Random thoughts while wondering what ever happened to Steve Rosenberg:

Continuous Loop Dept Pt. 2: Let's check on the progress of our four Super Bowl Themes.

1) Two African-American Coaches: The Rev. Jesse Jackson may not have has his photo-op yet, but he has had his op-ed.  As a great man once said,  judge them not by the color of the skin, but by the content of their character.

2) Peyton Manning, Legend: Even other quarterbacks want to see Peyton win the big one.

3) Bears as Underdogs: Some feel the Bears are not as much an underdog as they might think.

4) New Bears vs. 1985 Bears: Good stuff this morning from a Chicago columnist who believes Chicago fans haven't embraced the new Bears because Chicago fans are becoming spoiled.  Also, how will a Bears win effect Da Coach?

Circus is in Town Dept.: It's Super Bowl XVI media day today.  The NFL, in an effort to broaden the appeal of the game to casual fans, lets way too many nuts and non-sports types in.  Sure, it helps the non-sports world embrace the game, but there is no excuse for the voice of the AFLAC duck to get in a question before Dr. Z. 

What the NFL should do is hold "Circus Day" and let all of the people working for MTV, Conan, Jay, Dave and assorted non-sports oriented web sites and cable networks have half an hour to ask their silly questions.

Why do I get so grumpy about this? There are a whole lot of serious sports journalists (and Skip Clueless) who work their asses off all season long covering the NFL.  These reporters are on deadline and are expected to bring back real news to help sell newspapers or augment ratings. Clearly, the posers and fools get in the way.  Please NFL, separate them.  Or give the real media an hour head start before you send in the clowns.

Among the insipid questions posed to Bears coach Lovie Smith: "How did you feel when your team was selected to play in the Super Bowl" and "Who do you think will be the next American Idol."  Turns out Lovie doesn't watch much TV.

ESPN News, which carried the conference live, held cameras on Tank Johnson for almost fifteen minutes hoping that the troubled Bears defensive lineman would slip.  Johnson did not and the takeaway from the interview was that he's sorry and that he prays a lot.

Mover & Shaker Dept.: Colts owner Jim Irsay embraces his Chicago roots.  Irsay was born in Chicago, but eventually set sail for Indianapolis aboard the Mayflower.

Skull Session Dept. Pt. 2: Our daily look at what the game is all about. The Colts, who until recently, have been weak against the run, will have to stop the Bears two headed monster of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.  Each has a different style with Jones being a slasher and Benson a truck that runs over people.  Both can catch and YAC pretty well.  Jones is an above average blocker, Benson is a poor blocker.  Also look out for the Bears secret weapon: reserve RB Adrian Peterson, who catches a mean screen pass.

For the Bears to stay in the game, they need serious production and ball control from Benson and Jones.  If Jones doesn't have over 75 yards by the end of the third quarter, tell the fat lady to clear her throat.

The Bears must run at, into and around the Colts all afternoon and keep their defense on the field and back pedaling.  Peyton Manning can score at will quickly against an injury riddled Bears secondary, so holding on to the ball and owning the clock is a key.  In addition, the more you run the less chance Rex Grossman has of making a costly mistake.

Just the Way He is Dept.: Let's hope that Billy Joel doesn't enter Dolphin Stadium driving a car.  Or a golf cart.  Or a scooter. Or a skateboard. Or roller skates. 

Clean Out the Fridge Dept.: It seems like former Bears defensive lineman and pop culture icon William "The Refrigerator" Perry caused quite a stir at a personal appearance the other day.  Not only did his autograph cost $25, but unsuspecting Bear fans were required to purchase an item from the warehouse style club for Fridge to sign.  Fans bringing their own memorabilia were turned away.

Look for several fifty-five gallon drums of ketchup bearing the autograph of William Perry to appear on EBAY latter today.

He's Dead, Wilbur Dept.: This look back at the career of Barbaro brought to you by Elmer's Glue.

You Get What You Give Dept.: Chicago Sun-Times columnist and bitter old man Jay Mariotti roasts Rex Grossman this morning.  Meanwhile, a group tracking Marriotti's columns, roasts him.

Worthy Adversary Dept.: The Montreal Canadians honored one of their best ever by raising Ken Dryden's #29 jersey to the rafters.  In 1971, Chicago Blackhawks fans wanted to raise Dryden to the rafters after the Habs beat the Hawks in seven games to win the Stanley Cup.

Finding Fraud Dept.: This story, about the inept stewardship of Gary Bettman as NHL commish is dead on.  Especially the David Stern conspiracy theory.

Stern may go down as the most devious sports commissioner in history, taking down a hockey league and a competing women's basketball league during his reign.  Given the subtle and back alley way in which he works,  Stern may have missed his calling in life.  He should have been Director of the CIA.

Check Please Dept.: Finally, a slight upturn in man hockey and not this sissy European crap the league has been advocating lately,
 
Snake Eyes Dept.: Former NFL Quarterback and convicted liar, forger and con man Art Schlichter is out of stir, hoping to catch on with the NFL as a host of anti-gambling seminars.  With Schlichter's gift of B.S., he ought to go to work as a spokesman for the Bush war plan.

Samurai Coach Dept.: Former Bears great and current San Fransisco Assistant Head Coach Mike Singletary is currently interviewing for the vacant Dallas Cowboys coaching position.  Singletary was known not only for his fearsome play but for his smarts.  Let's hope his smarts kick in before he subjects himself to the meddling force that is Jerry Jones.

Follow me to Freedom Dept.: Proof again that you government actually is not discouraging border jumping.  Give me a shovel and I'll fill the damn things up myself.

Buy Early, Buy Often Dept.: Microsoft is ready to pump out their new operating system called Vista next week.  Danger, Will Robinson!  Although you want it and the benefits that it possesses, you want to wait a year or so until Bill and the boys get all the bugs out of it.  You also want to take the time while you are waiting to upgrade your existing computers and software.  Unfortunately, given the robust nature of Vista, you'll have to turn those low MHz Pentium 2 computers with 28MB of RAM into doorstops or planters.

You do remember Windows ME, don't you?

Cat Out of the Bag Dept.: Apparently, pussies have banned from a women's prison.