Prince Albert in a can?? That'll be $30 million please......

                                             "Give me some of that boom boom pow!!"       

The imposed deadline came and went. He gave them an extra day to make their pitch out of respect to former Cardinal great Stan Musial, who was being awarded a medal in D.C. as to avoid distracting from Musial's big day. Still the St. Loius Cardinals and first baseman Albert Pujols couldn't agree to terms on a contract extension. Pujols, on the fast track to Cooperstown, and the Cardinals everyday first baseman since 2001, is in the final year of his current contract under which he stands to make at least $16 million, incentives aside. St. Louis reportedly made a good faith offer, but on the advice of his agent, Pujols is holding out for more. Typically I would argue against this mindset. I think the majority of professional athletes are grossly overpaid and once a "mega-contract" has been signed the player involved tends to percipitously slack off in his production. One fine example is our own Carlos Zambrano. "Big Z" signed a $91 million deal in the middle of the 2007 season en route to an 18-13 record and a playoff appearance. The deal made him the highest paid pitcher in the league at the time. Since the deal, 2008-2010??   34-19.... a solid win loss profile for any pitcher but not the stats you expect for $18m plus per year!
     Teams are often 'handcuffed' in these instances; the player involved has put up superstar numbers as they become eligible for free agency forcing the hand of their club. The conventional wisdom is if we don't pay him someone else will.....Too often the clubs pay up for a flash in the pan and get stuck with a player putting up substandard numbers while making far too much money to be traded. (you're lucky if you get stuck with one that doesn't blow up on his teammates while demolishing Gatorade buckets!!)
     This is not the case with Albert Pujols. Quiet, unassuming, and well liked by teammates and fans alike ,the guy's career numbers are off the charts; a lifetime (10 full seasons) .331 hitter with 1900 basehits, 1230 rbis, and 408 home runs. He has never hit under .312, never driven in less than 100 rbi, never hit less than 30 home runs, never racked up less than 180 hits in any given year. The last 3 seasons he has also drawn over 100 walks ramping up his lifetime OBP (on base percentage) to .426....The guy is a "hall of famer in a box." Simply unwrap and watch him grow!!  The Cardinals are being exceedingly short sighted if they are unwilling to fork over the $30 million a year/ 10 year deal  Pujols is reportedly demanding. Ridiculously inflated baseball salaries aside, he is worth this amount if not a nudge more. Consider the Cubs just tied up $10 million in a one year deal for lifetime (10 seasons here as well) .241 slugger Carlos Pena as a band aid and you get an idea what clubs are willing to pay out for stability at the firstbase position!!  I hope Pena can replicate his run from 2007-2009 in which he belted 116 home runs and knocked in 100 RBIs each year, but I wont be surprised if he pulls a 'Nomar Garciaparra' type flop on us!!  It seems the Cubs all too often are like an old lady (Jim Hendry) in a second hand shop picking through the collection of formerly shiny things hoping to find a gem. Over the same stretch 2007-2009, Pujols not only matches Pena's production numbers as he does every year, but when Pena had an off year in 2010 batting .196 and only driving in 84 runs, Pujols was steady as ever pounding out 42 home runs and 118 RBI. Pujols has been the quiet steady superstar, never faltering, never having to explain away how he and an unnamed cousin innocently took some pills they came across ....( hello A-Rod...) He has been a credit to the game, a positive in a sea of negativity in baseball, quietly going about his work, all the while killing the Cubs hopes year in and year out. So now, when there are rumors swirling about that the Cubs could be possible suitors for 'Prince' Albert's services starting in 2011, I argue wholeheartedly in favor of  Tom "Mr. Magoo" Ricketts handing over the $300 million for the next ten years. At 31 years of age Pujols has at least 10 years left...and at $30m/year??  Well worth every penny!! He's worth paying at least 10 of that per year just not to play against the Cubs. Imagine what he'd be capable of in bandbox Wrigley Field wearing Cubbie blue!!!
     When Carlos Marmol, the Cubs ace closer who was just locked up with a 3 year $20 million dollar contract,  was asked to comment on the possibility of Pujols as a Cub, he stated, without hesitation, "The Cubs should bring him over here....Then I don't have to face him....Who wouldn't want that guy??" Apparently, Marmol has not yet bonded with Carlos Pena......All this is most likely a pipe dream and when the smoke clears Pujols will most likely end in up a Yankee or a Dodger or back with the Cardinals but I can dream can't I ???    Dave Kuhlman   bullsbearscubssoxhoxx   dave@onyerleft.com

To Z or not to Z......

                                                Im takin' my pelota and going home!!


     Has there been a more enigmatic sports figure in Chicago in the last ten years than Carlos Zambrano?? A massive force on the mound, 6' 5" 260 lbs with a punishing fastball and a wicked  slider, he's also an excellent hitter from either side of the plate winning multiple silver slugger awards. There hasn't been a talent on the mound of his caliber in Chicago since Fergie Jenkins. "Big Z" found his stride in 2003 posting a 13-11 record as the 4th starter behind Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Matt Clement. (Oh, what could have been!! It wasn't all Bartman's fault!!)  He really came into his own in 2004 compiling a 16-8 record and a stellar 2.75 era. Over the next 4 seasons as the bigger names fell to the wayside due to various and sometimes questionable (hot tubs can be dangerous places!!) injuries, Zambrano stayed "healthy" and seemed to settle in as "ace" of the Cubs pitching staff averaging 15 wins a year while netting a 'big time' 5 year contract valued at $91.5 million.. Tossing a beautiful no hitter against the Astros in the waning weeks of September 2008 on the way to taking his team to the playoffs for the second year in a row, was a shining highlight of his career and gave Cub fans hope that the "curse" would soon be over.
     Until now, the 2008 season was high tide on 'Zambrano beach' and life has been anything but since. There were warning signs along the way; always an emotional player on the mound and at the plate, "Big Z" would often throw a stomping fit while cursing into his mitt after giving up a home run at a critical juncture.  More than once, he easily snapped his bat over his knee after striking out at the plate like a bull snapping a twig. Cub fans were content to believe that Michael Barrett, the talented Cubs catcher traded away after trading dugout blows with Z in 2007, must have been the instigator in the altercation, and Zambrano was simply showing his passion for winning. The underlying truth here, as in several other incidents, is Zambrano believed he was bigger than the team and anyone who couldn't or wouldn't cotton to that should get in line or get the hell out of his way! This "attitude of ingratitude" came to a violent head last year on June 25th in a game against the White Sox. After giving up a 3 run homer to Carlos Quentin and watching Derek Lee duff a routine grounder, Zambrano went into a blind rage at Lee and teammates alike finally disabling a defenseless Gatorade cooler before retiring to the clubhouse. It wasn't the only time Zambrano had lost his composure in the dugout at the expense of his team and a water cooler, but it was definitely the most damning. Zambrano wasn't the only one who was disappointed in how 2010 was digressing but he was the only one who couldn't control his actions. He had become a detriment to himself, his team, and Lou Piniella. It spelled the end of Piniella's run in Chicago. Try as he may, and it was a good try at that, Lou just couldn't reverse the curse! He had lost his grip on the team and wanted to tap out. Less than two months later, he "retired." Piniella claimed his ailing mother needed him and she may well have, but, we all know it was Zambrano's  erruption that made Lou throw up his hands and say, @#$% this!!  (Lou works for the Giants now) For his antics, Zambrano was suspended from the team indefinitely and was "sentenced" to anger management counseling. Not the type of 'management material' we were hoping for!! The rest of the 2010 season slid down the toilet like so many others,  relegating Cub fans to "wait til next year" once again. I stopped watching after that, it was just too aggravating.

      After the storm clouds had cleared and another Cub favorite shipped away, this time Derek Lee to Atlanta, (seems like anyone who tangles with "Z" gets the boot in the end!!) Zambrano having completed his counseling regimin, seemed back to his old form. Going on an 8-0 run in August and September, "Z" made Mike Quade's fortunes a whole lot brighter and the team seemed to click for the first time all year. Although it was refreshing to have "good Z" back it was just too frustrating to wonder what might have been.
    
As always another year has rolled around with Spring training games slated to start tomorrow. Hope is back. The Cubs are back. Zambrano is back. He looks like he's lost weight and he's saying all the right things. He says it's not just about him and all 25 guys need to pull together. He says he's emotionally ready and let's not worry about what happens if things go poorly (red flag??) and how the Cubs are gonna have a great year.....(What could go wrong????)    As all Cub fans, I will give this year the benefit of the doubt until there is reason not to. But I'm not gonna be surprised if another unsuspecting Cub takes the brunt of the Zambrano cyclone for misjudging a flyball, booting a routine groundball or cutting "Z" off at the Gatorade bucket. If,  and it's a big if, "Z" can keep his shtt together and control himself, we will all cheer again as the Cubs win the division and head to the playoffs!! For Santo's sake, it's about time!!!    Dave Kuhlman bullsbearscubssoxhoxx    dave@onyerleft.com

Anno Catuli....102 is enough...

     103 major league baseball seasons ago the 1908 Chicago Cubs won the World Series defeating  the Detroit Tigers in 5 games to take their second crown in a row. Our beloved Cubbies went to 7 more World Series from 1910-1945.  1945 being last time the Cubs made it to the Series with the Tigers avenging the 1908 loss. "Anno Catuli" translates into 'Year of the Cub.' Since most of us were children we've heard nothing but "wait til next year," "the Cubbies are gonna win it all next year," and "next year is our year,"  only to be left sitting by the phone like a jilted prom date waiting time and time again. It's a huge misnomer, it hasn't been the 'year of the Cub' in over a century!! There have been many promising teams since 1945; Cubs teams 'too good not to win it all' 1969, 1984,1989, 2003,2007,2008.....all these teams were loaded with talent had great seasons but ultimately came up short for one reason or another. Most recently, "Sweet Lou" Lou Piniella, former Yankee great and 14th winningest MLB coach of all time, gave it his best shot at reversing the curse. Lou put together 2 fantastic years in '07 and '08,  but both playoff teams were swept out in the first round. Last year finally did Lou's patience in. With his mother being ill off the field and Carlos Zambrano's bi-polar disorder dominating his thoughts on the field, Lou finally gave in and "retired" midseason. (He recently took a consultant position with San Fransisco) Nobody could blame him for wanting out last season as the wheels were coming off and he looked exhausted and pissed off most of the time. It was a good split  for both sides. 
      Evanston native Mike Quade stepped in as interim manager and provided some spark, willing the Cubs to a 23-14 interim record to finsh the year in 5th place. There seemed to be some fresh air in the Cubs clubhouse when Quade took over and a prime reason he got the nod as full time boss was how much the players like him. Reportedly, the players lobbied for Quade saying "he's one of us" while vowing to play hard for him. It came as a massive shock to most Cub fans when Quade was awarded head coaching duties over Cubs lifer and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. "Ryno" had taken the proper route laid out by Cubs management to becoming 'skipper' of the big league club by putting in his time as head coach in the minors finally working his way up to head the Triple A Iowa Cubs.as coach of the year in the Pacific League last year. He devoted his baseball life to the Cubs over the course of 30 years only to be left heartbroken and wondering what the hell had just happened!!  Being the gentleman he is, Sandberg handeled the situation with class refusing to bash the Cubs. He has since signed as head coach with the Phillies triple A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. (Awesome move by Philly!!)  What coaching element did Mike Quade possess that Ryne Sandberg does not?? That is the million dollar question for 2011..
     All this being said and the odd outcome of Sandberg situation aside, I'm picking the Cubs to win the World Series in 2011. (Why the hell not!!!) Here's why; Number One, as I mentioned the Cubs players like playing for Mike Quade having known him through the organization since 2003 as head coach for the Iowa Cubs and with the Chicago Cubs since 2006 as third base coach. The guy is no stranger to the Cubs or being a manager. Quade racked up his own 'coach of the year' honors and 3 minor league championships along the way. He knows the game exceedingly well, knows how to win, and has the respect of his players. The key element to success with his players is how he handles "Oooops I'm off my meds" Carlos Zambrano. Where Piniella allowed Zambrano to act like a spoiled teenager, Quade needs to keep him on a very short leash. Any flare ups like the gatorade bucket bashing and Quade risks watching the year slip away like it did last year. If and when "Z" tests Quade's patience, and he will, Quade needs to bench him or suspend him. When something like this happens the manager loses his teams respect and control of the team. Hopefully the "like" the players have for Quade translates into respect on the field and winning results. If Quade shows he can handle a wildcard like "Big Z" he will command respect from any player in any situation. I think Quade will be up to the task here and will milk Zambrano for all he's worth.
     Number Two; Pitching talent,  it's there, with a heady mix of veteran pitching led by Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza, and Zambrano with rock solid closer Carlos Marmol, soon to be signed to a hefty deal, and Kerry Wood back in the pen. Wood may not have the 'gas' he used to, but his presence and experience will be a huge plus. If  Randy Wells can put down the bottle long enough to realize he's lucky to be pitching at this level and concentrate, and Sean Marshall can be his usual solid self with the occasional contribution from Carlos Silva we will have little to worry about here.
     Number Three; Hitting, The onfield talent will be solid this year as well. The outfield will be anchored by Marlon Byrd again, one of the few Cubs who looked like he was working for a paycheck last year. With Soriano in left and Fukudome in right the Cubs outfield will provide good defense while knocking in at least a third of the Cubs overall runs. Add perennial RBI machine Aramis Ramirez at 3B and newly aded Carlos Pena at 1B while mixing in Starlin Castro ( .300 avg) and Tyler Colvin and the Cubs offense will be tops in the league this year. Koyie Hill and Geovany Soto need to work in tandem to provide an economical 'platoon' catcher position. They both handle the pitching staff very well but neither has proven as an everyday power with the bat.The Cubs obviously need to improve on their team average of .257 this year and they definitely will.
     Number Four; The Peter Principle, The Ricketts family, although Cubs fans, seem way in over their heads running a major league ball club!! From bungling bond issuances to raising ticket prices to looking like complete morons on reality t.v. shows, they might just accidently win a championship despite themselves. As a business model the Cubs actually winning a ring would be the worst thing that could happen from a marketing standpoint. The "loveable loser" personna is what draws so many to the Cubs. Everyone loves that they keep trying so hard year in year out only to have to try again 'next year.' Plus with an outdoor nightclub like Wrigley they don't have to win to draw fans. Idiot executives like the Ricketts just seem to end up on top no matter how badly they foul up running a team. So it would just figure the Cubs will win it all this year.
      I know I'm proably just high on the prospect of a new season coming and the 45 degree temps and brilliant sunshine we had here yesterday, but right now I'm drinking the Cubbie blue koolade. who wants a glass???    Dave Kuhlman   bullsbearscubssoxhoxx    dave@onyerleft.com

More Cowbell!! ....Devin Hester MVB

    Like Christopher Walken's take on the ultra successful record producer in the Blue Oyster Cult skit on SNL, Chicago Bear Devin Hester puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like you and me, the difference is after he does, he goes out and shatters NFL records!! Has there been a more electrifying player on the Bears roster in the last 40 years??  At least since Walter Payton retired??  Payton was and will always be in a league of his own. As was Gale Sayers. Payton amassed 125 career TDs with over 21,000 combined rushing and receiving yards. The "tragedy"  in Sayers case is he had his career cut short due to two consecutive vicious knee injuries forcing a very early retirement. As a return man,  Sayers compiled 8 returns for touchdowns over a 7 year span  (really only 5 full seasons) with 39 rushing TDs and another 9 receiving.  If Sayers, The Kansas Comet, had the benefit of modern medicine, Hester, The Windy City Flyer,  (I'm trying to help you out Jeff Joniak) might not hold the record today. The magic Devin Hester shares with these two Bears legends is every time he touches the ball there is an palpable buzz in the air that anything can happen. Hester doesn't get as many "touches" per game as Payton and Sayers did as he is not a running back but, he accounts for more "yards per touch" than anyone since Gale Sayers. To have your name on the same parallel as Payton and Sayers so early on is quite an accomplishment.

 Aside from being the most dynamic special teams scoring threat in the NFL, there is also the "Hester effect."  Opposing teams kick away from him on punts often yielding far better field position for the Bears offense than if they were kicking to someone else. And when they do kick to Hester they all know what can happen! Hester currently holds the NFL record for return TDs with 14 combined kick off and punt returns over a 5 year career. Stunning!! Especially when you consider the league doesn't add in the missed field goal return vs the Giants in '06 and or the kickoff return to start Superbowl XLI. (I was fortunate enough to be at the game with Hester scoring right in front of us!!) So it's really 16. Looking at his stats from 2010-11 he averaged an obscene 35.6 yards per return on 12 kickoffs nearly getting a score on a 79 yard return against Minnesota before being tripped up. He tallied 3 punt returns for touchdowns this years netting the all time record on a frozen University of Minnesota field as the Bears drubbed the Vikings 40-14. What a Monday night!
      Comparatively, Matt Forte, the Bears 3rd year running back out of Tulane, could be put forth as the Bears MVB this past season as well. Having struggled with the rest of the offense early on with a poor 'O' line to run behind and "Mad Mike" Martz going pass happy, Forte settled in and went on a tear late ending up with 1,069 yards rushing on 236 attempts and 547 receiving on 51 catches. He averaged 4.5 yards per rush and 10.7 per catch. He has turned into the dynamic offensive weapon Jerry Angelo hoped he would.
So, Forte accounted for 1,616 total yards of Chicago Bears offense in 2010 on a total of 287 "touches" with 9 total TDs  (I'm not counting dropped passes for either player) Devin Hester, in turn, racked up 427 yards on 12 kickoff returns, 564 yards on 33 punt returns and lest we forget, 475 yards and 4 TDs while making 40 receptions. He scored 7 total TDs. Hester's yardage total of 1,466 is amazing when you consider thats an average of 91.6 per game on just 85 touches!! (202 less touches than Matt Forte) Thats an astounding 17.5 yards per touch throughout the season. Add the aforementioned "effect" he has on opposing teams punting schemes, and the field position he nets the Bears offense as well as the electricity he generates for the fans, there is nobody on the Bears or the league in his position that is more valuable to his team. Devin Hester is truly the Bears MVB!! (Most Valuable Bear for those of you playing at home) If the best part of Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear The Reaper is the cowbell and Devin Hester is our cowbell, and you ask me what the Bears need for 2011, I'll shout, "More Cowbell!!!"    Dave Kuhlman   bullsbearscubssoxhoxx    dave@onyerleft.com

Down in Flames......Hoxx on the Rocks.

     "The Stanley Cup Winner's Curse"  I know it exists. It's happened before; 'A Stanley Cup champion fails to make the playoffs the year after winning it all'.  If  I'm correct, Carolina in 2005....New Jersey in 1995... and Montreal in 1965...are the three instances in the 'modern era.' We're all familiar with the Superbowl loser's curse. Simply stated, the loser of the Superbowl is doomed to a horrendous showing the next year rarely even making the playoffs. We know this all too well in Chicago as the Bears just made it back to the playoffs for the first time this year after losing Superbowl XLI. But the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks scrapping  for their playoff lives with 29 games to go??!! There isn't supposed to be a curse for the winners of the Stanley Cup!! As I mentioned previously, it's only happened 3 times in 45 years. There was no way this was going to happen to our Blackhawks. We finally got "over the hump" and out of the Red Wings shadow last year. The Blackhawks had finally become 'mighty' just like the song says, and were going to be a perennial hockey power for years to come. Granted the Stanley Cup is arguably the hardest title to repeat in all of sports, but for Pete's sake, (whoever Pete is..) the Blackhawks weren't going to crumble like a dried out coffee cake. At worst they would finish 1st or 2nd in the division and enjoy another deep playoff run maybe even making it to the finals again. Not this; 58 points through 53 games in 11th place in the conference!! The sand is piling up quickly in the wrong half of the hourglass. Coach Q says he likes the 'effort' his players are putting forth and it will pay off over time. I agree the effort level is there. Watching last nights game versus Calgary, guys are hustling, giving their all, diving in front of and chasing down the puck but something is just not clicking. The bounces just aren't going our way and it seems for all the effort the opposing team seems to be having an easier time racking up goals.
       The Blackhawks top 4 defensemen; Keith, Seabrook, Campbell and Hjalmarsson all look to be doing all they can do, but the passing has been a far cry from last year's precision. There are too many lazy turnovers. The pressure on the offensive end can be pretty intense, Toews and Kane paired up for a beautiful goal last night, but that was it. (did Patrick Sharp even come back from the All Star game?)  I love the slogan, "One Goal" but it really sucks when that's our evening's tally! I maintain there is still something off about Marian Hossa. His hustle and speed are back but he rarely takes the puck directly at the goalie. Very few of the Hawks do right now. It's almost like they are all trying to be overly polite to each other, "Here, you take a shot....oh no ......I couldn't, you take it...." I still like our goaltending. Corey Crawford played great again making a gorgeous kick save in the 2nd period, and Marty Turco has been solid when he's played. Unfortunately, all too like a ChicagoCubs pitcher, they aen't getting alot of "run support."  Coach Q has tried several lineup variations all with little impact. I'm sure he's tried yelling and breaking things but nothings working. Captain Serious has called several "players only" meetings with little results. Like Johnathan Toews and Coach Q, Im left scratching my (bald)  head here!!
     The only other element I would change is to put John Scott back in the lineup; I know he can't skate, can't handle a puck, shoot or pass very well, (all plusses for a pro hockey player) but since he's been out of the lineup as a "healthy scratch" the Hawks haven't intimidated anyone. Intimidation in hockey is a huge part of the game. Nobody fears the "mighty" Blackhawks right now and it's showing on the score sheet. The November 27th drubbing of  L.A. Kings goon Kevin Westgarth (Westgarth started the brawl and tapped out!) was a huge rallying point of that game. It electrified the crowd and the team. The Blackhawks haven't employed an enforcer like Scott since Bob Probert was a Blackhawk. Hockey skills or lack thereof aside, John Scott is a valuable weapon and needs to be utilized for the Blackhawks to make the playoffs. Granted, if you pummel an opponent in football, baseball,or basketball in the same manner you're fined and suspended, but in hockey it's part of the culture. It shows your opponent you are as tough as they are or better and don't take any crap. It shows that outside of  winning, if you lose at least you're going down swinging. That's what we are missing right now. Maybe the Blackhawks need to meet up with Apollo Creed on the beach and be told point blank, "There is no tomorrow!!"   Dave Kuhlman   bullsbearscubssoxhoxx   dave@onyerleft.com

The Mourning After....

     It's official, the 2010-11 NFL season is over. The Green Bay Packers are 'World Champions' which is indisputable because there are no teams from Canada, (yeah Canada actually has a league)  Brazil, or Pakistan that dare to challenge the caliber of play found in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers can devote his time to reading the bible (every day) again while healing the sick and curing the blind without the obligation of  football obscuring his path. As a (insanely jealous) Chicago Bears fan married to a Packer fan, I'm still left picturing what could have been if the Bears had taken advantage of the two, count 'em, two chances to knock the Packers out of the playoffs! Either way, it just didn't happen and we are left looking forward to next year, if there is one, pending the outcome of the looming labor dispute. We can take solace in the fact that although the NFC championship game was a real stinker of a loss, it was still infinitely more entertaining than the half time show!  Dubbed by my wife as the 'Black Eyed Please Stop Singing' it was just awful to watch. Like driving past a twisted smoking car wreck I just couldn't look away. What a mess.
     Looking back at the Bears 2010 season, I have alot of good feelings about how it turned out especially after the miserable pre-season. ( 0-4) We as a group weren't expecting very much out of the Bears this season; most likely an 8-8 or a 9-7 record, no playoffs,  and a pending coaching change. I still wouldn't mind a more aggressive coach, but I do give Lovie Smith alot of credit for getting the most miles per gallon out of the Bears-mobile this year. Somehow he got his team to the doorstep of the Superbowl with an average team. Yes, our defense was solid week in and week out, but our offense was an absolute crapshoot. The Bears 'O' was like the El train in Chicago, often on time, relaible, giving you a thrifty ride to your destination, other times nowhere to be seen for 15 minute chunks of time. The offensive line was held together with a collection of sticky things often found in a craft drawer. (Nice work Mike Tice!) Our most effective aspect of our game was special teams. Robbie Gould was rock solid once again as was Brad Maynard, especially against Seattle in the divisional playoff game, and Devin Hester was Devin Hester again with 3 special teams scores! Jay Cutler's lack of a personality aside,  is arguably the best quarterback we've had in 50 years and still gives us the best shot to win next year. We Bear fans need to look forward to next season with optomism; the Bears will fix the 'O' line problem, trade for or draft a quality wideout, and re-sign the veteran free agents needed to be successful. Cutler and the entire offense  have the first season of  'Mad Mike' Martz's offensive scheme under their belts and will perform better having had time to get to know it better. I would like to see Martz utilize his tight ends more consistently as they can slip into the zone pockets creating havoc for opposing defenses. Plus if Matt Forte can replicate what he did this year he will be an absolute terror out of the backfield. The Bears defense has some fixable spots, most notably Tommie Harris (see ya, Tommie!) and Tim Jennings at corner. Anthony Adams and Major Wright should be ready to step up and assume starting roles at these spots. Brian Urlacher, who might just live and play forever, will be back with perennial Pro Bowl selection, Lance Briggs. These two were a fierce run stopping tandem once again and will be again next year. Defensive ends Julius Peppers and  Israel "Izzy" Idonije who combined for 16 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions will only be better. Lastly the coaching staff is solid and knows each other very well. Good chemistry among the caoching staff cannot be under rated.

                                   (Look, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Aaron Rodgers.......)

      The 2011 Bears will have their work cut out for them though. The NFC North will have at least 3 very competitive teams next year and if Minnesota's defense is solid there may be 4. It may well be the best division in the NFL. The Pack will be back for another run and will most likely endure far fewer injuries along the way. Mike McCarthy should get coach of the year for pulling off what he did with so much attrition. Detroit, as a sleeper, concerns me the most, should be ready for their seat at the grown ups table after a furious finish to 2010.  I see a great year ahead for the 2011 Chicago Bears as 2010 will be seen as the year the Bears jelled and came together as a team. Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers on an amazing season as well as to all my Packer fan relatives!! I can just see all the "Superbowl Champion Green Bay Packers" gear I'll endure this summer. One request, please leave the striped Zubaz  pants in your closet!!   Dave Kuhlman bullsbearscubssoxhoxx   dave@onyerleft.com

Behind 'Enemy' Lines.....

     The silly things we do for love....spend loads of money on jewelry, write bad poems, sing out of key on bended knee, marry a Packer fan.......(needle sound dragging across a record)  What??!!  Yes......I did the unthinkable for a Chicago Bears fan; I fell in love with and married a Packers fan!  It was the red hair, I'm a sucker for the 'Colleens' !!  She is not a rabid Packers fan per se, not one that takes her teams losses personally as I do when the Bears lose, but a Packers fan none the less. My wife was not a huge football fan when we met. She would watch the games with some interest but if she missed one it wasn't a big deal. Over the years her enjoyment of the game grew as Wisconsin Badgers football improved dramatically, developed a winning program under Barry Alvarez, and won 3 Rose bowl games in the 1990's. The games were pretty exciting and as we watched them with her parents, her Dad especially, her curiousity was piqued.

      Then "He" came along in 1992. The now (in)famous number 4 for the Packers. A young exciting gunslinger quarterback from Kiln, Mississippi who helped reverse the misfortunes of the once woeful Packers. The "Michael Jordan (maybe  Wilt Chamberlein) of the Northwoods",  Brett Favre, emerged as the fearless leader of the Packers, and my wife's appetite for football spread like wildfire. She soaked up the game in no time, she asked loads of questions as we watched games, she  learned what 'illegal motion' and 'clipping' meant often seeing the penalties occuring before I did. She probably has a better handle on the nuances of the game  better than I do at this point. During football season on Sundays, Mondays and sometimes Thursdays, we always make time to watch the Bears game and the Packers game if they're on in Chicago. They usually are nowadays. For the Bears/Packers games I usually watch those at a bar with the guys as I get too 'wound up' for my wife's tastes. Being a good sport, my wife will actually root for the Bears if they aren't playing the Packers, which I love, but I just can't seem to reciprocate; it's the Packers, I have had an intense 'dislike' for the green and yellow as long as I have loved the orange and blue. I just can't pull for the Packers!!  I'm a better sport about it now than I used to be but I'll never be able to "back the Pack." The Bear blood runs too deep within my veins. I'd rather fight my way out of a biker bar full of tattooed cheesehead Packer backers than put on a Rodgers jersey to save myself!!

     This being said, we will journey North to Madison,Wisconsin to watch Superbowl XLV Sunday night with my wife's family. If there is a lesser of evils in this scenario, this is it. My wife's family is a large wonderful loving bunch. My wife's parents raised 10 children, all grown now with sizeable families of their own. a typical holiday gathering has at least 25 people or more and Sunday night will be no different. They welcomed me in from day one like I was a long lost piece to a puzzle they had been searching for and I felt the same. My wife's Dad and I got along so well I often wished we were of the same generation. He always treated me like a rock star when we visited with an enthusiastic  "Hey Dave!!" as we arrived from Chicago.  This might have been helped along the year I drew his name on the family Christmas list and got him a Packers jacket. His face lit up like a 5 year old when he opened it and he wore it until the day he passed away. There was always alot of playful teasing between my mother in law and I as well usually over her baked goods. She was a master at desserts especially chocolate cake!! Long story short, I love my wife and her family, an entire gaggle of Packer fans, very much and they love me. National League Football and other professional sports are merely entertainment vehicles we all enjoy watching and cheering over. The real point in life is to surround yourself with the people you love and spend your time enjoying them.  I alluded to being "behind enemy lines" for the game but it couldn't be farther from the truth. My wife's family couldn't be my enemies in a million years. (The Packers on the other hand.....) While I just can't root for the Packers this weekend, I will enjoy the company and all the smiling faces especially if  Green Bay wins. Their energy is infectious. I hope the game goes the way my family would like it to, but for at least part of the game I'll be picturing what it would look like if the Bears had made it to Dallas! All in all,  I will endure a very late evening Sunday night driving back  from Wisconsin probably getting home around midnight or so just to wake up for work at 5 a.m. on Monday. Oh the silly things we do for love....Enjoy the game you cheeseheads!!!

Jake Utler...the Cuddly Alter Ego.....

     Ok, I'm writing about Jay Cutler again. It seems the Chicago media just can't let the issue go. Not all, but several of the sports writers are acting like jilted prom dates as they hiss and spit vitriol Cutler's way every chance they get. Having trudged through the 20 inches of snow to my local  7-11 in a valiant attempt to make it to work during yesterday's blizzard, ( I didn't make it, but I did get some cool pictures of snow drifts...)  I picked up the morning paper and flipped it over to check the Sports page first, as I always do. What did I see? Headlines of an inspiring  Blackhawks victory? Another expose on budding superstar Derrick Rose? A little Superbowl coverage? Any of these??  No, But a full page picture of Jay Cutler in a stylish sweater, shorts and sandals as he followed his girl, Kristin Cavalieri out of another Rodeo Drive shop.(C'mon shopping is fantastic therapy!!)  Full page in color. I won't name which paper but, WTF?? What do we want from this guy? Pictures of a repentant Jay Cutler, head bowed in church, crutches leaning against the pew, his braced knee too straight to kneel, his mind too distraught for dating, begging Saint Ditka's forgiveness for his transgressions?? What would these guys be writing about if we had made it to the Superbowl?? First and foremost would be how glad they all were that the injury didn't require a brace. 'Would Jay be healthy for the Superbowl?'  And Kristin would be seen as the stabilizing interest, not a beautiful distraction in Jay's life. (She's pretty damned hot, I'd be wearing stupid cardigans too like they were going out of style,they are anyway? Oh, nevermind.)  Instead we are left with nothing but a warehouse full of sour grapes with no place to put them. forgotten is the great season the Bears had; the 11 wins, the 3,200 yards passing, 232 rushing yards. Big victories over tough teams, Dallas, Philly and the Jets to name a few. An Otto Graham like performance in his first ever playoff game.The 57 sacks Jay absorbed behind a sometimes porous O line, all the while leading the Bears one game away from the final showdown. All this got me thinking.... In the Bears bizarro world where everything is the opposite of what it is, how would we feel about our QB  then?? Would we rather have this guy instead in exchange for a mediocre team??

     Setting the stage for this parallel existence  goes as follows;  The Chicago "Baers" are now coached by an absolute firebrand head coach, who despite his moniker, Likie Johnson, is an emotional madman on the sidelines while demanding victory from his team as he rails players publicly for their slipups rapping his fists atop their helmets. (I can dream.)  Ron Turner is still our Offensive Coordinator. (an easy bizarro switch from Mike Martz) Our quarterback?  Sweet, affable, always smiling, Jake Utler. Acquired in a trade from the Denver Painted Ponies, Utler has embraced his new team and city. Routinely taking time to meet fans, visit hospitals and stick around for hours signing autographs. His favorite book? The Bible. (Just like Aaron Rodgers!!) The "Baers" have just wrapped up an unsucessful season at 5-11 missing the playoffs yet again but putting forth a nice effort. a smiling Jake Utler,  is at the podium fielding questions like a champ:   

       Reporter;  "Jake, what was going through your mind this year? It didn't turn out the way you hoped. Did it?"  Jake Utler;  "Thanks for the question Tom, ooh, I really like that blazer you've got on.... I guess mostly I feel bad for my teammates as well as the fans! What I dislike most in life is disappointing  people. Whether it be our coach, Likie, our team, or our fans, you guys are the greatest by the way, or anyone in general. There was this one time I accidently took this guys parking  spot and .......Reporter; "I think we understand Jake..." Jake Utler; "Oh gosh, sorry to ramble like that!! So sorry!!"  Reporter; "Maybe if you 'rambled' a little better on the field we wouldn't be in this mess." Jake Utler; "I fully agree Tom! Having grown up in There is no Santa Claus, Ohio, as a diehard Baers fan, It was my dream of dreams to wear the number 9 Baer jersey and lead my team on the field in battle for this amazing city! I take every moment of my life as a Chicago Baer very seriously, heck, even during the offseason I find myself humming our fight song as I tie my shoes or while I help little old ladies cross busy Erie avenue. Could I be a faster runner, be more elusive?? Maybe, but gosh darn it! I'm tryin' my best for the team I love!!!!  Oh Tom, I am so sorry for raising my voice like that!"  Reporter;  "That's okay Jake....my next question, how do you hope to improve on your stats next year? I mean 11 touchdown passes and only 1500 yards passing?"  Jake Utler; "Great point Tom!" I plan on watching lots of game film as well as listening to my coaches advice full on, all the while trying to improve my footwork. Also, I will be attending the 'Open Your Heart' seminar in Sedona this April as well. I'm definitely going to keep working on my communication skills as I know it's not all about me out there!"  Reporter; "Off subject here, how is your love life?"  Jake Utler; "Hmmm....Well I really like girls, they are pretty, they smell nice and everything, but I just don't have the time to devote myself to another person right now. I went on a date with some girl, Kristin, but I couldn't keep my mind on what she was saying. She was too distracting. We're good friends now. My dedication to this team, that's my significant other!!"  Reporter; "Jake, don't you think if you perhaps you thought about yourself first for once, were a little more selfish, and spent a little less time trying to please everybody else  you might be a much better leader and turn this team around? Maybe finish 11-5 and make the playoffs?"  Jake Utler; "Boy, that sure is something to think about Tom,  I'll give it some thought."     Dave Kuhlman  bullsbearscubssoxhoxx  dave@onyerleft.com

Ramp Up The Skille Set....

     As January fades and we crawl into February, the flow at my health club has begun to ebb, as only the most committed of the, "I'm gonna get in shape as of January 1st!!"  new years resolution makers are sticking to their guns and making a real change for themselves. There is a parallel with how the Blackhawks are talking up the 'second half ' (actually only 32 of 82 games remain) of their season. I'm hearing all sorts of vows of "buckling down" and "doing what we need to do,"  and "were gonna fix the penalty kill issue "...from Blackhawks players and management alike, as they prepare for the final stretch and the fight for a playoff berth. Last year at this time,  the playoffs were all but sewn up and the biggest concern was playoff seeding....could we outskate the mighty Sharks for the 1 seed??  Wether or not the Blackhawks follow through on these "resolutions"  remains to be seen. I don't doubt the Hawks hunger and or their desire to win, but as I mentioned in a previous bullsbearscubssoxhoxx blogpost maybe there was just too much personnel overturn for one team to digest. For the Hawks just to make the playoffs over the last 10 weeks of the season these 3 things need to happen; 
     Number One, Hungry Healthy Hossa;  There is no discounting how much Marian Hossa has meant to the Blackhawks over a season and a half. The guy is a selfless hustler who plays all phases of the game like he's auditioning for a shot at making the club every time he's on the ice. He does not take the privelage of playing professional hockey lightly and it shows. A superb puck handler and a swarming defender, Hossa has been a 40 goal scorer 3x in his carreer. The first two weeks of this year he was an offensive machine racking up 7 goals even potting one from between his legs while looking away from the net. Then the injury bug bit again and he hasn't been the same player since. (vertigo recently) My only beef with Hossa's play, when he is healthy, is he tends to finesse the puck too much while looking to set up a teammate for the score. While his 'team first' play has it's place, the Hawks overall are guilty of outsmarting themselves here.They often spend an inordinate amount of time putting on a passing clinic while failing to score! What I'd like to see is Marian Hossa as well as the rest of the team be far more aggresssive, more hungry with the puck and take it directly to the net. This puts more direct pressure on the opposing goalie yeilding more goals. I'd like to see Hossa get a little greedy with the puck and fatten up his stat sheet a bit. All too often I'm left yelling at the screen, as Hossa dishes the puck to a teammate, "C'mon 'Hoss' just take the shot!!"
     Number Two, Fix the P.K;  We are obviously missing the snot out of Brent Sopel and John Madden. Sopel often looked like the guys from the movie Dodgeball absorbing wrenches thrown at them by their coach, Patches O' Hoolihan, (If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball....this has nothing to do with hockey, I just love the quote!!)  selflessly dumping his body in front of bullet after bullet squelching opponents power play opportunities limping off the ice afterward doubled over. Asked 5 years from now about the players who were key to the Blackhawks success in winning the Cup in 2010-11,  I doubt many will mention Sopel's name on the same level with Johnathin Toews,Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. Whether he is remembered or not,  he definitely earned his name etched on that Cup. A salary cap victim, Sopel was shipped to Atlanta in the offseason. John Madden must have been doing something right back there as well. He was a steady presence on the PK unit. Though unheralded as a forward, he always found his way to the puck, clearing it the length of the ice, taking valuable chunks of time off the clock. He is a special teams ace. He has found a way to win 3 Stanley Cups, he must be doing something right!  Currently, Niklas Hjalmarsson is the lone Hawk who seems willing to dive in front of pucks to kill off time. I don't blame the other players for not wanting to dive in front of shots! It's gotta hurt like hell!!  Somehow the Hawks need to find a way to improve here. "We" currently sit at 77.4%, ranked 26th out of 30 teams in killing off penalties. Ironically, the Hawks have ranked at or near the top in power play scoring just below 25%. This is like a smoker who works out, hitting the brick wall you just built with a sledgehammer. It's counterproductive. I don't have the magic solution to fix the Hawks "kill squad" I simply know it has to be much more efficient if we are to make the playoffs.
     Number three, Step Up Young Gun; Viktor Stalberg, Nick Leddy, Jake Dowell and Jeremy Morin please take note of Brian Bickell and Jack Skille's play level. These two, Skille especially, seem to understand what it takes to play at this level. Bickell has found his groove turning into a solid contributor with 12 goals and 14 helpers. Skille, though lacking in production, only 7 tallies so far with 9 assists,  can't be underestimated in his value to the team. Only 23 years old, he exhibits the exuberance of a new puppy throwing himself into all phases of the game with abandon. He often bites off more than he can chew trying to skate around or through 3-4 defenders at a time in effort to put the puck on net. He is stymied more times than not, but you just gotta love his tenacious approach. He is the pit bull that won't let go of the mailman's pants! He just doesn't give up. Eventually, Skille is gonna find the back of the net on a steady basis. His hard work will pay off in time. The other young guys, Stalberg, Dowell, Leddy and Morin (Leddy and Morin when they're with the club) just haven't seemed to put the pieces together just yet. One of these young guns needs to put aside the trepidation and play like his life depended on it and make an impact during the final stretch. I'm tired of hearing how fast Stalberg is. He is lightning on skates but lets' go already!

      I'm sure starting with the 6 game roadtrip that kicks off in Columbus tonight, the Blackhawks will find a way to squeeze into the playoffs somehow despite how tough the remaining schedule is.(20 of 32 on the road) Once in the playoffs, anything can happen and often does. Coach Q and his staff are just too good to fail. The talent level on the ice is there and will mesh in time. Toews, Kane, Sharp, Keith and the rest of the lineup are just too good not to clinch at least the 8th spot. Aren't they???   Dave Kuhlman  bullsbearscubssoxhoxx   dave@onyerleft.com