My
life with da Bears, da Ditka, da Lovey and da Porter
During football
season the quality of life in our household on Sunday afternoons has everything
to do with whether or not the Chicago Bears win their football game that day.
My husband is one of the many faithful gluttons for punishment who root for the
Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cubs. Being the paranoid person he is, he has the
Bears losing their games in the first few minutes, with nary a hope for
victory. Of course, this year he is in a state of shock and awe and already
nervous and agitated about the Super Bowl this Sunday. WeÕd better keep the
nitro glycerin handy.
BearsÕ quarterback Rex Grossman has been the object of
swearing, fist shaking, head shaking and all sorts of other gyrations, only to
live up to coach Lovey SmithÕs loyalty and faith in him. As usual, the BearsÕ
defense is awesome, but someone has to get that ball down the field and rack up
some points. And thatÕs the kind of remark that drives da Porter bananas. It
just makes too much sense.
It also doesnÕt sooth my husbandÕs brow to reassure
him with comments such as, ÒOh, Grossman is so young. Give him a chance! HeÕs
doing well now, donÕt you think?Ó In typical female fashion I see a young man
with a baby face that makes him look about twelve and he gets all the sympathy
and support he needs from me and probably loads of other women across the
country. Also, most women donÕt see football games as a matter of life and
death, but a game. I can get into them as much as the next guy, but itÕs all
sport to me. I really lost my stomach for football when I saw a close friend of
mine carried off the Knox College field with an injury so serious he had to
have seven holes drilled in his skull to relieve dangerous pressure on his
brain.
When someone gets s seriously injured like that, IÕm
quick to say football is the dumbest game IÕve ever witnessed. However, while
my son played football for Alexis High School and coach John Elder, I learned
that at the high school level, good training and coaching can prevent most
serious injuries.
Quarterback Jim McMahon, of Super Bowl1986 fame, was
always a favorite of mine. During a later season, IÕve never forgotten watching
him be lifted bodily by 300 pound plus ÒMean Joe GreenÓ of the Pittsburgh
Pirates and flung like a rag doll to the ground. McMahonÕs shoulder was injured
anyway, and that pretty much ended his career. That was the intent, of course.
It was awful. But who can forget the great Bears team posters in 1986 and the
ÒSuper Bowl Shuffle?Ó I can
proudly say I saw ÒThe Fridge,Ó a huge tackle, number 72, carry the ball for a
touchdown. He was about as wide as he was tall and I think it was a totally
unexpected play.
Dedicated Bears fans will remember the game this season
when the Bears were so far behind my husband turned off the television in
disgust and went to sleep. Somehow they managed to win the game. It was big
news the next morning, and I was able to wake up da Porter and practically
scare him to death in the process by shaking him and yelling, ÒThe Bears won!
Bears won! Bears won!Ó He wasnÕt
sure whether to hit me or cheer.
One holiday I gave my husband a Bears blanket that I
just dragged out for the week. We intended to hang it on the front porch, but
itÕs a bit nippy outside for that. We may just have to wrap ourselves in it for
the game.
Happy Super Bowl, and, for peace and tranquility in
our home, may the best team be Òda Bears.Ó
Caroline Porter is a freelance writer from
Galesburg who can be reached at cporter@galesburg.net. Other
columns are online at www.thezephyr.com.