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WCG Book Club: In Life, First You Kick Ass

Coach-mike-ditka-shades_medium Many times here at ye olde Windy City Gridiron, we like to bring you up to date news, insight, and analysis into the Chicago Bears and the game of football, and use the best of technology to bring you that information. 

So today, I'm here to tell you about a book.

But not just any book, mind you. A book commanded by Da Coach. The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Mr. Mike Ditka.

Star-divide

 

This book was first published in 2005, and it features the recollections of a slightly removed Mike Ditka, looking back on the days of of the Super Bowl Champion Bears.

The first thing to keep in mind is that it is, often, slightly rosier than it would've been had it been written in 87, or even 95. The other is, it's somewhat one-sided.

But that's ok. The book definitely gives some great insights into the life and times of those Bears. One of my favorite things:

I remember I'd be in my office late at night, and I'd get these phone calls. There'd be this Latino woman on the other end, and she had a thick Mexican accent and a real high voice and she'd say, "Meester Deetka, I am Yolanda. I am very caliente and I want to meet you at the motel down the street. I'm waiting for you! Please come, Señor!

I got these calls all the time, and then about a month later I found out it was Walter. I saw him at practice and I said, "You little prick!" God, he thought it was funny.

It's not all just things like that, though.He talks about getting hired to coach, and he talks about Halas. He takes a quick walk-through that whole season, talks about what it was like to work with Ryan, to whip up on teams they way the y did, and talks about the players and personnel like they're family. 

It's a quick read, but a fun one. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars, if I was any sort of critic.  You can probably find it at a library, or in a bookstore, or on Amazon, or ebay. Check it out. If you've read it, tell us what you think below.

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I'll have to check it out!

"When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." ~ Dick Butkus

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 21, 2010 11:36 AM CDT reply actions  

lmao!

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Jun 21, 2010 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

That deserves this green.

"44 years of football history and nothing to show for it. I wish I wasn’t banned at the Norseman.." - tfrabotta
"Fellas, what are they, unblockable? Is that the '85 Bears over there?" - overheard at Giants' '06 training camp
~~~ Check my profile for links for SB20 and America's Game: '85 Bears ~~~

by Spongie on Jun 22, 2010 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

Ditka book

Loved this book!! Read the autobiography as a kid too, and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. Some other great books I could also recommend: Never Die Easy, McMahon!!, Calling the Shots, (Samurai) and Butkus’s autobiography as well.

by walterfan34 on Jun 21, 2010 1:44 PM CDT reply actions  

Nobody calls Walter a prick

Not even Ditka.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Jun 21, 2010 1:57 PM CDT reply actions  

Thanks for the recommendation.

-------
Stupid babies need the most attention!

by David Taylor on Jun 21, 2010 2:03 PM CDT reply actions  

One of the Better Bears Books I've Read

Was “The Rise and Self-Destruction of the Greatest Football Team in History: The Chicago Bears and Super Bowl XX.” Gives great insight from an outside prospective on how the egos all got in the way of what should have been a dynasty. Another good one that I haven’t finished yet is “Papa Bear: The Life and Legacy of George Halas.”

"I was interviewing George Halas and I asked him who is the greatest running back you ever saw. And he said, 'That would be Red Grange.' And I asked him if Grange was playing today, how many yards do you think he'd gain. And he said, 'About 750, maybe 800 yards.' And I said, 'Well, 800 yards is just okay.' He sat up in his chair and he said, 'Son, you must remember one thing. Red Grange is 75 years old.' - Chris Berman

by Sam Householder on Jun 21, 2010 2:16 PM CDT reply actions  

Blame it on Telander.

Though he didn’t really do anything wrong.

If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?

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

by Kev H on Jun 21, 2010 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions  

bears books

Forgot to mention the Moon Mullin books in my earlier post and there’s also another that Mongo McMichael wrote just a couple years ago about his memories of playing here.

by walterfan34 on Jun 21, 2010 4:04 PM CDT reply actions  

12 games from the 1985 season for 37 dollars?

You can’t beat that!

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Jun 21, 2010 8:27 PM CDT reply actions  

a great read

:then ditka said to payton…:by dan jiggetts andfred mitchell. some brilliant insights and a cd featuring rare play by-play action from the greatest in walter paytons career.

by stepeo on Jun 21, 2010 11:28 PM CDT reply actions  

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