You know what we folks don’t do often enough around here?
Reminisce about the 1985 Bears.
Those conquering heroes of the gridiron. Those strapping, valiant, indomitable warriors of yore. Those …
OK, that’s enough.
Look, we love the ’85 Bears. Maybe too much. So much, we’ve allowed them to become a punch line of sorts, a collection of old jocks who, like the former sitcom character Al Bundy, never stop living in their football past. The Super Bowl champion Bears are the exemplars of “glory days.”
It’s not all their fault, though. No Bears team has come along since and given the rest of us reason to forget the Shufflin’ Crew. Super Bowl 55 is coming, and that’s a long way from Super Bowl 20. Has it really been 35 years? Because it feels more like 100.
Current Bears general manager Ryan Pace, 43, and coach Matt Nagy, 42, were busy growing up in distant parts of the country in 1985. What would they know about the greatest team in football history? Each should probably watch the documentary on those Bears that was originally released in 2017 and airs Tuesday on Marquee Sports Network.
Its name: “ ’85: The Greatest Team in Football History.”
Are the Bears of Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary and Mike Ditka really the greatest? Would an honest assessment of all the champions before and since really support that claim?
That’s another topic for another day. Or maybe never. It’s probably best not to mess too much with the city’s No. 1 football memory.
Here’s what’s happening:
MON 25
Celtics at Bulls (8 p.m., NBCSCH)
Zach LaVine went off for 30-plus points in both games against Boston last season, but the Bulls went 0-2. Billy Donovan should probably play it safe and bench his leading scorer for this one.
TUE 26
Baseball Hall of Fame announcement show (5 p.m., MLBN)
There’s a pretty strong chance that no one — not Barry Bonds, not Roger Clemens, not Curt Schilling — will have the 75% of the vote needed for induction. Ah, well. Maybe Pete Rose will sneak up on everybody and get in.
Blackhawks at Predators (7 p.m., NBCSCH)
Not to tell Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton how to do his job, but he might consider employing the Pius Suter hat-trick strategy that worked so beautifully Sunday against the Red Wings.
Chris & Tell (8 p.m., MSN)
Chris Myers’ guest in this episode is none other than McMahon. The Punky QB is 61, in case you weren’t feeling old.
’85: The Greatest Team in Football History (8:30 p.m., MSN)
If this documentary doesn’t make you want to heave a bunch of sausages on the grill and hit somebody, nothing will. Interview subjects include Barack Obama, Bill Murray and some guy by the name of Rick Telander.
WED 27
Lakers at 76ers (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
If Philly center Joel Embiid can keep his team at the top of the Eastern Conference all season, he might have to borrow LeBron James’ MVP trophy. Yes, we know LeBron didn’t win it last year. It’s still his trophy.
THU 28
Premier League: Tottenham vs. Liverpool (2 p.m., NBCSN)
The season reeks of sweet possibility to more than a few contenders, including both of these top-five teams. Although, if we’re being completely honest, the Spurs haven’t been the same since Kawhi Leonard left.
FRI 29
Blue Jackets at Blackhawks (7 p.m., NHLN, NBCSCH)
If the Hawks are going to be any good at all this season, staying hot on their home ice is a must. If only they could host the Red Wings a couple dozen more times, right?
Iowa at Illinois (8 p.m., FS1)
College basketball gets no better — or bigger — than Luka Garza vs. Kofi Cockburn this season. Fans of old-school post play, rejoice.
SAT 30
Trail Blazers at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)
On Jan. 6 in Portland, the Bulls came back from an early 20-point deficit and snuck off with a 111-108 victory. Cue the Damian Lillard revenge 30-footers?
SUN 31
Women’s: Connecticut at DePaul (noon, Fox-32)
The Blue Demons haven’t beaten the mighty Huskies since joining the Big East in 2005. Why not start now?
Loyola at Missouri State (2 p.m., CBSSN)
The Bears have arguably the top two players in the MVC in Isiaih Mosley and Gaige Prim and the look of a potential league champ. This isn’t the Ramblers’ first rodeo, though.
USMNT vs. Trinidad & Tobago (6 p.m., FS1, UniMas)
The Fire’s Mauricio Pineda has risen all the way from Bolingbrook to the MLS and, now, has an opportunity to get his first cap with the national team. Put him in, Coach.
