Chicago Bears Coaches: Trestman, Fox, Nagy and Eberflus

MARC TRESTMAN

Years:  2013-2014

Record:  13-19

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JOHN FOX

Years:  2015-2017

Record:  14-34

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MATT NAGY

Years:  2018-2021

Record:  34-31

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MATT EBERFLUS

Years 2023-2023

Record:  10-24

Oh Well.  --Cooter

Chicago Bears Coaches: Wannstedt, Jauron & Smith

DAVE WANNSTEDT

Years:  1993-1998

Record:  40-56

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DICK JAURON

Years:  1999-2003

Record:  35-45

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LOVIE SMITH

Years:  2004-2012

Record:  81-63

--DaBear

Chicago Bears Coaches: Neill Armstrong

NEILL ARMSTRONG

Years Head Coach:  1978-1981

Record:  30-34

Hired by Jim Finks, who had this to say:  I'm not saying you have to be an assistant in the National Football League to be a successful head coach.  But who in the hell ever heard of Chuck Knox when he was an assistant at Detroit?  Who ever heard of George Allen when he was with the Bears, except the people in Chicago.

Regardless, you could see the Bears improving.

AND, you probably know who the NEXT coach was.

DaCoach--  DaCoot

Coaches of the Chicago Bears-- Part 4: Jauron, Smith and Trestman

**  DICK JAURON (1999-2003)

Record:  35-45

Highlight was his 2001 season where the Bears went 13-3.  Other than that, not so good.

**  LOVIE SMITH  (2004-2012)

Record:  81-63

He was fired after going 10-6 in 2012.  That was a whole lot better than most coaches after Ditka.  He was also the only Bear coach other than Ditka to get the team to the Super Bowl.

**  MARC TRESTMAN  (2013-2014)

Record:  13-19

Fired for missing playoffs in both his seasons.

If course, a huge problem with the Bear teams is that we just can't find a quarterback.

--CootSad

Coaches of the Chicago Bears-- Part 1: Halas, Halas, Halas

From the Chicago Tribune "How past coaches have fared, and when they left."

As the Bears were approaching the end of another disappointing season in 2021, it was expected thatb head coach Matt Nagy would be gone.  He was.

Here are the past coaches, years coached and records:

**  GEORGE HALAS (1920-1929), (1933-1942), (1946-1955), (1958-1967)

Record (318-148-31)

**  RALPH JONES  (1930-1932)

Record (24-10-7)

The next two were assistant coaches who co-coached the Bears while Halas was gone to World War II.

**  LUKE JOHNSON (1942-1945) 

Record (23-11-2)

**  HUNK ANDERSON (1942-1945)

Record (23-11-2)

Why We Call It Halas' Team.  --Cooter

Ball Park Stars: Wrigley Field & Comiskey Park-- Part 1: 'Blues Brothers' and 'A League of Their Ow3n'

Sorry, but it will always be Comiskey Park to me, no matter who has paid to put their name on it.  And the Sears Tower still stands.

From the May 5, 2019, Chicago Tribune by Phil Rosenthal and Tim Bannon.

Here are nine memorable movie and TV scenes at Chicago baseball parks over the last 40 years.

"THE BLUES BROTHERS" (1980)

A great cameo for Wrigley Field, even if it is just a fleeting look.  A Nazi group is looking for our boys, Jake and Elwood Blues.  They had the address for Elwood Blues as being at 1060 West Addison.  Cut to the cars with the Nazis pulling up to the famed Wrigley Field outside sign at night.

"A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN" (1992)

The tryout scene for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League with most of the movie's top characters is at Wrigley Field.

--Cooter

(N)opening Day-- Part 7: Japan and a World Series Year

MARCH 29, 2000

In the first Major League game played outside of North America, the Cubs rode Jon Lieber's arm and Shane Andrews' bat to a 5-3 victory over the Mets in front of 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.

Lieber allowed one run on five hits  in seven innings and Andrews belted a two run homer in the seventh and Mark Grace had a solo shot in the eighth to give Don Baylor the victory in his managerial debut.

2016

Jake Arrieta, coming off his Cy Young Award-winning season, pitched seven innings of two-hit baseball in 1 9-0 victory over the Angels  in Anaheim.  He held Albert Pujols and Mike Trout to a combined 0-6 with three strikeouts.

This was the first of the 103 regular season wins the Cubs had  that year on their way to winning their first NL Central title since 2008.

Then as you know, they went on to win their first World Series since 1908.

That Sure Was Some Fun Year.  --Cooter

(N)opening Day-- Part 6: From Cactus Worst to NL East Best and Then the Maddux Comes Back

1984--   They had a Cactus League worst 7-20 record and had released franchise legend Fergie Jenkins, so things didn't look promising, but come opening day, Dick Ruthven pitched 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball and then Keith Moreland hit a tie-breaking home run in the sixth inning as the Cubs won 5-3 over the Giants at Candlestick Park

The Cubs went on to finish the year 96-65 for their first National League East title  and first playoff appearance since 1945.  Then they lost to Steve Garvey and the Padres 3 games to 2 in the best-of-five NL Championship Series.

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APRIL 5, 1993--  In his first game with the Braves, former Cub Greg Maddux beat his former team 1-0 on a cold, blustery day at Wrigley.

From 1986 to 1992, he had won 95 games, including his Cy Young Award-winning 1992 when he won 20.

He won the Cy Young again in 1993, plus in the next two seasons.  During his 11 seasons with the Braves, they won ten division titles.

The Cubs Trading Better Is Like the Bears Trading or Drafting a Good Quarterback.  Ain't Gonna Happen.  --RoadDog

(N)opening Day-- Part 4: Now for You Cub Fans, the Chicago White Stockings & WGN

Cubs Season Openers:

APRIL 25, 1876--  The Cubs were then known as the Chicago White Stockings and were one of he eight charter members of the National League.  In their first game, they defeated host Louisville Grays 4-0 behind pitcher/manager Al Spalding.  They went on to finish 52-14 and won the league by six games and hit a league-best .337.

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APRIL 14, 1925--  Quinn Ryan called the first game for WGN radio, beginning a 90-year relationship.  Cubs score six runs in the 7th capped by Gabby Hartnett's three-run homer.  The game lasted just 1 hour and 38 minutes.

Well. that to has changed as WGN is not televising any Cub games this year as per owner Ricketts.

--RoadCub

(N)opening Day-- Part 3: White Sox Season Openers-- Gullem to Buehrle to Thome

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

APRIL 9, 1990--  The final opening day at the old Comiskey Park. The Sox win 2-1 over the Brewers.  Ozzie Guillen tripled and scored the Sox first run on a wild pitch.  Sammy Sosa score the winning run in the seventh and Bobby Thigpen recorded the final two outs for the first of his then-record 57 saves.

How's this for some famous Sox names?

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APRIL 4, 2005--  Mark Buehrle, making his fourth of his team-record opening-day starts, allowed two hits in the Sox 1-0 victory.  Of course, this was the famous 2005 season when the Sox were in first, a position they never lost that year en route to their first World Series title since 1917.

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APRIL 2, 2006--  The White Sox raised their World Series Championship banners.  After a 4th inning 2 hour and 57 minute rain delay, newcomer Jim Thome hit a 431-foot homer into the right field stands as the Sox won 10-4 over the Indians.

Next, Da Cubs.  --CootSox

The Ten Best-Ever Chicago Bears-- Part 11: From Danimal to Nagurski to Sweetnness

Okay,  Time for the Ten Best-Ever Bears.

*  Means I've Hear of Them  **  Means on the '85 Bears.  DaBears!!

10.  Brian Urlacher*

9.  Dan Hampton**  "Danimal"

8.  Doug Atkins*

7.  Bulldog Turner*

6.  Bill George*

5.  Sid Luckman*

4.  Gale Sayers*

3.  Bronko Nagurski*  Now, how's this name for a football player?

2.  Dick Butkus*

1.  Walter Payton**  "Sweetness"

To see the entire list, click on the 100 Greatest Bears label.

It Just Had to be Sweetness.  --CootBear

Ranking the 100 Best Bears-- Part 10: McMichael, Dent and Singletary

*  I've heard of him.  **  On the '85 Bears.


20..  Red Grange*

19.  Devin Hester*

18.  Steve McMichael**

17.  Stan Jones

16.  George Connor*

15.  Joe Stydahar

14.  Richard Dent**

13.  Danny Fortmann

12.  Mike Singletary**

11.  Mike Ditka**

So surprising that there would be so many of these 100 Best Bears who were on the 1985 Bears, Super Bowl XX Champions.

Sure enjoyed seeing the members of the 1985 squad out on the field before the Packer-Bear game last night.

'85 Bears.  Best Ever.  --CootBear

Ranking the 100 Best Bears Ever-- Part 9: Papa Bear

*  I've heard of them   **  On the '85 DaBears

30.  Ed Healey

29.  Lance Briggs*

28.  George Trafton*  He's the one I wrote about in the Decatur Staleys-Rock Island Independents rivalry.

27.  Joe Fortunato

26.  Olin Kreutz**

25.  George Halas**  Papa Bear

24.  Bill Hewitt

23.  Jay Hilgenberg**

22.  George McAfee*

21.  Jimbo Covert**

Ranking the 100 Best Bears Ever-- Part 8: Fencik and "Peanut"

*  Means I've heard of him  **  One of the '85 Bears, Super Bowl XX Champions.

40.  Luke Johnsos

39.  Gary Fencik **

38.  Charles Tillman*  "Peanut"  He could sure make you fumble.

37.  Ken Kavanaugh

36.  Rick Casares*

35.  Harlon Hill

34.  Paddy O'Driscoll*

33.  Ed Sprinkle

32.  George Musso*

31.  Link Lyman

--CootBear

Ranking the 100 Best Chicago Bears-- Part 4: Keith Van Horne and Mike Hartenstine

* means I know who they are.

70.  George Wilson

69.  Tommie Harris*

68.  Keith Van Horne**

67.  Mike Hartenstine**

66.  Mike Pyle*

65.  Ed O'Bradovich*

64.  J.C. Caroline*

63.  Julius Pepper*

62.  Mark Bortz**

61.  Mark Carrier*

--DaBearCoot

Ranking the 100 Best Chicago Bears-- Part 3: From Gould to "Big Cat"

*  I've heard of them.

80.  Khalil Mack*  That first game as a Bear.  Wow!!

79.  Jim McMillan

78.  Jay Cutler*  I sure had high hopes for him.

77.  Bill Osmanski*

76.  Johnny Lujack*

75.  Bennie McRae

74.  Robbie Gould*  Kicking just hasn't been the same since he left.

73.  Jim Dooley*

72.  James Williams*  "The Big Cat"

71.  Jack Manders

Dose Bears!!  --DaRoadDog

Ranking the 100 Best-Ever Chicago Bears-- Part 2: The "Butt Head" and the Plank

* means I have heard of him.  Again, these also include recent and current Bears.  **  On the '85 Bears.

90.  Kevin Butler*  The "Butt Head"  All those field goals and a Univ. of Georgia grad as well.

89.  Beattie Feathers

88.  Alshon Jeffery*

87.  Lee Artoe

86.  Brandon Marshall*

85.  Kyle Long*

84.  Bill Wade*

83.  Zuck Carlson

82.  Doug Plank*  The 46 Defense

81.  Eddie Jackson*

Da Bears.  --DaBearsDog

Before Wrigley Field, Cubs Had West Side Grounds-- Part 4

After the Cubs moved out, the park hosted Wild West-type shows and other events before the state of Illinois purchased the property in 1919 for $400,000 with plans to build a research and educational hospital.

The group name of the folks wanting to mark the site, Way Out In Left Field is in reference to the West Side Grounds.  Patients at a nearby psychiatric hospital behind the left field grandstand were said to make loud and odd remarks that could be heard within the park.

Glad to Have It Marked.  --Cooter

Before Wrigley Field, There Was the West Side Grounds for the Cubs-- Part 1: Tinker to Evers to Chance

From the October 6, 22017, Chicago Tribune  "Cubs rules at long gone West Side Grounds" by Patrick M. O'Connell.

A century ago, it was baseball, not medicine that was featured at the plot of land now occupied by the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Medicine.  This was the site of the Chicago Cubs' most dominant and successful period in franchise history.

"Before Wrigley Field's ivy, before the 'W' flags and the beloved manual scoreboard, there was the West Side Grounds."  The legendary Tinker to Evers to Chance combination were doing their thing in the infield.  Attendance was booming and fans also packed adjacent rooftops.

The Cubs won back-to-back World Series titles in 1907 and 1908.  And, this is where the only intercity World Series between the White Sox and Cubs took place. the year before when the Hitless Wonders downed the heavily favored Cubs in 1906.

The field was located between Polk, Wood and Taylor streets and Wolcott Avenue (then Lincoln Avenue).

)h, Those Were the Days My Friend.  We Thought They'd Never End.  --DaCootSox

Best Chicago Sports Announcers-- Part 6: The Next Four

Definitely worth honorable mentions:

Jeff Agrest, Chicago Sun-Rimes.

JIM DURHAM--  The first -- and the best--  basketball voice.

PAT FOLEY--  His personal favorite.  The words just roll off his tongue so smoothly when he does Hawks games.

WAYNE LARRIVEE--  Does TV work for the Bulls and Cubs, but was at his best when he did the Chicago Bears in those great 1980s years.  Like Jeff Agrest, I often tune into the Packers to hear him.  he was the voice of the Bears.

STEVE STONE--  Great at analyzing baseball games and his work with Harry Caray.

--Cooter