RIP Mike Ditka

[Sir Lawrence]

https://abc7chicago.com/post/legendary-coach-hall-fame-te-mike-ditka-dies-age-86/19924967/

[Uncle Rico]

Certainly not vaxxed

[Dish]

My avatar was always in jest towards Ditka, because of how overly tan he is there (more than Bears allegiance).

It is oddly strange that Ditka & Payton both passed away the week of the Bears playing at Green Bay.

[Uncle Rico]

My avatar was always in jest towards Ditka, because of how overly tan he is there (more than Bears allegiance).

It is oddly strange that Ditka & Payton both passed away the week of the Bears playing at Green Bay.

They understood the rivalry

[The Sultan]

They understood the rivalry

Exactly. Jerry Kramer could do the right thing over the next 48 hours, but probably won't.

[Jockey]

I wonder how many Bears fans will be dressed as corpses on Sunday.

[Uncle Rico]

I wonder how many Bears fans will be dressed as corpses on Sunday.

Hopefully, they'll be chanting "Packers Suck" at his funeral

[cheebs09]

Caleb Williams going to come to the game in a wedding dress to honor Ditka?

[wadesworld]

Hopefully, they'll be chanting "Packers Suck" at his funeral

As Ditka would want.

[Uncle Rico]

Some great synergy going out the same year as Terry Boers

[WhiteTrash]

Sad to hear. He was a positive figure in pro football.

[The Sultan]

[GB Warrior]

The senate candidate?

[Pakuni]

Some great synergy going out the same year as Terry Boers

By cracky.

[WhiteTrash]

God vs mini Ditka, who you got?

[MU82]

... my friend.

[Uncle Rico]

God vs mini Ditka, who you got?

Don't think that is who he has to wrestle with

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Ditka, Bears, Hurricane

[WhiteTrash]

Don't think that is who he has to wrestle with

Forrest Gregg?

[RJax55]

Forrest Gregg?

Buddy Ryan?

[MUEng92]

My avatar was always in jest towards Ditka, because of how overly tan he is there (more than Bears allegiance).

It is oddly strange that Ditka & Payton both passed away the week of the Bears playing at Green Bay.

Reggie White died before a Bear Packer game too.  Bears won the game after Walter died and the Packers won the game after Reggie died.  I guess Vegas can close the betting on this game because the football gods have already made their decision. 

As a Packer fan growing up in Rockford, Illinois, my sophomore year in high school was 1985.  Ditka was the bane of my existence.  Man, I hated that freaking song that they played every fricken day on the radio on the drive to school.  My opinion of him softened over the years.  The Packers tilting the series record to "the good side" probably helped. RIP

[PointWarrior]

Maybe Ditka will block a FG for the Bears just like Payton did when he died (as the Bear fans claimed).

[MU82]

Maybe Ditka will block a FG for the Bears just like Payton did when he died (as the Bear fans claimed).

That was "Hand of Walter."

I guess this would be "Da Hand of Da Coach, my friend."

[GB Warrior]

I predict Ditka will prevent MLF from establishing the run

[JWags85]

The anecdotes and stories from various people across media today have been pretty amazing.  About as authentic a personality as you could ever get across the modern NFL era. 4-5 of my friends had Ditka run-ins in Chicago in the early 2010s and they were all glowing...and only 1 was a Bears fan, the rest were just duly enamored by a legend who was completely approachable, kind, and charming.

Best Ditka story I have is the now-husband of one of my good friends.  He grew up in the Western burbs.  His dad is a lawyer/business owner who had a bunch of interests with former Chicago athletes.  Bunch of stuff with former Bears, owned a training facility with others including Bo Jackson, etc...

Naturally, Ditka was in the greater circle.  So as a teen in the early 2000s, he saw/interacted with Ditka on a fairly regular basis.  His name is Ryan, but whatever reason, Ditka called him Brian. He thought it might have been a mistake the 2nd or 3rd time, but it kept happening and he was kind of intimidated to correct the Coach.  However, Ditka always went out of his way to ask about sports, school, hobbies, etc... and remembered tons of info...but not that he his name didn't have B.

Finally, after awhile, he finally got the nerve to say something.  Ditka looked at him, went "huh...of course kid", chomped his gum, and patted him on the back.  Referred to him as "kid" the rest of the day.  Next time he saw him, called him "Ryan" like nothing happened moving forward.