Do They Still Play the Blues in Chicago?

Oy--Da' Bears!

I guess I am used to disappointment. Since the Cubs were my first religion, I know the meaning of hope in the face of contradictory evidence. "Maybe next year" was said in the homes of Cubs fans with the fervor of a rabbinic text. I really thought that "See ya' when the Cubs win the pennant" was probably somewhere in the wisdom literature of the Bible.

Poor N.! Being raised in Albuquerque, he is just not used to coping with sports angst. By the third quarter of the game yesterday, he was taking little breaks to skateboard down the driveway--while the rest of the country is caught in a cold snap, our snow is finally melting. He was getting overwhelmed by his emotions as it became very clear that although the Bears defense was keeping the score close, the offense was just not in the game.

After the game, he would not eat dinner. He called his dog for some "fuzzy therapy" and he went to bed. I, on the other hand, screamed "What a Bummer!" and then had a Sam Adams.

As I cleaned up the kitchen, I sang: "Do they still play the blues in Chicago, when baseball season comes around? When the snow melts away, do the Cubbies still play in their ivy-covered burial ground?" So you see, I am looking forward to the new season with...resignation. The true depth of faith of the Chicago spirit.

When I went to listen to his Shema and give him a good-night hug, I taught him the essential prayer of the Chicago sports fan: ..."Maybe next year."

"Da' Bears"

There are two times in the year when our household acts like rabid sports fans. They are during the playoffs and World Series for baseball and again during the playoffs and super bowl.

Some years are better for us than others because we are not just general sports fans. We are loyal to our regions.
My DH is from Oakland, so he tends to get really excited when the A's or the Giants are involved in the baseball playoffs. He loves the game of baseball the best of all.
He also can remember the "Hail Mary" pass and some other great moments in football.

I was born in northern Illinois, so my team loyalties are a matter of faith rather than intellect.
And I have transfered that tradition on to my children.
N. is an avid Bear fan and this is a good year for him!

Another piece that adds to our great enjoyment of the Bears being in the playoffs is that Brian Urlacher played football for our very own UNM Lobos before he went "pro" with the Chicago Bears. Lately, we have all sorts of connections to "da Bears."

Here is N. modeling his special Urlacher shirt, printed just for UNM's Lobo store. The front has UNM colors and Urlacher's Lobo number, 44. The back has Chicago's colors and Urlacher's Bear number, 54.

When our relatives were here for the Bar Mitzvah, my mother bought all the adult males in the family these shirts (and Lobo wear for everyone else) as souvenirs of the trip. The Lobo store manager who helped us in this large order was Born in Streator Illinois and taught in Galesburg. He only recently migrated out Lobo way. He told us that the first printing of these shirts had the Bears logo on the back. For some unknown reason, the Bears management did not continue permission for the continued use of the official Bears logo. So now the shirts only have the Lobo logo on the front. You'd think that the team management would understand the need to expand the fan base outside of Illinois! Oh, well!

Anyway, the Bears are currently ahead and, according to my mother, it is good "Bears" weather in Chicago. Cold, windy and some snow on the field. It would be really cool if they go to the Superbowl.

We'll stay tuned!

THEY WON! GO, BEARS!