The Next Generation of Bears Fans!!
Oct 1, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) in action against Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88) at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. The Bears beat the Cowboys 34-18. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
While growing up in the south suburbs there was one thing I hoped for every Sunday right afternoon, and that was for my Dad not to hit any red lights on our way home from church so I wouldn’t miss any Walter Payton runs. The most disappointing Sunday ever was when we got home a little late from church and Walter was not running the football. After an entire series without seeing Walter run the ball (before internet and twitter) CBS finally ran the replay of Walter running into the ref and getting ejected from the game.
The other Bears story passed down from my Father was how he replaced Dick Butkus in the CVS lineup at both linebacker and fullback after Butkus graduated and went on to play at Illinois and oh by the way become the greatest middle linebacker of all time when he was drafted by the Bears. My dad will not talk much about this to anyone but me and my brother will always want him to tell us high school stories about Butkus and how mean was he even in high school.
Fast forward to today and I get to pass the torch of Chicago Bears football from father to son in Jacksonville Florida. I’m bringing my youngest son to his first Bears game, and hopefully 20 years from now he will tell his kids about the day his Dad brought him to see Bears legends Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers and the Monsters of the Midway. Hopefully he will ask me after a Bears sack of Blaine Gabbert who the best pass rusher I ever saw play, and I will be able to tell him about Richard Dent and the 85 Bears.
Granted I wish we were going to Soldier Field, but the Gator Bowl, AllTell Stadium, or whatever it is called today will have to do on this Sunday afternoon. He is going to get the whole spectrum of a Bears game including tailgating (only root beers for him) and hopefully a big Bears win! My son may will never get to see Walter Payton play just like I never saw Dick Butkus play but like my Dads stories of Butkus he can listen to me talk all day about Sweetness. And in 20 years he will be able to tell his kids about Matt Forte, Cutler,and Marshall
I can’t wait for th 4;05 kickoff Sunday afternoon to see the Bears play and beat down Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jags, but it will be a great day passing on the excitement of a Bears Sunday to my son!
Look for us in Section 411!!!
DA BEARS!!!