Lute Leaves; Bears Can Hibernate Now & The Idiot Of The Week

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything that wasn’t my NFL picks.

I could list a thousand reasons why I haven’t had time, but does it really matter? Truth is, it sucks not having time to write.

I take pride in the words that appear on this blog and I treasure all of you who take a moment out of your days to stop and read. So for that, thank you.

But you’re not here for me to get all sappy on you, so let’s talk some sports shall we?

Here are the thoughts in my mind dying to be channeled via the keyboard...

Just heard Arizona hoops coach Lute Olson will not return to the bench this year, taking the rest of the season off to deal with what’s been described as personal matters.

Not sure what’s going on with Lute, but this is one man you’ll never hear me (or anyone who truly knows their college sports) say a disparaging word about.

If he needs the time, I’m sure there is a reason. And while selfishly as a fan, I certainly wish he’d come back, I wish nothing but the best for Lute and whatever issues he may be facing.

Thoughts and prayers to the Silver Fox. Come back next year and bless another group of kids with your wisdom and grace.

...

Stick a fork in the Chicago Bears. Our season is over.

With a deflating loss to the Redskins on Thursday night, for all intents and purposes, you can officially close the book on the 2007 chapter of Chicago Bears football.

To make matters worse, we just got beat by Todd Collins. Oh by the way, he hadn't taken a snap in a game in three years. Nice.

We could win out and go 8-8 and have a heck of a chance at a Wild Card spot in the lowly NFC. Truth is, I want no part of it. I really can’t take it.

Makes it a whole lot easier without getting my hopes up every week that this is the game that turns our season around. I can stop wishing now.

A myriad of things could catch the brunt of the blame for the Bears ineptitude this year. Injuries. Bad offseason moves. More injuries. But it just doesn’t matter. The one thing this Bears team does more than any other I’ve ever watched is simple – miss tackles.

I’ve never seen a defense miss so many tackles game after game after game. At the line. In the hole. Down the field. It really is sickening to watch.

But of all the folks that deserve blame, I hate to break it to all you haters out there, but Rex Grossman isn’t one of them. Yes, he played awful at the start of the season before he was benched. But when he took the job back from I’ve-been-a-backup-all-my-life Brian Griese, Rexy played well, yet was plagued by a QB’s two worst enemies: dropped passes and absolute lack of a running attack.

Rex went down hard on Thursday and his leg bent as no leg should. Not surprised if he doesn’t play again this season and it’s unfortunate. He likely wasn’t going to be wearing the Bears uniform next year, and was essentially auditioning for a free agent contract. But that may have come to an end at RFK. And that’s a shame.

We won’t win with Brian Griese. We just won’t.

And while Cedric Benson certainly wasn’t lighting the world on fire, Adrian Peterson hasn’t been much better. I’d like to see a steady dose of Greg Olsen, Devin Hester and Garret Wolfe down the stretch. It’s these three that make up the future of the Bears offense. Might as well see what they can do.

Maybe next year we stay healthy, get a QB that can stay on the field without making mistakes and our defense returns to form. If so, I’ll take our chances any day in the NFC.

...

ESPN just reported some doosh bag (I don’t know his name and don’t care) bought Michael Vick’s property for $450,000. After owning the place for just over three weeks, he now plans to auction off the property (cages, leashes, chains and all) and says he won’t take anything less than $1 million.

This is the same property where Vick bred, trained, fought and executed countless number of dogs.

I’m all for seizing the opportunities that come your way, but I hope this guy gets a serious dose of karma up the ass. He deserves it for trying to make a buck off of this atrocity.

...

Tim Tebow deserves the Heisman. There’s no argument to be made. Truthfully, if I had a vote (and God willing one day I will) I’d put Darren McFadden second, Chase Daniel third and Colt “I torch Nevada State for 500 yards” Brennan fourth. System, shmystem.

...

Would you spend $16 million/year on a guy who hit .222 with 26 HRs, 94 RBI, 83 runs… and 138 Ks?

Me neither.

Dodgers did on Andruw Jones. Have fun with that one.

Cubs need a center fielder. Was praying for Torii Hunter, dreading Andruw Jones and willing to settle for Aaron Rowand.

Let’s hope I’m forced to settle with A-Row at this point. We cut bait on three-fifths of our outfield. We had to have something in mind… didn’t we?

...

Idiot of the Week Award goes to Steelers safety Anthony Smith. I’ve never heard of you before, and chances are most of your teammates hadn’t either before this week. After your moronic guarantee of a win over the Patriots, I would venture to guess most of the Steelers wish they still never knew who you were.

But hey, nice job. A team that has to be rattled after two close calls against sub-par teams just got exactly what they needed to regain their focus.

Nice job dude. Nice job.