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Most of the top 2012 sports stories in Chicago had no championships and little playoff action involved. Some had no action and plenty of injuries. In fact, plenty of the biggest news events had negative overtones. The order may be different depending on your favorite sport/or team’s situation. My look has to do with the impact of the story.

1. Rose injury: On April 28, the Bulls were just a minute away from beating the Philadelphia 76ers in game one of the playoffs. Derrick Rose was driving to the basket and tore his ACL.  The Bulls lost that playoff round even though they had the best regular season record in the NBA. Rose is still rehabbing and hoping to return in 2013.

2. Cubs lose 101 games: They had not reached the century mark in losses since 1966. Players were traded, the offense was horrible and the fans were scare at season’s end. What a way for Dale Sveum to start his managing career and a tough year for new President Theo Epstein.

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And then there was one…

The 2005 White Sox World Series felt more distant after catcher A.J. Pierzynski agreed to play for the Texas Rangers. Now Paul Konerko is the last player from that World Championship team. It almost feels rather melancholy to think that there will be no more of the colorful and sometimes controversial player behind the plate for the South Siders.

It seemed every year A.J. was anointed as the most hated player in baseball and he loved it.  Pierzynski is the kind of player from the outside who seemed like a pain and a difficult person to have on a team. He was to some extent. But what you learn being around him for eight years is he is one of the smartest players in the game. He gets under other people's skin because he knows all the nuances of the game better than most — and he lets you know it.

After covering him and Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk, you realize that those types of players are special in baseball. They are perfectionists in a game they love more than you know.

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The Bears defense got back to scoring, the offense did just enough and the end result was a 28-13 win over Arizona. The win snapped a three game losing streak and improved the Bears record to 9-6.

Bears scoring “D” got on track”:

The last time the Bears defense scored a touchdown was way back on November 4^th, when Brian Urlacher scored on his interception against Tennessee. That was when everything was going well, and the Bears were flying high with a 7-1 record. It seems to be no coincidence that the defensive scoring drought paralleled the Bears downward spiral.

The defense scored twice against the Cardinals. In the first quarter with Arizona backed up to its end zone, Cardinal running back Beanie Wells fumbled the ball and Bears cornerback Zack Bowman pounced on it for the game’s first score. Charles Tillman intercepted Arizona’s Ryan Lindley and ran ten yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Tillman has been the teams best defender all season.

This year the Bears defense has scored nine times, one more would tie the NFL record.

Defensive end Julius Peppers had a solid game with three of the four Bears sacks in the game.

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Children are not the only ones hoping Santa Claus can bring them all the items on their wish-list. Sports teams have compiled a list that they hope the jolly old man may put under their Christmas tree. OK, maybe they don't have a list, but here is what I think they want — it’s not sugar plums and candy canes.

The Bears, and specifically Head Coach Lovie Smith, have a long list of wishes. A playoff berth is top on the list in big bold letters. Smith’s future here as the Bears head coach may be tied into a postseason appearance. Winning the last two games and loses by other teams may get them in the playoffs (lots of work for Santa). General Manager Phil Emery must have plenty of wishes, too. High on his list are numerous offensive linemen, a wide receiver and a sure-handed tight end. Basically he's dealing with the personal that former GM Jerry Angelo left for him.

It's not hard to figure out what the Cubs would love to get: wins — lots and lots of wins. It is probably on top of every Cubs fan's list, too.

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Giving our youngest football players a chance to play the sport they love the right way — safely — is the aim of one former pro and suburban mayor. Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz, a former NFL linebacker who racked up time with the Bears, 49ers and Cowboys, plans to launch the Northwest Flag Football League for young suburban athletes starting in August 2013.

Schwantz said he saw a gap for players at a vulnerable age, third through sixth grades, with only tackle football available in his area. Not that Schwantz doesn’t believe in tackle football — he has coached it for two years. However, he sees risks that could be avoided. According to Schwantz, most players in this age group are not ready for the physical demands of the game.

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If you heard a big hissing sound from Soldier Field this weekend it was the air going out of the Bears playoff hopes. The 21-13 loss to Green Bay handed the Packers the NFC North division and dropped the Bears to 8-6, diminishing their chances to play in January. The Pack improved to 10-4 and felt good about hurting the Bears' post-season opportunity.

Here's a recap of what went so wrong for Chicago. 

Big time players stepped up during big time moments

The tale of the tape of the opposing quarterbacks clearly goes to the Packers' Aaron Rodgers, after a slow start with -3 passing yards in the first quarter. The Green Bay QB took advantage of Bears mistakes and connected with wide receiver James Jones three times.

Bears signal-caller Jay Cutler was able to get the Bears on the scoreboard first with a 15-yard pass reception to Brandon Marshall. The Bears had the ball late in the second quarter and the game was tied at 7.

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After a trade, a mini-camp, training camps and 13 games, the light bulb has finally turned on for me regarding Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

When Marshall became a Bear his resume made him interesting, although many were wary. But Bears media and fans have never seen a receiver do what Marshall has done on this team’s football field. And now, as the season is winding down, Marshall is having a record-breaking season. He makes plays with two or three defenders on him. Now, Brandon and Jay are the Bears offense.

Then there's Brandon's dealings with the press. Week in and week out Brandon talks to the media after teammate Jay Cutler. Marshall is jovial and forthright in his comments — about everything and anything. At the beginning of his first press conference, he took out his phone, snapped the media's photo and tweeted it — clever and funny. 

This week has been a difficult one for the Bears; the team has been spiraling downward after another loss and the gloom has been palpable. It's also Packers week.

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