Just like I believed that this little thing called “racism” was completely solved and obsolete thanks to Remember the Titans and Glory Road while growing up, the Blackhawks and Bears thought they were one or two pieces of the puzzle away from contention during their offseasons.
We were both, almost impressively, wrong. The only difference was that it took me a few years to realize my misconception, and it’s taken the Blackhawks and Bears six and seven games, respectively, to realize theirs.
To be fair, it’s unclear whether the Bears have had that epiphany yet.
Well, as long as the boys are tight. That’ll help me sleep tonight.
The Blackhawks have still not led in a game, six games into the season. The UC was not sold out last night for the first time in over 530 contests, and “Let’s Go Red Wings” chants broke out at one point during the game. The Bears just suffered their worst loss since the Trestman era, when they lost to the Green Bay Packers 55-14 in 2014. (No one was fired immediately following that game). They have three passing touchdowns and are averaging 14.4 points per game.
The Blackhawks now hold the record for the longest streak without leading in NHL history, and the Bears seem hellbent on turning their most promising quarterback ever into Mitch Trubisky 2.0 by the time he unceremoniously leaves Chicago behind.
What makes both of those especially embarrassing, again, is how the two operated over the offseason, as if they were one player or two players away, and that no structural changes needed to be made.
While Blackhawks fans may have been generally encouraged by the offseason they had — surely cautiously optimistic, if anything — fans of the Bears could have told you this team wasn’t close to contention the moment their season ended last year in New Orleans.
What’s worse about every Bears loss that’s this bad is the way in which they go about it. Personally, I was just fine with the game being all but over after the first 15 minutes. Save me the agony that can be produced in a half-blow out over 60 minutes.
But Nagy and company are more into trying to save themselves, which makes the losses even more embarrassing, even though their goal is to make it the opposite.
Even in the Saints playoff game last year, the Bears played the field position battle and kicked nonsensical field goals to save themselves from being blown out instead of trying to get back into the game.
The Bears punted from the Packer 40 last week, down 10, and this week, they kicked a field goal down three touchdowns from the 10 yard line.
Two bad NFC North teams went on the road to face much better teams this week, the Lions on the West Coast in the Los Angeles and the Bears on the East Coast in Tampa. The Lions, god love them and Dan Campbell, at least went down with a fight.
Knowing they were severely outmatched, they faked two punts and attempted — successfully — an onside kick in the fourth quarter. They were in the game until it finished, ultimately losing by 9, but man, at least they were kicking and screaming when the buzzer sounded.
The Bears, on the other hand, seemed to be operating under the same game plan they do every week. This is one issue with the Bears, among many — they don’t seem to anticipate challenges based on opponent, like Justin Fields being blitzed repeatedly throughout the game. It’s as if they say to each other ‘Let’s see how this goes’ as they take the field every week.
It’s not getting easier for the Bears, either. I don’t see next week’s opponent, the 49ers, dropping all the way to 2-5. Then, Steelers, Ravens, Lions, Cardinals, Packers. And we know, at the very least, the Lions will come to play.
I mean seriously, throw the ball down field. Try to get better. Do something other than lie down and leave your quarterback out to dry.
Justin Fields’ cannot be truly judged until the situation around him is changed. Context matters, and the context he’s been placed in is consuming all of him right now. He’s been with the 1s for mere weeks because of a bad management decision, and now he’s thrown in there with a bad offensive line and worse game plans.
It’s just not fair to judge him on this team, in this season. Has he made some bad mistakes, and is his awareness level still on more of an Ohio State vs. Illinois level than a Bears vs. Bucs level? Certainly. But all of that can — and should be — worked out. Hopefully, it’s not with the same people running the show.
If you’re blaming Fields and not the true culprits for games like Sunday’s, you’re allowing those very culprits to remain safe.
I mean, come on.
Eye test: passed. Cole Kmet hasn’t been open since he left Notre Dame.
The good news is, the savior is here, and while some of you may need the son of god in your lives after this past weekend, that ain’t what I’m referring to.
Nay, this is a much more unlikely one: your Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls have won and covered in all three of their first games, their first such start since 2016. They are above .500 for the first time since 2017, when they were 31-30.
Before that, the last time the Bulls started 3-0 was in 1996-1997, when they won the championship.
Now I’m not saying this team is going to win the championship, though I may get there if this this buzz from seeing red everywhere I go doesn’t subside quickly.
Have you noticed the Bulls gear popping up over town? For years, Bulls gear was donned more by influencers on Instagram than it was by actual Chicagoans. All of that is beginning to change.
I wrote last week about it being imperative that the Bulls start 3-0, given that they would be playing the Pistons twice and the Pelicans without Zion Williamson. With the exception being the first game, the Bulls have won, and won convincingly.
The next step, obviously, will be beating teams that are going to be there come playoff time. But beating teams that they are better than is almost as important of a first step. The Bulls haven’t consistently beat bad teams in years, one reason for that being that they were poorly coached and managed, and the other reason being that they themselves were bad.
My predictions are coming true in front of our eyes. Remember last week when I said the Bulls would be good because they actually have good players? Goddammit, I’m a genius.
It turns out that that premise is still generally true in the NBA. There’s no doubt that there will be setbacks for a team that just came together, but for right now, they look better — and far more fun — than any team since Thibs was sweating his off on the sidelines.
Zach LaVine struggled Saturday night, and the Bulls still led by 30 at points. It seems clear to me that he is okay with the exchange that is less 30-point nights and more wins. Nikola Vucevic, who’s been involved less offensively than he’s probably been in the last three or four years, had 19 rebounds in the last game.
LaVine also had 20 points in 6 minutes the previous game, so it’s not as if he won’t get his opportunities. If he can be the guy when we need him to be, and be something else when we don’t, everyone will be a benefactor.
DeMar DeRozan turns out to be one of those good players. Crazy, I know, that a guy that has been a good player his entire career is still a good one — and that besides a massive contract, he’s still making positive impact for the Bulls on the floor. What the Bulls can do with their lineups now that LaVine isn’t the sole source of offense opens up so much for them.
This is all without Coby White, by the way, who will add another element of instant offense off the bench. The difference is, where Coby was probably one of the Bulls top-3 offensive players last year, he’s not even top-5 this year. That’s a good thing.
Lonzo Ball has been nothing short of tremendous. His hands are in passing lanes, he’s blocking shots, and he’s facilitating. A triple-double Friday was followed by another impressive defensive effort Saturday.
With the obvious, and rather large, caveat being that the Bulls haven’t played anyone yet, the Bulls are a top-3 defensive team through three games. But the Pistons and Pelicans players get paid to play basketball too. And the defense that’s been played in the first three games hasn’t been entirely based on bad shotmaking by the other teams. The Bulls have a great defensive coach, and — though the rest of the media is hellbent on remaining ignorant to this — have good defensive players!
Javonte Green, Ball and Alex Caruso have all been fantastic on the defensive end. Even Alize Johnson, a 6-7 center, has shown a defensive tenacity that bodes well for covering up some of the Bulls weaknesses the rest of the year. And bear in mind, they have a move to make mid-season — and yes they have the money to do so, either through a $5 million trade exception or $3 million plus in cap space before they hit the cap ceiling.
Caruso has quickly become a crowd favorite, and for good reason. He’s an awesome player to watch, and he’s also white, which means he fits in with the long-lasting “Look at the white guy, he can jump!” joke.
But the Caruso love makes me feel uncomfortable. And here’s what I have to say about that, which may be the most important thing I say in this entire newsletter:
Please, for the love of god, stop chanting “MVP!” at Caruso. Of course, he’s not near an MVP-level player, so it’s obviously ironic. It’s a joke, and it’s not really a funny one.
This guy was a vital part of an NBA championship team, he makes nearly $10 million to play basketball for a living, and we’re still treating him like he’s a Make-A-Wish kid.
So I’m begging you, please do not chant ironically at Caruso, and please tell others to refrain as well. All it does is make the Bulls fanbase look dumb, and though you may think it’s showing support to him, it comes off as disrespectful. I doubt he loves being the bud of a joke like he’s the G-leaguer he once was and not the impactful NBA player he is now.
Plus, from someone that was in the raucous United Center Saturday night to witness that ass-kicking in person, I can tell you that you don’t want to be grouped with the people that were chanting MVP. Picture every kid you’ve wanted to punch in the face in the Wrigley Field bleachers over the years, that’s who was responsible.
Sometimes, even if you want to do something, it’s not worth it for the company you’ll keep because of doing that thing. So if nothing else, don’t chant MVP at Caruso so you won’t end up looking like a frat boy who has gotten kicked out of ten different bars in the last year.
Either way, the Bulls are here to save us, as I thought they would. The winter is coming, and so is sports fandom despair from almost everywhere, besides in the little red corner where the Bulls sit.
So let’s go for the ride, and LETS GO BULLS!
Great Monday read. I don't even know what to say about the Bears at this point, but echoing that the blame isn't on Fields, and they need to try new things when they're getting beat by 30. I would love to have Dan Campbell as our coach right now.
So excited for this week of Bulls Hoops. Obviously it feels good to be 3-0 but the Raptors, Knicks and Jazz will be a nice test.