Legitimate Chicago broadcast legend and the pioneer of sports talk radio. Also teaches courses in humility.
Welcome once again to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Halas Circus. My only question -- since this is the "big top" -- where are the elephants, the clowns and the bearded lady?
In today's misadventures of team McCaskey, we have Lovie Smith, Jerry Angelo and Jay Cutler in starring roles. All three have turned on the red light regarding requests to be interviewed as pre-game guests by NBC's Bob Costas before Sunday night's Bears-Eagles tee off at the house that Ted Phillips built.
Can anybody give me a good reason why? Costas is a tremendous guy. We've been friends since he was doing Spirits of St. Louis ABA basketball back in 1974 at a time when I was doing the 6 and 10 o'clock sports at WISH TV-CBS in Indianapolis.
Bob is a grinder, a solid interviewer but no one has ever mentioned him in the same sentence with Howard Cosell.
Wouldn't you just kill to heard Howard ask Angelo in that clipped New York accent, "Just how do you justify bringing in Cutler while failing to provide him with a legitimate offensive line and at least one quality wide receiver.
Just call this a complete swing and a miss. Although someone might want to mention to NBC that most interviews with Lovie pack the same wallop that one normally compares to repairing a door knob.
Costas doesn't play softball but he would provide all three guys with a tremendous public relations platform. Cutler in particular desperately needs new spin. During most of his dish-rag-dull sessions with the media, Cutler generally gives the impression that he'd rather be in Tanganyika than in Chicago.
Here was Cutler's chance to step up and say, "Yeah, I have done a lousy job with this club. I know I haven't met expectations. But I also know I have seven games left to prove to Chicago that the Bears had their heads on straight when they extended my contract. I also plan to make ever efforts to limit my interceptions in prime time games to just one."
See the vibe? Sure you do. Cutler in a span of about 90 seconds could go from local punching bag, a guy currently detested by Bears fans, to sympathetic hero. Keep in mind, no town forgives like our town. For heaven's sakes, we endure Crane Kenney.
Angelo could have explained in GM-speak just how sorry he is that this club, which was destined for post season glory, is about an inch away from being as relevant as the Roller Derby.
Lovie could have screamed, "Josh Beekman is our starting guard."
The point is this. The Bears, exhibiting arrogance and a run-and-hide offense, make themselves look almost pathetically weak. Think Ditka would have backed down? Or Jim McMahon? How about Jim Finks and Jerry Vainisi?
The conclusion? Sadly our local football team just doesn't get it. Lets just hope they can hold the Eagles to under 31 first half points.
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