Good news / bad news on the GLO sports front on this Black Friday.  First, the good news, the Illinois mens basketball team stayed perfect on the season and beat Butler in the EA Sports Maui Invitational tournament in Hawaii.  That's the same Butler that reached the NCAA finals in 2010 and 2011.  Illilnois never trailed in any of its games in the tourney and improved to 6-0 on the season for first year coach John Groce.

Next up for the Illini is a Sunday afternoon game with Gardner-Webb, which sounds like a furniture store or maybe an accounting firm.  We'll join the non-conference game in progress (it tips off at 3p), as the Bears-Vikings game will be wrapping up right around then.

Now the not so good news:  the Bears franchise quarterback Jay Cutler did some light practicing today, but did not put a helmet on.  He's not been cleared to play yet.  Tomorrow, Cutler will see an independent neurologist, who'll have to give him clearance  to play.  The 7-3 Bears, despite a two-game losing streak, are still tied for first place in the division with Green Bay.  The surprising Vikings are a game back at 6-4.  Also on the not so good news front:  the Illini football season mercifully comes to its conclusion tomorrow with the season finale at Northwestern.  Hear the game, begining with the pregame show at 10:30 am Saturday, as the Illini try to end  their 8-game losing streak.

Now some good news:  I'll be at Sully's Irish Pub & Eatery from 11a-1p Sunday with Miller Lite priming Bears fans with the tailgate pregame party.  Sully's features a free food buffet from 11a-noon on Sundays during the NFL season, regardless of whether the Bears are playing that day.  Also, come out to win Miller Lite sway and sign up to win a $50 Sully's gift certificate.  The winner can use it at Sully's for the next Bears game, which is 12/2, versus Seatle, another noon kickoff.  I've also got a couple pairs of Illini basketball tickets to give away Sunday at Sully's, the new place to watch NFL games, thanks to the NFL Direct Ticket.