Sense of Loss Differs for Bears, Cardinals

October 27, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: There are losses. And there is loss. The Chicago Bears lost a football game Sunday to the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. The St. Louis Cardinals lost a player of great promise in an automobile crash in the Dominican Republic.

Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen celebrate Patriots scoring 51 points vs. Bears.

* The Bears’ defeat was 51-23. It was 38-7 at halftime. Meaning the Bears outscored the Patriots 16-13 in the second half. So there’s that. Yeah, that’s not much that.

* The Cardinals’ loss was rookie outfielder Oscar Taveras, who was among the most promising prospects in baseball. He was 22. He and his girlfriend Edilia Arvelo, 18, were killed in the car crash. A tragic reminder that tomorrow is promised to no one. Even if you are a star athlete/celebrity/politician/whatever. But when a life is lost so young (and Taveras’ big-league career was in its infancy), one cannot help but wonder what might have been. And realize whatever dreams there might have been, none of them will become reality.

* Decades from now, there will be Cardinals fans who will recall a sweet swing that launched a home run in Game 2 of the 2014 National League Championship Series. There will be a certain joy mixed with incredible sadness. Such is the nature of the fan. And such is the nature of life and death.

* Matters of life and death take a different perspective when such matters concern real life and death and not merely the standings in the NFL or a fantasy league.

* When the Bears make their video review of the 2014 season, defensive end Lamarr Houston making a fourth-quarter sack of backup quarterback Jimmy Garappolo might make the cut. If the Bears are trying to paint an accurate picture of what 2014 has been and just might be for the rest of the season, they might keep the footage that shows Houston celebrating the sack. And injuring his knee in the process.

* Any moment now, former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher should be letting the world know the Bears would be better if he were still playing — as their quarterback.

* If it’s any consolation to Bears fans (and there may be a few perverse personalities out there who do), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (where former Bears coach Lovie Smith is employed) lost in overtime on a fumble return. Of no consolation to Bears fans is the Bucs’ opponent was the Minnesota Vikings. As in the formerly last-place Minnesota Vikings of the NFC North. That would be the division where the Bears have fallen into a tie for last with the Vikings (3-5). Or a share of third place if you want to be overly optimistic.

* Speaking of optimism, the Bears did keep the Patriots from scoring in triple digits.

Playboy Playmate Jessa Hinton with a World Series update.

* Wondering which team will enjoy the Week 9 bye the most: NFC North leader Detroit (6-2), the Bears or the Green Bay Packers, who lost Sunday night at New Orleans 44-23. Also wondering which team will benefit from the week off the most. Something says that answer will come in the Bears-Packers contest Nov. 2 at Soldier Field.

* Speaking of the Packers, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 30-of-39 passes for 418 yards. He ha two interceptions on passes that went of receivers’ hands. In Packerland, his performance is considered an off day.

* Speaking of NFC North QBs, Jay Cutler was 20-of-30 for 227 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He was not the reason the Bears lost. It truly was a team effort. Or lack of it. Or lack of something.

* Maybe I missed it (because I opted to rake leaves rather than watch any Bears postgame), but I expected receiver Brandon Marshall to say something to the effect: “Got my weeks confused. This was supposed to be the ‘unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable’ game.”

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