Bear Down Sunday: Game #12

The Chicago Bears are 6-5 and tied for first place.  The Minnesota Vikings are 2-8-1 and in last place.  This is the game the Bears needed.  The Bears should win this game fairly easily.

This game is like a mother's hug.  It is coming at a great time for the Bears, who have been struggling.  They need a big warm hug from mom and then all the world is okay again.  That big hug will be represented by the bad Vikings and the Bears should respond positively.

At the playoff viewing party for the Chicago Rush last season, I sat at the bar next to an energetic woman, who warned me she would be screaming throughout the game.  I am fine with all of that.  I loved the Rush, too.

It was only at halftime that I learned she was Coach Bob McMillen's mom.  I was able to get some interesting perspective while watching next to her.  I have watched with coaches, players, executives, writers and more, but never a mother of someone involved.  This was a great time and Mama McMillen was delightful.

Of course, with the good, comes the bad.  The Rush are no more.  Coach McMillen is now in Los Angeles.  I am still saddened by that news.  I really had grown to love the Rush.  I even got to know their families! 

Mama McMillen and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2013.

On the Beat with the Playoff-bound Chicago Rush

The Central Division champ Chicago Rush will face the Spokane Shock tomorrow night in Spokane the opening round of the AFL playoffs.  The Rush (10-8) face a tough challenge with the Shock (14-4) who beat them earlier this season.  Still, the Rush have faced and beaten obstacles all season and I certainly hope that trend continues.
Matt and I attended the last Rush practice before they left for Spokane.  The practice was intense as Coach McMillen and Coach Housman worked on specific plays.  Quarterbacks Luke Drone and Carson Coffman seemed to share snaps during the practice, but Coffman is still listed as the starter.  Having two talented ready quarterbacks is a good thing.
We also took part in the media session with Coach Bob McMillen, receiver Reggie Gray, defensive back Josh Pleasant and defensive lineman Brian Brikowski.  Aside from the upcoming game with Spokane, we talked about everything including Western Illinois University, family, long snapping and much more.
These are some unique looks into the Coach and players.  I love these type of sessions, because along with the standard questions, we get to hear other fun stuff, like about Pleasant's family.
The Rush is a great organization, full of simply fantastic people.  It has been a wonderful experience and I am hoping that continues with a win Thursday night.
I will be at Cafe Zalute in Rosemont to watch the Rush playoff game.  Everyone is welcome to join the fun and cheer on the Rush!!!!

On the Beat with the Central Division Champ Chicago Rush

Okay, technically, they are not Central Division champs yet, but it would take a ridiculous scenario to play out on the last week for them not be be Central Division champs.  Therefore, JohngysBeat.com is declaring the Chicago Rush as division champs.
Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker and I attended practice last Thursday and saw a loose, confident and happy Chicago Rush team.  Coach McMillen and Assistant Coach Housman ran the team through drills and spoke to them at the end.  The message was simple.  The team has come a long way and they still have a way to go, but they are headed in the right direction.
All of this is so very true.  I have previously written about the somewhat uncertain status of the team.  The AFL is now in charge of the Chicago Rush.  Through it all, Coach McMillen has forged ahead and basically willed his team to do the same.  It really has been quite a ride.
The Rush face the San Jose Sabercats (12-5) tonight.  It is basically a meaningless game, except Coach McMillen would never allow such a thing.  I promise you the Rush will play this game like they have played all other games, like it is for their lives.
We talked to defensive lineman Darrell Campbell after practice and got his thoughts on the playoffs and more.  Campbell went to Notre Dame and was on the 2005 Chicago Bears practice squad.  He later played for the 2009 Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes under (current Bears coach) Marc Trestman and he gave us his thoughts on Coach Trestman.
I had a little fun with Campbell at the start of the interview.  I referred to him as a legend and he is one.  He is a local Chicago kid who has gone on to have a solid career.  I love players like Campbell.  I greatly respect what he has done.
I also greatly respect all that Coach McMillen has done.  It is well-documented here that I have followed his career and I firmly believe he will be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame this year.  He should also be AFL Coach of the Year for what he has done.  Still, Coach McMillen will hear none of that.  The chase for the title is all that is on his mind right now.  We got Coach's thoughts on the upcoming game and the playoffs.

Once again, I thank the Chicago Rush organization for their hospitality.  I hope you all are enjoying this as much as I am.

On the Beat with the Chicago Rush at Practice

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend a Chicago Rush practice.  Of course, I jumped at the chance to partake in another aspect of the Rush experience.

I arrived early and was immediately greeted by offensive lineman Steve Edwards.  As documented here previously, Edwards is a fellow Mount Carmel alum and we have talked several times this season.  As I made my way to the practice field, I exchanged greetings with Coach Bob McMillen, quarterback Carson Coffman, receiver Reggie Gray and kicker Jose Martinez.  Upon taking my position at midfield on the sidelines, assistant coach Walt Hausman, Director of Media Relations Jonah Rosenblum and several other players welcomed me.  At the risk of repetition, this is a professional, classy organization.

I watched for two hours, as players warmed up, performed simple drills and eventually had a full 7-on-7 scrimmage.  Being that close to the field always makes me respect the abilities and efforts of these players that much more.

Also, despite being indoors and having huge fans, the temperature was still high, but I did not hear one complaint from anyone.  This team is focused.  Then again, Coach McMillen would have it no other way.

After practice, I joined CBS 2 Chicago's Krista Ruch in a media session with Coach McMillen, Gray, Coffman and quarterback Luke Drone.  The main topics were the big, upcoming game against Arizona, the challenges of the season, the heat and other interesting things.  I admit, CBS Chicago's Krista Ruch asked more questions, but CBS is slightly bigger than JohngysBeat.com.  I had no problem with her taking the lead.  I got my turn every time and together we got some interesting stuff.
The Rush is traveling to Arizona to face the 14-2 Rattlers.  This is a crucial game for the Rush, who are currently tied for 1st in their division, but would lose the tie-breaker at this point.  It is going to be a tough game, but I have faith in the Rush.
I saw the determination from everyone yesterday.  Coach McMillen sets the tone and everyone else is right behind him.  The team looked ready, sharp and confident.
Unfortunately, I will not be in Arizona, but I will be following the game online.  This team deserves our fandom.  They have earned it.  I am in it for the long haul and I encourage everyone to get on the Rush bandwagon now!
Please enjoy the following interviews with Coach McMillen, Coffman, Drone and Gray.  Also, go to ArenaRush.com to follow this team.

Johngy's Beat Votes for Bob McMillen (Future AFL HOF)

Chicago Rush Coach Bob McMillen is a finalist for the 2013 Arena Football League Hall of Fame.  Aside from guiding the Rush to the championship this year, a Hall of Fame election would be the best reward for McMillen.
I have followed McMillen's career since his time at Illinois Benedictine.  He went on to play 13 seasons in the AFL, the last 5 with the Rush.  He holds numerous records, won many awards and was selected as one of the 20 greatest players in the AFL history.
This is a no-brainer.  McMillen should be a lock.  I don't even need to plead my case.  Look up McMillen's career stats and you will agree.
It would be a great time to elect him.  He has endured a chaotic several months because of the Rush ownership issue, but he has remained positive and he has made sure the team stays positive.  I have seen and talked to him in practice, before and after games and on off days.  He never strays from his positive outlook.
After some losses, I have sen him get angry, frustrated and even bewildered, but I have never seen him get negative.  He is completely focused on keeping the team on track and heading to the playoffs.
I never pretend that JohngysBeat is on par with the major media outlets, but McMillen treats my crew with respect and friendliness.  We have never had anything less than a pleasurable experience with him.
McMillen is a pro.  He is proving to be a great coach.  He is definitely a guy who Chicago embraces.  He is without a doubt a Hall of Famer.  Now it is time to make that official.
Current Hall of Fame members and Arena Football fans can make that happen by voting online continuing through Friday, July 26, 2013.  I encourage everyone to join JohngysBeat.com and vote for Bob McMillen.
The 2013 Hall of Fame class will be announced during the 2013 Conference Championship weekend.  .While McMillen works at getting the Rush there, we need to work at getting McMillen inducted!

Bob McMillen and me in Rosemont, IL-March 2013.

On the Beat with the Chicago Rush-6/15/13

This piece could be titled "A Tale of Two Coaches."  I am sandwiching a couple of player interviews with interviews with Lee Johnson, coach of the San Antonio Talons and Bob McMillen, coach of the Chicago Rush.  Johnson was happy.  McMillen was not.  Twenty minutes prior to these interviews, it would have probably been the opposite.

The San Antonio Talons came from behind to steal a 61-54 victory from the Rush.  The Rush is now 7-6 in 1st place, while the Talons are 6-6 in 2nd place.  The race is tight, but unfortunately the Talons own the tie breaker right now.

I admit, I predicted a 70-48 victory for the Rush.  I was feeling pretty good midway through the 4th quarter, when the Rush lead 54-42.  that is about when things started to fall apart.  That is about when McMillen and Johnson started to exchange moods.

Critical mistakes really cost the Rush.  Rush kicker Jose Martinez missed two extra point attempts after missing three last week.  Quarterback Carson Coffman also incurred the wrath of Coach McMillen for his play late in the game.  McMillen was angered by the general play of the whole team in the last few minutes and he expressed it clearly in the post-game media session.

JohngysBeat.com's Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker asked Coach McMillen about Coffman, Martinez and the rest of the team.  McMillen pulled no punches.  I think this will be an interesting week of practice for the tam.

We also got in a few questions with running back J.J. Payne and defender Jorrick Calvin.  Both men had some very nice plays in the game.  Unfortunately, they had to balance the good with the fact that the team lost a game they should have won.  I give both men credit (along with coach McMillen) for hanging in there throughout the media session.  This is a class organization.  The emotions were running high, but the Rush organization stood tall and dealt with the aftermath.

The Rush has away games in Tampa and Philadelphia with an off week in between, before returning to Rockford on July 13 to face the Cleveland Gladiators.  As Coach McMillen stated, the Rush might have to win all of them to make the playoffs.

I will be at the Cleveland game.  Hopefully, the Rush will be on a two game win streak.  We will see, but until then, I will enjoy following them on arenarush.com.

 

On the Beat with the Chicago Rush

I must admit I bristled a bit when I heard that the Chicago Rush had moved a couple games to Rockford, due to scheduling conflicts at the Allstate Arena.  I would much rather take the 15 minute drive to Rosemont, than the 60 minute drive to Rockford.
After stewing for a few minutes, I realized how positive the entire Rush organization has been throughout the ownership troubles.  If the Rush could keep making the effort, I could certainly give Rockford a try.
The game was held in the BMO Harris Bank Center (formerly the Rockford MetroCentre).  It opened in 1981 and was home to the AFL’s “test game” between the Chicago Politicians and Rockford Metros in 1986.
There was a palpable and contagious positive buzz around Rockford for the Rush.  The arena event staff did everything possible to make the team and the fans feel at home.  This was starting off as a very pleasant experience.
The game started with the teams trading touchdowns and Utah lead 14-13 early in the second quarter.  The Rush took the lead on a 15 yard touchdown reception by Jared Jenkins.  The Rush never lost the lead and cruised to a 67-43 victory.
In the post-game media session, Coach Bob McMillen discussed the Rockford situation.  He also fielded a question by yours truly.  Yes, JohngysBeat.com was on the board!  We weren't done however.  Cuzz Gekas got in a question to the players.  It was a JohngysBeat.com two-fer!
The Rush turned the negative scheduling conflict into a positive.  Once again, I was very impressed with Coach McMillen, who continues to be a positive force in the locker room and one the field.
The Rush will play two more games in Rockford.  We plan on making the short trip for both.  What started out as two friends going to watch exciting indoor football has turned into future getaway plans.  I am looking forward to going back to Rockford and to seeing the Rush continue their excellent season.  As Coach McMillen said, “It is a great place for football and more.”

On the Beat with the Chicago Rush-Game 9

Because of three road games and one home game that I had to miss, I have not seen the Chicago Rush in over a month.  I was really itching to get back to the action.

A lot has happened since my last game.  The league has taken over the team and the future is a bit cloudy.  I refuse to use "doubtful" for the Rush's future, not with so much positive feelings everywhere I look.

I worked for years for a company with a constant uncertain future.  It is stressful and unpleasant, but that was kept within the confines of our office.  The Rush organization is experiencing the cloudy situation on a big stage in front of everyone and they are all showing their class, grace and professionalism.  Their positive outlook is palpable and contagious.

The game on Sunday promised to be a great one and it did not disappoint.  Tied for 1st in the Central Division, the Rush (4-4) hosted the Arizona Rattlers (7-1), who were in 1st place in the West Division.  This would be a big test for the Rush.  Despite the 56-49 loss, I believe the Rush passed the test.

Arizona jumped out to a 7-0 lead and expanded the lead to 35-21 at halftime.  The lead grew to 21 at various points of the second half, but the Rush kept coming back.  The Rush closed the gap to 56-49 with just under six minutes left in the game.  The Rush actually had a shot at putting the game into overtime, but they fell just short on the last minute drive.

Despite the outcome, there were many positive points.  The Rush got 210 yards on 9 kickoff returns, including Rodney Wright’s 57 yard return for a score.  Several Rush defenders came within inches of interceptions.  The Rush matched up with the Rattlers statistically for most of the categories.  The one big exception was Red Zone production, where the Rush went 2-5 and the Rattlers went 6-6.

This is all even more remarkable considering that quarterback Luke Drone was recently signed and had only one day to practice.  Regular quarterback Carson Coffman is nursing an injured ankle.  Drone hit some big passes and looked sharp all things considered.

The crowd of roughly 5,000 also remained positive.  They cheered throughout and I don’t think anyone left early.  The game was just that exciting.

JohngysBeat.com’s Matt Parker talked to Drone and linebacker Kelvin Morris after the game (see accompanying videos).  They were disappointed with the loss, proud of the effort and positive for the future, as was Coach Bob McMillen in the post-game media session.

The next four games are critical for the Rush playoffs hope.  The Rush head to New Orleans and Orlando, followed by two “home” games in Rockford.  Three out of four will bring the Rush to 8-8, with 5 more games left.

You might want to call me a biased journalist, but I defy anyone to attend a Rush game and not feel the same.  I will be following Les Grobstein’s call for the two away games, but I cannot wait to watch the Rush in person in Rockford in three weeks.  I hope you are enjoying the Rush season with me.

(Almost Not) on the Beat with the Chicago Rush

My association with the Chicago Rush almost ended before it even officially started.  My mistake due to haste (as opposed to ignorance) almost cost me.
I contacted Ryan Young (former Director of Media Relations) last season about doing some coverage for the team.  He responded back with some questions about my credentials and intent.  Because I was very excited about the possibility of being involved with the Rush, I quickly emailed a bunch of links of my writing and interviews and I listed Coach Bob McMillen as one of the main people I wanted to interview.
I misspelled Coach McMillen's name and Young called me on it, citing the rush's need to have serious committed, knowledgeable coverage.  It was a stupid mistake on my part and one that almost cost me big time.
I responded quickly, that the misspelling was just bad typing and that I was a big fan of Coach McMillen's.  I then went into some McMillen trivia which I knew.
McMillen is an AFL legend and I was a long-time fan.  He started his AFL career with the Arizona Rattlers.  He played six seasons there, followed by two with the San Jose SabreCats.  In 2003, he joined his hometown Rush.  He retired as the AFL's second all-time leading rusher.  He is one of only two players who played in the ArenaBowl with three different teams.  In 2011, the Rush retired his #11.
Fortunately, Young accepted my explanation and I started covering the Rush late last season, with hopes of covering more in 2013.  I was really excited.
The Rush underwent a lot of changes since last season, one of which was the appointment of Mike McLaughlin as Director of Marketing & Public Relations.  McLaughlin and I discussed my intentions and I am back on the beat for the Chicago Rush and more excited than ever.
I applaud Young for challenging me and also for his willingness to understand that it was a simple mistake and not my lack of knowledge of the team.  He handled it all very professionally.
Now, McLaughlin is handling the media and he has been extremely helpful and patient with me.  We have discussed some stories and angles for me to cover.  He has offered his assistance when possible.  In short, he has made this a very pleasant and fun situation.
This whole thing has already been a learning experience.  I need to remember to slow down my excitement and concentrate on typing accuracy.  I want to thank Young, McLaughlin and the Rush organization for being professional and caring enough to make certain that their coverage is done professionally.
The best part of the story is that on Media Day, I finally got to meet and interview McMillen.  That was a real thrill.  You can see that interview at On the Beat with Coach Bob McMillen.
Please check out ArenaRush.com for more info on the Chicago Rush.  The next game for the Rush is this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Power at 3 p.m. at the Allstate Arena.  I will be there, right in the press area.

Bob McMillen and me in Rosemont, IL-March 2013.

On the Beat with the Chicago Rush-Part 1 The Front Office

On Monday, I attended Media Day for the Chicago Rush and I received my season media credentials.  Starting today, I will be featuring and highlighting Players, coaches, fans and events of the Chicago Rush.  It is a new era of Chicago Rush football and JohngysBeat.com is excited about being a part of it.
The new era really begins with David Staral, the new owner.  Staral admits this all came together very quickly, but things are headed in the right direction and the changes are positive.  Staral is a young, Chicago native and a sports fan.  I felt his enthusiasm right from the start and I look forward to great things from Staral and the Rush.

Coach Bob McMillen transitioned from a legendary AFL playing career to become a successful coach in his first year at the helm.  He was runner-up for the AFL’s Coach of the Year award in 2011, when the Rush went 13-5 and won the Central Division title.  That appears to be just the beginning for the motivated McMillen.  Like Staral, McMillen's enthusiasm and determination was evident and contagious.

Les Grobstein is a radio legend, a true Hall of Famer.  I have listened to the Grobber for years and he never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge of sports.  The guy is simply amazing.  He has also done plenty of broadcasting over the years, including being a part of the first Arena Football game ever.  Grobstein is a great asset as the broadcaster for the Rush.  His enthusiasm, acumen and humor add up to a great listening experience for the Rush fans.  It was a pleasure for me to meet the Grobber!

These three men represent a huge part of the Rush from different angles.  Each contributes to the positive energy that was overflowing from the area during Media Day.  I am so excited about this and I encourage everyone to get on board with the Chicago Rush.  It promises to be a fun ride.
For more info on the Rush, you can check out ArenaRush.com and the Chicago Rush Facebook page and you can follow the Rush on twitter.