The finish of the Chicago Bears season usually brings a sense of melancholy to followers who depend upon the crew for his or her weekly leisure, for higher or (often) worse.
Unfortunately, there’s no know-how out there to take care of the affliction, like gentle remedy lamps or different newfangled units invented to assist struggle off seasonal affective dysfunction.
The NFL playoffs can present a little bit of reduction, however the ardour is nontransferable. Even in the event you’ve chosen to leap on the bandwagon of the Detroit Lions or another crew, it doesn’t actually matter whether or not they win or lose.
So for the subsequent seven months, till the preseason schedule begins in early August, Chicagoans should be taught to deal with the post-Bears blues. They can nonetheless debate Justin Fields’ future and what to do with the No. 1 choose for a number of months till the draft, however in any other case it figures to be an extended, exhausting slog till the 2024 season, due to the abysmal state of the Chicago sports activities scene.
Here’s what we’ve to look ahead to in Chicago till the return of the Bears:
Star-free Blackhawks
The season unofficially was placed on maintain one week in the past when Connor Bedard’s jaw was damaged by a success from Brendan Smith throughout a 4-2 loss in New Jersey on Jan. 5. The 18-year-old rookie was not solely the Hawks’ finest participant and prime drawing card, it may very well be argued he was the one motive to look at them in any respect throughout the first half of one other rebuilding season.
The Hawks, who had the league’s second-lowest level whole (26) as of Wednesday, introduced Bedard underwent profitable surgical procedure to restore his jaw and could be out of the lineup for about 6-8 weeks. Few rookies have been requested to hold a complete franchise on their backs the best way Bedard has, each on the ice and as a advertising and marketing instrument. The United Center has largely been crammed with followers desirous to see the child play, taking among the sting out of a lackluster season.
If Bedard returns by March 2, the Hawks can have 10 house video games left to salvage what might have been a record-setting rookie season. Until then, nobody might be blamed for tuning out the Hawks.
Nonstop Bulls drama
The Ring of Honor ceremony Friday evening on the United Center may very well be the spotlight of the season, not less than if everybody invited exhibits up.
The Bulls as soon as once more are a sub-.500 crew combating for a play-in spot for the second straight season, with an 18-21 document after Wednesday’s additional time win over the Houston Rockets. It appears like a repeat of final season, albeit with extra drama.
The Bulls have performed higher since Coby White changed Zach LaVine as one of many go-to scorers, however now that LaVine has returned from the injured listing and is progressively getting his legs again, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than he’s again to taking 18-20 photographs per evening.
How will the Bulls regulate when LaVine is as soon as once more the main focus of the offense?
The Feb. 8 commerce deadline may very well be the top of the LaVine period in Chicago, or it may very well be a continuation of a clumsy relationship that neither aspect appears fascinated about persevering with.
The Bulls by no means lack for drama, although at this level it’s getting previous.
Cubs being Cubs
Almost two months after altering managers, the Cubs lastly made a significant roster addition with the reported signing of 30-year-old Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga.
Rome wasn’t in-built a day, however president Jed Hoyer’s meticulous strategy to roster development has examined the persistence of most Cubs followers, who anticipated extra when Craig Counsell was introduced on.
Will they or gained’t they signal Cody Bellinger? And even when they do, will it nonetheless be sufficient to place the Cubs in playoff rivalry by the point the Bears begin again up?
One manner or one other, Counsell can have a lineup card prepared at hand out when the Cactus League season begins Feb. 23 towards the White Sox. The solely certainty is that Wrigley Field shall be a drawing card on sizzling summer season days, whether or not Hoyer will get it proper this winter or not.
It has all the time been the Cubs’ safety blanket.
Vanishing White Sox followers
The largest distinction between the Blackhawks and the White Sox is Hawks followers will come out to look at an terrible crew if they’ve somebody like Bedard to give attention to. The Sox haven’t any such participant on the present roster, and the minimal spending this offseason by normal supervisor Chris Getz suggests they don’t intend to acquire one any time quickly.
Top prospect Colson Montgomery is taken into account the subsequent massive factor, however the Sox don’t wish to rush the shortstop, even on a rebuilding crew that might use a gate attraction. Luis Robert Jr. is a famous person within the making, however he’s not ok but to persuade Sox followers to purchase tickets simply to look at him play on a dropping crew.
In quick, it may very well be a lonely season within the bleachers at Sox Park, which not less than would make it tougher to get hit by a wayward bullet. By August the Sox may very well be taking part in out the string and Pedro Grifol may very well be on the new seat.
But by then we’ll already be wanting ahead to a brand new Bears season, and the angst begins over again.
Can hardly wait.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com