4 things I never truly thought would happen
Including feeling sorry for Brady, rooting for Astros
This strange year continues to leave everyone dazed and confused.
Things you thought neverwould happen continue to occur at an alarming pace, and it’s not just because of the norms theCOVID-19 pandemic, presidential politics or climate change have completely destroyed.
The latest example came Thursday night near the end of the Bears’ 20-19 win over the Buccaneers, when a sheepishlooking TomBrady held up four fingers after turning the ball over on downs, seemingly acknowledging he thought itwas still fourth down.
“Poor Brady,” I thought. “Sucks being old.”
I don’t recall ever feeling sorry for Brady after a loss. Mostly I celebrated because it was such a rare occurrence.
Brady is the embodiment of the perfect athlete with hismovie star looks, six championship rings, fourMVPawards, big contracts and endorsement deals, supermodel wife, ability to defy age with awell-sculpted body, nice head of hair and a
glaring absence of crow’s feet around his hazel eyes.
But once you’ve hit that magic number of 40, the brain starts acting up on you, and there’s no turning back.
Brady is 43, so it’s all downhill for him, memory-wise.
I don’t knowhowit feels to forget how many downs remain in the final minute of a nationally televised game, but I’m guessing it’smuchworse than leaving the house and suddenly remembering you forgot your phone, wallet and mask. I’m 61, and that happens to me on a regular basis.
Naturally, Brady didn’t fess up afterward.
Denial always is your best defense when the memory starts to slip. Accepting the truthwould be admitting he no longer is perfect.
Sorry, Tom. Rest assured things will not get any better.
Aside fromfeeling sympathy for Brady, here are three other things I never thoughtwould happen to me:
1. Rooting for the Astros.
When severe penalties relating to the Astros’ sign-stealing scandalwere handed down in January, I compared them to the 1919 Black Sox, writing theywould “always carry the stigma of cheaters… and be used as an example of hownot to play the game.”
When someone in February created a Twitter account calling itself 2020 Astros Shame Tour (@AsteriskTour), I gladly gave it a follow.
But then came the sports shutdown in March, and after baseball returned in July the Astroswere out of sight and out of mind.
WithMLBopting for regional schedules to reduce travel and the risk of spreading the coronavirus during the shortened season, I didn’t get towatch a single Astros game in 2020 until they played the A’s in the American League Division Series.
I suddenly foundmyself rooting for Houston, mostly because of Dusty Baker, whomI suggested in Januarywould be the fixer the Astros needed to guide a team with an “us against theworld” attitude.
Bakerwas an antihero in the mode of one of his favoritemovie characters, Kurt Russell’s “Snake” Plissken. In the 1970’s sci-fi classic “Escape FromNewYork,” Plissken tells theMan: “You better hope I don’t make it back.”
The Astros are taking thosewords to heart, and the 71-year-old Baker, who had nothing to do with the scandal, has embraced their reputation as baseball’s biggest villains.
“Itwas very rarely talked about,” Baker saidMonday beforeGame 1 against the A’s. “The role of the villainwas given to us. It’s not somethingwe took on, even though some of itwas probablymerited. Or most of itwas merited. I’ve been a villain for most ofmy life, so I might as well join the group.”
Nowthe hated Astros are one step fromgoing back to theWorld Series, hopefully to play the Dodgers in a rematch of 2017 that started all the commotion.
That’s about as 2020 as it gets.
2. Agreeing with Stan Bowman.
Stan Bowman, the Blackhawks general manager with three rings and some bad contracts, wants the best of bothworlds.
He seemingly can’t decide whether to go full-scale rebuild or try to win with a combination of youth and the remnants of the old core that brought us so much pleasure during their three Stanley Cupwinning seasons.
But nowthat he finally decided to part ways with goaltender Corey Crawford and after failing to re-sign Robin Lehner over the winter, Bowman finally appears to be signaling a commitment to rebuilding.
We don’t knowif unproven goalies Malcom Subban, CollinDelia orKevin Lankinen will pan out.
But better to find out nowthanwaste another year contending for a wild-card spot and bowing out of the playoffs after one round.
If theHawks planned on contending, theywould’ve done whatever possible to re-sign Crawford and add some offensive help this offseason. At leastwe knowthe direction they’re going, andwe can commit to saving our money and justwatching them on TV.
3. Missing Mitch Trubisky.
This could have been an adverse reaction tomy flu shot, butwatchingNick Foles in action Thursday mademe pine for the return of Mitch Trubisky.
I know, I know. It’s embarrassing even to admit.
Yes, the Bearswon, but only because of the defense, particularlyKyle Fuller’s hit onKe’Shawn Vaughn that set up a second-quarter touchdown.
After Thursday night’s win, Foles’ 83.9 quarterback rating is lower than Trubisky’s 87.4, and he’s averaging amiserable 6.0 yards per pass attempt.
Neither quarterback is league average, and Foles’ main attribute seems to be that he’s not Trubisky.
Foleswas asmediocre as it gets against the Bucs yet somehowmanaged to connect in stretches when it mattered.
“That’s who he is,” coachMattNagy said.
Itwasmeant as a compliment. CertainlyNagy never will go back to Trubisky after making the big switch. And, after all, a win is a win.
But if this is who Foles is, the Bears are the luckiest 4-1 team in the league.