Tag / ALS

by admin

RIP Mongo

Former Bears great and NFL Hall of Famer Steve McMichael died today aged 67.  He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in January of 2021 and was removed from his ventilator and moved to hospice care earlier today.

McMichael spent thirteen seasons as a defensive tackle with the Bears, earning All-Pro honors twice.  He’s currently second in franchise history with 92½ sacks and third with 814 tackles.  He made a franchise record 191 consecutive starts, starting in week 7 of 1981 and lasting through the end of the 1993 season and was a key part of the fabled “46” defense that led the Bears to the Super Bowl XX title.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame last year.

Following his football career, McMichael turned to professional wrestling, where we worked with both the then-WWF and WCW.  In August of 2001, he appeared at Wrigley Field as the guest conductor of the seventh inning stretch.  Prior to belting out Take Me Out to the Ballgame, McMichael had a few words for home plate umpire Angel Hernandez, who was involved in a questionable call the previous inning.  Hernandez stared down McMichael from the field and, eventually, McMichael left the booth, having been ejected from the stadium.

by admin

The Call To The Hall

Three former Bears will be heading to Canton this summer as part of the NFL’s Hall of Fame class of 2024: Steve McMichael, Devin Hester, and Julius Peppers.  McMichael, the legendary defensive tackle who is battling ALS, makes it after nearly two decades of waiting.  Hester, the record-setting return man gets in on his third try. Peppers, a nine-time Pro Bowl defensive end, makes it on his first attempt.

McMichael, 66, spent thirteen seasons with the Bears, earning All-Pro honors twice.  He’s currently second in franchise history with 92½ sacks and third with 814 tackles.

Hester, 41, was drafted in the second round of the 2006 draft and quickly made an impact, returning a punt for a touchdown in his first game and recording six touchdowns over his first thirteen weeks.  In less than two seasons, he became the leading kick returner in Bears history.  In 2011, Hester became the NFL’s all-time leading punt returner after breaking Eric Metcalf’s record with a TD return against the Panthers.  He currently holds the NFL career record with 20 special-teams regular season touchdowns.

Peppers, 44, spent most of his 17-year career with the Panthers, but gathered 37½ sacks in his four seasons with the Bears, earning All-Pro honors in 2010.  He is currently fourth in NFL history with 159½ sacks.