Bleeding Orange and Blue In Chicago
Aug 24, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears helmets during the second half against the New York Giants at Metlife Stadium. The Bears won the game 20-17 Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Hello, Bear fans! My name is Michael Curcio and I live in the Chicago neighborhood of Bucktown with my beautiful fiancée. I didn’t come here to start no trouble, but I am excited to be the newest member of the staff of Bear Goggles On/FanSided discussing our beloved Chicago Bears. Although I have room to grow and improve, I bring writing and journalism experience. While in college, I wrote several articles for my college newspaper on various sports topics. I also wrote and broadcasted for my college radio station which gave me exposure to areas beyond writing. I always wanted to be Wayne Larrivee, even though he is now broadcasting for the dark side!
To say that I am a passionate Bear fan is an understatement. Ever since I have learned how to walk, it was all about football season and the Chicago Bears. To be honest, there was really no choice I had – I was going to be a football fan and a Chicago Bear fan. My father made that very clear. I actually remember him telling my mom when she was pregnant with my sister to please not go into labor on a Sunday. When I think back at my life, I am able to remember when certain events happened by remembering what the Bears were doing at that time. For example: I remember dancing and singing to the Super Bowl Shuffle at 4 years old, yelling at Johnny Bailey muffing punts while celebrating my first communion, and moving with my family from Chicago to Arizona while watching Steve Walsh lead us to a playoff victory!
While growing up, I started realizing that I loved the defensive side of the ball and was intrigued by the different ways to stop an opponent in football. This was mainly because I’m an intense person that lacks the grace needed for offense. I played corner and safety throughout my playing career, which unfortunately ended in high school. However, right away I became huge fans of guys like Donnell Woolford, Lemuel Stinson and Mark Carrier – until Carrier started playing soft after his rookie season. This became the perfect fit as the Bears were usually a defensive team – right up my alley. I have always had 2 rules when it comes to wearing a Bears jersey: they always have to be a defensive player and cannot be a current player. The only exceptions to these rules are Walter Payton, Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs. People describe me watching a Bear game as intense, vulgar, loud and passionate – especially if we are losing.
I have a unique talent that I am very proud of as well. If you give me a week during the 1985 Bears schedule, I can tell you who they played, what the score was and who scored, on the spot. I also wrote a few high school term papers and a few college economics papers with the Bears being the topic – and always did well on them! I hope you all enjoy my articles as much as I enjoy writing them. We may not always have the same viewpoints, so yours are always encouraged and welcomed. There’s nothing like some good Chicago Bear banter! However, I always promise to write with passion and be open to discussion. I know I have said this before, but I am excited about the future of this team seeing that we now have some offensive personnel consistency. With the right drafting and identity, this defense can be fixed rather quickly as well. We will see!
On a side note, I am dedicating every article written to my late father, who instilled my Bears passion in me. Thank you for this opportunity and Bear Down!!!!!!!!