Da Funny Man, Da Bears
Jeff Garlin is one of the stars of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and the upcoming ABC sitcom 'The Goldbergs.'
1. I think if you’re not from Chicago—I am—you might not understand the Bears are more popular than the Bulls, Blackhawks, Sox and Cubs combined. It’s insane.
2. I think when you ask me my favorite Bears moment, it’s this: any time Walter Payton ran the ball. Oh my God, I saw him do all these different things—running to his right, changing, running to his left, then pounding the crap out of someone. The idea was, I’m gonna hurt you more than you hurt me. I met him once. I couldn’t believe I was in the same room as him. I said, ‘Hi! Nice to meet you.’ My voice went up. It cracked. He was retired. I was in awe.
3. I think one of my memories of the Super Bowl in ’85 was walking back to my apartment in Chicago after the game and just freezing. Freezing. And naked people running through the streets. More than one person. Zero degrees. Naked people!
4. I think the Bears were better the next year. But the team and Mike Ditka started to believe the hype. When that happens, the fall isn’t very far away.
5. I think the way I watch football now is the Bears game first, and then the Red Zone channel. I have to follow my fantasy team. I know more about offensive players and complete defenses than I ever knew, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. It has kind of taken away the nuance of watching complete games.
6. I think there’s only one key to winning fantasy football or baseball for that matter: luck. Sorry if you thought I actually had a Why didn't I think of that answer. But it is all luck.
7. I think—now that we’ve come to the time of the show where plugs are not just allowed but encouraged—please watch my new series on ABC this fall, The Goldbergs. It’s a really funny show that the entire family can watch. I don’t know how many of those exist. At least not funny ones. It's funny. Trust me. The character I play reminds me of Ralph Kramden and Archie Bunker. Pretty extraordinary. Debuting Tuesday at 9 Eastern, by the way.
8. I think I don’t know if there will be another season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Everybody asks. If Larry David decides to do another season, I’m in. But I won’t know until I get that phone call from him. I never ask.
9. I think, if you ask me my gut feeling, Larry will come to realize Curb is the most fun he and I will ever have working, and he’ll miss it so much he’ll have to do more.
10. a. I think there is so much noise on the internet that when I read Monday Morning Quarterback it feels like an oasis.
b. I think I try not to think. Just be.
