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Why Bears ticket prices are out of bounds

The Chicago Bears raised their ticket prices this week.

Well, why not? Let's review how they're doing:

Ÿ They don't have a successful team, at least by playoff standards.

Ÿ Their two biggest stars, Jay Cutler and Brian Urlacher, often view the media and fans as pests.

Ÿ Their field ranks among the worst in sports, and the stadium, in my opinion, is already outdated. It's even tough to get in and out of that place without feeling like you have been on an excursion.

Does that spell great value to you? That kind of record demands higher costs for the fans, right?

Bears president and CEO, Ted Phillips said their marketing research indicated they had to raise prices again.

What a joke. I'd like to see that report. The Bears had to outsource their concerns to legitimize ticket price increases!

Oh, and if you're looking for a cab back to civilization after the game, forget it - get ready to walk in the blustery wind to Michigan Avenue.

I think I'll stay home and watch them on TV, along with every other team on the NFL package. If you have six or seven hours to fill, and plenty of dough to blow, then by all means enjoy, but I don't want to spend one penny there. I'll watch it at home with my refrigerator and bathroom just a few feet away.

Imagine the price hike if the Bears had hired Bill Cowher or John Gruden or even reigning coach of the year Bruce Arians. Can you say "Big Money?"

By the way, I'd like to see some cheerleaders again. Oh wait - forget it. I know who will have to pay the costs there. Never mind …

Flacco is the man for now:

Baltimore Raven Joe Flacco was the Super Bowl winning quarterback and named the Super Bowl MVP and for this season. Over the last few days, however, there have been some experts and analysts who don't consider him a top 10 quarterback.

Tim Hasselbeck of ESPN said he wouldn't put him in the top seven quarterbacks in the NFL today.

After I heard that, I shook my head - what more can the guy do? A statement like that is just idiotic.

I know you can name some guys you might rather have like Tom Brady or RGIII or Colin Kaepernick, but when you look at his record and his playoff stats, Joe Flacco should be in the top three quarterbacks for right now.

People are looking at his regular-season rating and it's unimpressive. But he demonstrated this year he is a great postseason leader, and isn't that what it's all about?

I'll take my chances with Flacco because when the dust settled, it was Joe who was still standing and that should be the final indicator.

Program note:

Look for me on Mancow on WPWR Ch. 50 at 6 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week.

Ÿ Mike 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.

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