"I'm a Bear. If people don't know I'm a Bears fan by now, they're not paying attention." - Ditka
That was Iron Mike's response to my second question, calling into question the Mariotti-infused "contraversy" regarding his failure to pick the Bears in Super Bowl Piccolo. My first question...what else?
"Coach, where did the idea for pot roast nachos come from?"
He gestured forward and asked, "Excuse me?" I repeated myself. My friend Eric laughed.
"Well...my partner actually," he answered. "Pot roast is a big thing in Pittsburgh and we liked the idea of sticking on a nacho. Those are Mexican. Pittsburgh and Mexico are close." He laughed throughout his answer. The rest of the room has no idea what was happening. From that moment, Ditka and I had a bond.
I won't bore everyone with the whole story but today was even better than I thought it would be. I was face to face with my idol, a legend for the only franchise I live and breathe. He was cordial and nice - neither of which I expected. He was there to talk about motivation in the workplace and was not expecting eleven (ELEVEN!) of my Bears-specific questions. Here's some highlights...
On Tank Johnson:
"If you don't have a gun in your hand, you can't shoot anybody. You have to put yourself in better situations."
On the recent conduct around the NFL:
"I think your life as an NFL player is about giving back the same it gives you. Walter Payton gave back more. That doesn't happen anymore."
On criticisms of his demeanor:
"They only showed me hollerin' not pattin' people on the back. I never asked a player to do anything I didn't do as a player. I'm not gonna ask you to climb Mount Everest because I didn't do it. But I am gonna ask you to bust your ass."
It felt like Mike and I were having a casual conversation in my living room and it was terrific. I respect the man more today than I did yesterday and love my ballclub just a little bit more. If anybody wants to know anything else, feel free to ask. I'd be thrilled to say more. My sincere thanks to Elayne and all the folks at Move Ahead for the invite.
#2 Midway Monster said . . .Meeting and interviewing DA COACH had to be awesome! Feel free to post the whole interview.
We're all Bear fans, and can read this material for hours!
As Always,
Bear Down!
June 19, 2007
#3 jeff said . . .more! more!
--Midway--
June 19, 2007
#4 mikebdot said . . .i'm going to put something together for the end of the week
June 19, 2007
#5 HewDown said . . .Nothing about Will Ferrell? Damn.
That is so freakin' cool. We will all be able to live vicariously through Jeff sometime near the end of the week. Good deal.
September can't come soon enough...
June 19, 2007
#6 JB said . . .Did Ditka mention Hew's rise in the rankings and his balls out, floppin' around, fight like a fucker attitude? The Bears need more Hew's. Plain and simple, Bonjo Garcia. Grand Slam numero three comin' sooner than anyone will ever know. Vicht!
If you don't know who Bonjo Garcia is, I feel really really bad for you all. Bonjo up. Hew down.
Straight up.
June 19, 2007
#7 HewDown said . . .What just happened? did we seriously just get an animated soccer player reference on this site. HewDown, that was one of the random posts I have seen in a long time.
To Jeff, funny stuff man, great choice for a 1st question. I, like everyone else here, would read through as much material on your day as you're willing to share.
June 19, 2007
#8 Bearfan34 said . . .Soccer? There's no Grand Slams in soccer, Bonjo Garcia. Just cups.
Stick the Vicht in the face and holler it out loud. Wimby's on the way.
June 19, 2007
#9 Megan said . . .There are two things in life I do not like,
1. Soccer
2. The packersAs always,
Bear Down!
June 19, 2007
#10 Midway Monster said . . .Jeff! Oh man o man. Great Googaly Moogaly. That is so uber-cool!
(It's hard to really emote on a blog site.. without the stupid emoticons.. thankfully)
I can't wait to see the whole thing!
June 19, 2007
#11 Hester 4 President said . . .Post #8 - Bearfan34 - AMEN BRO! AMEN!
--Midway--
June 19, 2007
#12 Hester 4 President said . . .Yeah, can't wait for another story.
June 19, 2007
#13 Hester 4 President said . . .Yeah, can't wait for another story.
June 19, 2007
#14 Hester 4 President said . . .Yeah, I can't wait for another story.
June 19, 2007
#15 Pissed off said . . .Sorry about the three comments. Feel free to delete them if possible.
June 19, 2007
#16 Rancid said . . .Post the whole interview, hire a transcriptionist, if the whole thing was taped, and post it all, all 100 pages or whatever it would be. This is good stuff. I'm happy for you man, being able to chat with Da Coach like that.
To HewDown, what in thee hell are you talking about. Theres a reason you dont come here often. Zip it unless you want to speak English. D-bag.
June 20, 2007
#17 Rancid said . . .Ditka has been interviewed so much that he always answers with short quotable cliche type answers (that are usually great). The way you got him with the pot roast nachos question was great. I'm sure he'd never been asked that before. Plus, it's something we all needed to know. I'm a little bummed they weren't Ditak's own personal brain child though. Anyway, Great question, looking forward to more of the interview.
June 20, 2007
#18 HewDown said . . .Oops, that was supposed to be "Ditka's" I don't know anyone named "Ditak".
June 20, 2007
#19 JB said . . .To Pissed Off: No worries, mate. I'm here more than you think. Bonjo's by my side and we're throwin' it all at Wimby. It's time for the downfall of FedEx and HewDown's the one to make it happen. No one else on the circuit has the will.
Vicht it up. Hew it down. Bonjo Garcia will lead the way.
No zippin' here, Pissed Off. You know what I'm talkin' about. The English are coming. The English are coming. No need for the D-bag. No Vag here. Just an impeccably clean buttocks.
All shrill with my dill, mates.
June 20, 2007
#20 Lacy Underall said . . .Can we block people? I'm not even sure that's English.
June 20, 2007
#21 Midway Monster said . . .Piss off, wanker!
June 20, 2007
#22 BonjoGarcia said . . .Gentlemen... Gentlemen.. must we?
Soon Jeff will tell us we need to undergo sensitivity training over what (ever thr F&%k) HewDown is talking about.
--Midway--
June 20, 2007
#23 Midway Monster said . . .My apologies to you all. HewDown has been shot in the mouth. He was a lonely soul, overly excited about a waning athlete in one of those individual sports. He had no one else to express his support of this person but to you lovely Bears fans.
Best of luck to you all and your team and Ditka, too.
If I may.... Bear Down.
Cheers, Mates.
June 20, 2007
#24 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .R.I.P HewDown...R.I.P
--Midway--
June 20, 2007
#25 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .While reading the BearsReport.com A question was asked."What team's will make the playoff's an which one's don't"
This TOOL pick's,mind you of the source.Todd Korth, PackerReport.com
Green Bay PackersLook for the Green Bay Packers to return to the NFC playoffs for the first time since 2004. Under second-year head coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers are coming off a four-game winning streak to end the 2006 season. Brett Favre has returned to lead an offense that has a solid line and Pro Bowl receiver Donald Driver.
sorry to foul this wonderful piece on Ditka,with this filth but it made my blood boil reading it so I had to vent.
The Packers' defense made big improvement over the second half of last season, and GM Ted Thompson bolstered the line by selecting DT Justin HarrellWhile other reports from other cities went with other than home teams.
This ASSHAT can't see past Farvabean nutz.I glad he pinned the season on 1 WR an a rookie DTWell,I'm quaking in my boots now...
June 21, 2007
#26 Scott said . . .Sorry to post this filth on a wonderful piece on Ditka.
Jeff can't wait for the follow up at the end of the week on the rest of what you an the (GOD)Ditka had to say.June 21, 2007
#27 Pissed off said . . .Jeff, I can't imagine how cool meeting Ditka must've been.
On a completely unrelated note, I've just moved to the LA area from Chicago and I've begun a search for a local Bears bar. If there happen to be fellow Angelenos hanging around this happenin' site I'd love some recommendations.
Counting down to Opening Night...
June 21, 2007
#28 Bearfan34 said . . .Bonjo Garcia?? WTF? and HewDown is GoingDown. Sorry to hear he was shot in the mouth? What substance was he shot in the mouth with?
I love this piece man, I just want to hear, hey its the end of the week isnt it? I'm patiently waiting.
June 21, 2007
#29 big rob said . . .Thought you guys would enjoy this read by David Haugh, it's one of the best written articles about our Bears Squad in a long time.
It really gets you pumped for the season, and you will soon realize our team is improving every day!
As always,
Bear Down!
June 21, 2007
#30 Midway Monster said . . .off subject....
I did it.....
I bought a Rex Grossman jersey today......
I'm in it for the long haul this year.......
Anyone know where I can get a number 55 Urlacher jersey?!?!
LOL
P.S.
When do we get to hear more about Da Coach?!?!?
June 22, 2007
#31 Bearfan34 said . . .big rob:
YOU DA MAN!
--Midway--
June 22, 2007
#32 jeff said . . .I bought a Grossman Jersey a week after we drafted him, I knew the guy from Florida would be our Franchise QB.
He had me nervous in the early stages, with all the injuries.
As Always,Bear Down!
June 22, 2007
#33 Al in WI said . . .hey guys, been crazed this week. you guys won't believe it but i ALREADY have a grossman jersey. his florida jersey. and it hangs at the bar and every time he throws a touchdown pass, we drape it over people's heads and announce THEY'VE BEEN REXED.
June 22, 2007
#34 mikebdot said . . .After having been burned by buying #8 jersey of a different qb one time I waited until last year (preseason) to buy my Rex jersey. I proudly wore it to the Bucs game as I saw Rex turn in his first 300 yard effort last december.
June 22, 2007
#35 Pissed off said . . .It's perfectly normal for grown to salivate after reading about other grown men, right?
http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3544
I don't think there is a strong enough to say how excited I am about our team this year. I will resist the urge to bash Rex to get PO'd fired up.
Anyone give a shit about the Pacman Jones situation? Me neither.
P.S. feel free to respond "yeah, if you're gay" to the first question, but just to warn you, it won't be nearly as funny now...sorry to steal someone's potential thunder.
June 22, 2007
#36 mikebdot said . . .Yeah if your gay.
BTW we have a ton of rex support here this year. It will all go down the shitter as soon as he has a less than perfect performance though. People are too set on getting perfection from him every single game.
June 22, 2007
#37 Pissed off said . . .PO'd: It's "you're"...ass.
I'm seriously fighting urges to deal in hypotheticals about Rex's upcoming performance. I will only say I have 50-60% confidence in the man. If there is evidence he has cleaned up his fundamentals, I will be the happiest Bears fan alive (in Evansville at least). I'll even concede that you told me so.
But if not, I'll be the first to argue we should not re-sign him. I hope to Halas it's the former...
June 22, 2007
#38 NOT AGAIN said . . .I am only about 50-60% confident in "your" ability to be a douchebag. "You're" a douchebag. Is that better? By the way I will be all over you for spelling errors from now on so you better use your spell-check...ass.
June 22, 2007
#39 mikebdot said . . .ESPN says Tank was pulled over for speeding and suspected impairment. SOME BITCH!!!
I hope this guy doesn't burn us again. I think the franchise has given him a lot of support and if he has pissed it away before JULY, I will switch to the cut him side of the arguement.
June 22, 2007
#40 mikebdot said . . .I sure am glad I wasn't the one who typed "arguement"...I would feel PO'd's wrath.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=arguement
I like definition 3. But, just because it's funny, not because I actually think that about "NOT AGAIN".
Furthermore, I'm 100% confident in my ability to be a douchebag. I won't even debate you on that one. I'm perfectly comfortable in my skin as it turns out.
For the record I called you an ass for using my comment, intended as sarcastic banter, not to impugn your spelling savvy. Oh gee golly, I put a dangling participle at the beginning of the last sentence.
Damn Tank Johnson! And "The Man!" too.
June 22, 2007
#41 Megan said . . .Actually, I think "For the record" was perfectly legit. I just needed a comma after it. Engineers don't give a shit about grammar, unless they're engaged in sarcastic banter...
I was hoping "Friday" and "end of the week" would be synonymous. We want Ditka!
June 22, 2007
#42 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .The suspense is KILLING ME! Jeff, wherefore art thou! Work Schmerk!
XXOOJune 22, 2007
#43 Midway Monster said . . .I've thrown in the towel on Tank.
No matter how you slice it,He's in trouble.An that ain't good.
Goodbye "(T)he (A)ss (N)ow (K)icked off this team" welcome new Free Agent to be named.Is Kris Jenkins still available?
June 22, 2007
#44 Midway Monster said . . .I've decided to take a new tact on all this (any future) conversation of any Bear player. From here on out the Midway has decided to stick by and defend any and all Bears come hell or high water (what ever that figure of speech really means). This now hold for Rex, or Tank, or anyone; unless and until he is traded or canned. It’s one-sidedness & hard line from here on out for the Midway.
So…
Hey, back off my main man Tank! I say the cops were wrong. He was coherent and this is a typical case of profiling!
And while we are at it- Rex is the greatest QB ever!
--Midwayâ€â€
June 23, 2007
#45 Midway Monster said . . ...Now hear this... Now hear this...
Tank was coerced and he was tricked into this blood sample thing!
I am absolutely sure some damn f$#^ing Green Bay Packer fan of a Cop was all behind this. Foul! Foul I say!
He was not incoherent, he was just tired! After all it was 3AM. He was probably driving home from a late night at the church or some United Way event. Yeah- that's the ticket! Plus he was only doing 40 in a 25. In Chi Town you get pulled over for NOT doing 45 in a 25!
These are the facts of the case, and his innocents is crystal clear. Crystal.
--Midway (with a new attitude)--
June 23, 2007
#46 big rob said . . .Oh yeah- and another thing. everyone needs to have a closet full of all sorts of different Bear jerseys. So, no more talk about thinking of buying such-n-such a jersey- go buy a closet full asap!
--Midway--
June 23, 2007
#47 big rob said . . .Midway:
For the record I have the following jerseys;
1. Rex Grossman
2. Mike Singletary
3. Walter Payton
4. Dick Butkus
5. Dick Butkus (high school jersey)
6. Gayle Sayers
7. Brian UrlacherAt least 1 for every day of the week....
big rob has decided this year that he will wear his Rex Grossman jersey and only his Rex Grossman jersey all season just to spite the critics.
big rob has also decided that he will join Midway with his Bears till we die attitude.
-big rob-
P.S. I
June 23, 2007
#48 big rob said . . .P.S. My P.S. was supposed to say I
June 23, 2007
#49 Al in WI said . . .guess it doesnt like symbols
let the world know
I HEART DEVIN HESTER!!!
June 23, 2007
#50 Fred Yeastinfection said . . .Tank Johnson is a fucking idiot if it turns out he was drinking. He has barely been out of jail a month, and so many people have stuck their necks out for him. I hope this turns out to just be speeding, but if not he should be gone immediatly. How many second chances does one guy need.
June 23, 2007
#51 Scott said . . .Draw's lookin' good everyone. Tough path for FedEx. The man down under has been hittin' hard and he's ready.
We shall see. We shall see. Full updates will begin Monday.
Stay calm everyone.
June 24, 2007
#52 Al in WI said . . .I'm not in favor of endless chances but I disagree with the comments of David Haugh here. The article is extremely well written but I just can't sign on to this line of thinking:
3:30 alone doesn't make the man guilty.
June 25, 2007
#53 Pissed off said . . .Scott I would normally agree with you but with this guy it's different. Tank has been involved in three incidents at bars/clubs late at night in the past two years. He has vowed to turn his life around, and so many people have stuck their necks out for him. And yet barely a month out of jail and he seems to be back to his same old ways. Enough is enough, I have to assume he was drinking, as what else would he be doing at 3:30 am. I think if he were out patroling for neighborhood watch we would have heard that from his lawyers by now.
June 25, 2007
#54 Fred Yeastinfection said . . .Nothing good is happening at 3AM. Think about it, nothing that is not mischevious or mysterious or questionable is happening at 3 AM.
June 25, 2007
Round one complete.
It was just a low-ranked bloke from the UK, but it was good three-set practice.
Onward and upward.
June 26, 2007
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.