Legitimate Chicago broadcast legend and the pioneer of sports talk radio. Also teaches courses in humility.
(AP photo)
Dear Virginia;
Son of a gun, its been a long time since we've seen each other. In fact we haven't spoken since we briefly chatted at Sid Luckman's memorial service back in 1998.
I know you're not particularly fond of me. I know you think I have it in for your football team. But you also know this. When your father - my blood and guts hero - George Stanley Halas died back on Halloween night, 1983 nobody eulogized him with more passion than i did.
I know the dot.coms and blogs and this new era of social media have to drive you nuts. I forgive you for yearning for the old days when Papa Bear was prowling the sidelines and the press didn't dare take on the "old man."
Jeez, do you remember what happened to Eddie Stone when he wrote negatively about your father. Think about it. Ed, a terrific football writer for the old Chicago American, called out your pop for quittinq on Bil Wade at half time of a ballgame with the 49ers at old Kezar Stadium during the Coaches' final championship season back in 1963.
Stone wrote what he believed and wrote in good faith. But your dad's left hook was so strong in those bygone days that he had Ed taken off the beat and placed in exile for roughly five years.
You have seen them all: The Red Head, the Bronk, Sid, "One Play" McAfee, Harlon Hill, Bill George, Gale, Butkus, Walter and on and on and on.
And we both know you never expected to be in this position. You didn't want to clobber Michael, your own flesh and blood, following a string of strikeouts including his botched contract negotiations with Dave McGinnis.
That was supposed to me your brother's job. But the chain of command was broken December 16, 1979 when Mugs, a caustic but stand up guy, died of a heart attack. Mugs had become a legitimate football man. He earned league wide respect. Lets not forget that he took your beloved football team out of the dark ages when he convinced your dad to hire Jim Finks back in 1974 because he was "just sick of losing."
I want your club to win. Maybe more so than some of your children.
The Bears mean more to Chicago than the Art Institute, the Hancock Building and Lake Michigan combined. Your fans aren't Cubs fans who arrive half drunk in the third inning and spend most of their time checking out halter tops. Your fans bleed with the losses.
So, Virginia, if i may let me pose some questions.
Does Michael in fact have any say in football decisions? Just what does he do as Chairman of the Board?
Do you wonder just what Jerry Angelo's master plan really is? Have you asked him why he would bring in the babe in swaddling clothes from Denver and just figure, what the hell, why would Jay Cutler, our "Franchise quarterback", need wide receivers or an offensive line?
Doesn't Lovie Smith bore you? Don't you wish he'd perform his job with the same anger and intensity, while screaming four letter words ever 30 seconds, the way your pop did so many years ago. Hell, there were Sundays when Papa Bear was more fun to watch than the game.
Virginia, this franchise looks bewildered. Its time for you to tell the clan that you're going to make the moves. Buy out Smith and tell Angelo to get lost. Your club is worth well over a billion dollars so busting the piggy bank won't cause any stress with your bean counters.
I read something laughable the other day in one of the local papers about how much it would cost you to buy out your assistant coaches and provide so-called transitional money for new staffers to come to Chicago. Please. Just raise the tab on the 100 level seats another ten bucks a copy.
Do this to improve your club. And for gosh sakes don't let the family make the calls on who replaces Lovie and Jerry.
Who should you call for advice? My gosh, I could name 40 people within the NFL's infrastructure who would be happy steer you in the right direction.
OK, Virginia, game over. I've had my say. These are your Bears. Your pride and joy. But they're also Naperville's pride and joy. Do it for those fans who walk from 18th street to get to Soldier Field or those fans who hoof it down Columbus Boulevard to cheer your product.
Do it because its the only logical thing to do. And, damn, I do miss the old man.
Chet Coppock's podcasts may be heard on chetcoppock.com
13 Comments
ButkusKickedButt said:
Well, I've given it some thought. Naw, I'm kinda used to lousy Bears teams. Let's just do nothing. That's not really a decison, is it? And thanks for the nice eulogy for Dad. Wonder what mine wll be?
All the Best,
Virginia
mfatty500 said:
Amen Chet
Chet Coppock said:
its not like i'm asking moses to part the red sea....right?
flobflo said:
Lovie is SO nice...
Teddy hired Angelo.....that's his problem and besides, he got us that great deal with Soldier field.
We are worth SO much more than when daddy was around. But, we just can't waste money. Besides, Lovie is SO nice.......
Chet Coppock said:
think about that the next time you pay scalpers price to go to soldier field.....
flobflo said:
What I wrote is how Ginny would answer you. Personally, I wouldn't pay the high price of a game unless the team is good.....Like the Hawks.........
winstonchill29 said:
Chet, no offense, but, I don't have the same love affair with Papa Bear as you do. The more I learn about the guy, the less I feel a sense of loss in regards to the city of Chicago. I believe in my heart, that George Halas' ego is a huge reason this franchise is stuck in quicksand and will remain that way for decades to come! As Ditka once said, Halas handed this franchise over to his kids and his kids handed it over to their kids (most notably, Mike McCaskey) like a parent would hand their kid some cheap toy! There is simply no LEADERSHIP pioneering the future for this organization. They put their family pet, Ted Phillips in a position of power as a smokescreen for Mike McCaskey so McCaskey can abuse his toy to his hearts content! The McCaskey clan may believe they're doing what's best for the team because they've been so used to having everything handed to them their whole lives, when infact, they've insulted an entire fandom of Bear loyalists who have their hearts in this for all the RIGHT reasons! This is typical of the rich people. Their focus is on themselves. Wealthy people focus on others outside of themselves because it's the right thing to do! It's time to take away the "rich people's" little toy and put it in the hands of people who have some regard for the people who have are a little more grown up and know when it's time to act like adults!
Chet Coppock said:
this club as its structured right now would break the old man's heart...... just what kind of numbers would joe montanta have put up with devin hester as his go to guy?
Shakes the Clown said:
Well said Chet! I can guess one place Chet will not be invited to for Thanksgiving Dinner! LOL
Chet Coppock said:
shake......my love affair with the bears goes back to the eisnehower years........i just wanna see if i can offer an opinion...... by the way, i am open for thanksgiving dinner - anywhere.
Chet Coppock said:
yo butkus......its me rocky.........i'm trainingfor apollo creed...
winstonchill29 said:
Chet, "the old man" layed the foundation for the future of this organization by handing it over to his family! The McCaskey's may be "good" people, but, they're also spoiled brats! Especially the grandchildren! All Halas did was hand a loaded gun over to a child. Even if he didn't intend for it to happen, he still did it! Mike McCaskey has taken that "gun" and shot this organization in the foot over and over again because he has no clue what to do with it! The "powers that be" promoted their family pet Ted Phillips to CEO and President because they knew the spoiled GRANDBABY would fall on his face because he's completely clueless! Ted Phillips is a "patsy" now ( or he should be) due to the incompetence of the ownership of this team. There is no future for this team because of the vested interest by the McCaskey family! We need to bring a FOOTBALL guy in here and turn complete power over to him and stop the charade! Newsflash Chicago Bear fans, that ain't gonna happen! Maybe it's time to pine for another NFL team in Chicago!
SeanNaperville said:
Chet,
As much as I can't stand you as a person because of your oversized ego and that you think that you are God's gift to the Chicago sports world (take note: not a single media outlet in Chicago wants you, so take a hint), I have to agree with your letter to Virgina McCaskey. Just like you as a graduate of New Trier High School, all of the McCaskey family, especially Michael, are spoiled North Shore brats who have never had to hold a real job and were never held accountable for any business decision regarding the Bears. I believe that besides the occasional playoff appearance, the Bears will never win another Super Bowl as long as the McCaskeys own the club. They are clueless (just like you, Chet), and arrogant (just like you, Chet), and have no idea what to do with the overall direction of the club. I guess I'll have to figure out a different way to spend my Sunday afternoons.
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