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Interesting Quotes From Ryan Pace’s Interview

By
Sports Mockery
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ryan pace

Prior to Chicago’s 38-10 drubbing against the Vikings, Bears general manager Ryan Pace spoke to Jeff Joniak about the current state of the franchise. Here are the most interesting quotes from the interview.

#5. On Matt Barkley’s future, specifically rebounding from his five-interception outing.

Pace: “I think today is going to be important for him. Really anytime you’re evaluating a quarterback you want to see how they handle adversity and how they respond, especially the following game.”

Possible Meaning: Barkley rebounded with a 59.2 QB rating going 10 of 14 with no touchdowns and two more interceptions. That puts his season rating at 68.3. Based on Pace’s quote it’s safe to assume he won’t altering Chicago’s plan to pursue a starting quarterback in the off-season, he’s more likely to compete for the backup position.

#4. About his recent conversations with Jay Cutler.

Pace: “Our conversations have been more with the trainers kind of regarding his rehab. One thing with Jay, you know this, it’s always been the case. He’s an extremely fast healer.”

Possible Meaning: Cutler’s cap hit in 2017 is $16 million, then $17, $20 and $21.7 for the next three seasons after that. With all the rumors swirling about the possibility of getting traded, or cut, it sounds like Pace is taking an opportunity to tell everyone Jay is okay and healing fast. That answer sounds like something someone would say when pitching a fantasy football trade. Cross your fingers for a sixth-round pick.

Wayne Gretzky Endorses Toews And Kane For Highest Honor

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Former St. Louis Blues' Wayne Gretzky smiles as he warms up during the winter classic alumni outdoor hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) ORG XMIT: MOBH103

There is only one “The Great One” and when he speaks, everyone listens. With all the fanfare surrounding this weekend’s NHL Winter Classic there will be many memories and sound bites made. Perhaps, the most memorable moment for the Chicago Blackhawks superstars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane may be the praise Gretzky had for them.

Kane and Toews have won just about every team and individual award between the two of them and just hitting their prime. It’s amazing how much the two have accomplished at only 28 years old but Gretzky feels they’ve already earned hockey’s greatest individual honor when asked about them this weekend in St. Louis.

“Both of them are obviously superstars. Both of them are Hall of Famers. I don’t think there’s any real debate over that, ” Gretzky said.

Jonathan Toews handled the comments like he died his business on the ice. Level-headed and well thought out. “He’s the greatest player to ever play the game. We’re all trying to live up to what players like him left for us, ” he said after the Blackhawks practice on Sunday. “You have a tremendous respect for the [veteran] players, not only in the alumni game but in the tradition that the current players are fulfilling as NHL players.”

Kane who had not heard what Gretzky said handled it in his normal manner. Tongue in cheek joking about his recent 700 point milestone. “It’s funny, I scored my 700th point the other night, and I got all these text messages from people saying ‘only 2, 100 more points to catch Gretzky, ’” he said. “That speaks volumes about how great a player he was. So that’s nice of him to say.”

Wayne Gretzky is without a doubt the greatest hockey player of all time and his praise speaks volumes about the kind of players Kane and Toews are. They’ve had great success at a young age, like Gretzky, and hopefully they can stay at that level until at least 38 years old like him. Even with the endorsement of Gretzky it’s unlikely that the pair will plan on going in cruise control on their way to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

2016 Chicago Bears Just Claimed Two of the Worst NFL Records Ever

By
Erik Lambert
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Fans are really tired of their Chicago Bears breaking ugly records these days. It was bad enough being one of the only teams to ever give up 50 points in back-to-back games. Or having to put a staggering 19 players on injured reserve, spending a total of $66 million on those players. By far the most in the league.

Then of course there is the fact they’ve finished the year at 3-13. That marks the worst record the Bears franchise has ever produced in a 16-game season. To say nothing of the ridiculous amount of turnovers they gave up (10) or points they allowed in the final two weeks alone (79). What else is there for this team to accomplish in terms of sheer ineptitude?

Well if franchise lows aren’t enough, they seemed determined to target NFL all-time marks as well. Turns out that with their loss in Minnesota they claimed two more dubious records to their growing list.

NHL Says It Will Announce Official Time For Winter Classic Monday Morning

By
Matt Barbato
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The St. Louis Cardinals had only one of their 81 home games during the 2016 season postponed due to rain, according to NBC’s Bob Costas. But, Monday’s Winter Classic showdown between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues might be called on account of rain.

Wet conditions are expected at Busch Stadium for Monday’s game, which is scheduled to start at noon CT. But, the NHL may amend puck drop.

The league said it will announce an official game time at 7 a.m. CT Monday.

The weather in St. Louis isn’t exactly conducive to hockey. The rain is supposed to arrive around 6 a.m. and there is an 80 percent chance of rain at noon. To make matters even more complicated, temperatures are expected to rise and hover around the upper 40s throughout the day.

Oh, and then there’s supposed to be some fog descending upon the area at night. Here’s the hourly forecast from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., courtesy of Weather.com.

screen-shot-2017-01-01-at-7-10-26-pm

That’s not exactly an encouraging forecast.

So don’t hold your breath on puck drop Monday. In fact, don’t be surprised if there’s a delay.

Jordan Howard Passes Matt Forte To Claim Coveted Bears Record

By
Erik Lambert
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There haven’t been a ton of bright spots about the 2016 NFL season for the Chicago Bears. Injuries have decimated the roster. The team is just over one half away from finishing with its worst record ever in a 16-game season (3-13). John Fox will return as head coach but is surrounded by question of whether or not he can get this organization pointed in the right direction. That doesn’t mean it’s all bad though. Jordan Howard has been pretty.

Damn good, in fact. The kid was a borderline unknown back in April when the Bears took him in the fifth round of the draft. At best people expected him to become a solid backup to Jeremy Langford, who hoped to fulfill the daunting task of replacing Matt Forte. Just a few months later Howard not only leapfrogged Langford on the depth chart as starter, but he accomplished something even more special.

Dakota Access Pipeline Protesters Hang From Vikings Stadium Roof

By
Erik Lambert
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The Chicago Bears seem to be finishing their 2016 season in style by getting hammered by the Minnesota Vikings. Not a surprise give very few of their starters even suited up for the game. However, that doesn’t mean interesting things aren’t happening. In fact there was quite a little side action that nobody saw coming.

Two unknown men wearing Vikings paraphernalia scaled the rafters of the stadium. One of them rapelled down from the roof and together they unveiled a large banner protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. Needless to say its drawing lots of attention.

This standoff between the Sioux Indians and the Energy Transfer Partners. It escalated a couple months ago when protesters clashes in often frigid conditions with militarized police forces. Everything from fire hoses to tear gas was used in an attempt to disperse the crowds. The tribe stood their ground and soon started gaining support from people around the country. It’s gotten to a point where the two sides are deadlocked.

Security is in the process of removing the two men from the arena so they won’t endanger both themselves and the patrons below. No doubt this could be the start of something more widespread in the near future.

Will Illinois College Basketball Teams Finally Break NCAA Tournament Drought?

By
Matt Schoch
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Would you believe me if I told you that last season was the third year in a row that no college basketball teams from the state of Illinois made the NCAA tournament?

Let’s put that into perspective.

Since 68 of the 351 Division I programs make the field every year, that means about 1 in every 5 should make the field.

With Illinois having 13 D-I teams, then Illinois should be sending about 2, or actually closer to 3, teams to the field each year.

To go three years with zero bids is really, truly dismal.

The good news? There’s reason to believe that streak will be broken this March.

Here’s a look at the serious tourney contenders from the state:

Blackhawks Outdoor Games Are Played Out

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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The Chicago Blackhawks are playing in an NHL outdoor game for the fourth time in four years. Add the 2009 Winter Classic and that is five out of nine years. They are arguably the most popular NHL team, they’re definitely the most successful in the decade, but these games are getting old.

Someone once said, “When you try to make everything special, nothing is special.” The NHL is a business and they’re trying to squeeze every penny out of the Blackhawks and their fans but numbers are declining.

Ratings

The Blackhawks vs Detroit Red Wings in 2009 is tied for the highest overnight ratings for a Winter Classic. There have been blips but viewership has been on the decline for all of the outdoor games, including the Hawks.

There are hurdles for the NHL because they put these regular season games up against college football bowl games and other big events. Last year’s Blackhawks Stadium Series game had the lowest overnight rating of any NHL outdoor game with a 1.2 as it was pitted against the Daytona 500.

With that being said, Chicago vs Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014 was on a snowy Saturday night when many people stayed in. You would think it would receive a better rating than 2.1 with the two premier teams in the NHL playing.

nhloutdoorgames

Merchandise

As mentioned before, the NHL runs a business so they’re going to try to sell you the goods. There’s two things you can count on. A new jersey and a new toque for the “special” game. I can’t speak for everyone but I know I’m not buying a new hat and new jersey every season.

A big merchandise problem is that it seems like the Blackhawks and NHL stopped trying to come up with any good designs for the organization. The last three seasons are slightly modified versions of the same concept. You can still find 2015 Winter Classic and 2016 Stadium Series jerseys sitting on shelves for great discounts.

img_4945Matchups

The games seem so forced and inorganic. Pittsburgh rivals the Blackhawks in popularity but rarely play each other and have not met in a Stanley Cup Final during this decade, despite both team’s success. Nobody cares about the Washington Capitals in Chicago and well…Washington either. The NHL is trying to create a rivalry between Chicago and the Minnesota Wild but that needs to happen naturally.

Maybe this season against the Blues can receive better ratings than the last three outdoor games. It is the first time the Blackhawks are facing a true rival since Detroit in 2009.

How About A Break?

There are fans who still get excited about these games but the excitement has surely faded. The NHL’s attempt to shove the Blackhawks down everyone’s throats has not been a successful recipe as fan viewership and jersey sales have been down. I don’t think the NHL will stop looking to the Blackhawks organization but hopefully they will give them and the fans a rest.

NFL Insider Confirms Fate of John Fox in Chicago For 2017

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

It’s officially 2017. The last game of the regular season is at hand for the Chicago Bears. Fans will be watching for a variety of reasons. Some will want to see if Jordan Howard breaks the rookie rushing record. He’s 61 yards away. Others might be rooting hard for the Vikings to win, thus assuring the Bears the third overall pick in the draft. Then there are those who wish to see how John Fox is able to finish the year.

It hasn’t been at all what people expected. Fox was known as a maestro of team turnarounds dating back to his days in Carolina and Denver. Each time in the second seasons he took them to the playoffs. Belief was he would do the same in Chicago. Then as the losses began to pile up, the speculation shifted to his job security.

If the Bears lose in Minnesota, they will finish 3-13. That will mark the worst record they’ve ever had in a 16-game season. Fox hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the fans the past two seasons, and especially the Chicago media. Would the team brass be willing to keep him despite this or are they compelled to make a change? Seems an answer is finally at hand.

Scottie Pippen’s Wife Had Affair With Rapper Future

By
Matt Peck
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(Photo: BET.com)

Apparently the initial reports that former Bulls great Scottie Pippen and his wife Larsa were splitting got it mixed up. TerezOwens.com reported last week that Scottie filed for divorce because Larsa caught him cheating with a “sidechick from Miami”. While that hasn’t been proved to be false, we’ve now learned a shocking new detail that flips the first report on its head.

Two Can Play That Game

According to TMZ.com, Scottie filed for divorce because he discovered that she was cheating on him. With-get this-hip hop artist Future.

Here’s the latest from TMZ:

There’s certainly lots of smoke. Sources on both Scottie and Larsa’s side tell us … she’s been jumping on Future’s private jet, traveling with him to various cities, including Vegas last month. Sources from both sides also say Larsa and Future were very “cozy” recently at Komodo nightclub in Miami.

We’ve learned they met in August at the Haute Living Color Reveal Party in Miami, and have been seen at various places ever since.

Our Larsa sources describe whatever’s going on between Larsa and Future as “casual.” They also say whatever is going on … it started after Scottie was openly flirting with an actress last Summer, and she felt disrespected. Thus, revenge.

TMZ Sports broke the story, cops have been called to the Pippen house twice this month after heated arguments between the 2 erupted.

So, it sounds like there are no innocent parties here.

Future used to be romantically involved with music and fashion mogul Ciara. The two have a child together. When they split, Ciara began seeing Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and the two are now married. In fact, rumors are currently swirling that they are expecting their first child together.

What a strange love triangle. Actually, not a triangle. More like a pentagon. Whatever the case, it looks like Scottie and Larsa are definitely over. And the world keeps on spinning.

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