Chicago Bears radio play-by-play man Jeff Joniak was first paired with longtime partner Tom Thayer in 2001.
Courtesy of the Chicago Bears
ANY DAY NOW, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY may be called in to assess the toxic fumes emanating from Halas Hall.
On both the football and business sides, the Chicago Bears have devolved into a bizarre wasteland, saved only by the shared revenues of the National Football League and a devout fan mass that refuses to turn away.
A compelling case can be built that the Bears are both: 1) the most inept franchise in the NFL; and 2) suffocating in their most confused state since the pathetic 1969 poseurs finished 1-13 and had only one contracted season left to play at Wrigley Field.
NOW IS THE NOXIOUS GAS ABOUT TO take down the long-time radio play-by-play team of Tom Thayer and Jeff Joniak?
Credible sources are indicating that Thayer and Joniak are on a short “hit list” generated by the forces of diminishment now holding some power seats in Lake Forest.
Both have been in the ears of the Bears faithful since e-mailing was in its adolescence. Thayer started in 1997. He and Joniak were first paired on WBBM-AM (780) in 2001. They continue to toil among the dead blue-mourning sounds of ESPN-AM (1000).
Tom Thayer
THEIR TENURES APPEAR TO BE of little concern to the ego-driven New Executive Mannequins at Halas Hall.
George McCaskey allowed some self-diluting cuts last spring. The trims included longtime attorney Cliff Stein and the brilliantly diverse Brandon Faber, VP/comm. But The Chairman reportedly drew the line at a thrust to oust Thayer and Joniak.
Now, in a cynical attempt to divert attention from the broken football ops department and new stadium stalemate, the voices of both Thayer and Joniak are said to again be on the chopping block.
Neither would comment on any aspect of their futures.
JONIAK (HERSEY HIGH ’80) WAS an improbable pick for the play-by-play seat after two seasons of the arced-out Gary Bender (1999-2000). But to his credit, he has never muffed in the position and calls a clean, crisp game regardless of the team’s fortunes.
As for Thayer, as a Chicago football presence, the word “iconic” properly plays around his name on any goal-posted Scrabble board.
He was a critical contributor as starting right guard — replacing Kurt Becker — on Mike Ditka’s 1985 Super Bowl champs. Prior to that, he starred at Joliet Catholic, Notre Dame and on George Allen’s thoroughly intriguing 1983 Chicago Blitz of the startup United States Football League.
(In a remarkable gridiron feat in 1985, Thayer played 18 games for Frank Kush and the Arizona Outlaws in the springtime USFL and then rode the wild Ditka surf for 19 games as an NFL rookie later that year, all the way through Super Bowl XX.)
THERE IS A HINT THAT any departure by Thayer, 63, may be couched as a “retirement.” Career good-guy Joniak could have enough equity with the McCaskeys to retain some sort of position with the team.
If the veteran broadcast duo is to be replaced, there would be more universal good vibrations if it were happening during a run of unquestionable competency in the executive wing at 1920 Football Drive, Lake Forest.
But that’s clearly not the case.
Maybe the EPA can intervene.
The stink warrants it.
STREET-BEATIN’:
With the Bears-MIN game set to devalue “Monday Night Football,” a solid Sunday of the NFL on Chicago TV peaks with Josh Allen and Buffalo vs. Daring Dan Campbell and Detroit (3:25 p.m., CBS). The Lions are only a suspicious -2½, but the thrill killer is that the must-mute Tony Romo is working color. (Jim Nantz should get to park in a handicapped spot at Ford Field.) …
Zach Zaidman is headed for an intriguing career crossroads. Among other things, he’s perfectly positioned to step into a play-by-play role with an NBA team full-time. The controlled Zaidman has consistently received high marks for his professionalism. …
Garrett Crochet — a Cy Young winner waiting to happen — was shoved down East Cowards Avenue with his trade from the White Sox to Boston. What, he couldn’t take a third straight 100-loss season? (Among other things, the Slouch Siders are now little more than a feeding farm for Red Sox pitching.) …
“Chapel Bill” Belichick took the North Carolina job because he left more scorched earth in the NFL than a California wildfire threatening Napa. Curious heavenly blue add-on was Michael Lombardi as his Tar Heels GM. Lombardi has been working on Bill Adee’s uneven broadcast staff at Vegas Stats and Info (vsin.com). …
The Athletic presented a nicely done survey of the top front offices in the NBA, stopping at No. 22, and the Bulls were nowhere to be found. That evaluation is beyond accurate — incumbents Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley are merely lingering after-wash from “The Curse of the Breakup.” The franchise is going nowhere unless they find an unlikely gear. …
And frustrated season-ticket holder Jim Martin — on the specter of Detroit’s visit to Soldier Field next weekend: “Now I have to go to Mariano’s and try to buy 62,000 brown-paper bags.”
Jim O’Donnell’s Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Wednesday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.
