I don’t watch any of the Chicago teams except the Bears. I used to think the players were the problem, but this season has confirmed it really isn’t the players. For the most part, they play up to their potential, so why is the team so bad if it isn’t the players? The Bears are plagued by the worst management in the entire league, and that says a lot, considering the management of some of the other teams. Look at the quarterbacks the Bears drafted while passing over some of the best quarterbacks playing today. Look at what happened to some of the players they cut. Many will likely be in the Hall of Fame. Going from a great college career to the pros requires a good amount of specialized coaching and observation of a few games before jumping into the deep end. Management thinks putting one excellent player here and another there will make a great team. It won’t. That is just one example of bad management and coaching. My solution is for Mama Bear McCaskey to fire everyone but the new kid in the mailroom who probably does very well playing a John Madden video game. At least the kid’s expertise and goal would be to win games and not be a real estate company. The kid couldn’t do any worse on putting a team together. Please, Virginia McCaskey, George Halas’ concentration and priority were to put together a winning team, and it is far down on your people’s goal list. — Chuck Johnson, Morris Thrill of game is missing In the current landscape of sports and fandom, Chicago finds itself navigating a new reality. The once-electric atmosphere surrounding the Bears and the Bulls has dulled. Ownership, entrenched in traditions of the past, remains unresponsive to the evolving pulse of the game. Casual fans, once ardently planning their schedules around game days, now find themselves indifferent. Game days that used to create a serene hush over the city — empty streets and quiet stores — are now indistinguishable from any other day. The excitement that once marked game time has faded into the noise of daily life. The vibrant energy before and after games has dissolved. The once palpable difference between the busy city during games and its quieter self is no more. Fans aren’t less passionate; rather, the priority has shifted. The heart of the city’s sports culture seems to be losing its beat. The long-standing ownership appears unwilling or unable to adapt to the demands of modern sports. The call for fresh leadership is clear; the city’s teams need owners who are as passionate about winning as the fans are. It is time for change — a new era in which the thrill of the game is restored and the heartbeat of the city echoes with the cheers of dedicated fans once more. — Bob Warda, Chicago Family history important How wonderful Barbara Ferraro felt after finally reading the World War II love letters from her father to her mother (“It took me 30 years to read the wartime letters my father wrote to my mother,” Dec. 14). I, on the other hand, feel empty, as I never asked my parents some important questions. My mother died suddenly when I was 15. Growing up, I never thought much about my name Cary Barry and how it rhymes. As I grew older, people began to make comments. I asked my dad why I was given my name. His only comment was: Your mom liked it. I asked my older cousins, and no one had another answer. So here I am, 69 years old, without knowing the reasoning behind my rhyming name. My father served in the Army during World War II but never really talked about it other than to say that he was in the Pacific. My brothers did a little research and found out that he was discharged from the Army while hospitalized in Michigan. This came as a surprise to us, as he never mentioned any injuries. Did he suffer from jungle fever, malaria or what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder? When my brother tried to obtain his Army records, he found out that they were destroyed in a St. Louis records facility. We will never know, as the records are gone, and so are all of his siblings. I shared all my history with my late son. We had fun discussing my upbringing, travels and escapades. I urge all families to share their histories, both good and bad, so that future generations do not need to ponder the questions of “why” or “what if.” — Cary Barry, Mundelein Aftermath of shootings The column in the Sunday Tribune written by Heidi Stevens brought tears to my eyes (“Holiday spirit in contrast with shooting”). Not only is she trying to imagine the “why” leading up to the use of guns to kill innocent children, teachers and others in our schools and communities, but she is also asking why we allow this to continue to happen. I wonder if the answer might include the death of a son or daughter of our politicians. Let us remember that the Constitution states “a well-regulated militia” and not our right to bear arms in the form of shotguns and semi-automatic rifles meant for killing each other. So be it if some people will not be able to own guns. Saving lives is much more important than the ability to own a gun. Politicians, be strong and pass the laws needed so that we don’t have to imagine this anymore. I pray that it won’t be your child, my child or any other child that dies because of a gun. Let it be a reality that we live in safe homes and communities. — Sandra Paszczyk, Tinley Park Passing of a great leader I was saddened by the passing of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. I think I speak for all in the Indian American diaspora in saying that we are grateful for the work of Singh to liberalize the Indian economy, allowing us to dream big and better reach our aspirations. He was instrumental in the U.S.-India civil nuclear deal, which was a boon to once-tense relations between our two nations. I studied economics in university, and Singh was one of my personal heroes, not just for his impact on modern-day India but also for the humility and fundamental decency with which he carried himself, be it as a finance minister under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao or through his 10 years as prime minister, despite the extreme corruption from within his party and its leaders. A real symbol of a kinder but confident India. — Jay Deshpande, Buffalo Grove Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].