Tom Lynch

7:00:00 to game time: Pick up dozen donuts, large coffee from Dunkin'. 6:52:00 to game time: Shout "Bears!" from car at family taking photo in front of helmeted lions at Art Institute, receive "Bears!" howl in return. 4:00:00 to game time: Eat two subs while watching Chris Berman, Tom Jackson, et al, dissect impending duel. 3:24:00 to game time: Put on #8 Grossman jersey. Feel nervous, but prepared. 2:01:00 to game time: Text message everyone I know asking "Are you ready?"

1:40:00 to game time: Do fifty pushups to loosen up joints, get blood flowing. 1:38:00 to game time: Family arrives. Consume several hot wings, chips, two slices of pizza and shrimp. 5:00 to game time: Needlessly eat another sub. More on-edge/irritable than expected. 14:46, 1stQ: Hester returns opening kickoff. Nearly have stroke in throat from screaming. Open can of Coke, pour in glass with ice. 6:50, 1stQ: Bears secondary blows coverage, Colts score on fifty-three-yard pass. Upset, but will take it. Colts miss extra point. Taken as good sign. 4:34, 1stQ: After big run by Thomas Jones, Grossman throws four-yard TD pass to Moose. Charge around house, yelling "it's our time now!" Believe we're going to win the Super Bowl.

11:17, 2ndQ: Colts field goal. 6:09, 2ndQ: Colts TD. Halftime: Miss Prince. Discuss questionable Ron Turner play-calling with cousin and father. 7:26, 3rdQ: Colts field goal. 3:16, 3rdQ: Colts field goal. Feel nauseous, light-headed. Take two Advil. Sit down. Drink first and only beer of day. 1:14, 3rdQ: Bears field goal. Stand back up. Re-energized. 11:44, 4thQ: Grossman throws pick, taken in for Colts TD. Face in hands. Feel shame. Defeat. Anger. Depression.

5:20:00 post-game: Head to pillow. Ponder, "So when do pitchers and catchers report?"

(2007-02-06)

Also by Tom Lynch

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New York songwriter Paul Schalda has broken through the Pavement-inspired glass shield that encompassed his previous band, AWEK, and has turned his head towards an acoustic-laden, folk-influenced project called Pablo, whose "Half the Time" marks a new direction for the artist, one which provides a fine foundation for his haunting and cigarette-roughed voice
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Tip of the Week
"Working Nine to Wolf," the band's second album with Lovitt Records, continues the group's slow dive into impenetrable walls of sound--guitar-driven, slow-building songs spread thick across the landscape, jarring, aggressive and psyched-out
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Playwright Adam Rapp's "The Year of Endless Sorrows" is a very pleasing, heartfelt and winning novel
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Bear of a Life
I can't remember the '85 championship season. I was 4. I have a vague recollection of just the start of the game, sitting in my aunt's living room, inches from the television, while the elders in my family cracked beers and snacked, unworried, awaiting the inevitable domination. I remember that Gary Fencik was my favorite player, and that I thought the Fridge was funny, because, well, you know--he was fat
(2007-01-30)

Soundcheck
(2007-01-23)

Tip of the Week
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Tip of the Week
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Rock City
(2007-01-16)

Verge Overkill
(2007-01-16)

Never Mind the Parents
(2007-01-16)

Tip of the Week
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Tip of the Week
(2007-01-16)

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