Mike Ditka RIP

i know this is a college football forum but its with profound sadness but also with lots of fond memories that I am learning Mike Ditka passed away today

Shit man, he was one of my 10 idols > Jordan, Orr, Eastwood, Ditka, Butkus, Shaq, Favre, W. Payton ...there are more >  for athletes/famous people

I remember reading a book about the Bears at a young age and was hooked. He grew up like I did, playing in the dirt/snow and taking on all comers because he had a funny last name but no way was anyone gonna put him down or take something from him!

I needed to play football because I was a big bruiser and so too was my family. Ditka inspired me to work, play or coach like a demon but also, embrace your teammates and leave everything on the field and enjoy life and revere moments in life that involved doing something tough but fun.

Here is a line from an article about the 85'Bears team and his reflection on it. Man, this really hits home:

“It was more than a team,” Ditka once said. “It was a team of characters that had character that played for a crazy man, who let him be crazy and had fun doing it and don’t apologize for it ever. I wouldn’t want to be one of these suits walking around on the sideline today.

“I have no desire to be that. I was what I was and they were what they were and, damn, it was fun.”

Who today, inspires this in football or other sports or in life anymore? Can you think of anyone? 

“We call him ‘Sybil’ after that girl in the movie,” quarterback Jim McMahon once explained. “You know, the one that had all those personalities. Mike will be calm one minute, then throw a clipboard the next. People don’t understand that, but we do.”

Jesus, we need more people with passion than the slop I see sometime in the sport, life or in general.....frick..... I think half to 3/4 of the world is 'faking' 

So sad to hear my condolences to his family & loved ones . . . Ditka will be sadly missed @Last2thirst

RIP a legend man. Great quotes you pointed out L2T. Truly a great one, certainly will be missed. Impacted millions of people in a great damn way. 

Met him at Ditka's in Chicago  in 1997.

Told him I was a cowboys fan and loved Tom Landry.

10 min later a cold beer and order of potato skins arrived on the house.

Then I ordered the chicken marsala 

Great story Umgmu...wish I could have been in Chicago in the heyday ...we had family from Chicago

I am Eastern European like Ditka, Butkus, and all the crazy high testerone football nutbars and honestly, the best damn thing I could have done was become a teacher at high school and coach for 30 yrs because had I done anything else..... I might have been in jail by now with all my aggression haha... I have a 24 ethics contract that forces me to lose my job if I cross the line and its been the best damn thing for me but I still jump in to help people in distress and get my hands dirty if need be...THAT'S FUN! haha 

Ah, the 20th century had so many warriors and crazy personalities in sport and life....now I just see tinmen and liars/fakers like I said before but my hope is men like Ditka and others can rub off and add to the story of trying to achieve in whatever way possible in the spirit where no one loses and everyone gains..... hard to say that happens very much anymore

 no one better

 #5 @umgmu 

I think sometimes.... Ditka would have been a perfect candidate to play BOTH SIDES of the ball ....stick him in at End or Outside LB and go nuts chasing 

first i heard about this   RIP DITKA    

R.I.P. Legend