Decision to Start Cutler is a Questionable One

After having completed all necessary tests, Jay Cutler is said to be back at full health and mobility after being sidelined for the past four games. The starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears suffered a high ankle sprain on November 10th, a game which the Bears fell to the Detroit Lions. Since then the second-string quarterback (34 year old Josh McCown) has, in a way, been as dominant as any quarterback in the league. Yet all of McCown's success seems to just be a favor in the mind of head coach Marc Trestman as opposed to something that is worth investing in, at least for the time being.

McCown has exceeded expectations thus far

I understand that Cutler is "the guy" and he's the one that's got the big contract. It is that exact reason why I feel like Trestman feels obligated to have Cutler start as soon as possible. Sports has become about money and the players who make the most tend to get whatever they want. As a Bears fan, I would rather see Cutler on the sideline until McCown plays his way out or gives the coaching staff a justifiable reason to sit him.

Take a look at what the back-up has done this season: in seven appearances he has managed to throw for 1,271 yards while boasting a league-leading 85.7 quarterback rating. To put this situation in perspective, Jay Cutler's QBR is 63.2. To take it a step further, both quarterbacks have thrown for 13 touchdowns thus far so it's not as if McCown has been any less productive. And while the quarterbacks have both thrown the same amount of touchdowns, the difference in interceptions is absolutely laughable. Cutler has thrown eight picks as opposed to McCown's one. Need I say more?

Now many people would argue that you should never lose your job due to injury. I can understand that and even support that to a certain degree. But in this particular situation, why would you even think of taking out McCown? The guys is putting up numbers that are the best any Chicago quarterback has put up and he's hot right as the fight for a playoff spot is at it's most heated point. What more could you ask for?

McCown's statistics as a starter have surpassed Cutler's

In any other sport, I feel like the opinions on a situation like this might be different. In football, the quarterback is obviously the leader of the offense and the team functions only as well as the quarterback does. I get that, but in baseball you wouldn't take out a guy who's swinging a hot bat nor would you take out a shooter in basketball that's found a great and consistent rhythm. Sports is all about who's hot at the right time. Look at the 2011 Connecticut Huskies in basketball. They came off an astounding Big East tournament championship only to run the table in the NCAA tournament despite not being one of the nation's top teams. When things are going well and your team is in sync and all on the same page, it doesn't matter where you rank in the league. Things just seem to click.

That's exactly how the Bears look right now. Despite McCown's 2-2 record as a starter, the offense has, for the most part, looked much better than it has with Cutler. Not to mention the breakout performances from wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. McCown has the trust of his offense and has earned the spot as a starter and the Bears have a very good chance to grab a win against Cleveland this Saturday. It will be interesting to see how Cutler performs in his first game in over a month. I still disagree with Trestman's choice because I've heard a phrase many times that applies to this situation perfectly: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  

Marshall's Maturity Crucial for Chicago

It wasn't long ago that Brandon Marshall fit the stereotype of a NFL wide receiver perfectly. There were plenty of highlight grabs and touchdowns, but also plenty of prima donna Keyshawn-esque moments of demanding the ball. Off the field Marshall racked up a slew of legal troubles and has been arrested multiple times, which made the question, "is this guy worth the trouble?" an often-asked one. Thanks to treatment for his borderline personality disorder plus the maturation into a team leader, the only trouble surrounding Marshall now is how defenses are going to go about stopping him.

Whereas Marshall seemed to have once studied the Randy Moss Guide to Being a NFL Wide Receiver, he has now taken a leaf out of Larry Fitzgerald's book and simply let his play do the talking. No longer does he pop up on Sportscenter for arrests or suspensions, but instead for putting up All-Pro numbers. In his first season with the Chicago Bears last year Marshall had a career year, racking up career highs in receptions (118), yards (1,508) and touchdowns (11). The Bears need that type of production from him, but they also need his leadership.

Two years ago Marshall wasn't exactly the guy coaches wanted to mentor their rookie wide receivers. Now, he's the perfect man for the job as second-year wideout Alshon Jeffery looks to improve off of an up-and-down rookie season. Marshall has always been a precise route-runner, but now he is in a position to pass on knowledge to Jeffery and other young receivers about things like playing smart (Green Bay, Week 15) and not letting emotions get the best of them (Washington, Preseason Game 2).

By treating his BPO and maturing, Marshall has given the Bears exactly what they need and has given himself the opportunity to fully show off his talent. Chicago is the farthest thing from a wide receiver factory and Marshall basically rewrote the record book in just one season. He owns the franchise records for single-season receptions and yards and he became the first Bear to record 1,000+ receiving yards and make the Pro Bowl since 2002. Chicago has longed for a playmaker at the wide receiver position for years and now they have a top five guy in Marshall.

Chicago is in a tough division and the defense lost their heart and soul with the retirement of Brian Urlacher. To overcome Green Bay and Minnesota the offense will have to score more, while the defense will have to continue it's stellar play. Marshall will again be Jay Cutler's top target and, if the offensive line can keep Cutler upright, these two can work wonders. Hopefully, their work translates to a playoff appearance -- somewhere Marshall has never been in his career.

Brandon Marshall's maturity pays dividends in multiple ways for he and the Bears. He stays on the field, performs at a high level and doesn't cause distractions. Being asked to mature and harness a disorder is no easy task, but Marshall did it. That should make the Bears' next request sound pretty simple -- how about another career year?

Urlacher Calls It Quits After 13 Seasons

Brian Urlacher went out on his own terms and he went out wearing just one jersey. Those are two things that don't happen in most retirements. So often athletes limp to the finish line, their careers spiraling into a mess and relationships with former teams disintegrating by the day. Urlacher seemed to be headed down that path after the Chicago Bears released him, but after contemplating the future, the future Hall of Famer decided that 13 years was enough and announced his retirement today over Twitter.

Urlacher's statistics, awards and accolades speak for themselves. He led the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006 before falling to the Indianapolis Colts and he was the leader of one of the NFL's best defenses for years. In his rookie season in 2000 he had a career-high in sacks with eight and he also intercepted two passes. He also had a fumble recovery and 101 tackles, one of two seasons he would pass the century mark.

After 13 seasons of football Urlacher finishes with 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries and 1,052 tackles. Remarkably, he stayed healthy for much of his career excluding the 2009 season in which he missed basically the entire year. He also missed four games last year and seven in 2004, but he played in every game for 10 seasons. In the game of football that consistency is something to be proud of.

Urlacher won the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year award and then won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro four different times. At age 34 there is no doubt that he could probably give a few more decent years to a franchise, but as he said in his retirement statement, he may not be able to give the same performance and passion that he has grown accustomed to.

So with retirement comes questions about legacy. For Urlacher, his next stop is Canton, Ohio. Whether the Hall calls in five years or in 10 years, there is no doubt that he will be the next Bear to enter. He joins a decorated history of great defense in Chicago and his name will be mentioned in the same breath as players like Butkus and Singletary. That's how good he was. He came into the league and made himself a star and he left when we still thought of him as a present-day star.

Again, there's something to be said for the timing of Urlacher's announcement. In sports, we are so used to players like Brett Favre, Allen Iverson and even Michael Jordan not knowing when it's time. Every time a player retires there is a good chance of a "comeback" and that usually means altering a legacy. Not Urlacher. He leaves the game while he is still playing well and our vision of him is not skewed by declining production, injuries or age. He is the same Brian Urlacher as he was ten years ago.

For the Bears it's the start of a new era. They are without the heart and soul of their defense and that calls for guys like Lance Briggs to step up. Urlacher leaves big shoes to fill as players like him don't come around to often. Then again, stars like him don't leave like he did too often either.

The Struggles of the Windy City

A few years back, Sportscenter did a contest in the summer to see which city in the United States was "Titletown". It was created to see which city had enjoyed the most success and, being from a town fifty miles south of Chicago, I naturally began to wonder if Chicago could contend. They have all the major sports and then some yet when I looked at it, not many titles have come to the Windy City. Here's a run-down of Chicago sports and the struggles they have experienced.

Chicago Cubs: I'll start here since I'm a die-hard Cubs fan. Anybody who even knows the slightest little thing about sports would have to know that it's been 100+ years since the Cubs have won the World Series. They have had chances but they were few and far between. The last chance they had was in 2008 when they were embarrassed by the Dodgers. But before the Cubs were swept by LA, there was the infamous year of 2003. The Cubs looked so promising; they were up 3-2 on the Florida Marlins and in game six it all came crashing down when Moises Alou ran over to that left field wall in foul territory. You know the rest, Steve Bartman became Chicago's Most Wanted and is said to have cost the Cubs not only the game but the series. Many forget that Alex Gonzalez made an error on the next play, though. The Cubs are quite a special case, but it's no secret that they haven't helped Chicago win a title in quite some time.

Chicago White Sox: Yes, I know they won in 2005, but the Sox are not much better off than the Cubs. People continually point out the Cubs' failure to win in over 100 years when they forget to include the fact that it had been 88 years since the South Siders had brought home a trophy. The Sox have won three World Series titles which, between the two Chicago baseball teams, gives the city only five World Series trophies. I'd say that's much less than impressive.

Chicago Bears: The past two years the theme for the Bears appeared to be "Start hot, cave late". Last year's season was plagued with injuries for the Bears with Jay Cutler and Matt Forte having to be sidelined during the season. They finished with an 8-8 record and did not enjoy any playoff ball. This year, the Bears started off 8-1 and finished 10-6. Not exactly the record of a Super Bowl contender. Again, the Bears did not make the playoffs. Throw this in with the Super Bowl loss in 2006 and Chicago's 1985 Bears are the only NFL champions Chicago has had in the Super Bowl era.

Chicago Blackhawks: The Hawks are two years removed from their last Stanley Cup victory and the fourth in franchise history. Four is a decent amount but when you take into consideration that it was nearly 40 years since they last won it makes the Hawks just fit right in with the rest of Chicago's teams. We'll see what the Blackhawks can do with the shortened season this year.

Chicago Bulls: I was born in '94, so I wasn't old enough to enjoy the Jordan days. But six titles in eight years? Wow. I wouldn't hesitate to say that if Jordan hadn't retired then they could have hoisted up eight straight banners. It's a new millenium now, though, and the Bulls have struggled. The Baby Bulls back in '03 were nothing short of a disappointment and, though they put up a tremendous and respectable fight against the Celtics in '08, the Bulls were ousted in the first round. Fast forward to 2011 and the year the Bulls looked like title contenders, yet fell to the Heat in five games. With that in mind, the Bulls fought to earn the best record in the league in 2012, yet fell short in the first round to the 8th-seeded 76ers. Derrick Rose exited game one early with a torn ACL and later in the series Joakim Noah suffered a sprained ankle. Without two very key starters, the Bulls' chances at a title were very slim to none.

I don't mean to come across as negative, it had just simply occurred to me that there haven't been many parades in downtown Chicago. In fact, since the new millenium started, there have only been two (White Sox and Blackhawks). Other cities have had numerous parades such as LA, San Antonio, and New York. Chicago has always seemed to have teams that could contend, but something seems to always go wrong. I would hate to see the city of Chicago continue to struggle to win the big one, in any sport that is.

Are There Pro Sports Rivalries?

A few friends and I have recently debated with each other about whether there are professional sports rivalries in today's game. The debates have gotten mixed opinions and I'm sure the general public is split as well on the topic. Obviously there are pro sports rivalries but the question is, are there any that stand the test of time? Rivalries that year in, year out are legitimate battles and that players on each team circle as must-win games. I think there are very few, if any. Now, there are always those rivalries that come and go such as the Colts-Patriots, Steelers-Raiders or Kings-Lakers but they do not last forever.

In college sports there are plenty of rivalries and they are fierce border wars, in-state battles or century old conference matchups that make them must-see games. Players on both teams know it's a must-win game and a loss could mean the season was a failure. It doesn't matter how good Duke or North Carolina is, there games are always going to mean alot to those players, coaches, fans and alumni. It's a hate that has gone on for years and won't stop anytime soon. In pro sports there just isn't that kind of hate that has gone on through several decades, with a few exceptions.

In my mind there are five professional sports rivalries that have stood the test of time and those are the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Cardinals-Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Lakers-Boston Celtics. What do four of these have in common? They are divisional games between teams close in proximity. The exception is the Lakers-Celtics. They have a very unique rivalry in the sense that they both have been so good for so long. Dating back to the 50s, they have played each other several times for the NBA title and because of that it is a legitimate rivalry.

The reason professional sports rivalries don't last is because of the players. When the players leave the rivalry dies a little bit. Take the Ravens and Steelers rivalry that has been superb for the last decade-- once Ray Lewis and James Harrison retire or leave their respective organizations those games won't be the same. Those players bring the intensity that the game needs and whoever replaces them just won't understand what that game means. In college it's different because a North Carolina recruit is being told right away that Duke is the villain and that he must lead his team to victory against them. Also, pro sports is a business so players will play where the money is and it doesn't matter if it's with a rival. Johnny Damon is the perfect example. He led the Idiots to a World Series title with the Red Sox but when the money was offered he packed his bags and headed straight for the Bronx. Sure sounds like some good, clean hate right there. Not.

I'm not sure professional sports needs the rivalries like college. College sports is driven by those rivalry games but superstars drive the pro games and that's why they are highly successful. Of course each league needs some games that are must-see but they don't necessarily have to be "rivalry games." As long as multiple stars are on the field/court, people will tune in. So which is better? I have a preference for the college sports rivalries because I find them fun to watch, however, I love when rivalries spring up in the pros that have the makings of being a decade-long battle. The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat have that feel right now and it's exciting and good for the game. If you disagree with my stance on this or have another pro sports rivalry that has burning for many years feel free to comment below.

35 Random Sports Thoughts

I sit through quite a few college classes everyday and I'll admit that my mind sometimes drifts from the class subject. Usually it ends up on sports and I decided to write down the thoughts I have about sports. Here are the last 35 I've had. It's a random list and I just thought it would be a fun post and a good conversation starter. Feel free to comment!

1. There won't be another team win 72 games in the NBA. That Bulls team was incredible.

2. Nelson Cruz will be postseason MVP if he keeps this up and the Rangers win the Series.
3. The hiring of Theo Epstein means Cubs fans have a new savior. I remember the "In Dusty We Trusty" slogans and all that. We will see if Epstein and his new manager can do the job.
4. HOW DO YOU GO 100+ YEARS WITHOUT WINNING A WORLD SERIES?!?!
5. I think I'm starting to like Jay Cutler a little bit more...but I still hate his attitude.
6. The Cardinals look good and the bullpen is actually doing a great job.
7. Pujols will stay in St. Louis but Fielder is going to leave Milwaukee.
8. Nyjer Morgan is an idiot and is playing to his actual skill level this postseason. A.k.a not well.
9. The NBA is committing one of the biggest blunders ever with this lockout.
10. Can there be a charity game with NBA players at the Wigwam in Anderson, IN? (2nd largest high school gym in the nation)
11. Baylor may have the most athletic front line ever assembled this year.

12. The Packers are going to repeat as Super Bowl champs...hate to say it, but it's true.

13. Moneyball was a great movie. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill both did a phenomenal job.

14. How much of the new Walter Payton book is true? It's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

15. Catching Hell was the best ESPN film to date.
16. There will never be a player more competitive than Michael Jordan. Kobe has the same mentality but LeBron is so far off from those two.
17. I believe in the Detroit Lions but they will lose some games soon. Tough schedule coming up.
18. The Yankees and Red Sox panic too much. They are both fine...not too much work needs to be done with the rosters.
19. Thank the Lord the Marlins have a new stadium! Now the A's need to get their own and I'll feel better about MLB ballparks.

20. North Carolina is going to win the national championship in college basketball. Such a complete team.

21. Aaron Craft is a stud. Expect big things this year from the sophomore.
22. Tom Brady is in the top 5 quarterbacks of all-time.

23. U.S. Soccer may never reach the pinnacle fans are hoping for.

24. Mark Sanchez is overrated and so are the Jets.

25. The media loves certain teams and they get more coverage than they should (Jets, Cowboys, Heat)
26. Cardinals will win the World Series but no team will ever catch the Yankees in WS wins.
27. If Dwyane Wade had come to the Bulls then they would easily have won the title last year.
28. The Bulls are still in store for 2-3 more championships before Rose and Noah are done.

29. The Brooklyn Nets just sounds cool. Hopefully they can be competitive.

30. Alabama and LSU is going to be a must-see game for college football. It's the national championship game basically.

31. Boise State will probably never get their chance. If they do it will be this year. Alabama and LSU will beat each other and Oklahoma could lose in Big 12 play.

32. College conferences suck now. I hate it.

33. Hardly anybody can tackle in the NFL.

34. I wish basketball players had to stay in school for two years. Imagine Eddy Curry at DePaul or LeBron James at Ohio State...

35. Where the heck are guys like Eric Crouch, Jason White and Major Applewhite???

Ranking the NFL Uniforms

The NFL season is just around the corner, with the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints kicking it all off this coming Thursday. This season promises to be a good one and I decided to start the football season off I would do a fun exercise by ranking the teams in terms of best uniforms. This debate, as I found out during a lunchroom argument, can get heated but it's all in fun. Here is how I broke down the teams: I looked at every uniform the team currently wears and every outfit factored into the ranking. Some are tied because it's pretty hard to rank 32 different teams and not like any the same amount. Hope you enjoy!

1. San Francisco 49ers

There is not a better combo than the red tops with the gold bottoms. It's just a clean, classic look and the colors look phenomenal together. The white uniforms also look sharp and the helmets are just as cool. Many Hall of Famers have put on the red and gold.

2-6 (tie). Bears, Packers, Steelers, Cowboys, Chiefs
These four teams, like the 49ers, all have one thing in common and that is the classic feel. The jerseys don't change and neither does the franchise. With the exception of a few years, we can expect these four teams to be in playoff contention and they churn out the wins year after year. There is nothing better than a Bears-Packers game. The jerseys just look great.

7. Oakland Raiders
The black and silver just has that bad boy feel to it and the Raiders usually give off that same bad boy feel. The colors look great together and the shiny, silver helmets are awesome. However, the colors were maybe too appealing while the Raiders played in Los Angeles as they became the symbol for many LA gangs. Nevertheless, I love these unis! (sidenote: if you haven't seen the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "Straight Outta LA" I strongly reccommend it.)

8. Indianapolis Colts

Sharp. That's the one word that comes to mind here. The Colts look sharp when they wear the blue tops with white bottoms. Top it off with those beautiful white helmets that have the blue horseshoe on them and you have a great outfit head to toe. Indy is also one of two teams in the NFL that looks just as good in all white.

9-10 (tie). Bills, Chargers
These are two teams that figured it out. They had great uniforms back in the day and felt the need to change them. Neither change was for the better and now they have both reverted back to their old colors and spinoffs of past outfits. The Chargers look great in their light blue jerseys with the white helmets and the Bills look 10x better since the switch.

11. New York Jets
Personally, I hate the color green but the J-E-T-S! Jets, Jets, Jets! wear it well. I love the green jerseys that have the white shoulders and, if you haven't noticed by now, I am a fan of white helmets. They, along with the Colts, look superb in all white as well. The Jets are another team that has kept the same look for forever and that has to be respected.

12. Washington Redskins
It doesn't matter what the Redskins wear they just look good. They have the most combinations that look good from their normal home and away uniforms to the throwbacks with the yellow helmets to the retro ones with the spear on the helmet. It doesn't matter what they put on, they just look great. Not a whole lot of teams can say that.

13. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have some odd colors but they pull them off real well. Those teal jerseys somehow look good on them and I would love to put Miami higher up on the list but they lost points whenever they decided wearing those orange jerseys was a good idea.

14-15 (tie). Saints, Falcons

Two teams in the same division that are well-dressed. The Falcons are one of the few teams who updated their jerseys and came out looking better. They threw in more red and the red jerseys are the best looking ones they have now. The Saints are one of the select few that can wear all black and look good, but my favorite combo is the black tops, gold bottoms.

16. Houston Texans
The Texans entered the league when many teams were changing their uniforms and I was worried they would end up looking like the Bills or the Patriots but they have some nice uniforms. They have added the red ones but I would recommend not wearing red on red. Not a good look.

17. Cincinnati Bengals
Okay forget the Halloween jokes for a minute and just look at how awesome the Bengals look. Are their jerseys a little busy? Sure, but they look pretty cool and their helmets have to be near the top for the league. The tiger stripes on the shoulders look great and my personal favorite is the black jersey.

18-19 (tie). Broncos, Buccaneers
I would say the Broncos are lucky to be up this high. The navy and orange is always a great combination and I do like the helmet logo but I love the old uniforms. However, they still look good and I'm a fan of the navy tops with the white bottoms. The Bucs actually made a great change when they got rid of the creamsicle jerseys but that old logo is one of the best.

20-22 (tie). Lions, Vikings, Cardinals
These are three teams that had it just right with their jerseys back in the day but changed slightly and now they aren't as good looking. All three look the same for the most part but I'm just all about classic uniforms and I wish they would all go back, especially Detroit.

23-24 (tie). Giants, Ravens

This is probably too low for the Giants. I do love the red, white and blue but the thing that ruins it for me is the gray pants. Not a good look. The Ravens have those fierce black jerseys that look great and to be honest they really belong higher up.

25. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers uniforms are growing on me but they still aren't in the top half of the league. They also have a super ugly logo which loses points with me.

26. St. Louis Rams
This is way too low for a team that looks really good on the field and has some of the best helmets in the NFL but they are this low as a protest. Go back to the royal blue and gold! That was awesome! They still look great but I'm not a fan of dark colors and the Rams looked better in their old uniforms.

27-30 (tie). Patriots, Seahawks, Eagles, Titans

These are four teams that used to have awesome uniforms and/or colors. Yet, they have switched for the worse. They all have picked worse color combos and their jerseys are just flat out ugly. I want all of these teams to go back to their old uniforms. Then life would be better.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

No. These uniforms are bad. Somehow the Dolphins can pull off the teal color but not the Jaguars. They just don't look good and I still can't figure out why there is a NFL franchise in Jacksonville and not in LA.

32. Cleveland Browns

For as long as the world turns, orange and brown will never look good. Nuff said.

So, that's my list. Obviously this is all opinion and I would love to get comments on who is your top five, what the best retro jersey is or what you think about new jersey designs.

Quitter or Not, Get Rid of Cutler

Sports is a place where heroes are born and legends are made and where men lay it all on the line just to win a game. Football in particular is a sport that requires maximum toughness both mental and physical. Sunday afternoon the Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 21-14 to earn a trip to Dallas where they will meet the Pittsburgh Steelers for Super Bowl XLV. The Bears were so close yet, to me, seemed like they were so far away from winning the NFC Championship. Maybe I felt like that because the Packers are a great team with the top quarterback in the league right now. Maybe I felt like that because the Bears were always playing from behind. Or maybe I felt like that because quarterback Jay Cutler was sitting on the sidelines for the second half while Todd Collins looked like the Bad News Bears behind center and Caleb Hanie nearly became the hero that Cutler never will become. Yeah, the third reason is definitely why.

In one of the final series of the first half Cutler injured his knee and there talks within the Bears organization that he would not even take the field for the second half. However, he tried it and after one unsuccessful series retreated to the bench, which is where he would stay for the rest of the game. Todd Collins entered and left in the blink of an eye and then it was third-stringer, Caleb Hanie's turn. You know Hanie woke up that morning just excited to have a great seat for the game and wasn't expecting to even step on the field. Yet, there he was leading the comeback for the Bears and, had it not been for Sam Shields second interception of the day, perhaps could have tied the game up with under a minute to play. We can't fault Hanie's effort because he is a third string quarterback who was thrown into the biggest game of the Bears-Packers rivalry and told to lead the comeback, a Super Bowl birth on the line.

When it comes to Cutler though, questions are raised about his effort. He hurt his knee, and his teammates and coaches have defended him 100% so far, but how bad was it? Was it bad enough that he had to sit out of the biggest game of his career? Because it wasn't bad enough that he couldn't stand on it or even ride the bike. He wasn't receiving any treatment and there was no brace or anything on it. He was just standing there with that look he always wears, one of disinterest and unhappiness. I'm not going to sit here and say that Jay Cutler quit because I don't really know how bad that sprained MCL was. The training staff wouldn't let him go but in my mind it didn't seem to affect him much.

Ronnie Lott had his finger cut off so that he could keep playing and Willis Reed took the floor with a broken leg. Phillip Rivers has played with a torn ACL and many players have knee injuries but they still play. I just think that if Cutler really wanted to play he would have done everything he could to get on that field. Good players compete in Playing Time but the great ones show up in Winning Time. The second half of that game was Winning Time and Caleb Hanie was under center. Keep in mind this wasn't just any game, this was the NFC Championship against the Bears biggest rival and this was only the second time the two teams had met in the playoffs. Cutler was coming off his first playoff game since high school, a win against the Seahawks and a win in this game would have elevated his status as a great quarterback in Chicago and in the league.

Sad thing is, he never gave himself a chance and that's why people will question him for the rest of his life. What if the Bears never get back to that point with him? In my opinion he won't be in Chicago too much longer and that means fans lasting memory will not be Cutler throwing the ball on the field; it will be Jay Cutler standing on the sideline, jacket and stocking cap on, watching as his team lose a chance to go to Dallas. Some franchise quarterback...

Packers vs. Bears and Other Great Games

On Saturday night the Green Bay Packers easily disposed of the #1 seeded Atlanta Falcons from the NFL Playoffs and on Sunday the Chicago Bears man-handled the sub-.500 Seattle Seahawks for three quarters and came away with an 11 point win. This coming Sunday is now an NFL fan's dream as the Packers will travel to Soldier Field for an NFC Championship matchup against their division rival. As a Bears fan I am very excited for the game as it is the only the second time that the two teams have met in playoff history. The Pack is hot right now with Aaron Rodgers looking like the best QB in the game but the Bears D has also looked good lately minus the 4th quarter against Seattle. As soon as the Bears won the Divisional Round game I got on StubHub.com and checked the tickets and the fact of the matter is, fans will be paying at least 500 bucks for a seat. I would love to be at the game even though the temperature will be below 10 degrees. This game got me thinking about what games I would have loved to be at in person so I compiled a list of five games in my lifetime that I wish I could have been at.

2004 ALCS Game 6 (Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees)- To see this game would be seeing history. The Red Sox tying up the series after being down 3-0. Led by Curt Schilling and David Ortiz's heroics, the BoSox went to the World Series to break the Curse of the Bambino. Schilling pitched seven innings with a torn tendon in his right ankle that was held in place by three sutres that connected the skin to the tendon and connective tissue. NYPD members had to take the field in riot gear after Yanks fans threw balls and debris on the field because they were unhappy with Alex Rodriguez being called out for interference. A-Rod slapped Bronson Arroyo's arm as he tried to tag him out and the umpires called him out. This game had it all and would have been an amazing game to be at.

1997 NBA Finals Game 5 (Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz)- "The Flu Game" is one of the most legendary stories of Michael Jordan's career. He woke up with a stomach virus on Tuesday and team trainers said there was no way he could play in Game 5 on Wednesday night. With the series tied at two games apiece and the Bulls playing on the road, Jordan took the floor and got off to a slow start but dropped 17 in the second quarter. MJ did little in the third as fatigue set in but in the fourth he had 15 points including a big three at the end. He played 44 minutes and collapsed into Scottie Pippen's arms at the end of the game, which the Bulls won 90-88.

2009 NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 6 (Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls)- Without a doubt the most epic game for the Bulls in the post-Jordan era, Chicago defeated the Boston Celtics 128-127 in three overtimes to force a Game 7. John Salmons led the Bulls with 35 points and Ray Allen's 51 was not enough for the C's. The Bulls took the lead when Joakim Noah stole the ball from Paul Pierce, dribbled length of the floor, dunked the ball while being fouled by Pierce and then made the free throw for a three point play. Derrick Rose, who finished with 28 points, blocked Rajon Rondo's potential game winner with 8 seconds left in the third OT.

2009 Big East Tournament (Syracuse Orange vs. UConn Huskies)- After 3 hours and 46 minutes of back and forth basketball the Orange defeated UConn at Madison Square Garden 127-117. The Orange's Eric Devendorf made a three at the buzzer of the regulation to win the game but the refs ruled that Devendorf didn't get it off in time. Jonny Flynn had a monster game for Cuse with 34 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists, 6 steals, and 1 block. To be at this game where numerous future NBA players were playing in a primetime game in the Big East tournament would be incredible to see.

2010 NCAA Championship (Butler Bulldogs vs. Duke)- Funny thing about this game is that my grandpa had tickets but sold them. It would have been the ultimate Cinderella story had Gordan Hayward's last second heave gone in. Instead the ball bounced off and Duke came away with a two point win in the one of the most thrilling national championship games ever. 70,000 fans were in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis where the hometown Bulldogs nearly upset the number 1 seed Blue Devils.

Sports produce some of the best drama in the world and there certainly will be some when the Packers and Bears clash with a chance for the Super Bowl. These are just five games that I wish I could have seen but there are countless others. So now its your turn, let me know what games you wish you were at in your lifetime.