Not to much action going on around here so I figured, what the heck, time for some good old Haightminow BS.

We all know that I am a true Chicago Bear warrior, fearless in battle, born and raised to defend the honor of my team and fight to the death against any enemy, right? Good.

This post is a little different though. Sometimes I like to imagine battles between various people and ask my friends and family their opinion on who they think would win, let's see what you think. Maybe you have a battle match up you would like to share. I have to leave Iron Mike Ditka out of this because we all know that he is unbeatable. Anyway, who would win in hand to hand combat:

Lovie Smith vs. Brad Childress

Jay Cutler vs. Matt Ryan?

Jerry Angelo vs. Bill Polian?

Lance Briggs vs. Jeff Garcia?

Tommie Harris vs. Jeff Saturday?

Robie Gould vs. Jason Hanson?

Rich Eisen vs. Tony Kornheiser?

Mike Golic vs. Tony Siragusa?

Maximus vs. Achilles?

Mike McCaskey vs. Kimbo Slice?

Virginia McCaskey vs.Nancy Reagan?

Alonzo Spellman vs. Bob Sapp?

And for the main event, a last man standing cage match:

WCG vs. GeauxBears vs. ChiFan?

Maybe you have a battle match up you would like to share.

The city of Chicago has never seen such a spectacular season from a rookie running back as the one that Matt Forte had last year. And when we consider the history of the Chicago Bears, since 1920, and the great names that represented the Bears for all of those years, Matt Forte's achievement is monumental.

Walter Payton was the ideal complete back who set the gold standard for how the position should be played. Forte is also a complete back. Forte and Payton both have similar styles in that they both can not only run the ball, but can also catch, block and score touchdowns, and they do all of these very well.

Perhaps the most complete back to ever play the game is Marshall Faulk, arguably. Of course there are many great backs to come out of Chicago and the rest of the NFL, considering the style, completeness and demeanor of Forte, Payton and Faulk, all being similar to one another, I've decided to compare their stats from their rookie seasons, let's take a look:

Forte:     Rushing Yd's:1238     Recieving Yd's: 477     Total Yd's: 1715

                Rushing Td's:8            Recieving Td's: 4          Total Td's: 12

                Receptions: 63            Yd's per Carry: 4            Fumbles: 1

                Drafted in 2nd round 44th pick overall

Faulk:     Rushing Yd's: 1282     Receiving Yd's: 522     Total Yd's: 1804

                Rushing Td's: 11          Receiving Td's: 1          Total Td's: 12

                Receptions: 52              Yd's per carry: 4.1         Fumbles: 5

                Drafted in 1st round 2nd pick overall

Payton:   Rushing Yd's: 679     Receiving Yd's: 213     Total Yd's: 892

                 Rushing Td's: 7          Receiving Td's: 0          Total Td's: 7

                 Receptions: 33           Yd's per carry: 3.5          Fumbles: 9

                 Drafted in 1st round 4th pick overall

                 (Note: Payton started only 7 games, Forte and Faulk started 16)

There will only ever be one "Sweetness", and there will only ever be one Marshall Faulk, the catalyst for "The Greatest Show on Turf", and of course Matt Forte has a long way to go before his career can be compared to the likes of Payton and Faulk, but we cannot deny that his rookie season is legendary. We may be witnessing a legend in the making. Matt Forte, "They call him legend"? 

I've been trying to find some action here at WCG for the past three days to no avail. I've been dying over here looking for some Chicago Bear fan interaction, nothing. I even tried to provoke some of you with one of my, "Cry of the Warrior" fan posts, tried to stir the pot, no ones taking the bait. I feel like I am the only one left, like the rapture took place and He left me behind. Maybe my prophecy is correct, I am the anointed, chosen, Ultimate Bear Fan Warrior, left behind to fulfill the plan of Him, to destroy the remaining fans of the remaining thirty one teams.

I hope I am wrong, although I am ready to answer my calling and fight the infidels, the bears have yet to complete our world dominance. The only other scenario I can figure is that this is the calm before the storm, the calm before the draft. Is anybody out there?

If there are any of the faithful left, please, let me know all is well. If not, than I know what must be done, the time has come. Do not be afraid for I am not afraid, take heart and be strong for I am strong, I will not disappoint.

That's right tough guys & girls, It's time to crank it up a notch. It's time to lace up the cleats and put on the pads, no more messin' around, time to weed out the weak and rally the strong. It's about time us Bear fans get our swagger back. The time is now, I can feel it in the air, the Bears are back. This is our year, our time to rise like the sun, to shine like the dawn.

I know what your probably thinking, "Here he goes again, another declaration of Haight's superior fan hood, another war cry from the ultimate warrior fan of the Bears. Let me guess, now he is gonna tell us how God has anointed and chosen him and set him apart to lead us to the Super Bowl promised land, the greatest Bear fan alive, he, Haightminow." If that is what you are thinking, you are right my friend.

I refuse to just sit back and wait for the season to start and then watch all the fair weather fans start crawling out of the woodwork because the Bears are winning. I don't know about you but I wear my heart on my sleeves, I don the blue and orange all day, every day, and ain't nothin' changin' because it's the off season or because I'm not sure if the Bears are gonna be good or not this year.

I, Haightminow, challenge thee, to crank it up a notch. Let your friends and your family and your neighbors and your co-workers and your enemies know that the Bears are back, and they better take notice, and they better back up and make way. Tell em' to bow now or bow later, one way or the other, their gonna bow down. Tell them about your passion for the game, your passion for your team.

See this is what's gonna happen, I already know what time it is, 2,3 or 4 games into the season, after the Bears have started smashing their opponents into submission, including the champion Steelers, so called Bear fans are gonna start popping up all over the place, talking about "their Bears", bulls**t. That's why you have to make your proclimation now, so they can ridicule you and tell you how much of a dreamer you are, and how much your Bears suck and always will suck. That way, when they try to get on the wagon you can slay them on the spot. This is how we expose them of their sins. We crank it up a notch now. Go ahead and crown em', wave the banner high, don't be ashamed. kingdom come!

 Working in conjunction with GeauxBears, we have come to the final phase of deciding the official WCG nickname for Matt Forte.

From our past fan posts on this subject, we have chosen what we think to be the best nicknames suggested by you from your comments. We encourage you the readers to drop in any other suggetions in the comment section that we may have left out that you think should be considered. Vote now.

WCG's Final Word:  We are not having this arguement here and now, because there is no arguement to be had.  I'm leaving the post because I do not believe Haight's intentions were malicious.  He was not tryng to pass this off as completely his own work.  

That said is it a matter of legality that we link to all sources.  If you post anything from a Jay Cutler rumor to a recipe for Lobster Bisque you must provide the source.  I am sure if there are any of Mr. Gurney's descendants still roaming the Earth they are not going to come after us, but it is still required.  That goes for all of us.  If you see ChiFan, GB or myself not link feel free to call us out.

Thanks

WCG Note: Poem is based on the poem "The Target" by Ivor Gurney.

They buried them and it had to be. Thine enemy is crushed, twas them or us.

They had to die and none can blame, all who oppose will get the same.

The enemy, he can't sleep for fear, of what is going to happen here.

Oh the brutality, perhaps it is best, to die and set his fears at rest.

For worst is worst, and worry's done. Take comfort knowing, your not the only one.

Yet God keeps still and does not interfere, it had to be by the hand of the Bear.

Of these Bears of mine, the enemy will find. we have been chosen to conquer all of man kind.

Now see who reaps defeat the worst, there is no chance, you are doomed, you are cursed.

All in a days work, this is our job, it is over for you, no more pain, no more sobs.

And God he takes no sort of heed, this is a bloody mess indeed.

A recent blogger mentioned the name Brandon Rideau and a light bulb went on over my head. His name pops up every now and then only to be quickly forgotten. out of sight, out of mind, I guess.

I really like this kid, from what little I saw of him last pre-season he seemed at the time to be one of the better options of Bear receivers. I know he didn't make the final roster and ended up on the practice squad but from what I understand he made the active roster toward the end of the year.

He has the size we are looking for at 6'3", 198 lbs. And from what I saw he has pretty good hands.  3 out of his first 4 catches in pre-season went for touchdowns although he only had 5 catches total for 127 yards and 25.4 yards per catch.

Now his first 3 years of high school he played quarter back, switching to wide receiver his senior year. He was 2 receptions shy of the school record at the University of Kansas where he graduated. In 43 games played he had 131 catches for 1,636 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Obviously he is lacking in areas, maybe because of his early years as a QB he is not very polished at the WR position. But I think he is an intriging prospect. The Bears have let this guy hang around for a reason, right? Maybe some one can let me know what I don't know about this guy.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, the wide-out from Maryland, 22 years old, 6'2", 206 lbs and as everyone should already know runs a blazing 4.3 second 40 yard dash.

If the Bears are fortunate enough to actually get this guy with the 18th pick in the draft, the Bears will all of a sudden appear to have a very dangerous offense.

Talk about spreading the defense, Heyward-Bey and Devin Hester? fahgitaboutit! Throw in Greg Olsen and Matt Forte, what? Holy smokes Bat Man! These are some serious weapons.

The Chicago Bears may actually be on to something here. Of course were going to need a couple more pieces to add to the o-line and even if one of those pieces is John St. Clair, the line appears to be very workable.

The Bears are close. I'm buying it.

I am probably of the minority when it comes to how I feel about Rex Grossman. Call me crazy but I love Rex Grossman. He will always hold a very special place in my heart.

There was just something about the way he quarterbacked the Bears that was something we hadn't had in Chicago for quite some time. In the beginning he was confident and poised and brought a swagger back to the Bears that we were missing since the days of Jim McMahon. Unfortunately injuries plagued him his first few years and maybe things would have been different if he wasn't injured so often. Maybe he would have been able to solidify himself as the undisputed leader of the Chicago Bears or maybe Bad Rex would have reared it's ugly head and brought about his ultimate demise years ago.

Last year during the off season I was corresponding with my nephew, a faithful Chicago Bear fan, by mail because we were in different parts of the country at the time. I wrote to him telling him what I thought about the quarter back situation and how confident I felt with having both Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton and how my faith in Rex was would never waiver. And I said, if we let Rex go I am afraid that it will be a very big mistake. The decision to let him go may come back and haunt us one day. I said, this guy has the goods, he is a winner and he is going to get better I just wish we would continue to allow him to go through the process that most young quarter backs do.

Well Kyle Orton gets the nod and rightfully so. However at the time I thought we were making a mistake. When we lost to Carolina and Tampa Bay I was screaming for Rex to return, my argument, Kyle can't throw the deep ball. Well we win a few games and I am feeling a little better about Kyle until the second game against the Lions when Dan Orlovsky was shredding our defense. Orton gets hurt and here comes my man, my hero, this is destiny, my quarter back is back! Rex leads us to a victory.

But what would happen next would seal Rex Grossmans fate. The game against the Titans was the final verdict. He started the game on fire leading the Bears to a TD and then....well, that was it, it was over. Rex humiliated me. I had guaranteed a victory and a stellar performance from Rex. This was his time to shine to seize the moment. It was incredible, the worst performance I had ever seen. Over throw, under throw, panicking, out of control. What happened to my quarter back? But that was it for me. My nephew asked me, "What happened to your boy?" And I told him, Rex Grossman will always have a very special place in my heart. Just like so many other Chicago Bears who I have grown to love over the years, But I never want Rex Grossman to ever take another snap as a Chicago Bear ever again. I said, he is done, I guarantee it. If Kyle can't go next week against Green Bay, it will be Caleb Hanie. There is no way Lovie Smith will put Rex back out there.

Alright, enough is enough. Listen, say what you want about Rex, but this guy did some very special things for the Bears. 2006 was an incredible year. Rex was fearless, pounding opposing defenses into submission, the good Rex. And then there was bad Rex. But I was right along with Lovie, Rex is my QB! Period. I was so confident for the Super Bowl, I said this is destiny, we wont be denied, we can't possibly be beat. Rex grossman, the Gator, young kid, 24 years old(I think), Quarter Back of the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl! Imagine the how he must have felt. What he had dreamed of since childhood had become a reality.

Alright thats it, Rex Grossman, I love you and i wish you all the best. That is untill you play the Bears. Then I wish nothing but pain and misery.

One of the reasons Lovie Smith has moved mini-camp up three months early to mid march is so he can get a jump on installing "his defense". according to a recent article in the Sun-Times.

Lovie also said that the Bears aquired the best free agent available on the market in Rod Marinelli. He also believes that Adewale Ogunleye will rebound from an inconsistant '08 season comming into the final year of his contract.

Now that Lovie Smith is taking a personal approach to putting his finger prints on "his defense" I can imagine that the Bears hopes of returning to defensive dominance may come to pass.

Defense has always been Lovies specialty and considered to be one of the best in the business. Will Lovie Smith shine in the spotlight and stake his claim as one of the legends in the long history of Chicago Bear greats or fail to meet the standard set so high by the fans of this storied franchise?