The Next Mariotti: Rick Morrissey
by ChiFan13 on Sep 5, 2008 7:14 PM CDT
47 comments
I have to say, I've had it.
Bad sport journalism has reigned over this city for some time. We've had the journalist with a personal vendetta (Jay Mariotti). Then, we had the closet racist who said inappropriate things at inappropriate times (Mike North). However, we now get to see one journalist who has been lurking in the negative shadows: Rick Morrissey. Morrissey has been the king of negative for quite some time. This time, I lost it.
I'll link to the article, but I can give you a good synopsis: Blah, blah, blah, the Bears will suck and anyone who thinks different is stupid, blah, blah, blah. I think it's a little deflating to listen to someone who thinks he knows more about the Bears than the average fan.
Anyways, we'll put it to a vote:
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Very Mariottilike article...
It’d be hard to argue with a lot of what he says, regardless of how negative he is. There are certainly more questions than answers with this team, however you’d think that people would wait to see how this team performs in a few games that mean something before going over the top with their criticisms.
by BigGeorgeTX on Sep 5, 2008 9:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He's another one....
that is great for identifying the problem but never taking the time to come up with a solution. I’m not talking about what the Bear’s should have done in the past; to me hindsight is useless. Okay, the Bear’s screwed up in the past, got it. Now how about figuring out a solution with the hand we are dealt. Was this guy predicting a playoff birth in 2005 when we had to plug in a fourth round rookie QB to start the season? I highly doubt it, he probably was writing the same negative garbage that he’s releasing now. Seems to me the Bear’s figured out a way for that season with an outlook as bleak as the one we’re facing today. It’s easy to predict failure in sports because it happens more times than not. Instead give me a writer who will go out on a limb with a bold prediction or an honest assessment, then have the courage to be held accountable for what they write (i.e. face the player that you criticize).
by rob in iraq on Sep 6, 2008 1:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I’m not going to wave the white towel before the season even starts. Further, I like the fact that we are on absolutely nobody’s radar, trendy teams usually don’t pan out, other than the obvious superpowers. We also started the season 1-3 in 2005 and came back to go 10-2 the rest of the way. Morrissey has a major point when it comes to trying to get turnovers instead of securing the tackle (i.e Daniel Manning’s “hit” on Peterson near the 10 last year), however I think the defence if healthy will rebound and we will be competitive in most games.
by twaddle on Sep 6, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not criticizing you chifan13....
but just wanted to point out that this article reads a lot like reading 90% of the commenters on this blog on a daily basis. nobody is even waiting until the season. i’m not saying i’m excited about the outlook but at the same time we have a lot of players who haven’t had a chance to prove themselves yet so let’s at least let them take a stab at it for a couple of weeks before all of this ridiculous negativity.
by Ando on Sep 6, 2008 2:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
But you and I are at least willing to wait for the season.
We want to see them play before anything else happens, That was exactly my point. Morrissey can’t even wait….he might as well not even watch. Nothing will change his mind.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
by ChiFan13 on Sep 6, 2008 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why do you dismiss the off-season moves?
Is every player in the league created equally, and then, all of a sudden, some get good, some great, some horrible, some kind of bad, etc.?
Of course not. Yes, there are surprises every year, but it doesn’t happen on the scale that the Bears would need to be a decent team. We’ve seen the changes and non-changes the Bears have made this season. We have histories for a lot of the guys. There is no reason to OBJECTIVELY think they’ll be a top-half of the league team. It can happen, but it would take a lot of luck for that to happen. If you’re non-fanatically assessing a team, one doesn’t count on luck.
Oh, and the reason he would watch the game is because he’s paid to watch it and then comment on it. There’s no reason to assume that anyone who write for a paper (as opposed to a blog) is a fan of the team he’s covering. And even if he/she is, they’re supposed their fandom aside while writing.
I’m not from Chicago so I never really followed Mariotti nor Morrissey, but the comments I’ve heard about them, I’m better for it. Just because you dislike a writer’s style/opinions, though, doesn’t make them wrong.
by tyger1147 on Sep 6, 2008 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What?
Never said anything about that.
I’ll state it again so you hopefully understand this time: I don’t like the consistently negative writings. A journalist doesn’t have to be a complete homer, but give me a break. Morrissey does not see one positive thing about this team. Not asking for the world here, just something that wasn’t consistently negative.
So, maybe since you haven’t followed Mariotti or Morrissey, you should maybe take the opinion of someone who is constantly bombarded with their writing.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
by ChiFan13 on Sep 6, 2008 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You implied he was wrong by stating...
…that you (and others) were willing to wait until the season started to “judge” how good the team was while Morrissey (and anyone else) was wrong by not waiting.
I replied to a very specific point of yours. Since you did only reply to my last, almost incidental comment at the end, and not the rest, I assume you’ll agree with what else I said.
by tyger1147 on Sep 6, 2008 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I did imply that
It’s wrong to do that, especially for a journalist in a local paper.
And, I’ll address your other points. We have two good units (D and ST), and one very subpar unit. So, considering that, why wouldn’t we be at least decent? Preseason doesn’t mean anything….so why is he so negative?
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
by ChiFan13 on Sep 6, 2008 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
defense hasn't been good
in a season and a half
by mike b on Sep 7, 2008 1:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cuz he's an idiot?
I think the offense got worse this year. Maybe not a lot, but at least some. I think ST will be worse, if only slightly (because I don’t think hester will have as big of an impact and because I think Ayanbadejo will be missed). The defense… who knows? Should be better, but I don’t think it will be that much better.
Yes, pre-season does not count. But last year did and so do the off-season moves. I haven’t even watched a pre-season snap, and I’m fairly certain they’ll be a bottom third team.
by tyger1147 on Sep 7, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I pretty sure I'm the minority here....
but I liked Mariotti. Sure, I didn’t agree with many of his opinions, but his articles were always interesting. He was brash, crude, and negative as hell, but he was also witty and clever.
Rick Morrissey, on the other hand, is just an over-the-top negative dude who doesn’t possess the entertaining writing style like a Marriotti.
Bear Down, Chicago Bears!
by topdoggkyle on Sep 6, 2008 2:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i always like marriottii
his articles always read that the bitter fan who sits at the end of the bar whose team is always awful or even when good, never good enough.
but a nondrunk version of that guy.
he was amusing in small doses.
Missing Milton...
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 7, 2008 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let them play
Last year following the Super Bowl, the Chicago media almost uniformly praised and worshipped the Bears for their great front office moves, incredible field prowess and all but assured us that the Bears were a lock to go to another Super Bowl.
This year according to those same people, the Bears will be lucky to be the best of the worst in the NFL.
Now look – I certainly understand the reason for the diverging viewpoints – just look at the records. But let’s not forget that except for a fourth quarter defensive meltdown against the Giants at home last year (which happened to the invincible Patriots, too, by the way) this team was most likely going to make the playoffs in spite of the least interested running back in the NFL, Cedric Benson.
So, instead of putting the Bears on a cross or exalting them before they ever take the field, let’s watch some football. I suspect that this team is neither as good as their Super Bowl 2006 record nor as bad as the Chicago and national media would have us believe.
This team has some awfully good football players on it – let’s see what they can do.
by JRock3x8 on Sep 6, 2008 7:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
FYI, this is why one shouldn't listen to writer's for opinions.
I perused a few statistically-based and objective opinions about the NFL prior to last season (including Pro Football Prospectus) and none of them predicted the Bears to be any good.
by tyger1147 on Sep 6, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Negative to the Nth degree
I agree he’s another pessimistic blogger/journalist following this Bears team. Obviously, the biggest key this season will be the chemistry and play of the offensive line. What will happen when Orton and company get into the red-zone in a hostile dome? Penalties and mental mistakes will again tell the story on offense, especially at WR and LT. The defense is another story entirely. If they regain their edge and desire to compete at a high level, then only then will they have a chance to return to their dominate form.
Being a history major I love his line about France’s war history. I’m not sure how well that compares to the Bears’ demise though.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
by propheteer on Sep 6, 2008 10:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Um... talent, or lack thereof, will be the key to this team.
Just like it is for every team in every major sport. Sure, chemistry counts for something, and in football, it might even amount to 1 or 2 wins. It won’t, however, be “the biggest key this season”.
Oh, and you used “dominate” wrong. I hope you did that on purpose in mocking fun of all the idiots who often do on blogs or comment sections.
by tyger1147 on Sep 6, 2008 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well...um, not really
There are two new starters on the offensive line this year, so I would say chemistry or continuity are the most important. Remember how many times the offense failed to score because of a penalty or their inability to execute plays in the red zone? That means they had the talent to get there, but couldn’t because of mental errors. The difference between winning and losing in the NFL is very small. Just look how badly the Bears team played as a whole last season, but still managed to win 7 games. Not only that, they were in almost every game. So don’t tell me they don’t have enough talent to be successful.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
by propheteer on Sep 6, 2008 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they don't have enough talent to be successful
there, I said it.
I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad
by thecoolest on Sep 6, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's pretty typical
That’s fine if you want to be negative before a single snap. That’s certainly your right as a fan, but I disagree about the talent. With that being said, they surely have a lot of question marks on offense. The other 2/3 of game (defense and ST) they should have covered. Thus, giving them a pretty good chance at winning most ball games.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
by propheteer on Sep 6, 2008 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
John St. Clair and Josh Beekman are your new starters, no?
Yeah, a magically good “chemistry” will make them good.
And just to throw a curveball: the ineptitude of the offense will, just like we saw last year, wear down the defense. It will also, for the most part, cause other teams to be very, very careful in kicking to Devin Hester, where they may not have last year.
This isn’t baseball where simply great pitching can keep you in most games.
by tyger1147 on Sep 6, 2008 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this was not
a team that moved the ball well then faltered in the red zone.
they failed to score because they failed to move the ball consistently.
being “in” everey game is more nfl parity than bear ability in this case i think.
by mike b on Sep 6, 2008 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
go back to the game tape
I’m not saying they moved the ball very well, but because of Hester they never had to move the ball far at all. When they moved into enemy territory they bogged down as a result of bad penalties and dropped passes. Now that the aforementioned guilty have left town (Miller, Moose, and Berrian), maybe and hopefully someone will step up when it counts. Again, the margin of victory in the NFL is very, very small. Even in the SB the Bears had a chance at the end of the game to win. Another example are the Packer games last year, and the year before. Both teams with nothing to play for, beat the snot out of the team with the best record in the NFC. Case in point.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
by propheteer on Sep 6, 2008 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they bogged down everywhere
meaning that they in fact did not have the talent to “get there” offensively.
and again, its parity more than the bears having the talent to me.
by mike b on Sep 6, 2008 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW, where's the fourth option?
“Who gives a shit?”
Or the fifth option:
“I hate what this guy says, but I continue to read it anyway!”
by tyger1147 on Sep 6, 2008 6:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
man i'm glad!!!!!!!!!!
that noone is on the Bears bandwagon.
the Bears seem to play better when the expectations are low. now all i ask is for all you haters(especially the bears fans on this site) that can’t find any positive what so ever, to not jump on the band wagon and act like your a die hard fan if the Bears do play well this season.
it seems to me that most everyone on here is just like the journalists and only wants to say the will Bears faulter. to me that is not a true fan. ya they may suck this year, and you know what, they may hit the playoffs too. the Bears play better ball when everyone thinks they’re the underdog.
if they bomb and go 1-15 i’ll still be a fan. if they play above 500 or better yet make the playoffs then i’ll still be the guy rooting for them regardless.
positive thinking will bring positive results. think about it, if you are constantly told you suck at (what ever you feel your good at) then what will happen?? instead of finding everything wrong with this team, has anyone on here reflected on the good things that can happen this year??? there are other Bears sites out there and i believe that none of them are as negative as this site. i’m sure most on here will say “they call it like they see it” but where’s the loyality?
win or lose, i’ll always be a fan and an optimistic one at that.
oh and let the flaming begin………i pick the Bears to beat Indy tommorrow!!!!!!!!!!!
by coolgjc on Sep 6, 2008 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
it seems to me that most everyone on here is just like the journalists and only wants to say the will Bears faulter. to me that is not a true fan.
How does that not make you a fan? You can still be a fan and not believe that your team is good enough to be successful. It’s sad but in my opinion, it’s true.
I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad
by thecoolest on Sep 6, 2008 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
IMHO: not being a true fan
is when you WISH for the team to falter. Saying that it looks like they WILL isn’t the same thing.
I want the Bears to win, kick ass and maybe take a few names… but I don’t know if they will. I don’t know if they can tackle well enough to be consistently good enough. I don’t know if our O can score touchdowns. But I’ll be watching every week HOPING they can and do.
Maybe thats not a true fan to you… but its the best I’ve got.
Missing Milton...
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 7, 2008 1:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
single dumbest thing i have ever read
that can’t find any positive what so ever, to not jump on the band wagon and act like your a die hard fan if the Bears do play well this season.
go ahead and walk around pretending life is all roses and tity fucks. see how much better that makes you.
i’m sure most on here will say "they call it like they see it" but where’s the loyality?
i’m still here and watching games. and paying a few hundred bucks extra than most to do it.
positive thinking will bring positive results. think about it, if you are constantly told you suck at (what ever you feel your good at) then what will happen??
if i am mentally tough i kick ass and rise above it. if i am a pussy i succumb to it and make excuses.
i said they could be vey good in 06. said they would suck in 07. saying 08 could be like 05 but much more likely will be like 07. wow, i am such an asshole, i said they would only be good one year ouf of the three,
by mike b on Sep 7, 2008 1:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
To the third quote (I didn't read the initial comment):
We should all think positive because the Bears will FEEL it and they’ll love us and want to play harder for us, the fan!!!!!!! GoCare Bears!!!!
by tyger1147 on Sep 7, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm no Rick Morrissey fan
but Barry Rozner is the most negative SOB I’ve ever read. And thats including all the internet boards I’ve been part of. He’s nasty, mean, and usually completely wrong…. but never willing to apologize for saying something like. “he’s not injured, its all in his crazy Venezuelan head”. What a maroon.
Missing Milton...
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 7, 2008 1:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL at that "poll"
I’d love for the Bears to pull out the upset, but the fact that more people have the Bears winning is a joke.
As for the article, well its not wrong. Sensationalized… maybe. But I have never been so upset with my team before the season even started.
by 815Sox on Sep 7, 2008 5:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
damn
its a good thing the BEARS SUCK ASS like all of youidie hard fans seem to think. i believe the Colts just took a lickin’. and save the injury shit, the bears were injured all last year and you guys still ripped them. and for all the guys that ripped my opinion on how this site is too negative, blow me!!!!!
by coolgjc on Sep 7, 2008 10:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
so in other words
you can’t argue a single one of those points.
the problem with mongoloids like you is that you don’t realize that all of us negative people are just as happy with the result as cheerleders like you are. and now we get a win and still get to make fun of your dumb ass.
by mike b on Sep 7, 2008 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
mongoloid??
non of your comments are worht the arguement. as they are worthless and have no value after the Bears played the way they did tonite.
man, u will find the negative in everything. your glass is always half empty isn’t it?
you and 85% of the guys on here have already written the Bears’ season off. you can make fun of me all you want to. but i went into this game feeling the Bears would win and you didn’t think they had a chance in hell.
you can make fun of me all you want to and call me a dumb ass all you want to. that fact of the matter is, is i said they would win tonite and i didn’t hear any prediction from you. i’m sure you would’ve picked Indy since the spread was 91/2 points. so make fun of my dumbass all you want, i took the Bears before the game and your still looking to find negatives.
i took your focus off ther Bears and put it on myself is all. and yes you can BLOW this dumbass.
by coolgjc on Sep 7, 2008 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
where hero?
and your still looking to find negatives.
by mike b on Sep 7, 2008 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
look at your posts
you’ll find the negativity there
by coolgjc on Sep 7, 2008 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The preseason did not look good
Tonight was much better. This site is negative at times, so what? Find me one that isn’t. Regardless, there weren’t tons of positive things flowing from the Bears’ future this year. They played great tonight, and no one will doubt it. Let’s leave it at that.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
by ChiFan13 on Sep 7, 2008 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
point is
that people on here are too hard on the team before the season even starts. no benefit of the doubt. if the Bears listen to most on here, they might as well forfeit the whole season.
it all starts in believing good things can happen. negativity does nothing for noone in any aspect of life.
by coolgjc on Sep 7, 2008 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
see they wouldn't do that
if the Bears listen to most on here, they might as well forfeit the whole season.
becasue they aren’t pussies.
by mike b on Sep 7, 2008 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so where is your stand????
you have said all off season that the bears will suck. so tell me, what is your take on the team? one minute they suck and the next they aren’t pussies? c’mon where do you stand in your feelings on the season
by coolgjc on Sep 7, 2008 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
never said they were pussies
in fact, i said they weren’t while you were worried about their feelings from all the negativity.
i stand the same why i always have. they could be 05 or 07. my money would be on 07 but tonight they looked better than 05.
they did little to nothing to get better offensively. big gamble.
by mike b on Sep 7, 2008 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well hell flip a coin right?
while you ride the fence, i will back the team. good or bad. and i believe the offense has been upgraded somewhat. the running game is better. the line looks decent, better run blocking than last year. we got a running back that can block on third down.
but i know, no upgrades at all right?
by coolgjc on Sep 8, 2008 12:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they're playing better
that doesn’t men they upgraded anything same line and rookie receivers. beumming working out would be a ncie upgrade. jones and forte ARE upgrades.
upgraded somewhat.
yeah man, that is hard core confidence.
while you ride the fence, i will back the team. good or bad
i’m still watching dumbass. i’m just not going to be a cheerleader who shouts “lolz!!! awzome bears” all off season no mattter what they do.
by mike b on Sep 8, 2008 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
look up loyalty
and “yes man”
not the same thing.
by mike b on Sep 8, 2008 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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