Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson

Indeed it has. And as it goes every year, we are getting ready for another year of dropped catches, shitty play-calling, injuries, coaches lying about injuries and new ways to lose. Let’s not forget players who have no business being in the NFL (looking at you, Nathan Peterwhacker). This is the Chicago Bears.

I said a couple years back that my interest in the team at the start had never been lower. I can’t say it’s lower now. But it’s not that much higher either. It’s the same bullshit and it’s been discussed ad nauseum this offseason.

We will get all of the “we had a great week of practice” and “he looked great out there.” But until we are proven otherwise, this is the expectation. Shitty general manager and shitty coaches followed by shitty players. Any general manager who signs and then re-signs the statistically worst quarterback in NFL history gives us no reason to believe that things will be different.

In other news, Cole Kmet has been given an extension for $50 million over four years. Nice guy and all, but hasn’t produced much. If he isn’t a top five-ten tight end this year, then this is a waste of money. Travis Kelce had over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Now, none of us should expect those exact numbers. But let’s just say 750 yards for eight touchdowns. Anything less is a bust.

Then again, at the end of the day, the only stat that matters is wins and losses. And unfortunately, there will be more losses than wins.

From the worst franchise in professional sports to one of the greatest dynasties within a decade.

That was Rocky Wirtz. The catalyst to the change. Yes, there was a ton of controversy towards the last two or three years. We all know what happened there. Certainly, that report by the law firm showed he wasn’t aware of what was going on. Then there was that town hall last year where he went off on a reporter. A horrible set of scenarios ensued. Before I knew it, they forced their long-time announcers out of town, got rid of all of the players and coaches and started anew.

As a fan, it still feels a bit tarnished. A Stanley Cup that I had waited for my entire life happened at 24. Then at 27 and 29. So we looked up to him as a savior.

When I was growing up, the Blackhawks could never get that Cup. Teams like the Red Wings or Avalanche always stood in their way. Then as I got older, the team got bad fast. And even worse as I got into high school and college.

Then the old man kicks the bucket and his son takes over. Rocky started the renaissance. The change that we had begged for. We didn’t see it with other teams in the city. Again, controversy or not, he should be thanked for making the franchise relevant. Putting home games on TV and having ratings as a whole go up in hockey, he had a lot to do with it. He brought back Pat Foley after he was fired by his dad for no logical reason.

If it wasn’t for him, we fans probably don’t see a Stanley Cup in Chicago. So he should get his due for that. And with the team appearing to get back to being contenders in the coming years, he should be thanked.

First, I can’t remember if I heard this news last year. But I did hear about it earlier this week. Pat Hughes was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. I don’t know why it didn’t happen until now. But I’m glad it did.

Him and Ron Santo were very important people in my childhood. Growing up without cable and too far to get WGN on TV through an antenna, all I had was the radio. I forgot who did it before him. But I do remember Harry Carey doing some radio games and Santo was still there.

From when I was 10 in 1996 up until 2002, almost every game was listened to on the radio. It was my escape in life from all of the bullshit I was growing up with. It was in my room by myself with the radio on 720 AM. And even from when I finally had cable in 2003 until I stopped giving a shit in 2008, him and Ron Santo were the ones who made me feel great despite the heartbreaks of the team.

I met Pat on the final home game of the 2005 season just outside Wrigley. He signed my ball and as a 19 year old, I was marking out. I spoke fast like an idiot because I was so excited. I basically told him that I had listened to him since I was a child and that he was a big part of my life. I am sure his thought was “this kid has issues.” But what he told me was “Thank you for tuning in” along with something else I can’t remember.

I may sound bitter here. But I wish the Cubs had won the World Series when I was still emotionally into it. Selfish? Probably. But still hearing him call that victory was something that reminded me of my childhood.

Congratulations. Well-earned and long overdue.

This guy should be somewhere in Wyoming selling insurance. Not on a professional football team’s roster.

But yet, after seven years, a team is still paying him to be the statistically worst quarterback in NFL history.

And that team is our beloved Chicago Bears.