A beautiful fall weekend without the Bears in action was a perfect time for many Chicagoans to get outside and enjoy the nice weather.
But for the rest of us, it was business as usual, sitting inside or going out to watch the baseball playoffs, some college football action, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Lions, Vikings and Packers games on television Sunday afternoon.
Here are 12 things we either learned or already knew and reconfirmed.
1. If the Blackhawks spent as much time trying to get a carriage deal with CHSN as they do trying to keep the media from accidentally stepping on their logo on the carpet in the home locker room, we would’ve had a deal months ago.
2. The best baseball announcer in the business is Brian Anderson, who was his usual excellent self during the thrilling American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians. When the TV cameras caught a Guardians fan yawning during the late innings of Game 4, Anderson informed us it was a “stress yawn.” If only the White Sox could steal him away from his other gig as the Milwaukee Brewers announcer.
3. The Green Bay Packers have perhaps the NFL’s most iconic football helmet. Whoever came up with the idea of wearing white helmets on Sunday against the Houston Texans should have their head examined. Meanwhile, the Illinois football team should continue playing in the helmets that were hand-painted to look like the leather ones the Illini wore 100 years ago during the Red Grange era. Those were as cool as it gets.
4. ESPN’s “College GameDay” used to be the best pregame show of any sport. But the continued buffoonery of Pat McAfee makes it unwatchable at times. Even his colleagues look annoyed when he talks over them all the time, or tries to lead the college students into a singalong to ingratiate himself to the school. Also, while I love Lee Corso, I’m afraid someone at ESPN is going to have to “Biden” him before the end of the season.
5. Life imitates art. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was replaced by Arch Manning during the Texas-Georgia game shortly after the airing of a Dr Pepper commercial in which Ewers plays a character in Fanville who makes a joke alluding to being replaced by his backup. I called this a month ago but I didn’t think it would happen during an actual game he was lifted in.
6. I’m a little worried about Hawks 19-year-old star Connor Bedard after he recently told Chicago Tribune reporter Phil Thompson: “People always tell me to start reading. And I know it’s good for you, but I’ve got to get my addiction off on the phone a little bit, and then maybe I’ll start.” Get off the TikTok and start reading, young man. Life is too short to not be well-read.
7. When Mark Leiter Jr. and Anthony Rizzo combined to botch a play in the ALCS on Friday that led to the tying run being scored against the Yankees, how many people besides me instantly received a text that said: “Cubbie Occurrence?”
8. The WNBA Finals between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty was must-see TV, and the ratings proved that even casual fans will watch if the product is good. The first four games came down to the last few possessions, which almost never happens in an NBA Finals, while the Liberty won the championship in overtime of the fifth game. And without anyone arguing loudly about the importance of Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese, fans could simply enjoy some good basketball games and new faces.
9. The SEC is a much stronger football conference than the Big Ten and has better matchups on a weekly basis. When Ohio State and Penn State are idle, as they were this weekend, the slate of games is “meh” at best. It’s hard to get interested in Indiana, even if they are unbeaten.
10. The Blackhawks home opener had a different feel than last year, and it wasn’t just the improved Hawks’ roster. The Hawks have decided to turn the United Center into a nonstop musical event and even featured some guy singing bad karaoke. “Make some noise,” is a constant video reminder, as if no one has ever been to a game before, And if you can’t get on the video board, you aren’t trying. The Hawks’ new slogan is “Come for the Bedard, stay for the earsplitting music.”
11. The NFC North might now be the best division in football, as everyone seems to say, but it’s going to take a lot more convincing for me after years of believing it was one of the worst.
12. The World Series is almost here, which means it’s almost time for the White Sox to leak the identity of their new manager during the middle of a World Series game.
