– So, is that it, the Bears can start well and keep it up only once a year?
– The offense got a touchdown on its first possession, then struggled to come up with two field goals the rest of the way. But I guess when you’ve assured yourself of at least a split in the season series with Tampa Bay, you’ve had yourself a successful season, mister.
– Understand, the questionable calls against Bryan Cox and the Bears are Cox’s own doing, a la Dennis Rodman, and Cox admitted as much again this week. It will not go away until Cox does.
– The guy must be getting paid by the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
– Dave Wannstedt benched Cox for two plays, coming perilously close to dignity.
– Looks like it only took 12 games for the Bears to figure out how to own the line of scrimmage.
– Stud play of the day: Barry Minter and Walt Harris slamming into the Coke Machine Formerly Known As Mike Alstott to stop him about a breath short on fourth-and-2 at the Bears’ 41 with less than two minutes to go. Absolutely big-time.
– Alstott, the pride of Joliet Catholic, fumbled on Tampa Bay’s first play and couldn’t get two yards on the Buccaneers’ last play. Nice homecoming.
– Here’s how good the Bears’ defense was: Erik Kramer outrushed the entire Buccaneers team. In fact, he almost did it on one 31-yard scramble alone.
– Wonder if Alonzo Spellman watched Mark Thomas’ game.
– A sack and two deflected passes, plus good pressure and solid run-stopping–Carl Simpson is threatening to have a career.
– I still don’t think Jim Flanigan is all the way back from his Achilles’ tendon injury, but I’ll take him as is.
– Jeez, I love Raymont Harris’ effort, but unless he comes with a three-year warranty for parts, it’s trouble.
– Harris’ best run was fighting for an extra inch on third-and-1 at the Tampa Bay 45 and getting it by thismuch late in the game. Bears ball, four more plays, about two more minutes taken off the clock in a six-point game.
– When you see Darnell Autry carrying the ball at the end of the game when you positively have to hang onto the ball because Harris is so beat up, you wonder if Wannstedt would’ve done that with Rashaan Salaam or risked more injury to Harris.
– Just asking: Chris Penn?
– Just asking: Now, can he do it more than one game in a row?
– Hey, look! Fabien Bownes!
– Sign seen: “Will Coach For Beer.”
Hot stove
The Astros supposedly offered slugging outfielder Derek Bell and another player for Boston shortstop John Valentin, but were turned down.
So the Cubs have no chance on this one.
Cost plus
If the Blackhawks are still scouting Edmonton’s Jason Arnott, they had better know it’ll cost ’em. The New York Islanders reportedly are offering Bryan McCabe, but it’ll cost them at least one more young player.
Scouting report
The Hawks’ terrific comeback win over Vancouver will be important only if they take three of four points in Alberta this week.
Good sport
Les Alexander, the owner of the Houston Rockets, tried to buy the Edmonton Oilers with the hope of moving them to Houston in three years.
Alexander’s deal fell apart, but the idea of hockey in Houston was OK by Charles Barkley.
“Any sport where you can beat the hell out of somebody and only get two minutes in the penalty box, I like it,” Barkley said.
Sit down
Redskins owner John Kent Cooke, on Dallas owner Jerry Jones charging onto the field to argue a call: “Jerry should stay where he belongs–in the coaching box.”
Just asking
When Isiah Thomas didn’t get his way as general manager/part-owner of the Toronto Raptors and just walked out, did you wonder if he shook hands with anybody?
And did you wonder if anybody wanted to shake hands with a guy who orchestrated a .298 winning percentage?
Quotable
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Kevin Constantine, on whether injured defenseman Darius Kasparaitus needs a face shield: “If he was better looking, we’d worry about protecting him.”
