NEWSLETTER
NBC Sports Chicago has been showing each playoff game of the Chicago Bulls’ run to the 1998 NBA title. And last night, the network showed Game 5 of the NBA Finals, which revealed to me something I didn’t realize when watching at the time.
Michael Jordan wore the black-and-white Air Jordan XIII that game. It was the only time he wore the “13s” in that series. During the first two games in Utah, Jordan wore the red-and-black 13s. And for the first two games in Chicago, he debuted Air Jordan XIV. Jordan would go back to the 14s for Game 6, and we all know what happened after that …
• There are no wrong answers here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CANj5UxlgSP/
• First player that comes to mind when I see the Chicago Bears’ iconic logo is Brian Urlacher [Michael: Same]. He was Chicago’s best player during the team’s most competitive era. There isn’t even a close second in my book. Although, fans who are older (or younger) than I am probably have a different perspective. Obviously, you’re going to get plenty of replies mentioning Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, and others from an older crowd. I’m not sure who the younger generation gravitates toward. Is it Jay Cutler? Matt Forte? Khalil Mack? I suppose the beauty of being a Bears fan is that greatness is represented throughout the eras.
• I haven’t brought myself to the point where I’m ready to dive head-first into wagering, but still find myself in a place where I’m keeping an eye on what’s happening in certain markets so I am prepared when the time comes. It’s what I find so intriguing about this piece by Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog highlighting three Bears futures bets to consider. Among them is Nick Foles being at 150/1 to win the NFL MVP. On one hand, that’s madness. But because a quarterback is a mortal lock to win it every year until proven otherwise, it isn’t a crazy play. The same reasons I was intrigued by Mitch Trubisky’s long-shot odds last year are still there for Foles this year: QB in a big market, whose team has great expectations, and plays in a QB-friendly system will get a strong push.
• WSCR-AM 670 is going to replay the Bears’ 15-6 win against the Rams from 2018, and Bears Radio play-by-play voice Jeff Joniak shares his thoughts on the classic. Yeah … I called it a classic. It’s the best Bears game I’ve ever been to in person and created some great memories. And I can say I saw Vic Fangio break Jared Goff in person, which is pretty neat. I’d love to be there in person for the next time these two teams play, which is scheduled to be in Los Angeles in October. It’s just that I’m hesitant to do any long-distance traveling until a more certain time.
• You guys remember Santa’s Sleigh, right?
Bears Trick Play Featured More Than 3,200 Pounds of Beef https://t.co/OWpxBaFD1f pic.twitter.com/t3ngIeJmA8
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) December 10, 2018
• I miss Matt Nagy’s trick plays. Oompa Loompa, Freezer Left, Lollipop, and others. Did we ever get A**-Kickin’ Chicken, like we were promised?
• One reason as to why Nagy’s trickery wasn’t as apparent last year is that most of it came in red zone and goal line situations. The Bears didn’t have as many of those opportunities in 2019 as they did in 2018, so there’s that explanation.
• Well, this is an interesting stat:
The #Bears declined Mitch Trubisky’s 5th-year option after trading for veteran QB Nick Foles in the offseason.
According to @NextGenStats, Trubisky has struggled under pressure since entering the league in 2017, while Foles has been effective under pressure since 2016. pic.twitter.com/oXVWDAtdYe
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) May 15, 2020
• Hey, that makes two of us:
Cole Kmet told @JeffJoniak that He cried when the Bears lost in the Super Bowl in 2006.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) May 14, 2020
• There were some rumblings about the Lions’ situation when news that Matthew Stafford’s house was going up for sale, but there is a logical explanation:
Kelly Stafford: Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford's home for sale to get away from water https://t.co/uydlRC5VBK via @freep
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) May 15, 2020
• Stafford is staying put, NFC North fans. Better get used to him.
• Fancy projectors are among your Deals of the Day at Amazon today. #ad
• Joe at Obvious Shirts is one of the coolest guys I got a chance to meet last year, so I’m taking a moment to share this:
Support BN! The best sports blog on the planet. 100% goes to @BleacherNation LINK TO SUPPORT: https://t.co/hY6Cu1yY3y* https://t.co/1DjlkFbyQo pic.twitter.com/yZKtcEZtLj
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) May 14, 2020
• I’m surprised Jim Boylen is hanging around long enough to make a headline that isn’t announcing his departure from the organization:
Bulls Will Reportedly Not Retain Director of Player Development, but Whose Decision Was It Really?https://t.co/SjIyYo8M8a
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 14, 2020
• Part of me wishes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell provided more insight into the league’s plans to play during a pandemic, but I guess there is nothing to report until we get to that bridge worth crossing. Anyway, here’s baseball’s commish on a sport that is a bit closer to returning:
Commissioner Manfred Speaks: Testing Plans, Confidence in a Deal, Talks with Governors, More https://t.co/kZ7Iq6q3Fx pic.twitter.com/vzerDGKIbF
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) May 15, 2020
• Wow. What a wild story:
The @MiramarPD said an arrest warrant has been issued for Giants’ CB Deandre Baker and Seahawks’ CB Quinton Dunbar for four counts of Armed Robbery with a Firearm and four counts of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. Incident occurred May 13.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 14, 2020
Here is the very trouble arrest report for #Giants CB DeAndre Baker and #Seahawks DB Quinton Dunbar, via @MiramarPD: https://t.co/qyPHnNHTuD
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 14, 2020
The statement from the #NYG: “We are aware of the situation. We have been in contact with DeAndre. We have no further comment at this time.”
— Kimberly Jones (@KimJonesSports) May 14, 2020
Seahawks’ comment: “We are aware of the situation involving Quinton Dunbar and still gathering information. We will defer all further comment to league investigators and local authorities.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 15, 2020
