North: Random thoughts on Bears, Wallenda and more
Time for some random thoughts.
It was a serenely quiet day Sunday, even with the time change.
Do you know why?
Because Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and the Chicago Bears had the day off, giving the fans the day off. No game meant no loss and no aggravation.
• I understand the fear and caution with Derrick Rose over his ankle injury. We gasp and hold our breath every time he lands, but will he be running to the locker room every time he gets hurt?
If so, then the Bulls won't be able to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James. It's fine to be careful early in the season, but in game 73 where will Derrick be?
• Not too long ago, the Chicago Cubs Rick Renteria that he was still in the plan. Before he knew what hit him, Joe Maddon was the talk of the town and the next Cubs manager, and Renteria was out.
Hey folks, if you've never had severance pay let me explain it. Renteria will get two years of pay and not have to work.
Hey Rick — enjoy it!
• I had fun talking about everything under the sun on WLS 890-AM on Friday with a great crew. Steve Dahl and I talked a bit at the studio about the past, the present and the future. His show debuts Monday from 2-6 p.m.
• Congratulations to Nik Wallenda for his successful tightrope walk high above the Chicago River between Marina City's West Tower and the Leo Burnett Building. It was an absolutely amazing feat!
• So Mike Lupica, the New York scribe, says Alabama should be No. 3 in the college rankings. Shouldn't losing to Mississippi, which now has two losses, drop them to 7 or 8 in the rankings?
• San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said he wants to win the big games like Brady and Manning, but I hope he realizes he isn't in their league.
• I'm hearing the movie “Fury” with Brad Pitt is as good as “Saving Private Ryan,” but do I have to actually go to a movie theater to find out?
• Northwestern and Illinois football can't get much worse. The Illini really isn't a surprise, but the Wildcats are.
• The home opener for LeBron James and Cleveland against the New York Knicks was so over hyped that he laid an egg. He said it was one of the greatest nights in sports history.
Hey, LeBron, you didn't even beat the New Orleans Saints-Carolina Panthers game on the NFL Network in the ratings. Michael Jordan would have!
Program notes:
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• North'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.