Chicago.com
It was another awesome evening on the Lake Shore for our Bears…if you are a Bears hater that is.
The Bears had another unimpressive display of “football” on Saturday and instead of answering a lot of questions they had in training camp, they will head to the regular season with a long list of questions waiting to be answered.
That was not a a good show on Saturday night.
In fact, calling that game a show would do the word show a major disservice. There was nothing in this game that cleared up anything regarding how the Bears will do this upcoming season, except raise more concerns about the season to come.
I don’t think I’m being overly negative here but it is extremely difficult to find a whole lot of positive things that came out of Saturday’s game. Generally speaking one would immediately say that there were no injuries but that’s not the case here, as Lance Briggs hurt his ankle and had to leave Soldier Field in a walking boot. Arguably the best defensive player gets hurt a week and a half before the season begins. Not good.
The offense did not take a step forward as Jay Cutler struggled, got sacked four times and threw two “2009 Cutler-like” interceptions. Sure the interceptions are a problem but even a bigger problem is the fact that he can not stay upright in the backfield thanks to the weak offensive line. After five sacks last week against the Raiders, Cutler found himself on the Soldier Field grass four times this week. Without a doubt this has to be the biggest concern going into the season and the Week 1 match-up against the Detroit Lions. At this pace it’s hard to envision Cutler not sustaining an injury throughout the season.
The running game really didn’t do much this week yet again, although there was a Chester Taylor sighting again as he gained 36 yards on 5 carries. Matt Forte rushed for only 6 yards and we have yet to see this “dynamic” duo have a good game at the same time. Preseason and all it should have happened by now.
The receivers looked decent with Johnny Knox and Devin Hester leading the way with three receptions a piece. Juaquin Iglesias caught a touchdown and with it made a case for making the team albeit some people think it’s a little too late for that.
The defense played better than last week but they missed a golden chance to show some fire against the Cardinals team who are amid a major QB controversy. Derek “He of the one great year fame” Anderson appears to have taken the job from Matt “I can’t separate myself from the Playboy mansion” Leinart and with all due respect to both of these guys, neither should be piloting an NFL team at this point. They are both struggling in various aspects of the game and Cardinals fans can not be pleased with their quarterbacks.
The major negative from this game, defensively, is the injury sustained by Pro-Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs, however, all signs indicate to Briggs being available in two weeks time for the opener against the Lions.
Special teams had another sub par outing as Robbie Gould missed two field goals, something rarely seen by one of the NFL’s best kickers. Yes, one kick was blocked and most likely not Robbie’s fault but it’s still disappointing to see one of the Bears’ most consistent performers have an inconsistent game. Gould will be fine and his record speaks for himself as he will most likely be one of our most reliable scoring options once again.
And so, after three weeks of preseason what have we learned about the Bears?
Very little.
They never show much during the preseason for various reasons but even that little that we saw over the past three weeks was a sad display of football. Just consider the fact that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers put up 59 points against Peyton Manning and the reigning AFC champions Colts in their third preseason game.
While no one expected the Bears to contend for the division crown with Green Bay and Minnesota, people still hoped for a record better than .500 this upcoming year. Based on the preseason it is hard to imagine the Bears finishing with a positive record.
An 8-8 record seems very optimistic at this point with the chance of Bears finishing at 7-9, 6-10 more likely than anything else. Unless they turn the page completely come regular season this does not look like a fun season ahead of us.
I hope I’m wrong on every single prediction I made here and the Bears enjoy a great season in Lovie’s last contract year. The reality will probably be a sub .500 record and Lovie’s tenure will end in the same quiet manner the way it began…with no buzz whatsoever.
The newest music festival in Chicago, the North Coast Music Festival, is on Labor Day weekend!
All weekend long (Friday Sept. 3rd – Sunday Sept. 5th) see hot acts such as: The Chemical Brothers, Nas & Damian Marley, Umphrey’s McGee, Disco Biscuits, Moby (DJ set), Pretty Lights, Van Ghost, De La Soul, and Lupe Fiasco.
It all kicks off on Friday from 4pm-10pm and continues on Saturday & Sunday from noon-10pm in Union Park. The festival features a full lineup of popular rock, hip-hop, and electronic bands. Famous national acts as well as local favorites will perform on four stages. Single day tickets are still available for $40 each.
Bags will be searched upon entry, there is no re-entry to the festival. ATMs will be available throughout the park. Alcoholic beverages will be purchasable inside the event for those over 21 (bring a valid photo I.D. to obtain a wristband). There will be limited parking, so we suggest taking public transportation (the green line Ashland stop and #9 Ashland bus at Ashland and Lake St. let you off steps from the event).
The full lineup:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2010
North Stage
8:30pm-10:00pm >> The Chemical Brothers
6:30pm-7:30pm >> Paul Van Dyk
4:30pm-5:30pm >> Orchard Lounge
Groupon: What’s a Music? Stage
7:30pm-8:30pm >> Pretty Lights
5:30pm-6:30pm >> Paul Kalkbrenner
Red Bull Local Stage
9:00pm-10:00pm >> m.sylvia & DJ Kibo
8:00pm-9:00pm >> Mettle
7:00pm-8:00pm >> Wyllys
6:00pm-7:00pm >> Paul Universe
5:00pm-6:00pm >> XPOSUR vs Clark Kent
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2010
North Stage
8:30pm-10:00pm >> Umphrey’s McGee
6:30pm-7:30pm >> Jay Electronica
4:30pm-5:30pm >> Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
2:30pm-3:30pm >> New Mastersounds
12:30pm-1:30pm >> “Toast of the Coast” Band Winner
Groupon: What’s a Music? Stage
7:30pm-8:30pm >> De La Soul
5:30pm-6:30pm >> The New Deal
3:30pm-4:30pm >> Van Ghost
1:30pm-2:30pm >> Alabaster Brown
Coast Stage
9:00pm-10:00pm >> Moby (DJ)
8:00pm-9:00pm >> Boys Noize
6:30pm-7:30pm >> Future Rock
5:00pm-6:00pm >> Benga
3:45pm-4:45pm >> Laidback Luke
2:30pm-3:30pm >> Two Fresh
1:00pm-2:00pm >> “Toast of the Coast” MC Winner
Red Bull Local Stage
9:00pm-10:00pm >> Hey Champ
7:30pm-8:30pm >> Family Groove Company
6:30pm-7:30pm >> Midnight Conspiracy
6:00pm-6:30pm >> Rukus
5:00pm-6:00pm >> The Comeups
4:00pm-5:00pm >> Tima Fei & Phat!van
3:00pm-4:00pm >> Strange Arrangement
2:00pm-3:00pm >> Great Divide
1:00pm-2:00pm >> Land of Atlantis
12:00pm-1:00pm >> Save the Clocktower
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010
North Stage
8:30pm-10:00pm >> Nas & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
6:30pm-7:30pm >> Flying Lotus
4:30pm-5:30pm >> Holy Ghost!
2:30pm-3:30pm >> Phantogram
1:00pm-1:45pm >> The Coop
Groupon: What’s a Music? Stage
7:30pm-8:30pm >> Lupe Fiasco
5:30pm-6:30pm >> Mayer Hawthorne & The County
3:30pm-4:30pm >> Dirty Dozen Brass Band
1:45pm-2:30pm >> Loyal Divide
Coast Stage
8:30pm-10:00pm >> The Disco Biscuits
7:00pm-8:00pm >> Green Velvet (Live)
5:30pm-6:30pm >> Claude VonStroke
4:15pm-5:15pm >> Benny Benassi
3:00pm-4:00pm >> Maps and Atlases
2:00pm-3:00pm >> Skeet Skeet
1:00pm-2:00pm >> “Toast of the Coast” DJ Winner
Red Bull Local Stage
9:00pm-10:00pm >> Gemini Club
8:00pm-9:00pm >> Gabe Real
7:00pm-8:00pm >> Papa G
6:00pm-7:00pm >> Stephen Paul Smoker
5:00pm-6:00pm >> Trew
4:00pm-5:00pm >> The Right Now
3:00pm-4:00pm >> Mario Florek
2:15pm-3:00pm >> Bobby De Maria & Tsunami
1:30pm-2:15pm >> DJ Lips
1:00pm-1:30pm >> D.E.E.
Walking into Smith Park on Saturday afternoon felt like stepping into a celebration in Ukraine itself. The 27th annual Ukrainian Days festival was a treasure of an experience. Immediately you were immersed in Ukrainian culture – at the entrance people greeted each other in the Ukrainian language, accepting everyone as one of their own.
White tents decorated with yellow and blue (the colors of the Ukrainian flag) were scattered over the park. In the center was the shopping area. Arts and crafts booths as well as vendors selling hand-made and authentic items were busy with customers. They were selling everything from CDs and instruments to clothes and accessories and even ethnic home décor. Some vendors sold religious items, others specialized in jewelry. One booth was selling local honey – they even had flavored honeys and jams. To the right of the shopping tents, local teams played soccer matches as spectators cheered them on.
At the back of the festival area there was a large stage where performances took place. When I arrived, a young girl in a traditional dress was singing and dancing along to what sounded like ethnic Ukrainian music with a modern pop spin. She sang completely in her native language, and the crowd seemed to adore her. After her performance, an elderly man, also dressed traditionally, was introduced. He began to play classical Ukrainian folk music on a little flute, which I believe is called a “dentsivka”. The man was very talented, which the audience admired. Hearing his music waft through the festival gave it a charming atmosphere.
The entertainment was wonderful, but the food was over the top. The festival hosted five Ukrainian restaurants and one Italian restaurant. The borscht from the Livago tent was delicious. It was served in little cups for only $1, it was a smooth and refreshing savory appetizer. Pizza from Mancini’s (the Italian restaurant) was a great snack, and their gelato was simply incredible. Smooth and refreshing, the mint-chocolate gelato I had was perfect. I also tried a Ukrainian sweet cheese crepe, which was served with whipped cream and berries. The mildness of the cheese in the crepe complimented the tangy berries for a balanced flavour.
Overall, Ukrainian Days was a fantastic cultural event. It brought the community together with traditional food, entertainment, activities, and crafts. Being there gave the feeling of being in the Ukraine, celebrating Ukrainian independence and culture all in one place. The festival really was “A taste of Ukraine in the heart of Chicago.”
That did not turn out good.
What should have been a Saturday to build on, in terms of improved play on offense, defense and special teams turned rather ugly quickly. The thought was: Raiders are coming for a preseason game, at least it’s a game that the Bears can win and work out the mistakes from the Chargers game.
The thought was wrong.
The same questions remain: Where are the receivers? Do we have an offensive line? Can a long-snapper really be this valuable to the team? Will Cutler survive till the end of the season if things on the O-line don’t improve? Seriously, will the defense finally stop someone?
Let’s start with Cutler. He wasn’t bad. He wasn’t great either. The receivers definitely dropped some balls and ran incorrect routes once or twice. His offensive line hung him out to dry on numerous occasions – sacked five times in the first half. Atrocious. Thank God Cutler is mobile enough to escape the pressure at times, otherwise we would be already talking about a backup quarterback piloting the offense.
The running backs didn’t do much aside from Matt Forte’s 89-yard touchdown run. Yes, it was great to see Forte break a long one, especially since he got some actual blocking on the run but the rest of the RB group did not do much. Khalil Bell had 10 yards rushing on six carries and Chester Taylor rushed for one pathetic yard on two carries. I understand the Bears didn’t run the football a whole lot but it still needs to get better. Way better.
The receivers and tight ends were steady. The receivers didn’t do much aside from Johnny Knox’s 22-yard TD catch and Devin Hester’s end around. The tight ends looked definitely better with Olsen, Clark and Davis all catching balls. Something to build on for the next game.
The offensive line was a joke on Saturday night, in particular last year’s first round pick Chris Williams who allowed four sacks in the first half to Kamerion Wimbley. Kamerion who? Yeah, that’s what every Bears fan said on Saturday. Williams had all kinds of issues with Wimbley turning him into a reincarnation of Reggie White for one half. The Bears coaches need to be blamed here as well because they saw Williams struggling and didn’t get him any help with either tight end or full back protection. The line in general needs to get better and it has to start on Saturday against Arizona.
The defense was sliced and diced in the first half by the Redskins outcast Jason Campbell. I’m not saying that Campbell isn’t a good quarterback, I’m just saying he had it way too easy on Saturday night. He completed passes with consistency but the highlight/low-light was a 40-yard screen pass to a fullback. That’s right, a fullback caught a screen pass for 40 yards – the longest reception of the game for either team. Something doesn’t sound right about that sentence.
To make matters worse Brian Urlacher suffered a calf strain in the first quarter and did not return to the game. The Bears are saying it’s not a serious injury and that if need-be Urlacher could play on Saturday, but it’s never good when one of your leaders picks up a nagging injury in a preseason game. Let’s hope that Brian heals quickly and is ready to face Detroit in Week 1 at Soldier Field.
The standout on defense was Julius Peppers. The prime free agent pickup had one sack and five tackles but was very active while in the game and caused all kinds of trouble for the improving Raiders O-line. Mark Anderson had a sack as well, something he badly needed to justify being a starter opposite from Peppers.
There were some positives one could take out of this game but the negatives definitely outweigh the positives. I’m not going to be a glass half full kind of guy if the performance didn’t showed that on the field. Unfortunately, the Bears are not where they need to be and it’s good that it is still preseason. Two games remaining should be used to the max to try to fix these errors. Let’s hope that this coming Saturday against Arizona the Bears take a step forward, because this past Saturday it definitely looked like they took a couple steps back.
Over the past weekend the 52nd annual Chicago Air and Water show took over the skies around Chicago. Variety of different planes, fighter jets, helicopters and even parachutists entertained the crowds all weekend long. Year in and year out this is one of the main attractions of the summer if you live in Chicago as thousands pack the city’s beaches to get the best views of the planes.
This year was no different as early estimates showed over two million spectators came out to support this fantastic event. Beaches were packed early in the morning as majority of people wanted to work on their tan all the while enjoying F-18’s zoom above their heads.
The highlight of the whole show as is the case every year were the Blue Angels – fighter jets, who entertain the crowds every year with their dazzling display of speed, precision and choreography. They always arrive at the end of the show, around 4 p.m. but they have yet to disappoint.
This year’s show was a success yet again and people all over Chicago are eagerly anticipating next year’s festivities in hope for another outstanding weekend in Chicago.
