Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson

As I type this, it’s about 1:15 a.m. I took the day off from work to catch up on stuff. As I was settling in for the night, I was watching the Blackhawks. I get a text from a friend halfway through the game notifying me that Terry Boers passed today.

My heart dropped.

This hurts me big time. I know Terry wasn’t doing well. I was going to mention this a few months back and it skipped my mind. But I have been hooked on Dan Bernstein’s podcasts with Matt Abbatacola because Dan seems like his old self again doing that and it reminds me of the old days of The Score. When that podcast first started in late August, Terry Boers was on the show to talk to Dan and Matt. It was just like the old days. It made me smile listening to that.

I may have mentioned this in past posts about The Score. But I first heard of the station in 2000 when it went to 670 AM. I was 14 at the time. The first few years, I listened every once in a while not knowing the names of the hosts. Just listening. But in 2003 or so, I started listening much more. And by 2005/2006, it was appointment listening. At that time, I was in college. I listened to the station religiously. In my car during breaks between classes and other times, in the computer lab with my headphones in. Sometime shortly thereafter, my broke ass bought one of those generic radio Walkman’s to have it on while I was doing things around home. Terry Boers was a huge reason for that.

Boers and Bernstein were listened to first during middays (10:00-2:00?). Then they went to 2:00-6:00. From then on, it was a big part of my life. I cannot tell you the amount of times I lost my shit laughing at everything they were saying. From interrupting callers to insult them to cracking up themselves during “scoreboard updates”, it was fucking awesome. George Ofman and Chris Rongey were always part of the updates and had so much trouble getting through it because Boers and Bernstein were fucking with them. Abbatacola and Jason Goff were the producers of that show. It was “the inmates running the asylum” and in the best of ways.

I started calling The Score around 2005 and the first one was to Boers and Bernstein. And yes, both were very dismissive about my points on the Cubs that year. I said something along the lines of the season was already over in May of that year and they seemed to think I was an idiot. I found it frustrating at that moment thinking I was the dumbass because they made me feel that. Later on, I started calling more and it was much easier. I had several “craps” for famous people. I sometimes called during that segment as I was delivering food for a restaurant I worked at. I also called just to scream at why the Bears sucked.

So as you can see, nothing much has changed in that aspect. No other clip will ever be as great as Mike Ditka asking Terry “Who ya crappin’?” after Boers asked him about whether or not he had any “fire.” After that, it’s where the phrase “FIRE AND PASSION” was talked about more. Boers and Bernstein would roast any caller saying the coach or player they are calling about isn’t a good one because they don’t have “the fire and passion” that some other coaches may have. Even when you post on this very thread, I have the phrase “SHOW DA FIRE AND PASSION, MY FRENDT!” That’s exactly where it came from. And when our loyal reader Chucky says “Hello fitness friend”, that’s also a reference to the Boers and Bernstein. Although I just prefer “hello, friend” because I would sometimes start off one of my calls to them saying that. “Love ya show, love ya suit.” I still don’t get that quote. But it cracks me up.

Another thing that cracked me up were the ads for products that are more “sensual”. I think it was a product called “Pajama Gram” where it would be products for men to get their ladies for Valentine’s Day. These were fucking hilarious. The ad would go as normal talking about the products that will make her want you. Then at the end, it would end with “get it all pajamagram.com…and tell them The Score sent you and that Boers and Bernstein want to give you smooches.” Dan said that once. Then an ad sometime shortly after, Boers read one. At the end, Boers said and I quote, “Tell them The Score sent you and that Boers and Bernstein want to rub hot oil all over you.” 20-year old me just fucking lost it after that. I also can’t forget about the “David Hochberg” ads they would read as well. Just outstanding.

There are many old clips of “Boers and Bernstein” on YouTube. I feel as if I may go back and listen to some of that. I did find my voice on one of Mike Murphy’s segments back then. “Heyyyy…I like your angle.” Boers and Bernstein roasting Murph all the time was outstanding radio. While I was one of the few who also liked Murph, I didn’t understand it at first. But as the years went on and the stories were coming out, I understood why they couldn’t stand him. But regardless, the entire station was amazing at that time.

In 2008, I actually drove to Blues Bar in Mt. Prospect for The Score’s 15th anniversary show. Later that night, there was a snow storm and it took me about two hours to get home. It was worth it. I was there for about five hours. I got to see a few of their shows live and yes, even got a chance to shake Terry Boers’ hand and ask him some stupid question about Illini basketball (can Bruce Weber recruit?).

As you can see from these experiences, Terry Boers on the radio was a big part of my life. Him and Bernstein got me through some very tough days in college. I would be working multiple jobs at a time and going to school as well. Broke, tired, etc. And when Chicago sports was REALLY bad, they made it hurt a little less. And those Thursday and Friday Fung segments were fucking hilarious and took my mind off things.

I cannot finish this piece without mentioned “Larry Horse.” Yes, a caller once mentioned that name during a “Who Ya Crappin’?” segment and both Boers and Bernstein were puzzled. The caller legitimately thought Terry’s name was “Larry Horse”. I didn’t listen to that segment live. But them replaying over and over throughout the years cracked me up.

“Larry Horse” became a folk hero. So much so, that on this very site, Chucky told me all those years ago to make a sign about Larry Horse wanting a title shot to get on TV during a WWE show. I obliged. In fact, four different occasions (seen below) in 2011 and 2014, I got signs on referencing Larry. And both times, Boers and Bernstein mentioned it on their show. I felt honored and wanted to get them to chuckle.

We love Larry Horse and will miss him. And we will miss his beard, too. BY CRACKY!

Bold statement? No. It’s a truthful one. And I am here to get this off my plate as I put a bow on this disastrous ending.

I am sorry if anyone thinks I am insane. I am being realistic. I have seen so many flaws from this guy, it reminds me of the stupidity of Dan Campbell. Constantly going for it on 4th down rather than take field goals when in range. That’s just one of the many reasons. Let me make it clear: Ben Johnson was the main reason why the Bears lost on Sunday. If he had tried field goals on two of those failed 4th down drives, that game does not go into overtime. Look at the Lions two years ago. They were knocking on the door of the Super Bowl until Dan Campbell left points on the field by going for it on 4th down when he didn’t need to. He lost that game. And guess what? Ben Johnson did the same exact thing. That is a failure.

We can blame Gervon Dexter’s stupid penalty right before halftime that allowed the game to be tied. We can blame Caleb for accuracy issues or D.J. Moore not going the proper route. We can blame the defense for falling apart when it mattered most again. I don’t care. That’s all on Ben Johnson. None of that shit happens if a coach with common sense is there.

I have avoided the TV and local news the last couple days because I am trying to avoid anything football-related. This loss really kicked me in the nuts. It fucking hurts and it will continue to hurt for a little while.

I’ve been here before. These playoff disasters kill me. 2002, 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2019. All of those losses just fucked me up. Even the ass-kickings in 1995 and 2021 pissed me off. I live, eat, sleep and breathe this football team. I do the same for my other sports’ teams as well. I feel the pain of the Bills’ fans. Or fans of the Cowboys. Those teams that usually make the playoffs only to get knocked out. Sometimes it’s in the first round. Other times, the conference championship games.

I honestly believe that this franchise will not win a Super Bowl in my lifetime. Yes, it’s ownership to start with. George is too nice of a guy. He’s hired a dumbass as president to beg both Illinois and Indiana for taxpayer money. He has a general manager who can’t seem to draft anyone on defense.

George McCaskey and/or Ryan Poles can sit Ben Johnson down and tell him the following: Either stop this stupid fuckery or you’re out of here.

But since neither of them are smart enough to realize where the problem is, they won’t. They will tell him “great season” and probably give him an extension.

I have zero faith in this dis-organization. I see the same shit every single year. It’s the secondary not covering receivers. The defense gives up points on the first drive of the game too many times. They give up points right before halftime more times than I can count. They always give up these game-winning drives. It’s missed tackles. It’s going for it on 4th down instead of trying a field goal. A costly interception. All of this shit every single year. And for those who want to spend time reading the archives here, there’s over 17 years of coverage of the Bears with me typing the same shit after many games. NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

What do those years of playoff failure have in common? The 2001-2002 season? They started off 2-0. But finished 2-12 after. Horrible. How about the year after they lost the Super Bowl in 2007? 7-9. 2011-2012? They started off 7-3, fell apart after the Cutler injury and Lovie’s continued ineptitude to a finish of 8-8. Didn’t make the playoffs. 2019-2020? 8-8 and missed the playoffs.

As you can see, the Bears are following this trajectory of having awful seasons after making the playoffs. Only once in the last 35 years, they made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. That was 2005 and 2006. Just under eight months from now, the Bears will begin another season. History tells us that they will fall off the map quickly. History tells us they will only win seven or eight games and miss the playoffs. It may be another five years until they get to the postseason again.

As I’ve said many times over the last 17 years on this site, the Bears are more than welcome to prove me wrong. Everything I have said above are facts.

Prove me wrong, Bears. Go ahead. I’m waiting.

I don’t give a fuck about comebacks. It should have never gotten to that point.

Ben Johnson left nine possible points on the board in regulation. At the end of the day, this is on him. The defense fell apart when it mattered most in overtime. But again, it should have never reached that point. Caleb didn’t need to air that shit out on the final offensive drive. They were marching up the field with short yardage plays. This is also Johnson’s fault for not telling Caleb to do that.

These assholes put me in tears right before this. I went to hug my dog and basically apologize for yelling at the TV all damn night, season, etc while he was on the couch watching.

I am done posting for a while unless Ben Johnson gets fired. He should. He cost this team.

Wind chill will be in the single digits. BEAR WEATHER.

These emotions, I can’t fucking handle. Screaming at the TV. Almost in tears early on when it’s 14-3. My life as a fan of this team flashing before my eyes. The nightmare of 1995 when the 49ers killed the Bears in the Divisional Round. Jim Miller getting knocked out in 2002 against the Eagles in the same round. The Super Bowl loss in 2007. The Packers humiliating this team in 2011 in the NFC Championship. The Wild Card game in 2019 against the Eagles. You name it. This was going to be another game added to that misery.

We rarely see this team in the playoffs is what I’m trying to say.

Caleb showing calmness despite his shitty head coach putting him in a position to fail. They could have had a chance to get field goals early on. Instead, going for it on 4th down. Nothing. Then, that last offensive drive, I haven’t seen anything like it. Then, the defense actually waking the fuck up in the second half despite their best efforts to give this game away in the final two minutes. With the exception of the game against the Browns, this team and the defense specifically, has not put together four full quarters of solid play.

In past years, that ball bounces off Kyler Gordon’s hands and into a receiver for the Packers. It’s just fucking insane.

We will find out tomorrow evening who the Bears will play next week. I didn’t sleep all week. I probably won’t sleep tonight or next week either.

As I expected, this is all I’ve been thinking about the entire week.

Run the ball. Cover your receivers. Don’t do stupid shit. This is a simple game when common sense is used by the coach. The talent is there.

I know I have written that same headline before at some point in all these years of having this website. But it is appropriate.

As I was getting ready to type this, the Commanders just beat the Eagles. So the Bears will have the second seed and play the Packers next week at home.

I have zero confidence in this team. Everything that worried me was confirmed these last two weeks. No defense at all. AT ALL. They have the inability to cover a receiver. They have the inability to tackle. They are just not a good defense. And enough with the “they lead the lead in takeaways!” Your point? They let the Lions drive down the field at will countless times today. Same last week with the 49ers. The offense is absent for half of the game. They have ran out of miracles as we have witnessed the last two weeks.

The miracles are over. The lucky turnovers are over. Even though Caleb lead a comeback to tie it today, the offense fell apart after the defense got away with a pass interference and intercepted Goff.

Is the talent there? Many say so. I don’t see it. C.J. Gardner Johnson was one of the bright spots this season. He was awful today and got hurt at the end. So who knows if he is going to play next week.

Here are the facts: Ben Johnson is a fucking idiot and is putting the offense in a position to fail. Dennis Allen is a fucking idiot who is putting the defense in a position to fail. How difficult is it to cover a receiver? These are fucking professionals. My experience doesn’t go past junior tackle in terms of playing. But even we were taught back then how to cover a receiver. None of this fuckery “cover two” bullshit. As I said almost 20 years ago, it should be called the “cover who?” defense.

So what is it going to be? Is this team going to play like professionals or are they going to be the same old Bears that we have witnessed most of our lives? It’s their fucking choice.

I don’t care about 4,000 passing yards. This obsession is fucking weird. Rest the starters and don’t risk the players who are already hurt. The goal is to win the Super Bowl.

I didn’t expect the Bears to win this game before it started. But the fact that this defense was absolutely horseshit is fucking humiliating. To add injury to insult, Luther Burden was hurt on the final play of the game. Caleb was running for his life and it was a disaster as soon as it was snapped. Caleb does not do that well on the run, especially while running backwards.

I am completely exhausted. Physically and mentally. The Bears showed their true colors tonight. Ben Johnson was fucking awful on the last two drives that didn’t result in the end zone. Terrible clock management as well. Dennis Allen should be fired before the plane ride tonight. This “bend but don’t break” defense was shattered tonight. I cannot keep screaming at the TV for someone to cover a receiver. I’ve been doing that for decades now.

Bigger picture now: The Bears don’t really have anything to play for next week. Just rest everyone important against the Lions. Get rested and healthy for what will probably be the Rams or Packers coming to town in two weeks. I doubt this team makes it past that anyway. But at least put them in a position to compete.

I meant to get this thread up earlier in the day. For the last week, I’ve been dealing with this shitty flu and still trying to work some days.

Last night, I was at a wrestling show in Hoffman Estates and after the Packers were about to lose, the entire crowd was chanting “Green Bay sucks.” It felt amazing as we don’t get this feeling very often in life. I am happy the Bears won the division. That being said, that’s not the goal of a team. We all know what is.

As I am posting this, the Seahawks just won. The Bears must win the last two while the Seahawks lose next week against the 49ers. We will see what happens.