Muller: Bears' Win Over Jets Means Happy Holidays
By Shawn Muller--
It's fair to say that the Chicago Bears have already exceeded all expectations this season.
Outside of the delusional members of the Bears fan base (and you know who you are), no one really expected the Bears to compete for…and let alone win the NFC North Division Title in 2010. But, low and behold…that is exactly what has happened.
With just two weeks left in the NFL regular season, the Bears have not only met and exceeded all pre-season expectations…they still have a lot to play for in the final two weeks of the regular season. As it stands right now and the playoffs began today, Chicago would be the number two seed in the NFC with first round bye, and a probable second round home game.
So…as Bears fans are getting all giddy with visions of playoff glory and a Super Bowl Title dancing around in their collective heads, I too have one small Christmas wish on my list that will make my holiday wishes come true.
I am begging you Chicago Bears…for the love of all things sacred in life...please...take care of business this Sunday and beat the New York Jets.
I am not wishing for this because I think the Jets are some seemingly indestructible force like Ivan Drago in the movie "Rocky IV." I am not wishing for this because of the possible playoff ramifications for Chicago. I am saying this because I am so sick and tired of hearing about a team, a coach, and a franchise that has not accomplished anything since the days of Joe Namath. We get it! The Jets are from New York (almost)! Is there an unwritten rule that automatically grants them relevancy because they (almost) play in "the greatest city in the world?" Sadly, it seems there is. But for a team that owns just one Super Bowl title, and has been to the playoffs just 13 times (11 in the NFL) since the franchise began back in 1960, I don't see any reason why anyone--outside of Jets fans anyways--should care.
Let me get this out of the way right now. I think the Jets are a solid football team this season and anyone who follows professional football knows this is true. Coming into this weekend, New York's "other" pro football team owns a 10-4 overall record and are sitting on the cusp of clinching an AFC playoff berth with a win over the Bears at Soldier Field. They are indeed a formidable opponent as evidenced by their record.
But that's about it for the New York Jets. Solid but not spectacular and doing less with more.
The Jets are a carbon copy of their Major League Baseball counterpart New York Mets, and the similarities between the two franchises are scary. The Mets are the little brother to the Yankees. The Jets are the little brother to the Giants. No matter what the Mets do, they will never be as good as the Yankees. No matter what the Jets do, they will never be as good as the Giants. On paper, all you see is a roster full of stars up and down the depth chart. When you see them perform on the field, all you can do is shake your head in disbelief (and laughter).
Now, I am not saying the Jets cannot become a serious threat to win the title this season assuming they take care of business and make the playoffs. They darn well could be. Anything can happen come playoff time. Just look at what the Arizona Cardinals did a couple of seasons ago and what the Baltimore Ravens did prior to that. But knowing the Jets and their knack for choking on the big stage, I don't expect them to put it all together come playoff time. Why? It is not because they lack playmakers…it is because Rex Ryan is their head coach.
Ryan is an egotistical buffoon that would seemingly rather be in the news for off-the field issues than accomplishments on it. Every time I hear Rex Ryan open his mouth, I thank my lucky stars that Chicago has a man like Lovie Smith as their head coach.
Like him or loathe him, at least Bears fans can be proud of the way Lovie Smith carries himself on and off the field. He is not an attention seeking "look at me" type of guy, a la Rex Ryan. In fact, he is quite the opposite. Lovie conducts himself with dignity and class.
Now don't get me wrong, Smith is not the most entertaining person in the world, nor does he have an intoxicating and out-going personality. But at least he has not been in the news for flipping off a fan at an MMA fight in Florida. He doesn't call out other coaches and franchises, and he certainly (we hope anyway) wouldn't find himself in the middle of a foot-fetish video scandal when his team is trying to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Yeah Lovie is not always fiery and full of flash, but at least he is not an embarrassment to the city of Chicago and the Bears organization.
Just like a boy that finds his dream bicycle under the tree on Christmas morning, the Bears have the opportunity to make all of my holiday wishes come true by disposing of the circus act that is Rex Ryan and his New York Jets.
So I beg of you Chicago Bears…be my Santa Claus. Please give me my dream bicycle this Sunday with a victory the Jets.
Do you agree with Shawn? Post your comments below.
Shawn Muller has lived in Chicago for 7 years. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and just recently received his certificate in radio broadcasting in October of 2010. Sports have always been a passion of Shawn's. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, "Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser" at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24.
