Bears Fri Jul 11 2008

Are Bears Just The Ticket?

For anyone still interested, single game tickets for the Bears 2008 season go on sale tomorrow at noon. That’s noon as in “high noon”.

While no one doubts that the Bears will sell out every ticket available for the 10 preseason and regular season games (through Ticketmaster phone and internet sales), this season might mark a crucial showdown between fans anxious for some signs of improvement and a Bears administration that has so far shown little of that.

After all, the team has chosen to raise ticket prices ($68 to $350 per game) despite a lifeless 7-9 record last season (good for last place in the NFC Central), including losing three of their last five. It’s a fact that might make a few interested fans think twice about shelling out top dollar for a team with more question marks than Frank Gorshin's Riddler’s outfit.

They’ve added little in the way of improvements on offense (their most glaring area of need) other than rid themselves of the Curse of Curtis Benson, a subtraction that is actually like an addition. Second-round draft pick Matt Forte is expected to claim the RB job, with Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe, who combined for a whopping 3.3 yards per carry last season, serving as back-ups.

There’s nothing etched in stone at the receiver spot either. Marty Booker is back with the Bears and brings the one touchdown in 15 games he recorded with the Miami Dolphins with him. Brandon Lloyd, who recorded ZERO touchdowns in two seasons with the Washington Redskins joins him, along with Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley and rookie Earl Bennett. The only bright spot is, as always, Devon “Give Him The Ball” Hester.

And let’s not start on quarterback where (surprise!) we find ourselves in the midst of yet another QB battle between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, which is sort of like being forced to choose between punch in the gut and a harder punch in the gut (more on this battle later). Apparently the days of head coach Lovie Smith’s “Rex is our quarterback” mantra are gone.

All in all it creates a less-than appetizing platter, especially for the moolah the McCaskey’s are asking for the honor to attend a single game. Don’t be surprised if every game isn’t sold out in the usual one or two hours. Here’s guessing that the window of opportunity to obtain tickets is going to be open a little longer this time around.

- Ken Green