Random Thoughts: Bears and more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

The latest installment of Random Thoughts includes congratulations and well wishes, a stunning ruling, the Chicago Bears and NFL cities and a team that’s moving on up.

Congratulations

Congratulations to all local track and field athletes who competed at the OHSAA track and field state championships in Columbus this past weekend. There were record setting performance and an all around good showing but a very talented group of athletes.

Good luck

Best of the luck to the Delphos St. John’s Blue Jays, as they try to win another state championship. On the heels winning the Division VII boys hoops title, the Blue Jays are in the Division VII baseball state semifinals and will face Tiffin Calvert at 10 a.m. Friday, with the winner moving on to Saturday’s championship game.

What?

The NCAA took one on the chin on Monday, when a Texas judge ruled that Texas Tech star quarterback Brendan Sorsby can indeed play this season, after he was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA for betting on his own team while he was at Indiana and after that.

It just doesn’t make sense – the NCAA is quite clear about gambling, especially on your own team. Even betting on your team to win is a big no-no.

Even if you’re not a fan of the NCAA, the ruling seems to make little sense.

Bears on the move

Depending on which report you read, the Chicago Bears are on the move to Hammond, Indiana. Some reports say it’s a done deal, others indicate the Illinois legislature could still somehow make a play to build a new stadium in the Land of Lincoln. Personally, I still don’t completely believe it’s a done deal but it seems very close.

If the new stadium is built in northwest Indiana, the team will still be referred to as the Chicago Bears. It did get me thinking though – what if teams were listed where they actually play? Here’s how the NFL would look with stadium locations and their respective teams.

AFC East

Orchard Park Bills, Foxborough Patriots, Miami Gardens Dolphins, East Rutherford, New Jersey Jets

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns (Brook Park Browns in 2029), Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Nashville Titans

AFC West

Denver Broncos, Inglewood Chargers, Kansas City, Missouri Chiefs (will become Kansas City, Kansas Chiefs), Las Vegas Raiders

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles, Arlington Cowboys, East Rutherford, New Jersey Giants, Landover, Maryland Commanders (to be Washington DC Commanders in 2030)

NFC North

Chicago Bears (Hammond, Indiana Bears?), Green Bay Packers, Minneapolis Vikings, Detroit Lions

NFC South

Charlotte Panthers, Tampa Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks, Inglewood Rams, Santa Clara 49ers, Glendale Cardinals

Moving on up

Lutheran East High School in Cleveland Heights has won four straight OHSAA boys basketball titles and five of the last six. The last two titles have come in Division V. Now, the school has made the decision to move to Division I for the upcoming season to compete with the big boys. OHSAA rules allow schools to re-classify to Division I if they so chose, but just one other school has done it – Cincinnati Elder, which went from Division II to Division I.

“The Lue” shouldn’t have any trouble competing against Division I schools. Since no one at the smaller school level wants to play them anymore, the school has scheduled big schools for years. Not only have they scheduled them, but they’ve beaten them.

As always, if you have thoughts or comments on any of the above subjects, feel free to email me at sports@thevwindependent.com.