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Bring Back Willie Gault?

Jeff Pealrman of Sports Illustrated has a fun story about former Bear and Super Bowl XX Champion, Willie Gault, who is still running fast at nearly 50 years old.  He holds two 45-49 age group world records (in the 100 and 200) and can run a 4.4 forty yard dash.  And believe it or not, he says he'd give football another go if a team were to call. 

He hasn't played since 1993, but who knows with the limited options in free agency maybe a team will take him up on his offer.  I know the Bears would never call him up, and I doubt any team would, but it'd be interesting if a team did.

Star-divide

What's the key to his great health?  From the SI article;

He refuses to eat chicken or red meat, sticking to a diet of fish (twice per week), vegetables and soy. "I might have an oatmeal raisin cookie once in a while," he says. "But I don't live to eat. I eat to live." He can be found four or five days per week at the Gold's Gym on Venice Beach, completing an exhaustive circuit of upper- and lower-body weight workouts. Afterward, he usually retreats to a nearby track, where he completes a dizzying buffet of 200s, 300s and 400s. "I treat my body like a temple," he says, "because it's the only one I have, and I want to use it as long as possible."

 

And I'll leave you with this little nugget of nostalgia.

This is Speedy Willie, and I'm world class.
I like runnin' but i love to get the pass.
I practice all day and dance all night,
I got to get ready for the Sunday fight.
Now I'm as smooth as a chocolate swirl,
I dance a little funky, so watch me girl.
There's not one here that does it like me,
My Super Bowl Shuffle will set you free.

0 recs  |  Comment 41 comments |

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joke post?

dude is 50

------ TheRiot Squad ------

by RightFieldSucks on Mar 12, 2010 4:37 PM CST reply actions  

49

its completely different. Kinda like a RB is yong at 29 then ancient at 30.

by GtM on Mar 12, 2010 6:02 PM CST up reply actions  

I'd still...

Take him over Davis lol.

Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com

by Jacob Hayes on Mar 12, 2010 6:25 PM CST up reply actions  

LOL

Bring him back for one game, against the Lions or something where the outcome of the game wouldn’t rely on him.

Let him score and put him in the NFL records as the oldest pro player, with the little Chicago Bears tag next to it.

I think it’d be hilarious, I’d try to get tickets for that game.

by Virto on Mar 12, 2010 4:44 PM CST reply actions  

I remember that it took McMahon..

and Gault a few tries before they came together with the long ball, but once they did…more often than not they connected for many TD’s. I loved watching him play for us back in the day and at the ripe young age of 49 to still have a 4.4 forty is amazing. With a game that had nothing on the line, I almost bet he would burn someone for a TD. Soldier Field would go nuts if something like that happened. I don’t see that happening Ever, but it would be entertaining if it did.

Walter Payton lives on!!!

by monsterman34 on Mar 12, 2010 5:10 PM CST reply actions  

Remember that Viking game in the dome?

I’ll always remember the game against the Vikings where McMahon came in during the second half and threw three TD passes to win…….

by Dirt Road on Mar 12, 2010 5:26 PM CST up reply actions  

i was 9

and i still remember my whole family getting out of their seats and going apesh## after the 3rd td.

they should sign him for a week somewhere mid-season. would be a good story and probably make the bears a few extra bucks from the publicity.

by reefermadness3 on Mar 13, 2010 12:54 AM CST up reply actions  

One of my All time favorites

Jim McMahon, if I remember correctly, came in and his first pass went for a TD to Gault. Second possession for the offense and next pass he threw went for a TD and I think that one was to Gault. Third possession for the offense, second pass he threw went for a TD. I think that is how it went. Anyway, one of the Best games I have Ever watched without a doubt!! It was a long time ago, so I don’t remember if that is exactly the way it went…but close to it. I was going fricken nuts!! I was 13 or 14 yr’s old at the time.

Watch me pull a hat out of this rabbit.

by Hannibal Canibus on Mar 13, 2010 3:28 AM CST up reply actions  

That comment was from me...

my wife happened to be logged into her email, she is a Bears fan..so I had to set her up an account on here : )

Walter Payton lives on!!!

by monsterman34 on Mar 13, 2010 3:35 AM CST up reply actions  

Video.....

America’s Game: ’85 Chicago Bears

1st was to Gault (83), Second and 3rd were to McKinnon (85).

God I love that video………

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The act of doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.

by T-Train on Mar 13, 2010 3:31 PM CST up reply actions  

relevant portion.....

of the video is 8:33 to 10:30. “The Viking Miracle” falls in that timeframe…..

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The act of doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.

by T-Train on Mar 13, 2010 3:33 PM CST up reply actions  

Yes, yes we do.

Right over here.

I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves

Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers

by Kev H on Mar 13, 2010 9:44 AM CST up reply actions  

Great Memory's

I miss those days

Walter Payton lives on!!!

by monsterman34 on Mar 13, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions  

Do it...

Bring him in for trianing camp & the preseason games…. and if he looks good… get the “we got a Brett Favre too” wagon rollin!

GO BEARS!!!!

by ChiTownSounds on Mar 12, 2010 9:19 PM CST reply actions  

If not then?!!!

I bet Mr. Gault and Cutler would have a field day, but if not Mr. Gault how about T.O. I bet he’s matured enough to be the best after playing at Buffalo, no ofense buf’s, but I bet T.O. and Cutler would love playing together so much that they’d start double dating after a while, even if it was with their wives!!!

by missingLA on Mar 12, 2010 9:54 PM CST reply actions  

wow

you seriously just hit that nail on the head with the std comparison. too funny.

by reefermadness3 on Mar 13, 2010 12:55 AM CST up reply actions  

Wreck'd!!

That is absolutely hilarious!!

Walter Payton lives on!!!

by monsterman34 on Mar 13, 2010 3:39 AM CST up reply actions  

Wreck'd

But i also think I just vomited in my mouth

by tommite622 on Mar 14, 2010 12:44 AM CST up reply actions  

Until he's cut or not retained

The dude won’t be on the same team from one year to the next for the rest of his days.

''I'm really not a Facebook or Twitter guy. I'm a prime rib and baked potato guy.'' - Sweet Lou

by propheteer on Mar 13, 2010 10:26 AM CST up reply actions  

Until he’s cut

Sorta reiterates the whole genital warts analogy.

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Mar 13, 2010 7:57 PM CST up reply actions  

Funny

but warts stay with you for life, while TO is gone faster than a a fly’s life.

''I'm really not a Facebook or Twitter guy. I'm a prime rib and baked potato guy.'' - Sweet Lou

by propheteer on Mar 13, 2010 9:16 PM CST up reply actions  

What would they have to lose? They could bring him in for training camp and preseason and if he does well, keep him. Just letting him come to camp would bring the Bears huge publicity and apparel/memorabelia sales, and if he makes the 53, then we’ve possibly got a better receiver than anyone else on the roster considdering their level of experience.

I say we start a petition for the bears to at least give him a shot…and I’m somewhat serious…

by dabearsatk on Mar 12, 2010 10:48 PM CST via mobile reply actions  

dude what?

Willie or T.O.? Seriously, one shot on Mr. Gault would break him in half (or at least his hip)
And we just plain old dont need T.O. Our WR are fine. Everybody starts out as a nobody.
Give them a chance first, lets beef up the O-line and get our D set.
We are set at the skill positions on offense.
Willie would be a great conditioning coach, he would make all those kids on the team look fat and lazy by comparison.

by Berserker33 on Mar 13, 2010 6:28 AM CST up reply actions  

Im with you on that

Think about it like this..If T.O. can go an entire season playing on a Bills offense that was basically nonexistent in the passing game and be quiet,He shouldnt have any problem playing with the Bears..Not to mention the guy is one of the hardest working recievers in the league..Our wideouts could definitely use his knowledge and mimic his work ethic. It would also give the Bears the “big” wideout we need…IMO it wouldnt stunt the development or our young recievers but ultimately help them tremendously….Make it happen Bears, It’s a 1 year deal in a make or break season what do we have to lose?

Kobe isnt good....He's just better than your favorite player

by EmmCeee on Mar 13, 2010 2:22 PM CST up reply actions  

Imagine that headline

Peppers, Taylor, Otogwe(hopefully) and Willie Gault. The Bears would go from surprise landings to what the Christmas’s. We are talking about a 50 year old man who retired 17 years ago. Lets get real.

by BigDanz2000 on Mar 13, 2010 7:53 AM CST reply actions  

because it was ridiculous

Gault was not all that great when he was playing. He had very limited abilities.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Mar 13, 2010 9:41 AM CST up reply actions  

He tended to get alligator arms at age 25

so what would he be like at 50? And yes, I realize Wilt wasn’t serious with this post, but I think the vintage 85 kool-aid is clouding some people’s judgement.

"The time has come to get deeply into Football. It is the only thing we have left that ain't fixed." - HST

by JerBear50 on Mar 13, 2010 8:14 PM CST up reply actions  

It wasn't.

I double checked the logs—you haven’t had a comment deleted since this article was up. Neo probably stole it and is flying around the Matrix with it.

I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves

Writer at windycitygridiron.com -/-I http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers

by Kev H on Mar 13, 2010 9:48 AM CST up reply actions  

Damn straight it better not have been!!

nice to know that I’ve made it an entire article so far. Guess I’ve gotta go back to the Matrix to teach that SOB Canoe whats up. Only fair since I already roughed up David the Gnome and the Keebler Elves just cause they were the usual suspects.

by No It All on Mar 13, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions  

He's old enough to date Virginia McCaskey...

As someone who trains and eats in a similar way to Gault, I can understand how tough it is, and I applaud anyone who can stick with it. I also know that he may still be fast but his body is brittle and you’d hear his hamstrings and ACL’s twang from the cheap seats if he attempted to run flat out and make his cuts on a route. He’s a special guy for his age, no doubt. By the way, I am 3 years older than Willie.

"I am not an animal!" - Merrick

by Maelvampyre on Mar 13, 2010 9:38 AM CST reply actions  

must be a slow news day

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Mar 13, 2010 9:39 AM CST reply actions  

Al Davis would pick him up first.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Mar 13, 2010 6:20 PM CST reply actions  

Why not........

Take a flyer on Ruvell Martin? Cutler loves a big reciever, and Martz has a nack for taking unknown recievers, and making them stars. If he has any talent to translate on the field Martz can find it. also he is a good special teams guy so Lovie should like him. 6’4" 220 lbs, and would come cheap! Maybe another cast off diamond in the rough like D.A. Can stretch field with straight line speed and has big body to fight for ball, but poor route runner.

If you live in Chicago you are a bears fan, if you move from chicago you stay a bears fan, if you move to chicago you will be a bears fan.

by chi-town on Mar 14, 2010 6:28 AM CST reply actions  

No comment..

on the Willie to the Bears idea (or any NFL team for th at matter.)

But major props to the guy— what a stud. 50 year’s old and still able to run a 4.4 40? That’s fantastic. The father of the super bowl shuffle has his sh!t together.

by The Kaiser on Mar 14, 2010 1:12 PM CDT reply actions  

I did not know

That Gault was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that boycotted the Olympics.

by GallopingGhost on Mar 14, 2010 11:25 PM CDT reply actions  

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