SUPER BOWL VOLUME II

"What are we living for???"

--Ray Davies of tjhe KINKS---from "Dead End Street."

WOW.

It has NOT sunk in; I AM GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL.

Do not worry, BEAR FANS—I will take the camera and log the journey.

HOW COOL IS THIS?

I sound like an idiot, I am sure, but everyone is shocked by my good fortune.

Reality check here—my only regret is that Keith and I cannot see this game together—but the first BEAR win in the Super Bowl we did not see together—so what the hey.

I will call my brother and Keith from Miami at some point during the game. My Bear fan pride to you both.

It seems that every time the BEARS mess up during a regular season game, Mark calls—which is followed by laughter from Keith and Tisha, his wife. Like clockwork, Mark calls.

Going to the Super Bowl, I am surprised by the number of people who want me to bring them something back. I have had over thirty requests. Jesus, folks.

Give me a break.

I plan on finding something for my brother, Keith who I watch the games with, my principal who did not dock me pay, the head football coach at my school who is a good friend and committed Bear fan, and my assistant principal who can help me obtain a better position.

The rest of the folks—calm down.

Much of money will go to pampering Jeff and finding a few choice items for me.

In the meantime, folks remember this—if the BEARS WIN, it will be the single greatest SUPER BOWL FEAT since Joe Namath’s prediction.

GO BEARS—WE WILL WIN THE SUPER BOWL (at least I hope!)

Miami Bound--Me and Da Bears!

“I was a varsity tackle and a helluva block
When I played my guitars I made the canyons rock…”

--Meatloaf from "All Revved Up With No Where To Go" from the LP, Bat Out Of Hell.

When asked where are you watching the Super Bowl, before Thursday, I would have quickly and gladly said, “with Keith.” Keith is among my closest of friends and my former college roommate.

His daughters and his wife enjoy the game, although privately they admit to inviting me over because I am entertaining on those close games—yelling, spazzing, crying, cussing, and all.

This is not to be smug.

This is not to be rude.

This is not to be evasive.

“Eric Sweetwood, (substituted from Preston Weatherbee) YOU ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!”

Jeff (good friend, brother-in-law, and devoted Colts fan), arranged tickets for us.

I cannot believe it—I GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL (expletives deleted).

Dreams come true.

How cool is this. Jeff came through and called last week to let me know. We have accommodations, we have tickets, and we have everything we need. I cannot believe this either—this is my present from Jeff. Unreal—nothing I can get him will equal this, but I am working on a Fantastic Four #1 (he is a fan of the FF) so if anyone knows of one—email me.

Now if the Bears win, another dream can come through—but for Jeff’s sake and kindness, I hope Peyton gets his ring.

The Colts are the AFC team I follow and Jeff is a Bears fan as well; this way no one really loses.

Watch for me on TV.

The picture above is with Anna, a student and committed PACKER fan—her punishment for betting me the Bears would not make the Super Bowl was to wear one of my Bear jerseys. She’s a good sport and did so. I even made her say “da Bears” if the rest of the class wanted to use notes on a test—yes, I am cruel.

Enjoy the game—I will as well.

The Colts Will Face An Inspired Bear Team

“I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes And make it go away
Sunday, Bloody, Sunday….”
Bono—U2 from the album War, 1983.

Hey, here is a thought. The BEARS can win the SUPER BOWL!

Let’s be completely honest. If a team stops Peyton Manning, a team stops the Colts.

The Bears need to continue to RUN THE BALL (please see previous posts!). That said, the Defense of the Bears is better than the Colts. The Special Teams are better than the Colts. The Running Backs are better than the Colts.

The Colts’ Quarterback and the Receivers are better than the Bears—much, much better.

Having noted that, I am honestly in awe of all of the prognosticators who put the Bears as a seven point underdog. I mean, this is a dome team playing outside.

My very kind and decent brother-in-law is a Colt season ticket owner. He and I have gone to quite a few Colts games over the years. I feel a kinship with the Colts. My Mother says she hopes Manning wins the big one if for no other reason than he is a good guy. I agree—I am not unfamiliar with the Colts; being a Mid-Westerner who has nearly every Colts game on the CBS affiliates. My father’s favorite non-Bear player is probably Johnny Unitas—I remember he had an autograph picture of Johnny U. when I was young.

All of that tradition and heritage aside--I cannot go against my BEARS.

Thanks Colts for the memories; but that means nothing on the SUPER BOWL Sunday.

So rave on you pundits of the NFL who say the Bears have no chance. You fuel the mechanism that burns the Chicago Bears anger. I will toast a BEER in the direction of the BEARS come SUPER BOWL SUNDAY.

The Bears will win.

The Colts will lose.

And my twenty-one year wait will seem worth it all.

The CHICAGO BEARS Are The NFC Champions--Next Stop SUPER BOWL XLI!

"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS..."

--Freddy Mercury of Queen....

I TOLD YOU SO.

I predicted it with my classes as I said, "They will win by two touchdowns."

I said it to my co-educators.

I said it to all who would listen.

I TOLD YOU SO!

The Bears are going to the Super Bowl.

Being right is so much fun.

Congrats to Lovie, the team, the management, and everyone associated with THE CHICAGO BEARS! This feeling is for you.

Thanks from all the true fans everywhere.

We are going to the SUPER BOWL!

Hey, Do Me A Favor And Keep Quiet

“Fight for your right to party…”

--The Beastie Boys

You are either with me or against me. That is all I have to say.

After enduring a day of whining students saying how “lucky” the Bears were this weekend, as well as taking a six pack of Schell’s Carmel Bock from my Uncle Dan who lost his bet with me; all I have to say is that there is a long line of people I want to kiss my ass and I will put you up front if you so desire.

The BEARS will win the NFC by my account. They have a better Defense, a better Special Teams and a comparable Offense to the Saints.

That said, RUN THE BALL (please see previous posts).

So I have grown tired of the rejects who hate the Bears. Write Chris Carter (former ViQueen) and tell him to F-Off at http://add.yahoo.com/fast/help/us/sports/cgi_carter
Because he said the Bears will lose—wishful thinking you homer for the Vikings.

I have grown equally despondent of those who feel the Bears were lucky. No, the Bears had bad luck as well when Barrian dropped a pass, Tillman missed an interception, Mohammad missed a pass that resulted in a turn-over, and so many more.

Do me a favor, non-believers—shut up!

The Bears have the best record in the NFC and they will rise to the occasion and take out the Saints (or as I like to call them the Aint’s.)

If not, the Bears will be back to destroy the NFC again next season. As it is, we have a 25% chance of taking it all.

If They Would Just Listen to Me: The CHICAGO BEARS Can Win The NFC CHAMPIONSHIP!

“Its a death trap, its a suicide rap
We gotta get out while were young
`Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run…”
--Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run, 1975.

Here is how the Bears beat the Saints. Seriously, I have pondered this problem for hours. I have re-watched the second Seahawks game, and I have reached this all-too-obvious conclusion.

RUN THE BALL.

Period.

That’s all they need to do. The Offensive Line in run schemes, Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson truly won the game yesterday. After watching it, the Bears seemingly could run at will. If they do this, with some play action passes on a few deep routes to Barrian and Davis, some over the middle short routes to Clark, and some sideline routes to Muhsin, they will be OK—but all is worth nothing unless the Chicago Bears RUN THE BALL 40 times. If they do so, they will win.

Having noted that, the Bears Defensive line needs to step it up. The line was porous over the middle (Hey Urlacher—are you listening? Just checking) and they need to practice with the safeties until the end of time, but they can be successful if they RUN THE BALL.

Reggie Bush and McAlister will be a problem, but Drew Brees, I doubt, will beat them.

And the Bears can silence Brees with a ball control offense.

The Saints Defense is not that great and they win by outscoring other teams. The Bears Defense needs to step it up and stop the run and the offense needs to limit the time the Saints are on the field. How does one do that, you may ask? I know, by playing a game where one team RUNS THE BALL.

I have every intention of watching the Bears win and go to the SUPER BOWL. So I hope the team members read this, the fans read this, the coaches read this, and anyone who matters reads this. In fact, email this blog to your friends, your enemies, your neighbors, and everyone you know. Let’s light this puppy up, but the reality is that for the Bears to win, they must RUN THE BALL.

That is unless Rex Grossman passes for 400 yards (which is not likely) so now we are back to square one—RUN THE BALL.

I have added my two-cents worth. And, I thank you.

We're NOT "One and Done": Bears WIN!

“I wanna be on top
Forever on the up
And damn the competition
I never play it fair
I never turn a hair
Just like the politicians
I wrap my conscience up
I wanna win that cup
And get my money baby
But back in the dressing room
The other side is weeping
And we're winning, winning ugly
And we're winning, winning ugly”
Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones—“Winning Ugly” from the LP Dirty Work, 1986.


Some of you may remember last year that I said the Bears would make the playoffs then and make a serious run for the Super Bowl this season.

Guess what? Being right is GREAT!

I do not care by how many points, I just want them to win. Win one for me—PLEASE!

With that in mind, I must admit, I sweated it out.

Keith and I watched the game, per usual. His youngest wore her Bears Cheerleader outfit. His eldest danced around the room when she saw we were happy. His wife enjoyed the game as well.

I imagine it was a funny sight when the cheerleader came up and hugged me when Gould pounded it through.

My prognosticating is nearly over. I cannot say which team will show up.

Offensively, the Bears looked better than average (Hey Bernard and Muhsin—catch the damn ball!!!!). Aside from some dropped balls, they played well.

Special Teams—at times looked good like Robbie Gould and the run backs when Hester did not drop the ball. Other times, like tackling, they looked not-so special.

Defense—well, they stopped the run at the beginning, but were quickly growing tired. They lose focus. Oh, and if “Peanut” Tillman does not step it up, I say the rest step on him. Chris Harris was lousy as well. The Linebackers played decently enough. The line needs to consistently put pressure on Brees next week.

Still, they won, and I will not join the Legion of nay-sayers. I will continue with my original statement. They will make a serious run for the Super Bowl this year.

You heard it here first.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name...

“Oh demon alcohol
Sad memories I cannot recall
Who thought I would fall
A Slave to demon alcohol…”
Ray Davies—“Alcohol” by The Kinks from Muswell Hillbillies 1971.

The Tuesday Night Tapper Crowd is something to behold.

One of us is my dear Uncle. He is a retired English teacher and among the most intelligent people I know. He introduced me to the Tuesday Night Tapper crowd..

Another is Mike, an English teacher at a local school and one I enumerate as one of the most intelligent and inspirational teachers I know.

Another, Rick, is a retired Math teacher, and yet he is down-to-Earth and honest.

Denny is an employee of a local insurance company. He offers insight and comedy.

Mike is a retired elementary school educator who has a zest for life.

Charles works with Denny and joins our group.

Me, I round out the troupe as a comedy-inspired “kid” of sorts—yet they treat me as an equal.

Church bartends usually; although privately we like it when Laura does—she is so sweet.

In the hour and a half that I am there, we solve the world’s woes, offer our commentaries on how to fix our sports teams, and find time to BS with one another.

You have to admit, solving the world’s woes is very important. The rest, not so much so.

We chat with other Patrons of Fat Jack’s (Will the former employee, the guy who plays Metal, Johnny the Distributor, Adam the second shift bartender, a group of Country Company guys, and more).

The other night I commented this place was like Cheers.

Whatever problems we are having are erased when we come in to meet our comrades in arms. We all drink beer, and with 20 or so on tap; we find some great beverages of which to savor.

I am usually drawn to a wheat beer—Eyinger is on tap. Dan to the Belgium, Denny and Mike to the Belgiums, Rick to the newer stuff, Mike II to the American Macro Brews (he likes the Coors Lite) and Charles also to the newer beers.

I bless my Uncle Dan for opening this world to me.

We sit back, forget about life’s woes, and raise a glass to one another.

Does life get any better than this? I thought not.

So to my fellow beer folk who enjoy the good ale, we salute you and wish you well on the travels that life affords you.

And if ye be weary, check us out at Fat Jacks every Tuesday night.

To The "Future Kings..."

“Let The Hammer Fall
We are above the law
Let our power show
That we're in full control of your destiny
Now we are ready to strike, again
It's getting far to late, my friend
Let The Hammer Fall”

--“Let The Hammer Fall” from the LP Legacy of Kings by HammerFall, 1998.

I really enjoy my job.

I enjoy the freshman, the upperclassman, and all of the weird little nuances of the whole thing.

As college recruiter's deadlines and the time for applications grows earlier and earlier each year, I really must say that I feel honored when a student asks me for a recommendation.

It happens often—my letters must be good.

I believe that in education, we need to start to reach the students early on. My picture above, with two of my favorite freshman, is proof. Both freshmen love the violent angle of Ancient History. They asked me for a picture, of which I agreed, but only if I could have some fun.

This week, the first week of the second semester, I was asked to write three letters of recommendation. That is nice. I was also mentioned in the school paper as being a favorite teacher by two kids.

This is not to brag, however.

It is more about saying thanks. It is amazing to me that a student really appreciates my opinion enough to name me as one of their favorite teachers. It makes me feel honored further when they ask me for a letter of recommendation. All three students who asked this week are awesome, and all three are incredibly intelligent. All three will be a success. If there is anything I can do to help, I am more than willing to help.

A magic exists in my profession. When the students come back to the school to visit me, stop by the table when they see me out for dinner, when they ask for a letter, or when they think enough of me to share their successes with me—it all adds up to an incredibly rewarding career.

To all of my students (past, present, and future), thanks for the most rewarding aspects of my career and thanks for keeping me going.