1/29/19

Jay C. Brandriet

Most fans know about the 1985 Chicago Bears. They were arguably the greatest single season team of all time. Their defense remains the standard in conversations as the best ever. This Chicago group had the most colorful, unforgettable personalities. “The punky QB known as McMahon” and William “The Refrigerator” Perry were sweeping the nation. At their apex, I was ten years old and well on my way to loving football.

These dudes were suffocating. They had destroyed “my” ten win Cowboys 44-0 in Dallas. Coach Ditka shook his mentors hand (Tom Landry) and all Mike could say was “sorry coach.” Landry responded, “you guys are real good….real good.”

On a Monday night in December, the Bears lost their one and only game. They fell 38-24 to Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins. What they did the next day is the definition of being brash. They released an iconic rap video called “The Super Bowl shuffle.” The child in me did not comprehend just how audacious of a move this was. To me it was just a hit song about the inevitable. It was something to memorize and jam to.

In today’s world, everyone with a cell phone has a voice. Every quote by a pro athlete is covered with intensity. Yesterday Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman said that age had taken its toll on Tom Brady. The entire sports media was all over the topic. A day later, Coleman kind of took it back.

Think about what the Bears did. In the vulnerable, fragile world of a season’s life…They put their reputation on the line on the highest level. With a month to go in an NFL season, after a sobering loss….This team let us know how they really felt. It was a foregone conclusion that they were going to win it all. They autographed their work in a unique way. “The Super Bowl Shuffle” was more bold than I ever understood.

 

“We are the Bears shufflin’ crew

Shufflin’ on down, doing it for you

We’re so bad, we know we’re good

Blowin’ your mind like we knew we would

You know we’re just struttin’ for fun

Struttin’ our stuff for everyone

We’re not here to start no trouble

We’re just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polished grown ups like Walter Payton and Mike Singletary were right in the middle of things. Hall of Fame D-lineman Dan Hampton did not want to participate. He thought it may have been too arrogant.

You think bro? This production was like the ultimate trash talk. I never considered the backlash if they would have lost.

Chicago outscored their playoff opponents 91-10.

I can appreciate now, just how awesome they knew they were.

 

Jay C. Brandriet