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Monday meanderings: The NFL announced Sunday the halftime entertainment for Feb. 5 Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis will be Madonna. At 53, she continues the recent trend of older halftime performers. Apparently Betty White already had a previous engagement — or no boyfriend young enough to be her son.
Wonder if Madonna will perform at the Super Bowl in this outfit.
* The Chicago Bears (7-5) are without their starting quarterback (Jay Cutler, out possibly for the rest of the season with a fractured thumb) and their starting running back (Matt Forte, injured Sunday against Kansas City and expected to be out 2-4 weeks with a sprained MCL). Which means the Bears are not out of excuses for failing to reach the postseason.
* The only thing being spread around more than injuries on the Bears would appear to be blame for Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the Chiefs.
* With seven victories, the Bears still are in a position to advance to the postseason. Well, unless their victory total remains at that number.
Lady Gaga should be ready to perform at the Super Bowl at halftime in about 25-30 years.
* The Bears’ next game is Sunday at Denver, which has enjoyed a resurgence with Tim Tebow at quarterback. You don’t have to be a genius to game-plan and want him to adopt a biblical approach: This too shall pass. Far more likely to produce turnovers than having him run.
* Tebow has led game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime five times in his first 10 starts. Headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you think? That accomplishment ties Scott Brunner and Marc Wilson for the most since 1970.
* Ron Santo should be in the Hall of Fame. Minnie Minoso should be in the Hall of Fame. Because players become better either after they die or as they stay alive several decades after they retire. Last time anyone looked, the stats for both ballplayers have not changed since they last played. As cherished as Santo was by Cubs fans, he is essentially the Chicago equivalent of St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Ken Boyer. Monday’s selection by the Veterans Committee to let Santo into Cooperstown comes about a year after Santo’s death. Maybe that’s the new waiting period.
* The Miami Marlins sign Jose Reyes to a lucrative contract. They also reportedly are going after free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols and White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle. What the Marlins need — even with Ozzie Guillen as their new manager — is someone like David Copperfield, the magician. You know, someone who can make crowds magically appear. The Marlins’ new ballpark may draw some people. But that plan only works for the short term — unless the team plans on offering early-bird specials.
Madonna also has a movie coming out that she directed. “W.E.” is to open a couple of days before the Super Bowl. She always has been very good at marketing. And a Super Bowl appearance never hurts an entertainer’s profile.