Chicago Bears Preseason Locale Shifts

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank, NBC Chicago Street Team

When the Bears shift location of their preseason practices and scrimmages, you truly know that autumn is near. On Thursday, the Bears broke Training Camp in Bourbonnais, and packed their bags for heading north to Halas Hall. It’s there, in the posh suburb of Lake Forest where the Bears will finish up the second half of their 2009 NFL preseason. The immediate focus will be on prepping for the preseason home opener versus the New York Giants on Saturday night.

This practice game will feature three Bears stars: Matt Forte, Tommie Harris, and Greg Olsen, who did not play in the preseason opener. “We want them to have a good series before they come out. Our history has been, for the most part, that in the second game the guys will play into the second quarter,” Lovie Smith told the media following the final practice session at Camp Bourbonnais.

The final session downstate featured a cutesy switcharoo. Many players switched jerseys with each other. Watching quarterback Jay Cutler dropping back and throwing passes while wearing Brian Urlacher’s number was a unique, if not bizarre experience. Usually #6 Cutler wearing Urlacher’s #54 was a great show of solidarity, and should make people forget what ex-teammate and current Minnesota Vikings receiver Bobby Wade claims Urlacher allegedly said about Cutler.

Lovie spoke about Cutler and Urlacher bonding through jersey sharing. “They kind of look alike, big stature, but that’s a tradition with our players right now, a lot of energy in camp. There’s nothing like the last day of training camp…I can still tell who Devin Hester is, some of the little skill guys even in a lineman number, you can still feel good about who he is,” Lovie said of the chicanery and tomfoolery.

So far this preseason has been industry standard. You’ve seen…

1. The multitude of really dumb fans reading too much into preseason games (i.e. idiots who now think the Cutler deal was a waste just because he looked terrible during the glorified practice in Buffalo last week).
2. Desperate sportswriters hyping up anything at all in order to manufacture something to talk about out of a non-story (Cutler’s Saturday night comments about Devin Hester were still being discussed on sports talk radio today.)

3. Position battles that might not sort themselves out until when games actually have significance. (Other than Hester, who’s going to play Wide Receiver?)

Expect more of all three between now and when the season kicks off in northern Wisconsin September 13th.

See more of Paul M. Banks’ work at the Washington Times, Walter Football.com and The Sports Bank

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The Center of Sox Attention

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank, NBC Chicago Street Team

White Sox centerfielders are like Bulls post-players or Bears QBs prior to the Jay Cutler signing — there’s nothing close to a blue chip stock in the portfolio, so all you can do is take the collection of junk bonds you have, and try to maximize your return.

Thirty-one-year-old DeWayne Wise was a career minor leaguer for a reason, and there’s no reason to expect his game will significantly improve when he returns in 6-8 weeks from injury. He earned the job coming out of spring training simply because, as the Dave Matthews Band once put it, “we’ll make the best of what’s around.” Of course, the criticism Wise received from White Sox Nation this April was grossly unfair, because he never possessed the talent and potential of the guy who’s now stepped into his place.

Click here to read the rest of this post on NBCChicago.com.

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Bears Love & the St. Patty’s Day Parade with Da Bus

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank, NBC Chicago Street Team When the downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off Saturday at noon, many Chicagoans will be reminded why this is a Bears town first. One place they’ll be sporting blue and orange in lieu of green is “Da Bus,” a renovated old school bus celebrating the Chicago Bears. I’ve been on Da Bus, which features a shrine to and autographs from pretty much every Bears Hall of Famer you can name. The tailgate surrounding it is THE place to be when pre-gaming for the Bears at Soldier Field.

Da Bus, kicking off its 20th season of tailgating with its annual placement in the parade, is proud to hook up with the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, a charity that takes care of underprivileged children. Da Bus, along with a float from country radio station US-99, will be joined by the kids from The Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in their march along the parade route.

I’ll be hitching a ride as well and earlier this week I spoke with bus owner/developer and Bears superfan Tim Shanley. “Da Bus is float number 36 this year, which puts us back on television. Both WGN and ABC are covering this event, so don’t forget to hit the record button before you leave the house on Saturday,” Shanley said.

For those looking to get “Irish,” Shanley’s crew and I will be hitting a parade afterparty at a hotel bar downtown. “Da Bus will supply sandwiches, bottled water, Pepsi and 7-UP for the duration of the parade, and we will start to really celebrate when we park at the Hilton near Kitty O’Shea’s, which will be celebrating the day with Irish music and plenty of cold beer,” Shanley proclaimed.

This weekend go green and also GO BEARS!

See more of Paul M. Banks’ work at the Washington Times and The Sports Bank

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Stardust Super Bowl Party

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank The Super Bowl is America’s unofficial national holiday. It’s the pinnacle for experiencing football, our nation’s most-watched and best loved sport and the holiday where the most consuming is done all across the USA. And don’t forget the commercials- this is when Madison Avenue’s best and most creative bring their A game, so you can’t miss it! And the best way to experience all that the Super Bowl is will happen at…

“Super Party” At Stardust: The Best Big Game Party in Chicagoland – Sponsored by Stardust and 220 Communications – Sunday, February 01, 2009 at 4:00 PM (CT). Stardust is located at 1211A Butterfield Rd – Downers Grove, IL 60515.

Fellow NBC 5 Street-teamer Glenn Murray invited me to MC the event where I’ll be handing out prizes to a few lucky winning party attendees! I’ll also be giving away a few The Sports Bank.net t-shirts, which are blue and orange to match your Chicago Bears (and University of Illinois) gear. And this year’s NFL Championship features the Arizona Cardinals, who were Chicago’s second NFL team up until 1960…so there’s plenty of local flavor!

Get your tickets here!

These days we especially know that “cash rules everything around us” (as an MC…when I rock upon the mic I rock the mic right) and this upscale Super Bowl Buffett & drink package-for-MUCH-less-than-upscale-prices is about a great a deal as you will find in a sports crazy town like Chicago. All tickets will be $40 at the door, but you can save money by purchasing your tickets online to this event.

Click here for advance ticket packages starting at just $25. Can’t beat that!

Paul M. Banks is a contributor for The Washington Times and founder of the webzine The Sports Bank.net

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NYE Black Tie Gala: The Art of Celebration 2009

Chasity Chaos, NBC Chicago Street Team

Why bring in 2009 at a club when you can party with a purpose? This New Year’s Eve, the River East Art Center (435 E. Illinois) and Diageo Brands (Don Julio, Ciroc, Nuvo) are hosting a black tie gala in support of three athlete sponsored foundations. These foundations include: The Luol Deng Foundation, For the Good of the Neighborhood Foundation, and The 8 Foundation.

From 9pm to 2am, guests can indulge in a premium hosted bar, hors d’oeuvres provided by one of Chicago’s top catering companies, a surprise celebrity performance, and a silent auction featuring memorabilia from Chicago Bulls and Bears legends.

The countdown and balloon drop will begin promptly at 11:59:50pm and will be lead by a surprise celebrity host. Guests will not only have the opportunity to mix and mingle with Bears and Bulls players, but also with the leaders of some of Chicago’s most prominent organizations.

The lavish décor for the evening will be provided by Kehoe Designs.

There are limited advance tickets available for $75 or $120 for couples. Tickets at the door are $150 or $200 for couples.

To purchase tickets for the event and to gain additional information, visit TheArtofCelebration2009.com.

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Former Chicago Bears Jerry Azumah Takes Us to Jamaica in Chicago

D.C. “Fete Select TV” Crenshaw, NBC5 Street Team

The weather outside is frightful.  Everyone, including me, are day dreaming about an island vacation far away from the Windy City.  Hawaii, Mexico, or somewhere in the Caribbean are all acceptable destinations.  However, after a reality check, the best that we may be able to do is to indulge in cuisine that takes us to the place where we want to be.  Former Chicago Bears and All-Pro defensive back Jerry Azumah knows exactly where to find such a spot.  He introduces us to Ja Grill, the newest and hottest restaurant that brings Jamaican flavors to Lincoln Park.  Check out Jerry and Ja Grill on Fete Select TV below.  Also, watch Fete Select TV on www.efete.net for a review of the newest and best restaurants in Chicago.

 

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Kyle Orton, Matt Forte Unusually Subpar in Victory

 

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank All season long quarterback Kyle Orton and rookie tailback Matt Forte have carried the Chicago Bears offense. Given how the team’s wide receivers unit is arguably among the worst in league history, they’ve had to. Orton headed into Thursday a respectable seventh in the NFC in touchdown passes with about twice as many td tosses as interceptions. Overall he’s been a pleasant surprise; especially given how much the mistakes of his wide receivers have ruined his statistics. (One of his interceptions Thursday night came off the hands of Rashied Davis, who has struggled mightily with drops all season.)

However, this game was one of Orton’s worst in 2008: he completed 24 of 40 for just 172 yards, no touchdowns, two picks and a 49.2 rating. For most of the season Orton has done a good job consistently finding Forte, the team’s leading receiver as well as tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark, the team’s third and fourth leading receivers. Versus New Orleans the trio had just 85 combined receiving yards averaging an awful 5 yards per catch. Matt Forte struggled on the ground too, accruing just 34 yards on 11 carries. He came in as the league’s 7th leading rusher and a league-leading 39% of his team’s offensive production.
The Bears compensated with defense as they harassed the league’s leading passer, Drew Brees into a first half with a QB rating as low as Orton’s. Chicago also lived on their special teams as Danieal Manning returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and set up the second with a 52-yarder early in the second quarter.

Forte was upstaged by Saints tailback Pierre Thomas. The University of Illinois and south suburban Lansing product had 22 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown- career long 42 yarder; also adding a TD catch and 59 yards receiving. Thomas loves playing near his roots- last year he became the first rookie ever to gain 100 yards both rushing and receiving in the same game against the Bears.For more Chicago Sports Analysis and discussion.

For my Washington Times.com blog “Chicago Blue State.”

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Bears-Titans Game Reflects NFL Parity

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank If there’s one thing we’ve observed during the first half of the NFL season, it’s that parity reigns. You would think the league was run by socialists the way the wealth is currently spread around: 22 of the league’s 32 teams are within just three games of being .500. The Tennessee Titans’ 21-14 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field was another reinforcement of established parity as a slightly-better-than-average team, the 5-4 Bears ended up just 60 yards and one possession short of the league’s sole undefeated team the 9-0 Titans.

In this Titanic struggle, Tennessee’s awful and 30th ranked pass defense looked very serviceable as the embattled Rex Grossman was unable to exploit this weakness, finishing the game with an ugly 4.7 yards-per-attempt and 64.4 passer rating. “It’s always tough when you have three-and-outs. You need to be able to get some first downs to get to the rest of your game plan. We had some nice drives. We had some things working, but too many three-and-outs,” the backup QB said.

The Chicago Bears run defense certainly brought their A game, holding the Tennessee Titans, who entered as the third best rushing attack in the NFL, to -5 rushing yards on 13 carries (-0.4 ypc) in the first half. It was the lowest rushing total allowed in a half by the Bears since allowing -9 rushing yards in the first half at New England eleven years ago. For the game, Chicago held Tennessee to 20 rushing yards on 29 attempts (0.7 ypc).

“I was very impressed with the Bears front 7 and their approach. They forced us out of the run game and Kerry did a great job with the football today. We overcame a lot of issues and problems and still found a way to win against a good football team. I’m pleased to come in and find a way to win. I’m impressed with both teams,” said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, currently the NFL’s longest tenured at his position.

Unfortunately, the Bears defense did not remember the Titans aerial attack as Kerry Collins shredded the Bears for nearly 300 yards en route to completing almost 75% of his passes. The 5-4 Bears next begin a three-game road trip in Green Bay for a pivotal game with the 4-5 Packers.

For more Chicago Sports Analysis and discussion.

For my Washington Times.com blog “Chicago Blue State.”

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Bears Mid-term Offense Grade B+

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank As our beloved monsters of the Midway head into the bye week with seven games down and nine to go, they are a very pleasant surprise. Chicago is in first place in the NFC North and the presumptive favorite to stay there after edging past their biggest division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings by a wildly unexpected 48-41 score today at Solder Field.

Starting Quarterback Kyle “Captain Neckbeard” Orton explained what today’s big win means to the team. “4-3 now, 2-0 in the division. It was a critical game at a critical point in the season for us heading into the bye. But first place in the NFC North and we’ve got a week and a half now to get better throughout the bye week,” Orton said.

The fourth year signal caller from Purdue has truly gotten better each week and developed into a solid NFL starting QB, guiding the Bears to the third highest scoring offense in the league and 28 points per game, and that average was computed before today’s nearly 50 point outburst. I must admit was a big cynic of this group back in the preseason, even more so after first round draft choice #14 overall Chris Williams went down. Who could have predicted that Josh Beekman and John St. Clair would fill in so well on an especially depleted left side of the line?

One thing I was right about was that Lovie should (and would) go with Orton as the starter and that his play would make us all forget about Train Rex Grossman. Kyle has made Bears games exceedingly fun to watch this season, ramping up the passing game as the air above the Lakefront on Sundays is now seeing the most action it’s seen since Meigs Field was still in existence. Orton had thrown for 280+ yards (and no interceptions) in his last three games. He gave a very descriptive quote today about if he though the team’s prolific offensive production was surprising.

“I don’t think a whole lot of people were expecting it to this extent at the start of the season. But we’ve got a bunch of guys out there who really make plays. We’ve got two tight ends that really play well for us. Matt Forte, obviously, makes play after play, and the receivers are doing a great job when they get the ball in their hands. Marty Booker turned on the jets and had a huge touchdown for us this game. It seems like everybody is stepping up when their number is called.”

 

For more Chicago Sports Analysis and discussion.

For my Washington Times.com blog “Chicago Blue State.”

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Upcoming Bears Parties!

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank
-The Weber Ultimate Tailgate, located on the Southeast lawn (outside Gate 6) of Soldier Field, is free and open to the public. The Tailgate will open two hours prior to kickoff for the first four regular season home games: September 21 vs. Tampa Bay ; September 28 vs. Philadelphia ; October 19 vs. Minnesota and November 2 vs. Detroit. Fans will be able to enjoy music, receive autographs from Bears alumni players (this week Otis Wilson and Dan Jiggetts will be appearing), and compete in a variety of football skills competitions. Festivities start at 5pm Sunday.

-Dennis McKinnon to Host 2nd Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament And Pre-Event Party “Dance Da Shuffle” at Excalibur Nightclub. 640 N. Dearborn 6-11 PM on Sun Sept 29th.

For the second consecutive year, a local charity is benefiting from former ’85 Chicago Bears wide receiver Dennis McKinnon’s passion and hard work. McKinnon, the Illinois One Family One Child (IOFOC) foundation, Empress Casino, Chandler’s Chophouse, Signs By Tomorrow, Hunt Media & Management and Project 85 are partnering to bring fans the second annual celebrity golf outing “Dennis McKinnon’s Old School Open.”

Proceeds from the outing, silent auction, and dinner will benefit the IOFOC, an organization meant to raise money for underprivileged youths. “I’m extremely proud to have my name and several of my former teammates behind such a great cause,” McKinnon said. “Everyone who comes out will make a big difference in the lives of kids.” The soiree will also be a Bears game watch party, as the Monsters of the Midway take on the Philadelphia Eagles at 7:15.

-The golf outing, formerly known as the Bad Pants Open, is set for an 11 a.m.
shotgun start on Sept. 30 at Schaumburg Golf Club located at 401 N. Roselle Road.

Although the name has changed, the concept has not – players still embarrass themselves, wearing the worst golf outfit they own topping it off with their “old school” jersey. Besides McKinnon, other 1985 Chicago Bears are slated to appear and participate in the event include – Willie Gault, Richard Dent, Dave Duerson, Jim McMahon, Steve McMichael, Emery Moorehead, Matt Suhey, Otis Wilson, and Jim Covert.

For more Chicago Sports analysis and discussion click here.

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Celebs, Parties And More!

LaShonda Matlock, NBC5 Street Team

On Thursday night, restaurant owner of Avenue M-Lew Langer threw one hell of a birthday party for Chicago Bears player Adewale Ogunleye. With half the team showing up and jamming to the tunes of my new favorite deejay Timbuck Two, is was the kind of laid back party that you didn’t want to miss!

Robin Thicke made a private appearance at Blu47 resturant & lounge Monday night, singing new songs from his upcoming album “Something Else” out Sept 30th.

Glamorama was a hit! And Glossed and Found host D. Graham Kostic  was on the scene getting the scoop!

The Backstreet Boys partied at the Blackberry Luxe Club party at Enclave on Thursday night

Lindsay Lohan was back in town and stood by Samantha Ronson’s side Friday night as she spun in the DJ booth at Crimson Lounge

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Orange and Blue Line Construction Led to Grossman Train Rex

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank

“Statistics are like bikinis: what they reveal is provocative, what they conceal is vital!” I forgot who made that wonderful quote, but it certainly applies to Saturday night’s Bears preseason loss in Seattle. Starting quarterback Rex Grossman was sacked and intercepted just once. However, those numbers don’t tell us how he spent most of the night running for his life behind a severely damaged orange and blue line in front of him. Pressure off the end led to his lone INT and the constant Seahawks rush forced him into making (almost exclusively) short check down passes. This yielded two more revealing and indicative statistics: an awful less than 5 yards per pass attempt, which was a component of a dreadful 44.9 passer rating. Obviously, this performance contributed

to Kyle Orton being named the starter for the season opener. First round draft pick Chris Williams missing at least half of the season is very damaging, because it’s actually a loss of two projected starters. John Tait has to remain at left tackle (where Williams was penciled in) instead of shifting over to right tackle which would have been an upgrade from last year at both positions. Terrence Metcalf is also recovering from surgery, meaning John St. Clair and Josh Beekman, neither of which are truly NFL caliber starting linemen, are now going to see a majority of time on the field.

So what can the Bears do to fix their offensive line problem? Re-sign Fred Miller, who cut last season? Play more “double tight” sets with the Tight Ends staying at home more to block? I spoke with starting tight end Desmond Clark after the final full-pads practice in Camp Bourbonnais. “I don’t think you’re going to see us change anything; I don’t think we’re going to be doing anything different from what we did last year. I think our offensive line will protect just as well as any other offensive line. I don’t see any reason that the tight ends will have to stay in any more than we usually do,” Clark said.

For more Chicago sports information and discussion click here.

 

 

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Running Game needs to be Bears “Forte”

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank

This fall #22 Matt Forte will try to continue the legacy of Chicago Bears tailbacks such as Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Red Grange and Neal Anderson. You’ll notice that last year’s starter, 2005 #4 overall Draft choice Cedric Benson isn’t on that list. Cedric the Entertainer’s less-than-entertaining off the field antics led to his dismissal from the Monsters of the Midway and opened the door for Forte, a second round (44th overall) pick out of Tulane. I had an exclusive chat with Forte after Wednesday’s night’s practice in Bourbonnais and asked him how his running style has been described.

“I would say it’s unique. It has a lot of stuff to offer, quickness, speed, power, agility and the toughness to pound the ball out every game,” he responded.

His backup will be the familiar veteran Adrian Peterson. (No, not that Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings’ NFL record setting rusher nicknamed “Purple Jesus”) Behind Peterson will be the man who put on quite an amazing show at this particular practice, the diminutive Garret Wolfe. The 5’7″ “third down back” is entering his second year out of Northern Illinois University. Last year’s Bears unit ranked 30th out of 32 NFL teams in rushing yards per game. So there is obvious reason to believe that the autumn of 2008 should see a tremendous improvement. Benson was a colossal bust when you consider how the last running back drafted this high by the Bears was “Sweetness” himself, Walter Payton.

Perhaps Forte can make the fans forget about Benson and remind them of the glory days instead. “They have a great history of running backs here, Hall of Famers, and hopefully I can add to that,” Forte concluded.

For more Chicago Sports Discussion and Fun go here

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