Da Bear

Da Bear of da Bears, Mike Ditka, had his #89 retired at a halftime ceremony during last night's game against Dallas. I watched him play with Gale Sayers and other Bear notables when the Bears were still playing at Wrigley Field. He won a championship as a player in 1963 and again as head coach in 1985. 

Ditka came to our high school football team's end-of-season awards' night dinner and spoke. Each of us got to meet him. I can't remember anything he said, but I do remember he was a nice guy in person and how big and soft his hands were, which was unexpected because he was known as Iron Mike for playing with ferocity with injuries that would have landed anybody else in the hospital.

Ditka personifies Bears' grind-it-out, smash-mouth football and I am delighted that Chicago has given him this honor. Go Bears! Great job Iron Mike!

www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-Sports/2013/12/09/Bears-retire-Mike-Ditkas-number