You want to know what’s going to shake down in the Super Bowl this Sunday? Don’t want to miss your child’s early years reading the Chicago Tribune’s daily Bears coverage? Is the Sun-Times’ Jay Mariotti too much of a fireball for you? Does sports talk radio give you a brain-splitting migraine? Does Terry Bradshaw make you feel like the chickens need feeding and the bucket in the outhouse is full? Can’t get past Dan Marino’s performance in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”?
Then what you need is Super Bowl XLI insight from Oak Parkers that are highly qualified to be professional sports prognosticators.
I’m talking about the Fenciks.
John Fencik, 14, an 8th grader at Gwendolyn Brooks, plays baseball and football, sings and acts.
“This should be a really good game. The first quarter will be kind of like a chess match; it will be scoreless. In the second quarter I think the Bears will be able to get good field position on great returns by Devin Hester. I expect the Bears to lead at halftime 13-7. In the third quarter I believe the Bears defense will start to struggle because the second half is where Peyton Manning shines most. He will have two third down conversions on long passes to Reggie Wayne. At the end of the third quarter Colts lead 17-16. Brad Maynard will come up big in the fourth quarter by pinning the Colts inside their 15 twice. The Bears linebackers will get key tackles and will put lots of pressure on Manning including two sacks by No. 54, Brian Urlacher. The offensive line will give Rex Grossman time to throw two touchdown passes to Bernard Berrian and Desmond Clark. As the clock runs down, Manning will get one last touchdown pass to his usual playoff target, Marvin Harrison. The Bears will recover the onside kick and run out the clock as Super Bowl Champs! Final score 30-24 Bears!”
Charlie Fencik, 11, a 6th grader also at Brooks, plays baseball and football.
“My prediction for the Super Bowl is, Bears 35, Colts 31. Now for my key players who have to step up in order for the Bears to win: On defense, Mark Anderson and Lance Briggs are going to have to get pressure on Manning.
“Those are the two people I’m trusting to get pressure on Manning so he doesn’t get comfortable to throw.
“On offense, the offensive line is going to have to step up and do their jobs to the best of their abilities because when Rex is pressured it’s not pretty.
“On special teams Brad Maynard is going to have to get some good punts because when the Colts get good field position, chances are they’ll score.”
Karen Fencik, an Oak Parker since 1983 and mother of John and Charlie, says the Bears will win 24-21.
OK, yes, these three prognosticators may indeed be a bit biased. You may have already recognized the name. Karen is the older sister of Gary “The Hitman” Fencik, Super Bowl shuffler and Bears safety who played 12 seasons in Chicago.
But I’m not going to argue with the Hitman’s relatives.
Contact: bspencer@wjinc.com