Commentary: A girl's guide to camp

Let’s face it, with a new star in the Bears’ lineup, it’s likely that more girlfriends will be dragged by their boyfriends — willingly or not — to Bears camp than in previous years.

Over the last several years, I have evolved into such a Bears fan that it pains me to miss watching a game. Despite my fondness for the team, I don’t pretend to know much about the game or many of its players.

And after attending a Football 101 evening for women at Soldier Field last fall, I realized many others have about the same level of knowledge of the game as I do. Especially since one of the parting gifts was a Bears pen with a pullout guide to the hand signals referees make during games.

Attending Bears camp last year further showed me how little I knew about the game, and it was not as fun as I expected it to be. Before heading to the field to watch Monday’s afternoon practice, I made sure to be better prepared.

So for those who have not had this experience, I’ve put together what I’ll call “A girl’s guide to Bears camp: What you need to know to enjoy the experience (or at least pretend to).” There are ways, as obvious as they may seem, to make it as pleasant as possible.

And if you still don’t know who Jay Cutler is (shame on you), keep reading because it’s time to learn.

Comfort before fashion

While I typically encourage following one’s instinct to dress as cute as possible, especially when the crowd consists of mostly men and superstar athletes in spandex, that instinct should not be trusted in this instance.

DO NOT wear heels or the “more comfy” wedges to Bears camp. Resist the temptation because not only will you be walking on unsteady grass most of the time, there is an unlikely chance a seat will be available.

Be weather ready

Two words: waterproof mascara. When I went to camp yesterday, it was a mild day in the lower 80s, but it was still hot standing in the mid-afternoon sun in an open field with no shade. Prepare for Bears camp like a day at the beach — sunscreen, sunglasses and cool clothes. And don’t bother straightening your hair; opt for a ponytail.

Get educated

Bears camp has further solidified what I already knew: I know very little about football. Watching the Bears play every Sunday on TV with a know-it-all sports commentator explaining every move makes the game more understandable than I ever knew.

And if you’re a casual football fan like me, you likely don’t know the names and numbers of all the players. This is a problem at Bears camp since practice jerseys do not have the players names on them. So to make it easier keeping up with who’s doing what, know the key players’ numbers before heading to camp.

Jay Cutler 101

Like yours truly, I’m sure many casual football fans were puzzled when Chicagoland went into a frenzy of celebration when the Bears made a trade with the Denver Broncos, giving up quarterback Kyle Orton and three draft picks for quarterback Jay Cutler.

So why all the celebration texts, radio shoutouts and ecstatic Facebook status updates? Cutler is a “franchise quarterback,” meaning he’s the real deal at the age of 26, and he will likely be leading the team for many years. His numbers are solid and on the same level as Tom Brady, QB for the New England Patriots, and Peyton Manning, QB for the Indianapolis Colts, who have each led their teams to Super Bowl championships, broken records and racked up multiple MVP awards.

Basically, Cutler came in as the Messiah in a city of wavering faith. After watching a few laser-like passes he threw during practice, his anticipation seemed even more so justified.

Last words

My final piece of advice — while not Bears camp specific — is this: If you see a glittery pink Devin Hester jersey on sale for $19, buy it without hesitation. When you go back the next day after regretting that your conscience told you to save money, it won’t be there and you will be kicking yourself the next time you see the same jersey priced for $80. Plus, you could show it off at Bears camp.

Hayley Graham can be reached at hgraham@daily-journal.com or 815-929-5408.