The Chicago Bears had just gotten their chops busted by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon, and what was their first reaction? To punch a hole in the wall of the visitors locker room at Lambeau Field, allegedly.
If you cant beat the Packers man to man, go behind their back and damage their property. That will teach the Packers to push an opponent around like that.
The Bears came up a tad short in a 37-3 laugher, but at least they got the satisfaction of sticking the Packers with the bill to repair the damage that occurs when a fist crashes into a helpless piece of plaster.
Maybe if the Bears had displayed that much aggression on the field, the game wouldnt have been so lopsided. The Packers dominated the Bears in every conceivable way. However, when it came to immature, irrational, toddler-like post-game outbursts, the Bears were the clear winner.
Not surprisingly, the Packers organization is trying its best to downplay the situation.
Were not certain how it occurred, team spokesman Aaron Popkey said. But it would appear it took place over the weekend.
Its entirely possible the Lambeau janitor accidentally punctured the wall with his broom, which just so happened to have a handle the size of a human fist. Its also possible the Bears will, in our lifetime, send a quarterback to the Pro Bowl.
You cant blame the Packers for maintaining a low-key approach.
Well make the appropriate repairs, Popkey said.
Talk about a classic case of damage control.
The Packers understandably must tread lightly, since theyre going to see this unruly houseguest again in a month, this time at Soldier Field, with the NFC North title potentially on the line.
A Bears spokesman pulled his head out of the sand long enough to tell the Chicago Sun-Times that the team was unaware of any property damage. Why should coach Lovie Smith worry about a little drywall and paint thats out of place in Green Bay when hes trying to clean up a team in Chicago that cant block, tackle or defend against the forward pass?
In the interest of full disclosure and fairness, it must be noted the Bears fit of rage on Sunday pales in comparison to some shameless behavior by the Packers in the 1980s.
The Bears Matt Suhey likely still has nightmares about getting plastered by the Packers Ken Stills, as does Jim McMahon about getting dropped on his head by Charles Martin. Those sorry incidents came well after the whistle and will go down as two of the most blatant cheap shots in the history of the bitter rivalry.
What goes around comes around, so maybe the Packers should be thankful the Bears decided to take out their frustrations on a wall rather than someones skull.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette