Returning after three years away

[dachuckster]

Hello all

I had to take a couple of years off from dealing with anything related to the Bears.  I finally got my fill of the ineptitude of the McCaskey family and their personal friends in Bear management (can you say "Sweaty" Teddy Phillips  ...  I knew you could).

As much as I want to be a loyal fan, the fact that the Bears (and a large majority of professional sport clubs) are basically run exclusively for the income of the owners and their families.  Very few organizations run the team to be a winning organization first and then focus on getting a good return on their investment second.  The clubs that do this can make their owners very wealthy but it takes a lot of real work to follow this less traveled path.  

I was moderately impressed by the hiring of Poles and his freedom to hire his own coach and not one shoved down his throat.  I also like the house cleaning he has done with trimming dead wood out of both  the roster as well as in the football management side.  But it was the retirement of Phillips as team president and (more importantly) his replacement by Kevin Warren  that really got my attention.  If it was another McCaskey buddy, I wouldn't be here now.

It feels like a new day and I am started to get excited about watching the Bears again!

Chuck

[Whisky Beer Bob]

Welcome back and it's a good time to be back. The future is looking much brighter.

[dachuckster]

I am still being cautious with my enthusiasm.  If the Bears once again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory my next departure will be permanent.  

The only leverage that we the fans have over ownership is that we eventually put money in their pockets.  So if the owners really mess up and the team starts to tank all we can do is boycott.  Don't watch the games, don't buy the tickets, don't buy the merchandise, etc.

[davidl]

May 6, 2023 15:16:02 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

I am still being cautious with my enthusiasm.  If the Bears once again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory my next departure will be permanent.  

The only leverage that we the fans have over ownership is that we eventually put money in their pockets.  So if the owners really mess up and the team starts to tank all we can do is boycott.  Don't watch the games, don't buy the tickets, don't buy the merchandise, etc.

Back after 2,645 previous posts! Very nice.  

The mantra here now is that 2023 and 2024 are digging out of the hole. My view is that success means winning the North and being legit Super Bowl contender by 2025. Failure is getting eaten by a Lion.

[dachuckster]

May 6, 2023 16:23:12 GMT -6 davidl said:

May 6, 2023 15:16:02 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

I am still being cautious with my enthusiasm.  If the Bears once again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory my next departure will be permanent.  

The only leverage that we the fans have over ownership is that we eventually put money in their pockets.  So if the owners really mess up and the team starts to tank all we can do is boycott.  Don't watch the games, don't buy the tickets, don't buy the merchandise, etc.

Back after 2,645 previous posts! Very nice.  

The mantra here now is that 2023 and 2024 are digging out of the hole. My view is that success means winning the North and being legit Super Bowl contender by 2025. Failure is getting eaten by a Lion.

I am definitely not sold on everything Poles has been doing.  It is just after Phillips left (and I hope was kicked to the kerb by George McCaskey) and the hiring of a new team president who is not a McCaskey/Bear insider, I am willing to give them their last chance.

I have to admit that I have not done a ton of research on the 2023 draft pool but after reading a bit and watching a lot of YouTube commentary (and hype) on the Bears draft I am struck with a superficial comparison of the two DL picks (Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens) and the dynamic duo in the 2014 draft of Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton. 

Both pairs of linemen were supposed to be great physical specimens who had all the traits and basic skills to excel at the NFL level.  And we know what happened with Ferguson & Sutton.  Not syaing the guys just drafteed are guaranteed busts, just that neoother has yet to lay any NFL snaps.

[davidl]

May 6, 2023 20:30:01 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

May 6, 2023 16:23:12 GMT -6 davidl said:

Back after 2,645 previous posts! Very nice.  

The mantra here now is that 2023 and 2024 are digging out of the hole. My view is that success means winning the North and being legit Super Bowl contender by 2025. Failure is getting eaten by a Lion.

I am definitely not sold on everything Poles has been doing.  It is just after Phillips left (and I hope was kicked to the kerb by George McCaskey) and the hiring of a new team president who is not a McCaskey/Bear insider, I am willing to give them their last chance.

I have to admit that I have not done a ton of research on the 2023 draft pool but after reading a bit and watching a lot of YouTube commentary (and hype) on the Bears draft I am struck with a superficial comparison of the two DL picks (Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens) and the dynamic duo in the 2014 draft of Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton. 

Both pairs of linemen were supposed to be great physical specimens who had all the traits and basic skills to excel at the NFL level.  And we know what happened with Ferguson & Sutton.  Not syaing the guys just drafteed are guaranteed busts, just that neoother has yet to lay any NFL snaps.

I couldn’t agree more.  We won’t know what any of these rookies will do until we see them on the field.  

I am confident the team will be better this year, which isn’t saying much.  I worry about Lions, though.

[AlexM]

May 6, 2023 10:27:47 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

Hello all

I had to take a couple of years off from dealing with anything related to the Bears.  I finally got my fill of the ineptitude of the McCaskey family and their personal friends in Bear management (can you say "Sweaty" Teddy Phillips  ...  I knew you could).

As much as I want to be a loyal fan, the fact that the Bears (and a large majority of professional sport clubs) are basically run exclusively for the income of the owners and their families.  Very few organizations run the team to be a winning organization first and then focus on getting a good return on their investment second.  The clubs that do this can make their owners very wealthy but it takes a lot of real work to follow this less traveled path.  

I was moderately impressed by the hiring of Poles and his freedom to hire his own coach and not one shoved down his throat.  I also like the house cleaning he has done with trimming dead wood out of both  the roster as well as in the football management side.  But it was the retirement of Phillips as team president and (more importantly) his replacement by Kevin Warren  that really got my attention.  If it was another McCaskey buddy, I wouldn't be here now.

It feels like a new day and I am started to get excited about watching the Bears again!

Chuck

Welcome back friend!