Steve McMichael's Tales from the Chicago Bears Sideline

3.8/5 ( ratings)

Former Chicago Bears star Steve McMichael takes readers through the most vibrant years of a charter NFL franchise--as seen through the eyes of a legendary carouser. His no-holds-barred practice habits and fondness for after-hours merriment moved his first NFL bosses with the New England Patriots to label him part of the criminal element in the league before they waived him prior to his second season. He was a much better fit for a Bears team that was still under the watchful gaze of its tough-as-nails founder, George Halas, and in the process of developing its revolutionary 46 defense under Buddy Ryan. McMichael was witness to the last days of Neill Armstrong's ill-fated coaching regime, all of Mike Ditka's tempestuous tenure, and Dave Wannstedt's rookie season in charge. He covers it all, from training camp misadventures in Lake Forest, Illinois, and Platteville, Wisconsin and Ditka's locker room tirades to nights on the town with Dan Hampton and friends and behind-the-scenes glimpses of extraordinary teammates, including Hall of Famers Hampton, Walter Payton, and Mike Singletary. McMichael relives his week in New Orleans--the perfect party town for the perfect party team--before the Bears won Super Bowl XX in dominating fashion. Steve McMichael's Tales from the Bears Sideline recounts the rivalries with Green Bay and San Francisco, the rise to stardom of William Refrigerator Perry, and the Grammy-nominated team video, the Super Bowl Shuffle, which McMichael loathed. He revisits all the reasons the team failed to win a couple more titles--from Jim McMahon vs. Doug Flutie to everybody vs. Michael McCaskey, the late Halas's Yale-educated grandson and successor. McMichael watchedtraining camp in Platteville become a carnival, literally, and watched the Bears at the end of his career from a most unexpected vantage point: through the facemask of a Green Bay Packers helmet.