Bears, Lovie Deny Mention of Contract Extension

October 11, 2012 @ admin → No Comments

Thursday thoughts (or what passes for thinking around here): With the Chicago Bears having a bye week, it might be a little difficult for the Chicago media to come up with something newsworthy to report about the team. Not that newsworthiness necessarily is a requisite for Bears coverage. Thankfully for everyone (well, perhaps with the exception of the Bears and coach Lovie Smith), longtime radio host Terry Boers of WSCR had a report of the team and Smith being involved in working on a contract extension. The reaction Wednesday (Oct. 10) was pretty predictable. More predictable than pretty.

Wrestling's Lisa Marie looks good in football attire.

* Smith: “I’ve never talked about my contract during the course of the year, so there’s nothing to talk about.” Well, there is, but he merely is unwilling to do so.

* More Smith on the report of contract negotiations: “It’s amazing how things can become fact when there’s nothing to back that up.” Well, there might be, but inside sources aren’t going to come forward, so everyone will have to wait until the Bears and Smith set a date to reveal his fate.

* Bears general manager Phil Emery: “Any talk of extensions with players, coaches, staff, our preference is to do that postseason.” Well, of course, that isn’t to say extensions don’t get done during the season.

* In a talkative mood, Emery answered a query about adding Plaxico Burress, Terrell Owens or another free-agent receiver: “We feel very good about our wide receiver depth.” Well, there is depth and there is depth. The Bears’ is deep. And the talent level? Well, that just might be another subject Emery doesn’t want to address.

There's always room around here for one of our favorites, Lariyah Daniels.

* Emery on quarterback Jay Cutler: “I said early in the year that I felt Jay was a franchise-level quarterback. I will continue to say that.” Guess it depends what level your franchise is.

* Speaking of a guy who likes to deny, Lance Armstrong cheated during his cycling career during which he won seven Tour de France titles. So say 11 former teammates among 26 accusers in a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. If Armstrong is not the walking definition of a fraud, he certainly would seem to be a cycling definition of one.

* New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi pinch-hits for Alex Rodriguez in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the American League Division Series against visiting Baltimore. Raul Ibanez responds with a game-tying home run — and eventually a game-winning homer in the 12th. OK, they can start making room for Girardi’s plaque in Cooperstown, N.Y., for baseball’s Hall of Fame. Not that he’ll be going in any time soon.

* Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland brings in his nearly untouchable closer Jose Valverde and watches him give up three runs, as the Oakland Athletics rally for a 4-3 victory to even their ALDS at two games apiece. “That’s why this is the greatest game of all,” Leyland said. “You get tested all the time in this game. And this is a good test.” Easing some of Leyland’s anguish is knowing he has Justin Verlander to pitch Game 5.

* Speaking of managers, Dusty Baker’s Cincinnati Reds lost to visiting San Francisco for the second consecutive game, as the Giants evened their National League Division Series at 2. Must bring back unfond memories to Chicago Cubs fans.

* With the St. Louis Cardinals defeating the host Washington Nationals, the Cards lead their NLDS 2-1. If the Reds and Nationals lose, the teams with baseball’s two best records will be watching the rest of the postseason. Or whatever they do after being eliminated.

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We haven’t had any Lariyah Daniels video around here for a while. We can correct that shortcoming right now with a fresh video of the bikini competitor/singer/trainer and more:

And some more Lariyah:

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Summer Sanders was a fun "Sports & Torts" interview subject.

If it’s Thursday (which, at last look, it should be in that yesterday was Wednesday and tomorrow will be Friday — provided that today is Oct. 11 or any subsequent Thursday), then it is time for the weekly edition of “Sports & Torts” at noon Chicago time on talkzone.com with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris. The highly acclaimed (well, it is in the Spada and Harris households — as well as reportedly elsewhere) interview program will have Summer Sanders — the former Olympic gold medalist in swimming who has gone on to a career in broadcasting and other endeavors — and former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both are great guests.

Speaking of “Sports & Torts” …

Hey, it’s election season, so David Spada and I are asking for bi-partisan support for your vote in the podcastawards.com competition. If you feel in your heart that our “Sports & Torts” show on talkzone.com merits your vote, please nominate us for best sports podcast. Even if you don’t feel that way, we still welcome your — or anyone’s — support. Go to podcastawards.com and under best sports podcast, paste in our url (whatever that is): http://www.talkzone.com/shows/155/1660.html

I am Elliott Harris and I approve this self-promotion. Thank you.

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Still speaking of “Sports & Torts,” here is some video of a 2011 interview with Alex Karras, who died Wednesday in Los Angeles.

And how can we forget “Blazing Saddles” as we pay homage to former football star and actor Karras:

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Some more video from the Chicago Bulls’ exhibition opener Tuesday (if things go as planned, there will be Luvabulls videos in Friday’s post on this site):