Product Description

The 1985 Bears set a standard for success which hasn't been matched in the past quarter century. The Monsters of the Midway did not only demolish the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX, they dominated the NFL that season the way few teams have in the history of the sport. The Bears finished the regular season with a gleaming 15-1 record, perfect but for a slip-up on Dec. 2 in Miami. In a span of three games in November, the Bears defeated Detroit, Dallas, and Atlanta by a combined score of 104-3. In Reflections on the 1985 Bears, fans get a revealing look at Chicago's last Super Bowl champion through the eyes of the team's head coach. Coach Ditka vividly describes the emotion, humor, and inner turmoil of his team from quarterback Jim McMahon's arrival in training camp with a Mohawk haircut through the team's hit single, "The Super Bowl Shuffle" through their eventual Super Bowl triumph in New Orleans. Along the way, Ditka shares his memories of such characters as McMahon, Walter Payton, William "Refrigerator" Perry, Richard Dent, Wilbur Marshall, Otis Wilson and others. He reflects on his power struggles with both the front office and assistant coach Buddy Ryan. In the end, football fans will gain a new appreciation for one of the best teams assembled in the history of the sport, the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #664978 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 200 pages

About the Author
Mike Ditka, the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 1982 through 1992, is a Chicago institution akin to the Daleys, the Sears Tower and deep dish pizza. The Carnegie, Pennsylvania native was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1988, a first for a tight end. After coaching the Bears to a 106-62 record over 11 seasons, Ditka moved on to NBC where he served as a national studio analyst before returning to the NFL as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Today Ditka divides his time serving as an NFL analyst for ESPN, hosting his weekly radio show on WSCR in Chicago, enjoying the Arena Football League Chicago Rush-a team he part-owns-and spending time at his restaurant in Chicago. Rick Telander is a sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and the host of The Rick Telander Show on WSCR radio in Chicago. The author of seven books, he is one of the most highly respected and well-known sports writers in America. A graduate of Northwestern University, Telander played cornerback for NU and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. He is married with four children and resides in Chicago.

Customer Reviews

A very highly recommended addition to any personal or community library American football history collection
In Life, First You Kick Ass: Reflections On The 1985 Bears And Wisdom From Da Coach is classic Mike Ditka sharing his memories of the 1985 Chicago Bears and Super Bowl XX. With the assistance of sports columnist Rick Telander, Ditka is able to bring the reader into the locker room and out onto the field for one of the most memorable seasons the Bears ever had -- with one of the most memorable coaches the game has ever seen. A very highly recommended addition to any personal or community library American football history collection, no true Bears fan can miss out on reading what Mike Ditka has to say In Life, First You Kick Ass: Reflections On The 1985 Bears And Wisdom From Da Coach