It is completely fitting that Tim Burton’s “Alice In Wonderland” hauled in a record amount for a non-sequel this past weekend, because it was an unreal weekend for me. Let’s count the ways:
• Did the McCaskey family suddenly get the spirit of George Steinbrenner? The Bears went out on the first day of free agency and spent millions on defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna. Peppers was the biggest name free agent available, but he takes too many downs off, and he wasn’t motivated in Carolina until his contract year. Taylor was a great pick up, a man who runs hard, plus, he comes from the division rival Vikings, weakening them. Manumaleuna is known as a blocking tight end, who should help protect Jay Cutler.
I realize that Head Coach Lovie Smith, GM Jerry Angelo, and even Team President Ted Phillips see the vultures circling over their respective jobs if things did not improve, but to get Virginia McCaskey and the rest of the Misers of the Midway, to kick out big bucks was just plain astonishing.
Yes, the Bears have no first or second round draft picks for the second consecutive year, and bold moves were necessary to save Angelo and Smith at a minimum, but how did they get the purse strings loosened? I give the McCaskey family some slack as compared with other sports owners in that, the Bears are their major asset. They’re not like Steinbrenner (ship building), or Reinsdorf (real estate), or Wirtz (liquor distributor) or most of the other owners who have significant financial interests outside of sports. And, there are a lot of McCaskeys feeding at the company trough. So it was surprising. For those three guys sakes, it had better work.
• On the other hand, the Blackhawks need to learn how to play in the second period. Ever since the Olympics, they have jumped out to a lead in the first period, given up multiple goals in the second period and tried to scramble back in the third. I know that all are pointing at the goaltending, which has been shaky, but the defense and turnovers in their own end don’t help.
• What is it with Ben Roethlisberger and women? For the second time in less than 12 months, the Pittsburgh Steeler QB has been accused of sexual assault. It seems like Roethlisberger is a good guy; he has shown up at Northwestern football games with his teammate and former NU standout Trae Essex. Unlike so many other athletes, he comes off as been rather self effacing,. Maybe it’s alcohol, but whatever it is, the man need to know that no means NO!