ALTHOUGH THIS SERIES and particular episode is highly Chicago specific, there is a much wider appeal for any NFL fans, wherever they may be.
THE PURPOSE OF this series is self-explanatory or should be. There seems to be a much more far ranging affect on our knowledge of these men. The usual format is that of a filmed biography; hence much background material is usually employed quite liberally.
IN OUR STORY, we find a young Mike being the son of a blue collar family in Western Pennsylvania. He was a tough kid and inspiring athlete from an early age. Armed with family support and a blue collar work ethic, he moves up the ladder from sandlot to high school and then to the University of Pittsburgh.
BEING THE FIRST Round Draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1961, Ditka moved into the Tight End position and made his own. An extremely tough, hard nosed individual, his contributions to the Bears' offense were as much in his blocking for runners like Rick Casares, Willie Galimore, Joe Marconi, Ronnie Bull, Gale Sayres and many others was a major element in their successes. Mike was named All Pro.
BUT, ALL WAS not well, for from the earliest times, he found himself at odds with "Pappa Bear", George Halas. In a salary dispute, he allegedly said that Coach Halas "threw nickels around like they were manhole covers."
FOLLOWING THE 1966 Season, Halas traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles for Quarterback Jack Concannon from Boston College. Later he would play for the Dallas Cowboys (appearing in and catching a Touchdown Pass in the Super Bowl). He then became an assistant Coach to Tom Landry.
IN 1982, SHORTLY before his death, George Halas hired Ditka to be Head Coach of his "Monsters of the Midway." The wheel had spun a full.
BUT THIS WASN'T all to our story. As a matter of fact, it is only the beginning.
FOR FOLLOWING THE Bears near perfect 1985 Season and very convincing victory over the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS on January 26, 1986, the people of Chicagoland deified Mike. He became very wealthy; endorsing countless products in TV and print commercial advertisements. He opened up his restaurants. He enjoyed a seemingly impossible dichotomy of a life; being both 'Blue Collar' while remaining a very wealthy Icon of all.
IT WAS FOR a total of 3 seasons that "Da Coach" left town and was Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints (1997-99). Other than his being an Assistant Coach with Tom Landry's Dallas Cowboys (1973-81) his coaching career was otherwise exclusively in Chicago (1982-92). He would never coach again, moving on to the green pastures of the TV Commentator/Analyst.
IN SUMMING UP his life to the production of this installment of NFL Films' A FOOTBALL LIFE Series with these words:
"Yesterday is History,
Tomorrow a Mystery;
But Today is a Gift,
That's why they call it The Present!"
THANX MIKE!