Still everybody's favorite
All eyes on Ditka as Saints practice with Bears
Posted: Friday July 31, 1998 01:50 PM
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Even though Ditka is now in New Orleans, Bear fans are still faithful to their former coach Ken Levine/Allsport |
LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (AP) -- Television cameras followed his every move,
reporters flocked to him, fans in Chicago Bears gear begged
for pictures, autographs, a wave of the hand.
Dave Wannstedt?
Not a chance. The present Chicago coach could not compete with the former
Chicago coach when the New
Orleans Saints and the Bears got together Thursday for the first of
three days of practice.
"In my dreams he's still the Bears coach," said Larry Pearson, 48, who
drove six hours from Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, to see Ditka.
"It's the only place he'll ever really seem natural."
Although one of Ditka's favorite sayings is, "It's not about me," it
frequently is.
Dozens of fans pressed against a chain-link fence for a glimpse of Ditka's
news conference that followed the morning practice session. They didn't
have much chance until it broke up as reporters, cameramen, sound men and
photographers crowded around Ditka.
About 20 reporters regularly cover the Saints' camp. Team officials
expected about 40 members of the Chicago media to show up for the three
days of practice between the two teams.
"Boy, were we wrong," said director of media relations Greg Bensel. "We
printed up 120 credentials and ran out. I've been making up patches for
people since then."
For almost half an hour Ditka fielded questions while Wannstedt waited
alone across the field. When Ditka finished, perhaps a dozen reporters
meandered over to Wannstedt. The others continued to watch Ditka as he
acknowledged cheers from his fans.
"He's the best," said Cathy Martin of Chicago. "We haven't had a lot to
cheer about lately. The Bears have been really bad, so that makes us miss
him twice as much."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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