Feb. 1, 2007

By Will "The Thrill" Brady

When asking what is means to be a Chicago Bears fan is like asking why some people are geniuses while others are not. The truly phenomenal Bears fans are born at birth. It is a natural instinct encoded in the DNA of certain people blessed beyond that of which words can describe (as an understatement this genetic blessing could be as compared to say that which Einstein had).

However, those without this genetic blessing still have the ability to build up there loyalty for a certain football team who has carved out a special place in the pant ion of professional football greats that team which is known the world over as Da Bears.

This gift of having one loyalty only to Da Bears is comparable to the intensity of the World Cup soccer tournament or building an arc to save civilization. It has not been proven but it is assumed Noah was a Bears fan, old guy hard working loved polish sausage and put Bears on his ship. These two actions are comparable to the amount of mental and physical duress which Bear fans experience every Sunday. I hope it is now somewhat understandable to be a Bears fan. Now on to the tradition.

If I were to try and encapsulate the entire Chicago Bears tradition my e-mail box and that of all the University of Dayton's students and faculty would shut down due to an overload of indisputably phenomenal information. Therefore I will keep it somewhat brief in seven points.

1. GEORGE "PAPA BEAR" HALAS
Arguably the most influential person in the history of all sports histories. Was one of the 12 representatives in forming the American football league (later became the NFL). Halas won more than 320 games and the first NFL championship. He is a god amongst football greats and should be referred to only as PAPA BEAR.

2. THE GREATEST COACH OF ALL TIME: MIKE DITKA
There is simply no argument here Ditka is the greatest coach ever. He won the 1985 Super Bowl. He also played for the Bears, is an NFL Hall-of-Famer and was All-Pro. Ditka would defeat a hurricane, even if the hurricane's name was Ditka. There is no argument against his greatness.

3. THE SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE
"We're not here to start no trouble we just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle"

Enough said

4. WALTER "SWEETNESS" PAYTON
The greatest running back of all time. His nickname was "Sweetness". He never had an all pro quarterback, an-all pro receiver, or one of the best blocking fullbacks of all time. However, Payton would run over around or simply jump over people to gain an unimaginable amount of yards whenever he pleased. A true football legend.

5. THE BEARS FIGHT SONG
I will simply put it down and that is all anyone will need to understand the greatness of this fight song.

Bear Down, Chicago Bears
Put up a fight with a might so fearlessly!
We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation
With your T-formation
Bear Down, Chicago Bears
And let them know why you're wearing the crown!
You're the pride and joy of Illinois,
Chicago Bears, Bear Down!!

6. SOLDIER FIELD
Our field is a living dedication to the soldier's of this great country. - A moment of silence for them

7. SUPER FANS/ALL BEARS FANS
We as the Chicago Bears had a Saturday Night Live skit written on our great team and city. This only reinforces our staple as the top franchise in the NFL. Our fans all over the world/maybe even the universe understand the importance of the Chicago Bears football.

I hope this short definition of Bears tradition and fan base can help shine light on why Da Bears will dominate the Indianapolis Colts. Bears fans are just Sweet.

GO BEARS!