We had our neighborhood block party yesterday and even though we live behind the cheese curtain, there are several Bear fans that live in our neighborhood.  I was treated pretty harshly because I continue to refuse to drink the Rex Grossman kool-aid. "You're being too hard on Rex" they scoffed.  "Rex is a winner" they assured me.  Call me stubborn, but I refuse to believe without proof.

I understand that for Bear fans, the position of quarterback has always been manned by someone with little or no talent that just tries to hand the ball off enough times to give the defense a rest.  I think of all of the Bear quarterbacks in my lifetime and I can name one, Jim McMahon, that I liked.  And Jimmy Mac was not only a tool, he threw balls that looked like quail shot by Dick Chaney.  But I loved McMahon because when he was in there, he found a way to win most of the time.  Unfortunately, he wasn't in there often enough.

Prior to McMahon, Bear fans had to endure Vince Evans, who would find success with the Raiders and Bob Avellini,  who if he had to race someone in the 100 yard dash would finish fifth.  Paul Konerko is Ben Johnson compared to Avellini who should of worked at a grocery store because of all the sacks he created by not being able to get out of harm's way.

The parade of quarterbacks after McMahon was pretty grisly, including the dumbest and most color blind quarterback in NFL history, Mike Tomczak,  Jim Harbaugh, who despite having some good numbers drove Mike Ditka crazy, Peter Tom Willis, Steve Walsh, Dave (Tiny Hands) Krieg, Rick (Dave Wannstedt's Got a Man Crush On Me) Mirer, Steve Stenstrom,  Moses (I couldn't lead anyone to the promised land) Moreno, Shane Matthews, Cade (I'm Just like Ryan Leaf except I'm Left-handed) McNown, Jim (Be Careful What You Pick Up At GNC) MIller, Chris (One More Shot to the Head and I'm Drooling) Chandler, Slash, Jonathan Quinn, Craig Krenzyl, Chad Hutchinson, and Kyle Orton.  Oh, the misery.

I did leave Erik Kramer off this list because he actually did a good job in his tenure with the Bears (if only for one season), although he was injured a lot like McMahon before him and Miller after him. 

So, what is my big problem with Grossman?  He is constantly inconsistent.  Great quarterbacks know what do, can get the ball there and only a bad route or a mistiming that causes an interceptions.  Rex gets picked because he's trying to make something happen.  Something that's not there.  Something that was never there.  Rex tries to force things.  He lives on every play, not on the flow of the game.  He goes hot, he goes cold and goes stupid.  If he didn't have a coach like Lovie Smith who has the patience of Job, he most likely would spend more time riding the pine.  Not that the alternative is any better.

This year, the Bears will feature Grossman at quarterback and Cedric Benson at running back, neither of whom I have any confidence in. Benson is a cross between Neil Anderson and Curtis Enis, and I'm not sure he can stay healthy an entire season and/or rush for over 1,000 yards.  His backups are a third down pass catching specialist and a midget. 

Without a stable and reliable running game, the Bears will be forced to pass the ball more, which spotlights Grossman and his uncanny ability to a) pull out from center too quickly and b) throw the ball into the waiting arms of someone in an opposing uniform.  I'm sorry, I'm just not feeling the love here.

The Bears will have a good year against the caliber of opponent in their own division, but when it comes to a team like the Chargers, I don't see it.  LT will wear down the defense and Rex will be passing out gifts to the Charger linebackers and DBs.  Look for this to be a big disappointment for Bear fans today.

When the Bears drafted Grossman, I was surprised, having seen him play at Florida that he would be a first round pick.  Third, maybe fourth round pick, but first round?  That surprised me.  But today, I doubt I'll be as surprised as some of my neighbors who are thinking the Bears are going to win big. Except the guy who lives next door to me and came dressed to the party as Captain Bolt.  He's from San Diego.

Lightning Round

• On a day where the White Sox were eliminated from post season play (this actually happened in spring training but now it's official) and a day where they pulled to within 1½ games of fourth place Kansas City, the Sox put together their second decent game in a row and beat the Twinkies 8-7.  They conclude their series this afternoon at US Cellphone Field.  BTW, Fox decided to show the Phillies and the Marlins in Milwaukee instead of the Sox and Twins so I diid not get to see the game.  Bastages.
• In the NL Central, the Cubs finally get a worthy effort from Big Zero, the Brewers rallyand keep pace while the Genius and the Cardinals fall one more game off the pace.  BTW, if there's a tie, here are your playoff scenarios.
• 
  What a day in college football.  Lloyd Carr, nice knowing you.  Michigan's defense was putrid yesterday against Oregon.  And what a win for USF over big, bad, SEC powerhouse Auburn.  This will get the drums beating about Tommy Tuberville again.  Why he ran out the clock and went to overtime is a mystery to me.,  The other  big upset was Darth Visor whipping out his Cocks and bouncing the Bulldogs between the hedges.  In Vegas, Wisconsin better hope their performance stays in Vegas barely avoiding an upset at the hands of UNLV.
  
• Some things went as they were meant to be yesterday.  LSU pounded Va. Tech and proved that they may be the best team in the country right now; Penn State manhandled Notre Dame; Washington emerges as a good team ending Boise State's winning streak and BCS chances; West Virginia wakes up and mauls Marshalland Oklahoma is very impressive in their game against Miami.
• In a year that may decide his continued employment in College Station, Coach Fran's Aggies blow a huge lead and have to beat Fresno State in triple OT.
  
• HOW 'BOUT THEM SALUKIS?  Seeing as how I went to SIU and my brother went to NIU, it makes it even sweeter.
• If the Devil Rays are keeping Joe Maddon, then Ozzie Guillen has nothing to worry about.
• Jimmy Johnson wins at Richmond and passed Jeff Gordon for top seed in the ten race chase for the cup. Dale Ernhardt Junior will not be a part of the chase, blowing an engine late in the race (that makes five this year for Junior.)  On the up side for Junior, he's going to Hendrick next year.
• Mad props to Johnny Sauter who finished fifth in last night's cup race.  Sauter has been one of the subjects of ABC's behind the scene look at NASCAR called NASCAR in Prime Time.  Sauter watches Rocky movies before every race and has a crew chief in a wheel chair.  You can't help but root for the guy.
  
• Former NBA ref Tim Donaghy's gamble that Mrs. Donaghy would stick around wound up like most of his bets.
• Some guy from Australia moved his entire family to Green Bay so he could follow the Packersfor a year.  Dude, you are about ten years too late.
• Oprah raises three million dollars last night for Barrack Obama.  No word on whether or not she's also giving him a Pontiac.
• Today's list: Great football openings of the past.  Are you ready for some football, people?