Bears’ Elimination; ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Contemplation

December 8, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: With the Detroit Lions defeating Tampa Bay 34-17 Sunday, the Chicago Bears were mathematically eliminated from any NFL postseason possibilities. Just more proof of how bad at math some of us are. I could have sworn they were eliminated weeks ago.

Video below of extremely talented pole dancer Anastasia Sokolova.

* Speaking of the Bears (and numbers), they are 5-8 and in last place in the NFC North. Their opponent in the team’s next game Dec. 15 at Soldier Field is New Orleans. The Saints also are 5-8 and in contention for the NFC South title. Location, location, location.

* Speaking of the Lions (a couple of paragraphs ago), running back Reggie Bush wore a blue warm-up shirt with “I CAN’T BREATHE” written in black ink. The reference (for those who might live far, far away from the United States — or possibly in another galaxy or far from reality) is to the death of Eric Garner after he was choked on the ground by a policeman in Staten Island, N.Y., and a grand jury’s decision not to indict the officer.

* Speaking of the Garner case, Bush — whose mother has been a police officer for almost 20 years — said: “It’s just a terrible situation, you know what I mean. It’s just unfortunate that this is still happening and that it is still going on and it affects everybody. It doesn’t just affect me; it affects everybody, and we’re all in this together. I just wanted to wear that on my shirt.”

* A friendly reminder: Taking “I can’t breathe” protests as being totally anti-police is a warped way to view the situation — unless you are someone who believes law authorities and the system that deals with them are never wrong. And that view is simply wrong.

* Speaking of Bush speaking out (OK, letting his warm-up shirt speak for him), Lions coach Jim Caldwell told media: “You’re probably asking the wrong guy that question. I grew up in the ’60s, where everybody was socially conscious. I believe in it. I would be a hypocrite if I stood up here and told you any differently but more than likely, some of those protests that Dr. [Martin Luther] King and some of the others took part in, non-violent protests, is the reason why I am standing here in front of you today. So absolutely, no question about it. I don’t mind it.”

* Speaking of expressing themselves about the Garner case, here’s hoping Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose addresses the issue with the media. As noted in this space Sunday, Rose wore a T-shirt with “I Can’t Breathe” on it in warmups for Saturday’s game but did not speak to reporters after the game. Bush should serve as an example of how to handle the situation.

Derrick Rose’s actions before Saturday night’s Bulls game speak louder than words. Especially when there are no words.

* Speaking of Rose speaking, WSCR’s Dan Bernstein (whom I regard as a friend) received some criticism for Twitter comments about Rose. Grio.com noted: While many loved Rose’s on-the-court salute to Garner and the countless protestors of police brutality across the nation, Bernstein seemed to take a condescending tone towards Rose’s gesture. The sports news veteran started off by giving Rose credit for doing “something Michael Jordan has never had the guts to do. He took a political stand — more important than any game’s outcome. However, his praise of Rose was muddled by his … tweets which seemed to question the basketball player’s intelligence and ability to speak for himself. I can assure you Bernstein can — and will — speak for himself (if he already hasn’t by the time you read this). And Bernstein never has struck me as a racist or anything of the kind. Polar opposite. He is an intelligent, articulate person who has doubts about Rose’s ability to express himself eloquently on a subject that Rose may have more first-hand knowledge than Bernstein does. I can’t speak for Bernstein, but it seems he is asking to see a side of Rose that few — if any — people have been privy to. Rose has improved during his NBA career at dealing with the media. But he also has had times when he opted not to deal with media at all, and that behavior at times has left some wondering whether he was waiting for directions on what to say — as well as what not to say. Rose has been sheltered for much of his life. To see him engage in discourse of national, as well as global, importance is welcome. Wearing a T-shirt is only prelude to that conversation.

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