Chicago Bears

So the Bears won yesterday and finished 10-6 on the year, a 2-game improvement upon 2011. Normally this doesn't get your coach fired, but when the coach has been there for 9 seasons and has only put together back-to-back winning seasons once, normal doesn't apply. So the Bears owners (maybe management) did what I'd say 99% of Bears fans wanted and fired Lovie today.

These few paragraphs from the Trib story sum up his Bears' career best.

Since Smith took over in 2004, the Bears have ranked higher than 23rd in offense only once. They have ranked 28th or lower four times.

Since 2004, the Bears defense ranks first in the league in takeaways, three-and-out drives forced and third-down percentage and is fourth in scoring defense.

Smith's defenders scored 34 touchdowns, which became a signature of the Bears' style of play.

There was some good, some bad and I'm sure after 9 years of a defense first team, many fans will be screaming for an offensive first coach. Sure. But if that happens, you know by mid-season the same fans will be complaining why the defense doesn't get takeaways anymore. Regardless of what the future holds, the Bears finally got rid of the past they held on well past the expiration date. So as the hope of the New Year approaches, the hope for a new Bears dynasty comes with it.

Technically it's a new year I guess, but Angelo's firing culminated in the failure of 2011. A lot of you already mentioned the Bears hiring Bill Polian whom I believe Lovie Smith is familiar with.

As for the Cubs, all quiet on the western front. Garza rumors swirl, but my guess is Theo is running into the same issues that Kenny Williams ran into trying to move John Danks. The return in prospects isn't going to be as bountiful with only a year or two left of club control and the player already earning high end arbitration dollars. Garza does have one more year before being free agent eligible though and in the end, it just takes one sucker. Allegedly the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers and Marlins are the most interested. I also read some rumor about Marlon Byrd possibly being the compensation to the Red Sox. I can't even recall where I heard that, so don't put much stock into it.