For Bears, all that matters is the standings

Sometimes you are set right where you are. Sometimes you want more — when what you have is enough for the time being.

You can be average but have the aura of a king, or be royal-like with a lofty but counterproductive position.

At this point of the season, I’m happy with the Bears’ record of 4-2 because it’s really where you are in the standings that matters most.

Do you think Dallas fans are crying because they are a .500 team at 3-3 or ecstatic because they are in a tie for first place in the NFC East?

The record doesn’t matter; it’s where you are and where you will end up in the standings.

So as I was thinking about the Bears’ season so far, I look at the losing teams they have beaten and losses to the New Orleans Saints and the Detroit Lions.

Now we could look back and say we should have defeated this team or that, but if the Bears do get into the playoffs by the skin of their chinny chin chin I will look at the first game of the season when the boys came back from 11 down to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

Without that close one, the Bears would be 3-3, and I know they would not want to play Cincy right now.

As I look at the standings we are in first place with Detroit, and that’s all that counts for now.

Handicapping with the stars:

I love the movie “Rounders,” poker and normal guys like Chris Moneymaker who won the 2003 World Series of Poker out of nowhere.

Well, I’m experiencing something like that right now.

I’m making some picks at Vegasscoresandodds.com on a page with other handicappers who have made their mark in the art of wagering.

Guys like Jim Feist, Chip Chirimbes, Jeff Allen and more. As a young guy growing up I watched tout shows from Jimmy the Greek to Wayne Root trying to get an edge. When you continue to pay more than you collect, you try to come up with a system and remedies for when you make those trips to Vegas.

Longtime friend Jeff Schwartz introduced me to Jeff Allen, who owns and runs a handicapping service. He heard me pick games and said I should join him.

I finally said yes and jumped on about a month ago. I like to do well in whatever I try, and so far I’m doing fine.

Check the standings out. I love competing. I’m actually leading some legends along the way, and that’s a gas. I could lose 20 in a row, but that’s the game.

But for now it’s AG, I’m at Vegasscoresandodds.com.

Program notes:I#146;m in Los Angeles all this week filling in for Jay Mohr on Fox Sports radio from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Check me out on XM 247, iHeart radio or Fox sports radio.Listen to the Mike North Pregame Show on Sundays from 10 a.m.-noon on AM-560 The Answer.ŸMike North#146;s column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.