Bear(s) Down

I was driving along Ogden Road yesterday when I passed a restaurant sign that said, “Mr. Ricketts, can you please buy the Bears?”  Could it be that Bears’ fans are finally tired of the McCaskey clan?  It would seem so.

The team record “stands” at a pathetic 2-7.  Right after the latest loss, 36-10 to the mediocre Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I happened to catch a radio show featuring two ex-Bears, Dan Hampton and Ed O’Bradovich.  As the saying goes, they went ballistic over the team’s “performance,” O”Bradovich in particular.  The former defensive end is 76-years old and, from the sound of things, ready to stroke out over his beloved Bears. 

The center of everyone’s ire is quarterback Jay Cutler, who combined two interceptions (one a pick-six) and two fumbles (one leading to a safety) to stink up the field.  I can safely say I have never witnessed a worse performance by a Bears’ quarterback in the past fifty years.  (Anyone remember Larry Rakestraw?)  But Coach John Fox says Cutler will start next Sunday against the Giants.  That is not what the fan base wants to hear.  However, since GM Ryan Pace never bothered to get a good understudy, Cutler it basically has to be.

The McCaskey family has been the recipient of undeserved fan loyalty for decades; they’re also incredibly lucky.  If the Bears were at home Sunday, you’d see a lot of unhappy campers expressing themselves to the cameras.  As luck would have it, they’re on the road in New York and won’t play at home until November 27.  By then, after another likely pounding, not that many fans are likely to show up at Soldier Field.   

The McCaskeys would rather be lucky than smart any day.