Give all the credit to the man at the top: Lovie

The talk at the start of the season from those who follow the NFL, especially the Bears, was that this was going to be a rough season for the Bears and head coach Lovie Smith. I'll admit, I thought they would do better than most had them for this year, but the way things have unfolded over the last month has been beyond my expectations.
Yes, the defense has been playing well, Jay Cutler has been reigned in and the offensive line has pieced it together enough to keep Jay upright and make lanes for Matt Forte to run through, but there is one person to give credit for this (what could be) great season. You guessed it, Lovie.
When teams around the NFL are broken and has guys stepping out and making it about themselves, no nonsense is coming out of Halas Hall in Lake Forest and the Bears are unified going forward each week. It's one of those things where it's known the defense is the mainstay of the team, and the offense has to do "just enough" to get the team over the top. Never, though, has there been any finger pointing, even last year, at Jay or the offensive line (including O-line coach Mike Tice) to get it together.
Who gets the credit for that? Yep, Lovie. He's done it every year he's been in Chicago and this might be the best he's done as a coach, and yes I'm talking even better than 2006. There were no expectations and many questions abound on this team on how things would go this season, after the disappointment of last year.
And all the questions about the Bears not beating anyone with a winning record before Sunday, who cares? Is it the Bears fault their schedule is the way it is? Hell no. Sunday, against the team EVERYONE said was the new front runner to win the NFC, the Bears were in control for most of the game. Yes, the Eagles rallied late, but they are a good team, heck, they're great, and the Bears weathered the storm. The offense played great behind both Jay and Forte (who had 100+ yards) and the defense kept Michael Vick in check for the most part in what was the highest rated NFL game of the season (per Jay Glazer).
There are five games left and one five teams of the last 59 have missed the playoffs with an 8-3 record. That means things are looking good for this team to make the playoffs.
Why is it, when there is talk about coach of the year, am I not hearing Lovie Smith's name mentioned? He should be. He HAS to be. He has brought this team together and is leading them to a possible NFC North title.
I guess the Bears, got a little respect for this win? If not, it doesn't really bother Brian Urlacher.

Keeping on my NFL tip, I'm sure you've seen the Derek Anderson flip out video by now. My take on it is this: He was a bit out of line for blowing up. I was unsure in reading some things on Twitter about it, but hearing what the reporter said to him was not out of line. He was essentially throwing him a rope to save him from the fan backlash and he completely lost it and handled it the wrong way.
This is a bit like a scene in "Fever Pitch" when the guys see Johnny Damon, Trot and some Red Sox players out after falling behind the Yanks 3-0 in the ALCS. I can support the guys having some sort of laugh on the sideline regarding the score. It has to upset you being down in a game, but you can't get too down or upset because it will effect your play on the field. In Anderson's case, he's so bad, he could be upset and it wouldn't help him. Just saying.



The other hot topic in the NFL this week was the Cortland Finnegan and Andre Johnson fight in the Texans and Titans game. This highlight is obviously taken from a show on Sunday and the two have both since gotten just a $25,000 fine and no suspension. Finnegan calls himself the "dirtiest player in the game." This isn't the WWE and unlike Ric Flair having that monicker, it is not a good one to have in the NFL. The guy is a scumbag. While I don't condone throwing punches, you have to defend yourself and Johnson did just that and teaching that punk a lesson. While I talked earlier about bringing a team together and being disciplined, is it time we question the job Steve Fischer is doing in Tennessee? He has the Vince Young problem. Randy Moss is in town now. Then there's this jerk. The NFL has no place for that.


Enough football, it's time for the ladies of the day to take over. Today's Nussie Hunter segment of the broadcast is the exotic Francia Raisa, who appeared in the movie For Colored Girls. I'm not too into the movie, but the fine folks at Guyism.com have more pics of her from the premiere.

Welcome to Milwaukee Ron Roenicke!

The love affair with the guy Doug Melvin and Co. have named Ron Roenicke as the new manager of the Brewers has been in full effect the last couple of days. I'll say it just shows how much of a great pickup this is for the team and the city of Milwaukee. I'm not sure how much I can put into our TV play-by-play announcer, Brian Anderson, speaking his praises (Like he did here), but when Mike Scioscia, Angels Manager (Audio is here), uses the word "Incredible" about six times at least to talk about his now former bench coach, it runs a little louder.
Of course, there's the manager himself. Just as BA said, Roenicke is a great interview. It was actually rather refreshing listening to his presser where he was introduced and then he was on Homer on ESPN Radio in Milwaukee. (Take a listen). To follow it up Doug Melvin was on the D-List with Drew Olsen and Dan Needles this afternoon to talk about the hire (Audio is here). (Tom H.'s J-S story is here.)
Now that you have all of that, here's my take, I LOVE THIS DECISION! I know I wrote on this page on how I like the Bobby Valentine possibility, but sometimes changing your mind is a good thing. The more I found out about Roenicke (We'll be calling him Ro-Ro in the 223 next season!), the more I started to fall in line with the idea. Just think about the guys that have come from under Scioscia's wing to manage their own teams and what they have done. Bud Black and Joe Maddon have done nothing but win at their jobs and Roenicke was next in line to get his own gig. It has been compared to the Bill Walsh NFL coaching tree in the fact that is the best coach with the best assistants that have learned what to do. They all went on to be successful with coaching gigs in the past and this one is looking to be the same way. The key, of course, is if the pitching can turn around from as bad as it's been the last two seasons here, which has nothing to do with the guy that had the post before "Ro-Ro."
The biggest thing I liked in listening to him talk is that he doesn't spit out the cliches over and over. He knows the game and shows it when he talks. I love it.


The Bears are back in action this week after a bye week and travel to Toronto take on the Wisconsin alum Lee Evans (above) and the Bills. All of the pundits are thinking this could be the game where the Bills get their first win of the season. That makes me a little nervous. The ringing words that have come out of Halas Hall over the last two week is Mike Martz saying he is going to use Matt Forte and Chester Taylor more. I like hearing that and think it might be what the offense needs. Whether that's done in running the ball or with short screens, is something that will be shown this week. Martz also said he plans to have them both on the field at the same time. that might be something that could put teams in a pickle when it comes to which one to key off of and could help Jay Cutler out in finding a rhythm and getting the other guys open because they will be paying attention to the back. The defense used the bye to get healthy and I'm thinking them getting Lance Briggs back this week should help shore things up in what resulted in losses the previous two games. I'm saying it will. He's the type of player that makes everyone around him better when he's on the field, including Brian Urlacher. The two seem to pick each other up and that should help the unit get back to their old form.
Prediction: Bears 24, Bills 17

Time for my NFL Picks. Last week was not a good week for me, to say the least, going just 6-5 to push my record for the year to 64-53. Here we go. Winners, as always, are in bold.
Bucs at Falcons
Bears at Bills
Patriots at Browns
Jets at Lions
Cardinals at Vikings
Saints at Panthers
Dolphins at Ravens
Chargers at Texans
Giants at Seahawks
Chiefs at Raiders
Colts at Eagles
Cowboys at Packers
Steelers (21) at Bengals (17)

Alright, time to get into the Nussie Hunter segment of the broadcast. I came across a former Miss Universe on Guyism and I couldn't find someone to unseat her from a spot and mention in today's post. I'm saying pink is a good color on her, no? There's 46 more photos, here!