Posted by chicagomedia.org on August 08, 2008 at 11:09:42:
Talking Bears a treat for Canellis
Goes from Jordan to Bears sidelines
Lou Canellis waited years for Thursday night, his reincarnation on the Chicago TV sports scene.
And then it almost got snatched away. Canellis nearly missed the Bears exhibition opener because of legal problems.
Fortunately they did not involve a speeding Lamborghini or cold beverages on a boat. Jury duty left Canellis scrambling.
"I get called in, and it's a first-degree murder case set to go to trial next week," Canellis said. "I'm like: 'This can't happen. I'll miss the Bears game.' "
Canellis finally got dismissed from the jury pool because of a pending lawsuit involving the Hunt Club, a State Street bar he co-owns.
Oh, sweet freedom. The decision allowed Canellis to roam the Soldier Field sidelines for Fox Chicago's coverage during the game Thursday.
And just like that, the man associated with the Celebrity Bulls of the '90s— Michael Jordan playfully snapping him with a towel while he waited for a postgame interview—found a new identity.
"I absolutely feel like I'm back in a big way," Canellis said. "Now doing five shows a week for the Bears and sidelines for three of four preseason games, that's a huge, huge deal. I'm lucky."
Huge for Canellis because of where he was raised—southwest suburban Oak Lawn—and where he lives, Museum Park.
"I can see inside Soldier Field from my front couch," he said.
Canellis attended his first Bears game on Sept. 6, 1968, after his godfather willed season tickets to him. You will forgive him if he can't recall details of the game, which was played at Wrigley Field. He was 4.
Canellis went to game after game, 114 straight, and felt compelled to flee the press box as the Bears blew away New Orleans in the NFC Championship game nearly two years ago. He watched the final quarter standing in an aisle in the south end zone.
"I was sitting near [WLS-Ch. 7's] Mark Giangreco and I told him: 'I'm too much of a fan,' " he recalled. " 'I have to cheer.' "
Canellis remained active after his Bulls' run, calling college basketball for ESPN, hosting CLTV's "SportsPage" and filing stories for Ch. 7's "190 North."
Competitive conflicts will end his run at both CLTV and ABC, but Canellis can live with that.
His new deal calls for him to be a co-host on Bears pregame and postgame shows with Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer and join Dan Jiggetts for "Bears Recap" and "Bears Blitz" on Comcast SportsNet.
(Greenstein)