Panthers will win in another great city

This blog business is tough. Just did one last week and now they want another. Feels like a diary. But I never kept a diary. Never played with dolls, either.

New York was great. Found a hole in the wall bar near Times Square called Jimmy’s Corner. Jimmy is a famed cornerman, and his walls are jammed with boxing memorabilia. Tried to talk to Jimmy about boxing and about how cool his bar was, but he wasn’t interested. So I liked everything about Jimmy’s except Jimmy. Stayed out way too late, but it was New York.

Chicago will be the same. Chicago is one of the great cities in the world, and the team reflects the town. Tough, succinct, get to it, get to it now. Newspapers like to run stories in which a writer will belittle the town from which the opponent comes. I couldn’t do that, not with any feeling, two years ago when the Panthers played the Eagles. I like everything about Philly except for the fans at the Linc. But I sense most of them don’t live in Philadelphia. Couldn’t pass the entrance test.

I picked the winner in my blog last week, saying the Panthers would win close against the Giants. I see them winning close again, 17-13 or so. But what a game this will be. And what a town to have it in.

Thanks to everybody who responded last week when I asked for names of a neighborhood restaurant or bar. Have several from Charlotte, and one from Wilmington, one from Raleigh and one from Birmingham.

The low point at Jimmy’s was when a guy I work with, a friend I’ll call "Stan," went to the jukebox and, with my money, played what sounded like show tunes. Then he denied playing them. The high point? I’m not allowed to say.

Comments

[Freddy P]

Tom, unlike two weeks ago I feel pretty good about the Panthers chances this weekend in Chi town. Hope this reply doesn't jinx them or I may visit one of those neighborhood bars and drown myself.
Panthers 23 Bears 16

[Phil]

I worked in Chicago for 6 weeks about 15 years ago. I was just down the road from Buddy Guy's Legends bar. Some great music there. No show tunes. It seems like it was on S. Wabash. Enjoy Chicago. Hellava city.

[DRE from Charlotte]

Chicago is a great town. I used to live there. Then came a winter day, 24 below zero and winds of 40 mph. My car gave one crank and died. My apartment with heat blasting couldn't get above 50 degrees. So I started typing my resume to move down here. Charlotte is a nice place, not great. But the Panthers are gonna win anyway. Hey, the mayors don't play, the teams do.

[#1 Bears fan in NC]

As someone from Illinois living in NC, I'll tell you now...No WAY the Panthers pull this one out. Chicago is rolling and its D will sock Foster/Jake/Smitty in the jaw. Should be close, but the Cats' run is done. Be sure to slug down some Goose Island beer, not soda, and grab a slice of that great Chicago pizza!

[tee leitner]

To comment on #1 bears fan-- it might be easy for you to get wrapped up in the bears first playoff game in a very long time. However you seem to be overestimating the horrible offense the bears have. This will be a defense dominated game, but our offense is so much better than the bears offense the game should unfold in the later quarters. Just one statement for you... the panthers have a playmaker and all it takes is a 5 yd pass to smith, and the defense holds up Gametime...
As for me I don't really see this one going to chicago Da Bears don't really have any advantages... 1) not the weather 2) not really a motivation (Chicagos statements about our defense, and we lost earlier in the year)
3) not an experienced quarterback... (however i m not much of a fan of jake until the game is on the line...)

All in All Panthers will show experience and coaching will prevail in this one

[tee leitner]

To comment on #1 bears fan-- it might be easy for you to get wrapped up in the bears first playoff game in a very long time. However you seem to be overestimating the horrible offense the bears have. This will be a defense dominated game, but our offense is so much better than the bears offense the game should unfold in the later quarters. Just one statement for you... the panthers have a playmaker and all it takes is a 5 yd pass to smith, and the defense holds up Gametime...
As for me I don't really see this one going to chicago Da Bears don't really have any advantages... 1) not the weather 2) not really a motivation (Chicagos statements about our defense, and we lost earlier in the year)
3) not an experienced quarterback... (however i m not much of a fan of jake until the game is on the line...)

All in All Panthers will show experience and coaching will prevail in this one

[Bill]

Tom, I hope you are right.

Better look out though, if you keep picking them and they keep winning, people will start calling you a 'homer'.

[BJ Tompkins]

As a Bear fan in Chicago, I must tell the Panther fans, I respect you picking your home team. That's natural.

But take off the blinders. One of you wrote the Bears have over rated their offense? Get serious. We have had ZERO offense for the whole season and destroyed the Panthers without one. Rex can't possibly play worse than Orton and Carolina will find the Bears D not the patsy they found in NY.

By the middle of the third Quarter, Panthers will be trying to get to the sidelines, away from the hammer.

Nice run NC, but it ends today.

[Leftyshooter]

Can the Panther re-active Davis with Foster out?

[tee leitner]

bj nice one
the panthers won right? the offense in chicago was lousy, and they are going home, so get on the bandwagon and enjoy the next game. who says we can't win on the road in Seatle? please continue to count down the days until next season when your hopes of going to the super bowl are crushed again. I think that hit minter put on your recievers was definitly the hammer.... good luck next year and enjoy your pizza because we will enjoy our trip to seatle

[BJ Tompkins]

Oh no! The Bears got killed and right in the defense!! The revenge must be fantastic. As a great Bears fan, I can only give NC all the credit they very much deserve. The Panthers made all the right adjustments from the Nov. game, while the Bears must have spent the past two weeks reading their press clippings.
They've had two great play-off games. I see nothing in Seattle that should scare them.

One thing before I hibernate until July ... are you sure we weren't supposed to get Smith and you keep Muhammed?

Congrats to all of Panther nation.