I had the honor of interviewing Chicago Bear legend and Hall of  Famer Gale Sayers.  He is helping Van Heusen and JCPenney with their Fan Choice vote for the Hall of Fame this year.  Over the coming week, I'll be sharing some of the thoughts he has on a myriad of topics.

Funny story before we get started. They gave me a direct line to him... while I was expecting to get a go between, instead he answered, which threw me off for a moment.  I've heard him speak before, but I didn't think he'd be absolutely recognizable, and I got a bit star struck.

First up is the NFC Championship between the Green Bay Packers and your Chicago Bears.

Note: this was done over the telephone, and I tried to transcribe it as accurately as possible.   

WCG: The Bears are set to face the Green Bay Packers.  Much has been made about the QBs, Green Bay's defense and even the condition of Soldier Field.  How do you see this game playing out?

Gale Sayers: The key to the game will be the quarterbacks. Both have to be outstanding games for their team to win.  Cutler has done a decent job, especially recently.  Aaron Rodgers for Green Bay has been outstanding for most of the year.  It will be cold weather, but I don't think that will be much of a factor.  Both of the teams play in cold weather, so that will even out.

WCG: So you don't expect to see much slippage or any real impact from the field conditions?

GS: I don't think the field matters much, both play on same type fields. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the record, Green Bay actually has a mixed surface if I am not mistaken.  It is partly synthetic, mostly real.   So there may be some getting used to for some players, but this is not the first time the Packers have played here, so they are familiar with the conditions.  Obviously, Green Bay can get as cold as Chicago, so that should matter none.  I don't know how much of a difference the hardness of a frozen field is when it is all real versus only partially.

We'll have Part Two of the interview coming soon!