Angelo picks his spot
''This is where I want to be,'' the Bears' general manager said. ''Given my choice, I'd rather be in the press box. I'm comfortable in here. No big deal.''
It could have been. There is, after all, the longstanding rule of no cheering in the press box. Angelo always has been able to follow it during the regular season.
But in the first non-Soldier Field playoff game of his administration, might he be tempted to make a little noise?
''You aren't going to see that from me,'' Angelo promised.
''It's going to be highs and lows, we know that. Hopefully, we see more highs today and it works out for us.
''But, hey, it is what it is. I'm not concerned about that.''
The Super Bowl doesn't change things?
''Nah, not really,'' he said. ''I mean, the game speaks for itself. It probably won't hit me, personally, until the game's over, until there is finality.
''I'm not minimizing the game, but every game I watch when we play, I get anxious, I get nervous, I get excited. This one, obviously, takes it to another level in terms of the magnitude of the game, but my emotions can't be any more than what they are.''
Angelo didn't lie. Even though Devin Hester's opening, 92-yard kickoff return drew an elbow from Bears PR chief Scot Hagel, Angelo only shook his head in disbelief.
Chris Harris' first-quarter interception spurred Angelo out of his seat, but only to get a cup of coffee, and he remained silent through Peyton Manning's nearly sidearmed, 53-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne and the ensuing botched PAT.
Only a squib kick to the Bears' Gabe Reid coaxed Angelo to emote. He whispered, ''Hang onto it.''
Reid didn't.
The Bears got the ball back on another fumble. Angelo did nothing more than pick up his binoculars. As Thomas Jones broke a 52-yard run. Angelo leaned up the sideline.
But he knows the playbook. When Rex Grossman threw into a crowd for the score, Angelo said ''Moose'' before anyone else figured out the receiver was Muhsin Muhammad.
And so it went. The worst thing Angelo did the rest of the half was set down his binoculars -- firmly -- when Cedric Benson fumbled.
Before disappearing in advance of the halftime show, Angelo muttered, ''We couldn't have played any worse in that half.''
By the end of Prince's performance, Angelo was back in his chair, negotiating a chicken taco. To eat was just about the only time he opened his mouth until he slipped out at the two-minute warning.
There was no reason for him to cheer, press box or not.
Sun-Times News Group