Curtis Enis can count on playing the second half of Friday night’s exhibition finale against the New York Jets.
And the Bears’ rookie running back also can count on being booed again by the Soldier Field “mass choir.”
Erik Kramer knows all about frustrated Bears fans and their predilection for expressing displeasure.
“I support Enis,” Kramer says. “I know he’s going to come in and do well. Curtis believes in himself. Eventually, when the team starts winning, the crowd will get behind us. Until they do, we can’t really worry about it.”
Enis gained 9 yards on two fourth-quarter carries in Friday’s loss to Buffalo and was booed lustily after his first carry.
“It was unfortunate,” Kramer says. “You would like to see a guy get a break and (have the fans) give him a chance to operate first. But this town is hungry to win. We haven’t lived up to our end of the bargain. So they’re going to make it tough on us a little bit. So be it. We just have to come out and prove that we’re worth supporting.”
Tough assignments: The Bears face the second-toughest schedule in the NFL this season, based on their opponents’ 1997 records. The Bears will play 10 of their 16 regular-season games against teams that qualified for the playoffs last year. No other NFL team will meet as many.
Bears opponents finished with a .549 winning percentage in 1997. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers have a tougher schedule. The easiest schedule, according to last year’s records, goes to Arizona (.453 opponents percentage).
Body heat: Mirror, mirror, on the wall, which NFL players have the best physiques of them all?
According to Muscle Fitness magazine, the honors go to Travis Jervey of the Green Bay Packers, Jesse Armstead of the New York Giants, Luther Elliss of the Detroit Lions, Willie Williams of the Seattle Seahawks, Derek Brown of the New Orleans Saints and Blaine Bishop of the Tennessee Oilers.
The “Worst Physique in the NFL” award goes to Gilbert Brown, the 6-foot-2-inch, 350-pound defensive lineman on the Packers, replacing the Dallas Cowboys’ Nate Newton, who had earned the distinction three consecutive years.
The ultimate list: Arne Harris, who has produced and directed Cubs broadcasts with WGN-Ch. 9 for 35 years, lists his highlights over his career:
– 1. The Cubs’ 1984 division-clinching game at Pittsburgh.
– 2. the Cubs’ 1989 division-clinching game at Montreal.
– 3. Sosa’s 50th home run of the season Sunday.
– 4. Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game against Houston.
– 5. The five Cubs no-hitters.
– 6. Ernie Banks’ 500th home run.
Word on the street: Indiana men’s coach Bob Knight, former Bulls guard John Paxson, Illinois women’s coach Theresa Grentz, Valparaiso men’s coach Homer Drew and Loyola men’s coach Larry Farmer will appear at the Basketball Coaches Clinic at the College of DuPage on Sept. 26. Call 630-942-2365 for more info. . . . Stephanie Rivera has been hired as an assistant coach for the new Chicago Condors of the American Basketball League. . . . Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard was in Chicago on Monday to introduce Sugar Ray Leonard Management, a full-service boxing management company. . . . Kerry Would , the 2-year-old filly, won her race in a driving rainstorm Monday at Hawthorne Park, returning $5.80 for the win.
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Send e-mail to Fred Mitchell at kick3485@aol.com
