Tarvaris Jackson sticks a fork in the Bears

Though I think I tend to view things in a more positive light than most Bears fans - I don't hate Lovie or Ron Turner; I stuck with Rex as long as anyone; my opinion of CedBen heading into last season (yikes) was as high as his opinion of himself right now... - even I agree that our favorite football team just isn't all that good this season. They're certainly better than I expected, but all it will get them is a midround draft pick, though this seems to be the worst draft class since 2004 (Benson!). Minnesota's Tarvaris Jackson fueled victory yesterday over the Cards means the Bears season is likely over. To win the NFC North now, the Bears need to beat Green Bay and Houston, and Minnesota needs to lose to both Atlanta and the Giants.

Two quick thoughts...

- Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, Minnesota has to lose to Atlanta. It would make the Bears' Monday nighter against Green Bay meaningful, and after what happened last time the two teams met in Lambeau, I need a shot at some type of vengence. I didn't freak out as hard as most after that loss because I though it a mere aberration. Of couse, after the Bears blew another must win road contest to the Vikings two weeks later, the Bears lack of resiliance was evident to everyone. Still though, just for my sanity, I need the Bears to revenge that loss in a meaningful game. If Minnesota wins Sunday, I don't think I'll even be able to watch the Monday nighter (that is, of course, unless we live blog it. Anyone down? It worked pretty well last time for the Sox...).

- Speaking of the Sox, the way things are looking for the Bears right now are eerily similar to how they looked for the Sox after the three game sweep in Minnesota. Because the Sox were able to pull off an unlikely run to the playoffs, I think it's 100 percent impossible for the Bears to do it. We can only have so much good fortune as sports fans, you know? I think I used up all of mine up for about the next five years when the Dodgers swept the Cubbies.

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We determined at work Friday that I clearly have some sort of built in sensor that only allows me to look up at a Bulls game moments before Tyrus Thomas does something spectacular. The game is on at work with no sound, but it's sort of impossible to really pay attention. So I look up every few minutes to check in on the score and watch a possession, and virtually every time I do that, Tyrus owns someone. By shear coincidence, I think I saw him dunk three or four times against the Nets. It's probably the reason I'm one of the last few who have resisted to slap the 'bust' tag on him, even after everything VDN said earlier in the week.

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A few vids I've been meaning to post:

Orton's blown spike

Del Negro's scare tactics on Q-Rich

And this now infamous video of Rob Blagojevich on the Daily Show.