Ten Most Interesting Facts from ESPN’s 30 for 30: “The ’85 Bears”

Courtesy: ESPN
Courtesy: ESPN /
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  1. The documentary breezed over Mike Ditka humiliating his mentor

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My only issue with the doc is that it really didn’t dive into the Bears 44-0 destruction of the Cowboys. While the documentary discussed how dominant they were before the Dolphins Monday night game, the Cowboys game included, it didn’t discuss how much this game mattered. The Cowboys were humiliated. It was their worst loss in franchise history, and at the root of it, Mike Ditka embarrassed his mentor and friend, Tom Landry.

I’ve seen stories and interviews from Ditka about how much that game gnaws at him. Obviously Ditka wanted to win, and win convincingly, but how much the defense attacked the Cowboys offense and how the Bears just kept piling on points was even too much for Ditka.  For Mike to see Landry pace the sidelines with his head down is something that really bothers the legendary Bear. I’m surprised they didn’t spend even two minutes on what this game did to Ditka and how much this game really elevated the Bears into the national spotlight.