By Jim Coffman
I stepped off the shuttle bus at the end of the line just to the west of Lake Shore Drive at 18th Street and caught a glimpse of amazing Soldier Field. It has been said many times, many ways but it still bears repeating: The place most closely resembles – especially when you look at it from the west-southwest – a saucer-shaped UFO hovering mere inches above 80-year-old colonnades built to honor veterans of World War I. World War I! It may be hideous, but it is spectacularly hideous! Is there a more bizarre-looking, prominent sports facility in this great country of ours? I think not! We’re No. 1. We’re No. 1.
After 15 weeks of televised football this fall, I decided to venture out into the elements for Sunday’s contest with the hated Packers. As usual, my timing was impeccable – the Bears played by far their best game of the season and prevailed by four highly satisfying touchdowns. Actually, my timing usually isn’t quite this good. In my only 2005 game at the Field, I watched Carson Palmer and the Bengals give the boys in Blue and Orange a whuppin’.
But that was nothing compared to the single game I took in the year before. That one featured a terrible Redskin team led by Mark Brunell trying oh so determinedly to give the Bears a victory. But good old Jonathan Quinn, the backup quarterback hand-picked by Lovie’s first offensive coordinator, Terry Shea, as just the guy to run his offense, ran it alright – straight into the ground. Ah Terry, you one-year-wonder, we hardly knew ya’. Wherever you are, just remember one thing: Don’t give up. Another recent, ever-so-overmatched Bears offensive guru, Gary Crowton (Dick Jauron’s first guy), is doing just fine these days. He will return to action Jan. 7 directing the offense for . . . possible national champion LSU.
And now, onto . . . the Highlights!
Read More
Posted on December 24, 2007
