Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame player and coach for the Chicago Bears, said this week he doesn’t have a “rooting interest” in this Sunday’s NFC championship game between the Bears and New Orleans Saints. On one level, that impartiality is understandable. Ditka coached for three forgettable seasons in New Orleans. But on another, it isn’t. “Iron Mike” is synonymous with Bears football, and he has probably made more money from Bears fans (via restaurants, endorsements, and announcing gigs) since his retirement as coach than he ever did while walking the sidelines.
Now, however, Ditka says he doesn’t care what “anyone” thinks. That’s fine, but he shouldn’t expect the free ride from Chicagoans any more. I just hope the “Superfans” don’t have a “grabber” when they hear.
About Stan Guthrie
Stan Guthrie is an editor at large for Christianity Today magazine and for the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. His latest book is God's Story in 66 Verses. He also is author of All that Jesus Asks: How His Questions Can Teach and Transform Us, Missions in the Third Millennium: 21 Key Trends for the 21st Century, and A Concise Guide to Bible Prophecy. He is co-author of The Sacrament of Evangelism. Besides authoring, writing, and editing books, Stan is a literary agent, bringing together good authors, good books, and good publishers.
Stan writes the monthly Priorities colum for BreakPoint.org. He has appeared on National Public Radio's Tell Me More, WGN's Milt Rosenberg program, and many Christian shows, including The Eric Metaxas Show and Moody Radio's New Day Florida. A licensed minister and an inspirational speaker, he served as moderator for the Christian Book Expo panel discussion, Does the God of Christianity Exist, and What Difference Does It Make?
