North: Random thoughts on Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks and more
Time for some random thoughts …
• Hard to believe, but the Bears at 2-6 aren't out of the NFC wild-card race yet. And now that the Cubs are done and the election is over, the Bears will garner more attention. Let's hope they deserve it.
• The Bulls are fun to watch and it's a nice change of pace with no soap opera going on.
• Tom Thibodeau and his Minnesota Timberwolves are currently struggling, but it's early. I watched them win their first road game against the Orlando Magic 123-107 Wednesday evening. Thibs definitely has some work to do there, but it looks like he might have them on the right path.
• The Blackhawks look poised to win another Stanley Cup. I don't think many will disagree.
• Right now the New England Patriots' Tom Brady looks like the MVP of the NFL, and Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys is my pick for Rookie of the Year.
• Colin Kaepernick decided not to vote … OK so what? That accomplished nothing. He played horribly against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday losing 41-23 at home. If he doesn't improve soon, he will be free to work full-time on the issues he cares so much about today.
• Is Cubs president Theo Epstein sober yet? He said he was going to go on a long bender, but it looks like he is already planning and preparing for next year. Take a break pal - you deserve it!
• The National Football League's ratings are still down with bad prime-time matchups and quality of play issues, but we will get a better gauge on the league now that the World Series and election are over.
• I won't mind if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have a rematch. I have sat through a lot worse, and Pacquiao still looks capable after easily beating Jessie Vargas Saturday night in Las Vegas to regain the welterweight belt.
• I talked to a credible source in Vegas who says the chances of the Oakland Raiders moving there are about 50-50, while baseball and the NBA are just an afterthought in Sin City! Professional hockey is already on its way there with play scheduled for the 2017-18 season.
• Last year's Cy Young Award winner, Jake Arrieta, sent a tweet saying it was "time for Hollywood" to pack and "head for the border" with a hashtag about helping them pack!
• James Harden is playing MVP basketball for Houston, and Dwight Howard looks like a good fit in Atlanta.
• If someone thinks Alabama is going to lose in college football this year, please tell me the team that will beat them.
• And finally, what was more shocking this year: the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series or Donald Trump winning the presidency?
• Follow Mike North on Twitter @north2north. His 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.