Despite the Chicago Bears having a dismal season, there is still fun to be had. The entertainment usually comes off the field, though. Such was the case for yesterday’s Monday Night Football watch party at Moretti’s.

The night started with Chicago radio legend Dan McNeil signing copies of his new book, I Bear Witness, and talking sports. A radio veteran of more than 40 years, McNeil does a deep dive into the Bears during those years. From the euphoria of the 1985 Super Bowl championship to the current miserable state of the franchise, McNeil gives an insider’s look into it all. The appeal of McNeil has always been his ability to cover sports while remaining an intelligent fan.

A longtime fan of McNeil, I took the opportunity to pick his brain on his choice for the next coach. We also talked travel, as a short precursor to a future Talking Travel interview. Covering Chicago sports allowed McNeil to travel the country. He mentioned Seattle and San Diego as two great cities, but we’ll cover more in our future interview.

As the game began, I rejoined my friends at our table. A few orders of bang-bang shrimp as appetizers sufficed until our pizza was ready. Moretti’s serves one of my favorite pizzas in the area.

The Minnesota Viking crushed the Bears 30–12. The great food eased the pain of an eighth straight loss by the Bears. I also looked forward to diving into McNeil’s I Bear Witness.

— John Wroblewski, online writer