The Chicago sports world continues to sink into the abyss. It is in a thud,
Thank goodness for both the captivating Summer Olympic Games on now in Paris through August 11 and the start of the Chicago Bears’ preseason football games to blunt the nasty sting of both the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs baseball seasons. It is difficult to separate the Cubs from the White Sox, even though the latter are on course to lose an unbelievable 121 regular-season games and the Cubs have a significantly better won-loss record than the Sox. Both teams are in last place in their respective five-team divisions. Through Monday The Cubs were 51-57, six games under .500 and one game behind fourth place Cincinnati.
The Bears have four preseason games to test the waters and calculate how ready they are for a rugged 17-game regular-season schedule. The Bears start in Canton, Ohio against Houston in the annual Hall of Fame game, always a delight, even without the Bears because it is the start of the football season, however, the Bears are in the Hall of Fame game against Houston. It is extra special this season because of the seven players who will be inducted three played for the Bears in part of their careers. Training and preseason games are a real indication of how prepared the Bears are, however, the true test will be when the games are for real during the regular season. Injuries, or, the lack of injuries are a part of every football season. Intense preparation often keeps the injury bug from claiming a disastrous season.
The Hall of Fame game will be Thursday, Aug. 1 and the induction ceremony will be Saturday, Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio. The three players who were with the Bears for parts of their careers, include tackle Steve McMichael, return specialist Devin Hester, and defensive end and linebacker, Julius Peppers. The other four players are wide receiver Andre Johnson, outside linebacker Dwight Feeney, linebacker Randy Gradishar, and linebacker Patrick Willis. Well done. McMichael was a key member of the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl champion.
The Olympic Games always brings out the best in teams. This year participants includes West Aurora High School graduate Lauren Carlini, a member of the U.S. Olympic volleyball team. In many cases the athletes have been in training much of their lives to compete in a few short days. Carlini, 29, is one of the 36 athletes from Illinois in the Olympic Games. She played eight years as a volleyball professional in Turkey. She was a top volleyball player at the University of Wisconsin. She won Gold Medals in the Pan-American Games. As spectators we see most of the athletes at their best and close to victory or defeat by tiny margins of inches, seconds, and millimeters. The spectacular Olympic Games offers national pride and always will, however, it truly is the participation of the athletes, and their giving their best efforts that is lasting measures we will remember. Thankfully, the 33rd Olympic Games will be extended through August 11.
We will be gratified for any all competition, whether it involves United States players or other hard-working ahletes. We are all one.
Unlike previous years, the Big Ten Conference will be home to 18 teams when the season officially kicks off: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, defending National champion Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, Washington, and Wisconsin will form an outstanding college conference. the side-effects reman to be seen, however, it will be interesting.