Anyway, I've been a Bears fan since about 1979. Before that, I was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan purely due to their wild success in the 1970s. Being a free safety myself, I idolized Mel Blount, the Steelers defensive back who is now in the Hall of Fame. During that time, the Bears pretty much sucked dryer lint, despite having a running back you might have heard of: Walter Payton.
When I went to college at Northern Illinois University in 1980, I began to follow the Bears exclusively because all my dorm mates were from Chicago and were rabid Bears fans (and also because the Steelers, as was inevitable, finally dried up and blew away like the hair on Terry Bradshaw's head).
Much has transpired since those fateful days in 1980 when I embraced the Bears. Mostly the Bears have sucked. And when they haven't sucked, they've lost in the first round of the playoffs, thus breaking your heart while sucking. But they did enjoy one unforgettable season in 1985, culminating in winning the Super Bowl in January 1986. This begat much chest-thumping and, of course, a cultural phenomenon that I personally despise: "Da Bears" made popular by the "Superfans" sketches on Saturday Night Live.
The whole "Da Bears" thing to me seems disrespectful, like boiling down the uplifting story of the movie "Rocky" to the catchphrases "Yo, Adrian" and "Hey, I ain't no bum!" If you see someone walking down the street wearing Bears paraphernalia (which might become more common as the Bears are good this year and the fair-weather fans are crawling out of their slimy holes), do not shout "Da Bears!" We true long-suffering Bears fans will smile and wave but inside we will want to slap you upside the head. Acceptable forms of cliched solidarity include "How 'bout those Bears!" or "Bears, baby!" And if you're not in solidarity, just ignore the Bears gear, which is hard I know because it's navy blue and orange and invariably ugly, unless the Bears fan him/her self is cute.
Currently the Bears are undefeated (5-0) and look to remain that way through at least the first eight games of the season. Thus, they have been bringing much joy into my currently annoying life, and for that, I thank them. Bear down, Chicago Bears!
7 comments:
That's the way to do it!
Bears win!
We here in Denver think that blue and orange is pretty awesome! The Broncos play the hated Raiders on Sunday Night Football this week (or since it's Sunday it's really NEXT week), but I digress. . . I must admit I watch the Bears on TV every chance I get -- mostly to honor the memory of the great Walter Payton.
By the way, what on Earth IS a "T Formation"? Anybody?
i can see a pig and a cow. and they're dancing. and playing fiddles.
Poor Phill. That's just how I feel when the rest of the fam' starts talking Baseball (or even worse, watching it).
Whoa, there, Tavia. Remember, I actually took Marty to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, for his 50th birthday. We spent more than 2 days in the Hall of Fame. Right now, the National League Championship Series is on the TV in the living room. Okay, say I have no life if you want, but baseball has been "bery, bery goo doo me."
I also enjoy watchin' me some baseball, but why oh WHY do we have to see high-definition, full-face close-ups of guys with giant sloppy plugs of tobacco lodged in their jowls!? Truly it is nauseatingly disgusting. There's a reason why Derek Jeter is the face of baseball: because the rest of them suckers is BUTT UGLY!
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