A turn-Colt?

Of all of the disturbing e-mail I receive each day, and you've seen many examples published right here, NOTHING has left me so disturbed than what you are about to view by scrolling down.

Folks fortunate to work at the Northwest Herald circa 2002 probably recall Human Resources Manager Kathy Oliveira. She was my good friend and counsel there for a decade and it is fair to say that she was one of the nicest, kindest people people I met during my tenure in Crystal Lake, Ill.

As I recall, Kathy was not just known as a great co-worker and friend to many, but also as a terrific wife, mom and grandma. And I recall that she raised several sons as God-fearing, Chicago Bears fans. Her husband, Richard, eventually whisked her away to Indiana and I trusted that all would end happily ever after...

Not so. According to the picture below, poor Kathy may have been brainwashed by some bizarre cult. The only message accompanying the picture?

"GO COLTS!"

Oh. My. God.



More later.


Mark

Bear Down, Bear Down Very Much

Well, it turns out Neil was right. It also turns out that you can find ANYTHING on YouTube.com.

Watch at your own risk:



More later,


Mark

Be Still My Heart

Those evil souls at NFLShop.Com have allowed my imagination to run wild this morning with this tempting e-mail:

"Pre-Order Your Super Bowl XLI Championship Gear Today! Shop Now:"

Championship Gear

Oh, but to dream...

More later,


Mark

The Michigan View

Noted former prominent journalist Neil C. Hopp writes:

It's time for something else to be posted on your blog besides all
that personal Bears braggadocio.

So attached is my submission.

If Elvis were alive – and who's to say he isn't – he would rooting
for the Bears.

My, my, look at the head of hair!

Neil



Sadly, Neil must have forgotten that I have old pictures as well...

More later (this time a threat as much as a promise),


Mark

More time? More Bears!

More NFC Championship Celebrations!


Thanks for all of the kudos for the first round of "All Chicago Bears, All The Time." Here are 21 more links - some admittedly on the weird side - for a total Super Bowl list of 41 ways to celebrate the Bears championship season!


Keep up with the Chicago Bears!

Chicago Sun-Times Web Site

Chicago Tribune's Web Site

CBS' Bears Web Site


Cool Bears swag

Bears Neon Light

Bling Ring

Bears Version of Monopoly

Luxury Bears swag

Ultra Bears Watch

Need a Couch? A Chair?

A $40,000 Super Bowl Book


Wear a jersey for ANY Bear player

The ONLY Way to Get a Kyle Orton Jersey


Watch the Bears on your computer

Bears Videos on Google

Bears Videos on YouTube.Com


Odd stuff about...

Peyton Manning

Brian Urlacher


Soldier Field from space!

Zillow.Com


Peyton Manning explains last year's loss

He's Trying to be a Good Teammate


The Fan sites

My Brother Is Going to the Super Bowl

A Fan's Tribute

A Fan's Slideshow After the Saints Game

Another Fan Tribute


Adopt-A-Bear Program

Watch Out, Stephen Colbert!


Those who live in the past are NOT cowards and losers!

Something Called the Sportsecyclopedia

More later,


Mark

We Have A Winner!

At 7:17:06 p.m. EST (6:17:06 p.m. CST) a "private user" on the Ameritech.Net/SBC Internet Services from Illinois became the 5,000th visitor to Mark's World! I hereby crown you as Mr. - or Ms. - 5,000! Long may you reign!

Thanks for visiting!

More later,


Mark

Who is Mr. (or Ms.) 5,000?

Wow! We here at Mark's World will likely greet our 5,000th visitor today! That kinda sneaked up on me!

I have no idea why anyone would even care to stop by 18 months after this noble experiment in online mischief commenced but I am happy that at least 10 people have made 500 visits. My pledge to all 10 of you - and one of you is probably me - that the next 18 months will feature, uhm, more of the same...

We have some cool augmentations coming up in future weeks (post -Super Bowl!) so stick around and tell your friends! As always, thanks for hanging out a bit in Mark's World!

More later,


Mark

All Chicago Bears, All The Time!

Fan Cam of the Championship Celebration!

Here's a Super Bowl list of 20 – pause to enjoy that warm memory – ways to enjoy all of the excitement that is accompanying the Chicago Bears triumphant destruction of the New Orleans Saints and their march to Miami:

Keep up with the Bears!

Official Bears Web Site

Official Super Bowl Web Site

Stream The Bears

Sports Illustrated Bears Site

Bears News on Yahoo!

Put The Bears on Your iPod

Buys some Bears stuff!

Order That Championship T-shirt

Order That Super Bowl XLI Program

Order a Cool Commemorative Football

Order Every Other Bears/Super Bowl Thing Known to Man

Score Some Fantastic Autographs

Plan That Super Bowl Party

Upcoming events!

Check eBay for Super Bowl Tickets

Lust After Super Bowl Tickets You Could NEVER Afford

Tickets for ALL of the XLI parties!

The '07 Bears Convention Will Be HUGE!

Those who live in the past are NOT cowards and losers!

Bears History on Wikipedia

Super Bowl XX Boxscore

The Greatest Bear

A Close Second


Fan Cam of the Victory Over the Seahawks!

Report any dead links!

More later,


Mark







 

That Other Team...

The beloved Bears will play the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl LXI. The Colts have that annoying guy who is in all of those commercials as their quarterback. No, not Jared. That OTHER guy. The one who could never win the big game. No, not Dan Marino, although his diet commercials ARE annoying. I think his name rhymes with "Satan."

More later,


Mark

Bear freakin' down!

Oh, glorious day! Another sunny day in Florida. Puts me to mind of a song...

And when the sun begins to shine
And when the sun begins to shine
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the sun begins to shine!

Everybody: Sing!

Oh, when the Saints go slinking home,
Oh, when the Saints go slinking home
Lord the Bears sure have their number
So let the Saints go slinking home!

Bears win: 39-14. And now for some commentary.

Frank Caliendo can go to hell - and he can take that over-done John Madden impression with him. He's picked against the Bears in the last three-out-of-four times and he's a smug little pile of stupid.

The same goes for the entire pro-New Orleans Saints Fox NFL crew. Boom!

Clearly, I have a bias, too. Which is why my butt was at home soaking up the HD in a familiar chair groove cheering the Bears in a jersey with an accumulating taint and NOT in front of a FOX camera crew.

So, what is their excuse?

Who dat gonna beat da Saints?

Uhm, I believe the answer is something to the effect of, "Why, kind sir, if your query is 'Which superior team will defeat the New Orleans Saints?' then my answer can only be, "The Chicago Bears of the National Football League's Northern Division in the National Football Conference.'"

I have another answer as well: "By the way, in the case of the next hurricane, my good fellow, please take advantage of the two-day advanced warning and evacuate the city at once as rising waters will overwhelm most areas that are situated below sea-level causing catastrophic flooding, destruction of personal property and loss of life."

I am sorry, all of those post-Katrina segments which are merely lame attempts to anoint the Saints as "America's Team" have turned me surly... Fox could not have done a segment about what the Bears mean to Chicago? Why not send Terry Bradshaw to the old Cabrini Green neighborhood and find some poor folks who, likewise, live through the Bears?

Maybe he's afraid some thug would bust a cap in his fat, bald head...

Wow, I've turned against the city of New Orleans – a city I love, by the way (even if I almost died in there during my last visit). If this seems kinda grouchy and less euphoric than expected, I am sorry: There will be plenty of time to regale in the days and weeks ahead. I am just a little ticked off that the Bears have been so disrespected, especially during the FOX pre-game show today.

Hey, Troy Aikman, can you discuss Rex Grossman's lack of confidence next week ... wait. I'm sorry, it turns out Troy Aikman's season is over as Fox must put away its lame, post-James Brown-era NFL studio. Meanwhile, the Bears are going on to Super Bowl LXI on CBS Feb. 4! Back to you, J.B.!

In fact, here's a partial list of folks (and things) for whom the season is over:

• The New Orleans Saints
• 28 other teams in the NFL
• The Fox NFL crew
• The Seattle Seahawks
• Anyone who auditioned for "American Idol" in Seattle
• The Miami Dolphins (in 2007-08)
• George Bush's speech writer
• Saddam Hussein's execution videographer
• Don Rumsfeld's apologists
• Karl Rove's sense of superiority
• Donovan McNabb's mom
• A good chunk of L.A., judging by TV's "24"
• The Chicago Cubs
• Jay Mariotti
• The Ohio Buckeyes
• Pluto
• John McCain
• Benny Parsons
• Andy Bernard
• Goliath
• Mike Nifong

Of the list, I am only sad for Parsons. And, maybe, Pluto.

So, the Bears vs. some other team in Super Bowl XLI! And all is perfect in the world!

More later,


Mark

Bears Win! Bears Win! Bears Win!

©

Well, the Saints are comin' because the Bears have won it!

Surely, there are less heart-attack inducing ways to win a game, but at this point in the NFL season, a win is a win is a win is a win.

And the Bears won.

Thirty-two teams began the season. Then there were four. The Seattle Seahawks were game, but fell in overtime 27-24. Rex clearly read and took heed of my comments last week and for that I am indeed grateful. He played like a champ!

The defense, however, needs to put in some practice on those delay/draws up the middle in long-yardage, passing situations. If I am New Orleans, and I am not, I would have taken note of how effective that play was against the Bears defense.

Now, as we fired up the Hitachi today for the glory of Bears HD-tini's, I wore the same unwashed Bears jersey that I wore for every game this season (except the game against that filthy team of cheaters from Wisconsin). I will NOT have it washed until after the Super Bowl.

And for the Super Bowl, should we be so lucky, my dream party would be at the beach. Put up the pop-up pavilion on the beach, fire up the portable black-and-white TV and let the Tiki punch flow!

Oh, and take Monday off and spend the day watching the replay over and over and over and ...

But, I am getting wa-a-a-a-ay ahead of myself and the Bears.

Ironically, we spent the weekend finishing the Bears-themed study in our new home. I really should open a Bears museum some day. Autographed balls from Payton, Urlacher, Grossman and Ditka. Team-signed balls from 1969, 1995 and 2000. Framed autographs from Sayers, Butkus, Singletary and Grange.

Unlike those many poser fans who try to glean their cred from, say, using corporate-sponsored tickets to attend games, my collection represents a lifetime of hard-earned Bears fandom.

My Dad won the 1969 ball at father-son night at St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Kankakee, Ill., when he correctly answered Dick Butkus' trivia question. It is our family's version of "a major award." We ran into Red Grange at the first-ever showdown between the Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when we were vacationing in Florida during the preseason in 1976. Walter signed my picture "To Mark..."

Ah, memories...

Every item has a story. I tracked down every player from Super Bowl XX who had an official football card issued before Super Bowl XX and had each sign one for a cool multi-card display. My parents kept running into Bears players at United Way events after Super Bowl XX and secretly carried a Bears yearbook to the events to gain signatures to surprise my brother and I for Christmas in 1986 (which also featured those shiny vinyl Bears jackets that Ditka always wore as presents). Not on display currently is an autographed Breckenridge beer bottle from Kevin Butler from a bar excursion during training camp in Platteville, Wis. back in the day. Through the years, I personally collected 11 autographs on the cover of my Super Bowl XX program.

And on and on it goes: I have thousands of original football cards of Bears players dating to 1956, dozens of action figures dating back to 1989 and a Mike McCaskey-signed letter noting I am an original member of the Chicago Bears Fan Club.

Perhaps the craziest collectible of all: I saved dozen of VHS tapes of Bears games dating to 1986. My Dad has volunteered to dub them all onto DVD.

Anyway, the Bears are hosting the NFC championship game next week and the sweetest thing about today's win for the fans is the ability to brag and dream and recall what was and hope for what is to come.

The season continues! Great job, Bears!

More later,


Mark

Mr. Twain Has The Floor

President Bush delivered a major address on the so-called "way forward" in Iraq Wednesday night. Regardless of the politics, it was a spectacularly historical moment. And while the pundits and the talking heads spent hours before and after dissecting every word, I wondered about our obligation to not just listen, but to react as well.

How about you? Did you weigh in? Have you ever shared your views on this war with anyone? I was reminded recently of these words of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain. I yield the floor to the gentleman from Missouri:

"For in a republic, who is 'the Country?' Is it the Government which is for the moment in the saddle? Why, the Government is merely a servant — merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them.

"Who, then, is 'the Country?' Is it the newspaper? Is it the pulpit? Is it the school-superintendent? Why, these are mere parts of the country, not the whole of it; they have not command, they have only their little share in the command. They are but one in the thousand; it is in the thousand that command is lodged; they must determine what is right and what is wrong; they must decide who is a patriot and who isn’t.

"In a monarchy, the king and his family are the country; in a republic it is the common voice of the people. Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must speak. And it is a solemn and weighty responsibility, and not lightly to be flung aside at the bullying of pulpit, press, government, or the empty catch-phrases of politicians.

"Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide it against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may.

"If you alone of all the nation shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country — hold up your head! You have nothing to be ashamed of."

Smart words, indeed. And smart words are always timely.

My view on the President's speech and his idea to send more troops? Not just "No," but "Hell no!" President Bush and his administration have misplayed the Iraq situation consistently from the beginning and I have no faith in their abilities now.

He has stubbornly ignored good men and women who dared suggest what he admitted Wednesday night: That mistakes were made and that he is responsible. "Our past efforts to secure Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of terrorists and insurgents. And there were too many restrictions on the troops we did have," he said.

Thus, in my view, he has arrogantly squandered political currency (let alone lives, billions of dollars and U.S. credibility abroad) on the matter. His latest plan represents far too little, far too late. In fact, this seems more like a desperate attempt to save his legacy than a serious attempt to undo the quagmire of the Iraq War. The speech seemed to reflect the same stubbornness that has exemplified - and damaged - his presidency. Americans need to stop dying because they are trapped in the middle of a civil war that has roots older than our very republic.

If you need source material for the journey to my viewpoint, I suggest you check out:

• "Chasing Ghosts" by Paul Rieckhoff
• "Cobra II" by Michael R. Gordon and Gen. Bernard E. Trainor
• "State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III" by Bob Woodward

That's my view. So, whether you support the President or whether you have an opposing viewpoint, it is time to get off the fence. State your opinion in some way! How about taking some time to contact the White House?

Mailing address
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Phone Numbers
Comment: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

E-Mail
comments@whitehouse.gov

Stand up and be counted. It is the least you can do for your country.

More later,


Mark

Good Morning, Rex

The Florida Gators, your alma mater, have captured the national college title in dominant fashion.

So, what about your current team, the Chicago Bears? Are they ready to do likewise? Are you ready to lead them? Will you take Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks seriously?

You have much to prove to your fans, your alma mater and yourself.

I just thought I would remind you.

More later,


Mark

Give 'War' A Chance

Marvel Comics has re-energized the fanboy in me with its current "Civil War" storyline.

Some quick history: In the early 1960s, DC Comics was the unchallenged king of the superhero world with characters that had been around since the 1930s like Batman and Superman. But the storylines were getting more and more outlandish: Batman in space; Superman with a super dog and a Supergirl cousin with a super cat.

In 1961, the remnants of a publishing company once known for heroes from the World War II era - Captain America, Submariner, the Human Torch - hired editor/writer Stan Lee to relaunch the Marvel Comics brand with a twist: These superheroes would have real-life problems and would be based in real-life places like New York City.

One of Marvel's first new characters, Spiderman, was almost an immediate hit: Scrawny, four-eyed Peter Parker was victimized by bullies at school and after he was bitten by a radioactive spider, he learned – by the death of his Uncle Ben – that with great power comes great responsibility. It was relatable then and, still, 40 years later when director Sam Raimi remade the story into a powerful film franchise.

Over the years, DC and Marvel fought hard for readers who quickly separated into distinct camps: The Merry Marvel Marching Society and the DC Apologists. The rivalry was on! My brother Eric was mostly loyal to DC (cough!) while I made mine Marvel.

Truly, the fortunes of each brand would be determined by each company's ability to develop (or steal) talent or come up with storylines that catapulted comics into the mainstream: The death of Superman; the art of Alex Ross; the casting of Jessica Alba for the "Fantastic Four" movie, to name but a few.

Last summer, Marvel launched a storyline that has been carried through all of its major comic titles: "Civil War." In a nutshell, some b-level superheroes were part of a reality show and when they attempted to capture some bad guys, things went wrong. An ensuing explosion killed more than 600 people – many of them children at a nearby school – in Stamford, Ct. The public backlash was, as well could be imagined, huge and Congress passed a registration act: Superheroes either had to register with the government or they were captured and held without trial. Secret identities, no more!

The parallels to what is going on in the world today are often obvious from internment without trials to the debate over privacy rights. The story is a hit because it is instantly relatable, in the Marvel tradition, and it is so different from anything that has been written in comics in decades.

The story is dark: Captain America opposes the registration act (and the very government he embodies) and leads the underground resistance. His former compatriot, industrialist Tony Stark (Iron Man) sees the registration as the natural evolution of the superhero world in the 21st Century. Other heroes have divided up along those lines. Journalists, meanwhile, are about to break a big story which seems to be that Stark has made secret profits because of his connections to the government.

The story has nuances of the War on Terror, detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, domestic spying, Halliburton, etc. It shakes up relationships, long-held beliefs and simple notions about a complex world.

Now, what most non-comic book readers are unaware of is that most major comic books today are written and edited by guys in the 30's, 40's and 50's and, therefore, enjoyed by guys in their 30's, 40's and 50's. The list of celebrity fanboys runs the diverse gamut from radio personality Howard Stern to actor Nicolas Cage (who famously dumped his comic book collection when he married Lisa Marie Presley and famously spent ensuing years rebuilding it after he dumped her) to comedian Jerry Seinfeld to rock legend Paul McCartney to pretty boys Ben Affleck, Ashton Kutcher and Keanu Reeves to singer/songwriter K.D. Lang. OK, you can argue that Kutcher and Reeves aren't all that diverse and, in fact, may be the same person, but the point remains.

In fact, I was struck Saturday while in the comic book shop that, thanks to Civil War, the customers are definitely older, grayer, fatter these days than the "kids" behind the counter. Go figure! Still, it is clear younger readers are, too, enjoying the books and I hope the series causes them to look around at their world and ask some pointed questions about freedoms they might take for granted.

Next month, the Civil War seven-part series ends in a finale that, judging by issue No. 6 this past week, will either be the greatest comic book ever written or the biggest disappointment since "Infinite Crisis." The stakes are high in the world of fanboys and we eagerly await the outcome of a series that has more "OMIGOD!" moments packed into each chapter than an average episode of the also-great TV series, "24."

To read more about "Civil War," including a story synopsis through issue No. 6, check out: Wikipedia Entry

To find a comic book shop dealer near you, go to: Diamond Comics

'Nuff said! Excelsior!

More later,


Mark

Grrrrrrr......

I have some exclusive footage of Rex Grossman from last night's post-game buffet:



OK, the loss is partially my fault. Well, actually partially Mary's fault. All season-long, I have worn the same blue jersey for each Bears game. It's the official Urlacher jersey given to me by former comrades for Christmas in 2004. Sunday night, I wore the new orange jersey Mary gave me for Christmas.

OMIGOD!

The orange jersey has been retired. Now, if we can do something about Rex...

We ushered in the new year with some good champagne - Piper Sonoma Brut - and then some funny movies to dull the murderous rage inspired by watching those filthy, cheating cheeseheads (Hey, No. 65: How did you get away with holding on EVERY freakin' play?) defile Soldier Field as John Madden pined away about that dopey quarterback like a school girl with a crush.

The movies we enjoyed into the wee hours: "Young Frankenstein" and "My Cousin Vinny."

Great comedy, there. The Bears? Not so funny...

But, all is not lost: We're going to spend the holiday on the beach. And there's not another painful game for two weeks.

Kyle Orton: Shave that beard and get ready for your close-up...

More later,


Mark