Marcel Marceau: 1923-2007

We've been cheated by mimes most of our lives, seeing street performers trapped in boxes or people attempting it without any training. All the while, we are unaware of its full potential.

Thank God for Marcel Marceau. And what a tragedy his death is.

I am blessed to have seen Marcel Marceau perform a full two hours of mime. He came to Indiana Univserity while I was going to school there. I don't remember much about it except I was never lost, nothing was unintentionally ridiculous and I was always entertained. But it was at the lecture he had given a few days before that he demonstrated the true power of mime.

I don't remember how I heard about the afternoon lecture and I don't remember if I arrived early or late, but the auditorium was full. I stood at the back with my girlfriend at the time as he was being interviewed. I remember little of this except his humor and how lithe he was, simply sitting there. After the interview, there was a Q&A that he ended by saying he would perform the story of good and evil.

This is all it was: for two minutes, a man stood on a stage, and with one hand representing evil and the other representing good, he showed their struggle and good's eventual victory. But I tell you, it was the most amazing performance I have seen in my life and I believe I will die without seeing anything to surpass it. I cried and as I cried I laughed that a man could make me cry by moving his hands.

I am grateful for that moment and am saddened by his death.

Resigned

If you see me today, you might suspect me to be depressed. Not so. You see, I haven't been involved in Bears culture very long, but I understand that this is how it goes. You are given a year of brilliance, and then it is gone. That's pretty much true for Chicago sports in general. The Bulls of the 90's? An anomaly. And so I'm resigned. I'm resigned to the fact that it's going to be a long Bears season.

Now Rex could wake up, but will he stay awake? I'm not holding out hope. I was a big supporter of Rex last year. It was his first full season. He was making first season mistakes. He showed flashes of absolute brilliance. But it's become too much. One more game. That's all I think he should get.

And if he's benched, would that save our season? The grass is always greener on Griese's side. But is it? He hasn't had the greatest track record. Looking at his stats, he's been fine his entire career. And maybe that's all we need. Someone who is fine. Someone to be a game manager.

But where's our great quarterback, huh? Don't we deserve one? I'm sorry. I'm whining. It's just that the only quarterback of note in regards to talent is Sid Luckman. Who? Yeah, I didn't know until I got here either. Mostly because he played from 1939-1950.

So here I sit. Resigned. But you want to know the cool thing about Chicago? There is hope. Always hope. We bury it. Pretend it isn't there. But in the end, heck, it's got to be our turn sometime.

Why I love Devin Hester.

I always have. Well, not always. I don't remember watching any University of Miami games and seeing him. So I should say I've loved him as long as he's been a part of the Bears.

And not just because he's an amazing return specialist. That's a given. It's how exciting he is. Do you remember Barry Sanders? I do. I loved watching him. Every time he got his hands on the ball, you never knew what was going to happen. He made things happen that shouldn't have happened. He actually kind of ruined the running game for my brother and me. We'd watch and wonder why some running back would run up the gut into a wall. Barry didn't do that.

As I began to watch football more and more, I learned about blocking assignments and routes, etc. But I began to wonder where the excitement was. Touted running back after touted running back and I'm looking and not seeing Barry. I thought maybe it was my youth. Like when you go back to your school and it looks so much smaller.

And then along came Hester. I realized that Barry hadn't been a fluke. That excitement I remembered is valid. Hester is the most exciting player since Barry Sanders.