What We Saw When the Bears Took a Break

Chicago had a lovely fall weekend without the Bears, but plenty of other sports kept fans engrossed. From baseball playoffs to college football, hockey, and NFL games, the city was buzzing. Here are some key observations and fun facts from the weekend. The Blackhawks haven't secured a deal with CHSN yet, but they've been very focused on protecting their logo from the media! Meanwhile, Brian Anderson from the Brewers was praising stars during the ALCS, with his signature "stress yawn" comment stealing the show. The Packers made a questionable move by choosing white helmets for their game—who approved that? Illinois football, on the other hand, is rocking some seriously cool vintage-inspired helmets. ESPN's "College GameDay" pregame show has become a bit chaotic with Pat McAfee. Even his colleagues seem annoyed with his antics. Lee Corso is a legend, but maybe it's time to retire gracefully? Life imitated art when Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was replaced by Arch Manning shortly after a relevant Dr Pepper commercial aired. Chicago's young hockey sensation Connor Bedard needs to put down his phone and pick up a book. It's not just about being well-read—life is short! When a crucial play went wrong in the ALCS, everyone seemed to get the "Cubbie Occurrence" text simultaneously. The WNBA Finals were electrifying, with ratings showing that good basketball gets viewers. Unlike some NBA games, these were close until the end. The SEC may be a tougher football conference than the Big Ten, but with Ohio State and Penn State out, the Big Ten had a less exciting weekend. The Blackhawks home opener featured nonstop music, including a guy singing off-key karaoke. Fans were reminded to "make some noise" like they've never been to a game before. The NFC North might be the best division now, but it'll take more to convince long-time fans. With the World Series around the corner, everyone's wondering if the White Sox will announce their new manager during a game.