O’Donnell: For deflated Bears fans, Garoppolo may deserve some Sunday cheer
AT A GLANCE, MAINSTREAM FANS OF THE CHICAGO BEARS have no real vested interest in Sunday's NFC championship game.
Rams-at-Seahawks (5:30 p.m., Fox) …
Bright young Sean McVay vs. bright young Mike Macdonald …
Surfside media and entertainment or Space Needle technology?
Sculpted physiques on the beach or swooping sea gulls on Puget Sound?
Can't split 'em.
THAT IS, UNLESS L.A. QB MATTHEW STAFFORD has a mishap.
Then, waiting for his return to the NFL spotlight will be Arlington Heights' very own Jimmy Garoppolo.
The pride of Rolling Meadows High — now unbelievably age 34 — is completing his second season as prime backup to the 37-year-old Stafford.
Those caddy shackles have meant a whole lotta waiting for “Jimmy G.”
SO FAR THIS SEASON, he's taken a total of nine “knees” to close three games and hasn't thrown a pass.
In 2024 his lone start for the Rams came in their regular-season finale, after they had clinched the NFC West.
That was against some of these same Seahawks. Garoppolo finished 27 of 41 for 334 yards with 2 TDs and 1 interception.
But Seattle won 30-25.
MCVAY TOLD MEDIA THAT he's extremely comfortable with Stafford's seasoned shadow:
“(Jimmy) is so consistent. He has a really good way with people. Whether it's his huddle command, how he handles himself in meeting rooms or how he and Matthew have established a really cool relationship, there are just certain people that have a zest for life and a good aura.
“I just think his vibe is always right.”
IN THE 12TH SEASON OF A PRO CAREER in which he has grossed more than $200M, Garoppolo has every reason to give off good vibrations.
But will an encore national spotlight beckon Sunday?
STREET-BEATIN':
The upgraded celebrity of Caleb Williams will be official in two weeks if he somehow winds up in a commercial during Super Bowl 60. While he's hot, his support team has to show the ingenuity, urgency and connections to seize the window. (With modern technology, anything's possible; a public-service promo for northwest Indiana doesn't count.) …
On all of its platforms, NBC Sports will present more than 3,200 hours covering the 2026 Winter Olympics. (That would require close to 19 full weeks of 24/7 viewing to watch.) Opening ceremonies from the Milan Cortina Games on Feb. 6, will feature Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli. Snoop Dogg — approaching status as the new mill's Jerry Lewis — will seem to be everywhere. …
It certainly wasn't because of the sideline animation of Curt Cignetti. But Indiana's CFP title game win over Miami on ESPN drew an impressive 30.1M viewers. That's the most for a non-NFL sports telecast since the 2016 Cubs won Game 7 of the World Series. Cignetti and his Hoosiers had no dramatic rain delay and also failed to cover the 7½-point spot (prevailing 27-21). …
News that Bob Costas will host the pregame show for NBC's fresh package of “Sunday Night Baseball” suggests detente is at hand inside 30 Rock. He remains one of the most versatile talents in the history of the network. First at-bat will be March 26 (!) when the Dodgers welcome Torey Lovullo and Arizona to their golden play station. (Son Nick Lovullo is manager of the High-A South Bend Cubs.) …
“SoxFest Live 2026” will squeeze into the restored Ramova Theatre in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood next weekend. (One surefire intensity booster would be Ozzie Guillen speaking on U.S.-Venezuela relations.) Bo Jackson will be there and Munetaka Murakami — the team's new two-year, $34M infielder — might be. Unless he realizes whom he actually signed with. …
Confirmation that Marquee Sports Network will televise fewer than 10 Cubs spring training games underscores the fact that the regional web is “underachieving.” (Lob in “disappointing” too.) The Ricketts family needs vigorous new thought and spirited rehab to revive their drooping TV arm. As Jerry Reinsdorf would say, there are ways to get things done. …
Goal post memories on Annie Glidden Road were stoked as two more of Joe Novak's Northern Illinois progeny are movin' on up. Alex Golesh is the new head coach at Auburn. John Hauser will stay in the MAC as boss at Ohio. The Huskies will become the easternmost football member of the Mountain West this fall. (Hawai'i is farthest west; the conference symbol could be a twirling weather vane.) …
And anyone who had the NFL's “Final Four” QBs as Drake Maye (NE), Jarrett Stidham (DEN), Matthew Stafford (LAR) and Sam Darnold (SEA) remains eligible for an authentic congratulatory point spread from Bill Adee of Vegas Stat and Info. On the Patriots-Broncos (2 p.m., CBS), it remains even money that Tony Romo will call Stidham: “Nix,” “Mahomes” or “No. 8.” …
Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Wednesday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.