In Chicago, Steve Rosenbloom notes there were "a lot of empty seats" at Soldier Field last night as the Bears fell to the Saints, "all the better to drive home the need for change." It "should be obvious by now, but with the dithering" Bears owners the McCaskey family, "you never know." Rosenbloom: "You just can’t believe there has been such inertia in the chairman’s seat over the ineptitude on the field and in the general manager’s and president’s offices. ... Can any McCaskey read? Can any McCaskey hear? See the empty seats at Soldier Field? Understand what a laughingstock this is?" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 12/15).
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER: In Chicago, Barry Rozner writes yesterday's introductory press conference for P Jon Lester "was a big moment for the Cubs." And "sitting in the last of about 20 rows behind all the media" was Chair Tom Ricketts "grinning from ear to ear." Ricketts has "come a long way since early July, when progress on Wrigley Field renovations were mired in quicksand." He said, "Last summer was a turning point. We finally feel like we're playing offense, and that's fun." Rozner notes it "has not at all been a flawless five years since Ricketts purchased the team, and you have to believe there were days when Ricketts second-guessed his decision to wade into the quagmire that was the North Side franchise" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 12/16).
MOTOR CITY MORTGAGES: In Detroit, Tom Zahari writes the Tigers "have too much money tied up" in their top players to "make big splashes in free agency moving forward." The team will "have to be smart with their money to maximize player value going forward." The Tigers' "hunger for a World Series has forced them to disregard the future." After next season, they "will have to make some serious moves to stay a true contender" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/16).
