I hope everyone had a great start to the new year. Let’s kick off 2017 with some random thoughts on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks and more.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox tried to paint a positive picture for fans at a news conference at Halas Hall, but fans are smarter than that. The Bears (3-13) look closer to being like the Cleveland Browns (1-15) than a playoff team!

• The Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Blackhawks was cool to watch at Busch Stadium on Tuesday, but I can’t believe 46,000 fans paid big money to sit so far away to watch the game. I loved just watching it on a 60-inch big screen TV in the comfort of my own home. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks lost 4-1.

• For all the people who want (11-5) Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to be MVP, I agree you have a great case. But after watching Tom Brady beat the (10-6) Miami Dolphins 35-14, my MVP has to be the superstar from the (14-2) New England Patriots!

• Rajon Rondo is being paid $27 million for two years, and yet he hasn’t played in the past three games for the Bulls. Michael Carter Williams doesn’t have Rondo’s talent, but coach Fred Hoiberg and the Bulls are laying down the law and sending a message to Rondo. It seems Rondo hasn’t gotten the message, though. Not playing a guy who isn’t injured tells me there is a lot more going there on than we know.

• I spent time with Terry Boers and the rest of the gang at the Score on Thursday as Terry retired after 25 years there. I’ll have more about that in Tuesday’s column.

• I like the Oakland Raiders in an upset over the Houston Texans, and I like the Seattle Seahawks over the Detroit Lions in Saturday’s playoff games.

• For Sunday’s NFL contests, I like the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Miami Dolphins, and I like the Green Bay Packers in a close game over the New York Giants.

• The Bulls beat the Cavs 106-94 Wednesday night, but I know there is no way the Bulls can beat the Cavs if they meet up in the playoffs. Why? Because LeBron James is the closest thing to Michael Jordan I’ve ever seen! There, I said it! The reason? The jump shot. Remember when teams gave him that shot? Well, that is gone now and LeBron will never be better than MJ — no one will ever be. But he is the closest!

• I’ve never made this statement before, but the Columbus Blue Jackets (27-5-4) are a really good hockey team.

• There are less than 90 days until the Masters — can’t wait!

• I hope the College Football National Championship game between No. 3 Clemson and No. 1 Alabama is better than the two semifinal games. My prediction: Alabama 24, Clemson 19.

• I haven’t mentioned the White Sox, so there I just did.

• Pitchers and catchers report soon to spring training and the Cubs will be defending their World Series title!

• Follow Mike on Twitter @north2north. Check out his podcast Monday-Friday at podcastarena.com, iTunes or audioboom. His column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald. For more, visit northtonorth.com.