
PREACH
In the last 20 years, the home team is 27-13 in Conference Championships (for both leagues of course). Folks, that's a winning percentage at a 67.5% clip. It's called home field advantage for a reason. Which brings me to my next point...
When Da Bears are on offense, and I CAN'T stress this ENOUGH, fans, please, SHUT the FRIGGING MOUTHS!!!
Da Bears are lucky to have such a loyal fanbase, but the fact of the matter is a good 90% of them are mouth-breathing meat-head drunkards, especially the ones who attend the games. They think that yelling at the top of their esophaguses during all points throughout the game is showing support. They couldn't be more wrong. I went to the game last week when they put a shellaking on the Seahawks, but a few times the fans grew louder when the offense was trying to convert a significant down, even as a few of the players on the field motioned for the crowd to quiet down. This isn't baseball dammit. The QB needs to hear the play being called in, the players need to hear the cadence calls on the field so that they can get into position at the correct time for the pre-snap shifts to create mismatches (a staple of the Mike Martz offensive designs), and so the O-line can determine their blocking assignments once they're at the line of scrimmage.
For all these reasons and much more, please be quiet when Da Bears have the ball. Even the jumbotrons say so dumb-dumbs. It's a home field advantage, not DISadvantage.
On a cooler note, in his own words following the game, Coach Smith said that he and his team hate the Packers. And rightfully so. You NEED to hate the opposition every week, especially now when they're trying to take away every thing that you've been working so hard to achieve....a chance at winning the Superbowl. You can hate them, but you still have to respect them. You can't go out there trying to hurt guys. This is still just a game and this is people's livelihood we're talking about.
There's a lot of talk and respect being given to the Packers for having 15 players on the Injured Reserved list, including six opening day starters. While that's all commendable and nice, they really haven't lost any KEY players. They still have Rodgers, Jennings, Mattews, Woodson, etc. They have all the players necessary to still play at a high level within the NFL, especially now in this league's Year of Parity. If it was Flynn under-center, then it would be a different story.
I know it's cliche, but Da Bears need to do what they do and play their game in order to beat the Pack. Play defense and create those turnovers, excell in the Special teams, and be efficient on offense. Martz needs to limit the five and seven step drops like he did on the run they went on after the bye-week.
Tape & Pine Tar:
The Blackhawks are turning the proverbial corner. They played the first thirty games on the schedule while lacking an identity. Consistency was non-existent, let alone obtainable. Patrick Sharp has been the closest thing to Blackhawks' consistency this year. While fourth in the league in goals with 25 and thirteenth in points with 44 (slightly adulterated by a -7 line for +/-) Sharp is the clear-cut MVP of this team. However, Corey Crawford could soon be nipping at his heels if he keeps slamming the door shut like he has the past few games. The hard-cap of the NHL and the savvy of Sharks GM Doug Wilson had a lot to do with Stanley Cup Ring-possessing Antti Niemi moving to San Jose; Crawford, who started the season as a mere back-up who has won over the starting job as well as the faith of the Blackhawks' fandom, has logged more ice-time and has a better save-percentage by .013% (.920 to .907). (The Blackhawk organization is lucky to have the front office that they do and we as a city are as well).
This week only, the Chicago Sports Fix radio show will be moved to Saurday January the 22nd at 2PM!! Tune in as we'll be discussing the win over the Seahawks, previewing Da Bears vs. the Pack as well as Pitt vs. NYJ, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox, and Cubs.
PREACH
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