Random thoughts while wondering what ever happened to Steve Kemp:

The Bears, by the grace of God and the ineptitude of the Seahawks, pulled off an thrilling victory in overtime yesterday. 

The Bears defense was softer than fontina cheese for most of the game, although late in the game they did make a couple of critical stops.  Bottom line, chalk this victory up in the "rather be lucky than good" column.  And sometimes, that's what it takes to win a championship: luck (the "dropped third strike" in the 2005 ALCS or Bill Buckner's big moment in the '86 world series or Jackie Smith in Super Bowl XIII).

Rex Grossman had a decent day and made far fewer mistakes than his Seattle counterpart Matt Hasselbeck.  His electrifying 68 yard hook and ladder to Bernard Berrien sent chills up the spines of Bear fans as did hitting Resheed Wallace on a seam route that set up the game winner.  He was victimized by dropped passes, first by Mushin Muhammad who had the ball deflect off his hands to former loan officer Pete Hunter (Muhammad did get a steak knives with his deposit.)

Later, Bernard Berrian had a sure touchdown on a slant, but dropped the ball.  And for a while, that play looked like the difference in the game.

I give the Bears credit for circling the wagons.

In San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer will most likely leave the building after the Chargers dropped a 24-21 gut buster to New England.  Once again Tom Brady proves that clutch is everything and everything is clutch.  Time and time again Brady reminds us that his name belongs in the pantheon with Staubach, Bradshaw, Elway and Montana.

The happiest people on earth about next weekend are Fox and CBS because they got exactly the matchups that they wanted.  In the NFC, it's "The Monsters of The Midway vs. America's Underdogs" and in the AFC, it's "The Guy Who Gets it Done vs. The Guy Who Has Never Won a Big Game in His Life."  Forget the football, the story lines are actually compelling without it.

Your possible Super bowl scenarios include: "America's Underdogs vs. "The Perennial Champs"; "A Ring for New Orleans" vs. "A Ring for Peyton"; "Super bowl XLI: The Patriots Revenge (for XX)" and "Kids from the Big City" vs. "Children of the Corn."  


Talking Head Correction Dept: Following the Patriots/Chargers game, CBS' James Brown said the Bears winning field goal was made by Robbie Gould (as in Eliott) and not "gold" as it is pronounced (the "u" is silent).  Good luck with Brendon Ayanbadejo, J.B.

Useless Stat Dept.: Both championship games next weekend feature a matchup of a Big Ten quarterback vs. an SEC quarterback.  

Useless Prediction Dept.: Someone at one of the network will throw out a stat based on that and perhaps what conference has had the most Super Bowl winning quarterbacks. 

Turf's Up Dept.: Oh the irony if it were the Colts and Saints outside in Miami.

Good Luck Dept.: The difference between Saddam Hussein and Ken Whisenhunt is that Saddam didn't volunteer to have his head put in a noose.

Clueless is Next Dept.: More good news out of Bristol.  Now please pull the plug on Skip Clueless.

Sit Down and Shut Up Dept.:  Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel just bitch slapped the tar out of Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman on "Meet the Press" yesterday.  There is a grass roots movement to draft a Hagel run at the White House in 2008.  As much as I disagree with several of the Senator's positions, it would be nice to have a hard ass in the White House.

Product Placement Department: There is a commercial for Van de Kamp's fish sticks which begins with a women standing in front of a freezer.  Clearly shown over her shoulder is a box of Aunt Jemima griddle cakes.  Another example of marketing in the millennium.

Reasonable Excuse Dept.: But honey, I thought I was at a gym, not a gentleman's club. 

Mad Cow Dept.: Scientists believe they have isolated the Alzheimer's gene.  Unfortunately, they forgot five minutes later.