Christmas 2010 will live in my mind for a few reasons, only one of them upsetting. First the good: It was my first proper Christmas, the first time I woke in a home on Christmas morning with Christmas presents beneath a tree – a Christmas tree – surrounded by a family that gathers in the living room to exchange gifts, to tell stories, to laugh and love and hug. I have attended Christmas parties before, even on Christmas, but never gone wire-to-wire with Christmas celebration, wiping sleep from my eyes and closing my eyes to sleep.
I also indulged my first taste of homemade fried chicken, another highlight of the weekend. I was in Indianapolis, spending the holiday with my girlfriend’s family, and I am happy to report that they are a lovely and delightful bunch, that we got along splendid, and that I was the only celebrant of the season other than Mr. Sawyer to eat chicken back.
There were two pieces of chicken back available. Carrie’s father took the first, and when I finished a breast, I asked the table, “Is there another back?” This drew stares and shocked eyebrows from Carrie, her sister, her mother, her brother, and her soon-to-be sister-in-law. Even the dog eyed me suspiciously. But Craig was correct: if you’re willing to do the work, chicken back is a rewarding dining choice. Like Christmas, I’m glad to know it.
This year, the Chicago Bears have much to celebrate on offense as well as defense.
The trip featured only one truly negative element, in fact, and that was not realizing until Day Two that I’d been sleeping cozily ‘neath a Super Bowl XLI blanket, my tired legs resting under the words COLTS 29, BEARS 17. When I noticed, I kicked the blanket to Carrie’s side of the bed and all was well again.
I was pleased to see how quickly I recovered. If, during the early morning hours of February 5, 2007, you told me I would spend a Christmas four years later sleeping in close range of so many XLI keepsakes (including a framed photo of Robert Mathis skying like Jordan toward our brave, hopeless quarterback), I would have spat angry, accusatory words your way. No longer. Time heals all wounds, maturity heals all sports wounds, and 11-4 football teams make you forget even the most horrific of Super Bowl scars.
Not even a 35-30 Bears-Colts loss in Madden ’06 to Carrie’s brother Frank (with father Craig cheering the digital Triplets) could ruin my renewed love and faith for these 2010 Bears. After a deflating 1-3 October skid, Lovie’s crew ripped off seven wins in eight games, choking out playoff stars Philly and the Jets, whipping the Vikings twice by a combined 40 points, and, like Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh before them, announcing their presence with authority.
As usual, the Bears of Lovie Smith excel at defense and special teams. The Great Urlacher is producing his best season since 2007. The defensive line is playing with the underdog spirit of the 1994 bunch. Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, and Chris Harris – a combined seven seasons in 2005 – are veteran leaders, Devin Hester is making smart men think stupid, and Corey Graham is playing like Steve Tasker.
Meanwhile, the offense is scoring from all directions. Jay Cutler is the first Bears QB to post 3000 yards in consecutive seasons. The Hustling Johnny Knox is set to become the team’s first 1000-yard receiver since Marty Booker. If Matt Forte joins him in the 1000-yard ranks, the 2010 Bears will be the first team in franchise history to hit those passing-rushing-receiving benchmarks in the same season.
Sure, the Colts have done it eight times in the past 12 years, but enough about those dandies from the Circle City. They had their year, and it was called 2006, and while the Sawyers were sweating out another regular season playoff-win this Christmas weekend, I and my fellow Bears fans were enjoying our division-champion Bears going touchdown for touchdown with those hot-to-trot Jets, ultimately winning 38-34 at glorious Soldier Field.
The Spaceship will host at least one more game this season, a playoff game starring the best Bears team of the past two decades. The 2005 club peaked in Week 13, and the 2006 club in Week 8. But this 2010 club is peaking NOW, and that means only good things as we enter the postseason.
In 2010, like in 2005, Chris Harris sealed the Bears' 11th victory in the second-to-last game of the season with an interception.
These 2010 Bears are better than either of those previous Lovie playoff teams. More balance, more experience, better quarterback, no injuries. In 2005, I harbored this delusional concern that if the Bears won the Super Bowl, it would be “too quick,” thus robbing my fellow Bears fans and me of a satisfying narrative arc. And in 2006, when the final ticks fell from the clock, I said “No problem. We’ll be back.”
I’m guessing Urlacher, Rex, T.J., and the rest of the boys felt the same. Now they know better, as do I. There is no such thing as winning “too soon,” (just ask the Blackhawks), and no such thing as “tomorrow,” (just ask the Cubs). Today is what we have, and today my beloved Bears may just be the NFC’s best team.
The Sawyers will be thrilled if the Colts can wiggle their way into the playoffs. If they do, Godspeed. I was not excited to play those pompous carpet-treaders back in February of 2007, but if the Bears roll all the way to Super Bowl XLV, not even the presence of my most detested (and among my most respected) NFL team could sour the experience. That feeling is gone now, as is the one a few weeks back in which I “was not happy with ugly wins.” 78 points in two weeks is great, but any win (even 24-20 over Detroit) is better than any loss (even 36-7 vs. New England). It’s a lesson learned with aging, a wisdom earned through defeat, a focused perspective gained only through experience. Chicken back may be undesirable to some, but hey – at least you’re eating.
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Jack M Silverstein is a freelance writer covering music, sports, and community in Chicago. He has written his opinion column "On the John" for 11 years. Say hey at 
