Highlights
The Bears' 1961 first-round draft choice would go on to become the first tight end inducted into the Hall of Fame after changing the nature of the position from virtually a third tackle to a receiver. Ditka set an NFL rookie record with 56 catches, went to five Pro Bowls and was a fixture on the Bears' 1963 championship team. He was abruptly traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1967 after a number of clashes with Papa Bear Halas and finished his playing career in a Super Bowl appearance with the Dallas Cowboys. Ditka became a Dallas assistant coach before returning to Chicago as head coach in 1982. So began a Golden Age of Bears football, capped off by the Super Bowl XX victory, in which Dit...
The Bears' 1961 first-round draft choice would go on to become the first tight end inducted into the Hall of Fame after changing the nature of the position from virtually a third tackle to a receiver. Ditka set an NFL rookie record with 56 catches, went to five Pro Bowls and was a fixture on the Bears' 1963 championship team. He was abruptly traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1967 after a number of clashes with Papa Bear Halas and finished his playing career in a Super Bowl appearance with the Dallas Cowboys. Ditka became a Dallas assistant coach before returning to Chicago as head coach in 1982. So began a Golden Age of Bears football, capped off by the Super Bowl XX victory, in which Ditka's teams won 112 games, six NFC Central Division titles, and reached three NFC championship games. Ditka eventually was fired by President Michael McCaskey, went into the TV analyst side of the game, returned to coach the New Orleans Saints for three unsuccessful seasons and now, as one of the most successful ad pitchmen in sports history, remains a regular in NFL sports broadcasting.
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Revis is a legend in his hometown
erik.boland@newsday.comDarrelle Revis, at 23, is a legend. At least in Aliquippa, Pa., the Jets' second-year cornerback is. On Friday, at halftime of Aliquippa High School's game against Center High, Revis' alma mater retired the No. 2 jersey he wore while becoming a...Tags: Darrelle Revis, New York Jets, Auction Service, Eric Mangini, Ty Law
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How I Made It: Peter Y. Levin
Los Angeles Times Staff WriterThe gig: Levin is chief executive of GYL, a Santa Monica technology investment portfolio focused on digital media companies and video game platforms. He serves as a board member for online virtual world Habbo Inc.; in-game advertising company Double...Tags: Baseball, Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited, Game Playing, Time Warner Inc., Chicago Bears
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Ditka vs. Quaid
Tribune staff reporterThey are the Grin and the Scowl. Dennis Quaid's lopsided grin and Mike Ditka's sideline scowl have become their personal trademarks. But wait, Quaid interrupts: "If it wasn't for his stats, nobody would really care about his scowl." But few would care...Tags: George Halas, Dennis Quaid, Movies, Injuries, Dallas Cowboys
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Local museum curator to appear on radio show
757-247-4741The Isle of Wight County Museum curator is expected to make an appearance a satellite radio station Oct. 2. Tracey Neikirk is scheduled as a guest on the Jay Thomas Radio Show at 5:35 p.m. The show appears on Sirius Satellite Radio, Stars Channel 102,...Tags: Sirius Satellite Radio Incorporated, Satellite Technology, David Letterman, Holiday Vacations, George Foreman
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'D' flopping in 4th quarter
How does a Bears defense that helped its team go 26-1 when leading after three quarters during the three seasons Ron Rivera was defensive coordinator explain blowing fourth-quarter leads in five of the past six losses under Bob Babich?
Adewale Ogunleye...Tags: Hunter Hillenmeyer, Lance Briggs, Peyton Manning, Football, Chicago Bears
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David Haugh: Bears' defense can't seal deal
How does a Bears defense that helped its team go 26-1 when leading after three quarters during the three seasons Ron Rivera was defensive coordinator explain blowing fourth-quarter leads in five of the last six losses under Bob Babich? Adewale Ogunleye...Tags: Hunter Hillenmeyer, Lance Briggs, Football, Chicago Bears, Adewale Ogunleye
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Cris Carter in, Emmitt Smith out on Sunday Countdown
WatchdogESPN announced Tuesday that Cris Carter would replace Emmitt Smith on "Sunday NFL Countdown," with Smith contributing to SportsCenter on Sunday mornings and also continuing to appear on site on "Monday Night Countdown." Smith struggled at times to speak...Tags: National Football League, Miami Dolphins, Emmitt Smith, Keyshawn Johnson, Cris Carter
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Tampa's 2-step at QB a curious call
Jon Gruden has won as many Super Bowls as Mike Ditka.
Typically, NFL head coaches who have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy deserve respect that shields them from second-guessing.
But it's impossible to overlook Gruden's odd decision about Tampa Bay's...Tags: Soldier Field, Peyton Manning, Steve Smith, Injuries, Alex Brown
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NFL: The Bottom Ten
Special to The TimesNow the Bay Area knows how L.A. feels -- neither has a pro football team. The Raiders, living up to their revised "Commitment to Self-Destruction" motto, fell 14-41 to Denver, their sixth straight season-opening loss. And Raiders fans were in mid-...Tags: National Football League, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Isaac Bruce, Football
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Up, up and awry
Special to the Chicago TribuneTo truly understand this Saturday's Red Bull Flugtag event at North Avenue Beach, you need to have spent the last 10 Wednesday nights in Fleet Neighbors' Elmhurst backyard. That's where Neighbors, his son, his brother and two friends created a human-...Tags: Air Transportation Industry, Chicago Transit Authority, Air Transportation, Soccer, Lake Shore Drive
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Cubs bring the pain—as usual
Well, I was going to handicap the Bears' season for you, but I've put that on hold. In my mind, and this is an actual confession, I kind of thought the Cubs had this thing wrapped up. Nope. Here comes the drama. Carlos Zambrano, or Big Z, has some arm...Tags: Jason Marquis, Chicago Cubs, Baseball, Kerry Wood, Super Bowl
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Prerequisite to join legends: Title
Only one coach in Bears history had more regular season victories after his first four seasons than Lovie Smith's 36. That's George Halas. Tied with Smith behind Papa Bear is Mike Ditka. Yet Smith's name is not mentioned along with Halas and Ditka...Tags: George Halas, Multi-Sport Events, Lance Briggs, Alex Brown, Football
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