Monday, January 22, 2007

they call me sweetness and i like to dance

i was in second grade when the chicago bears last made it to the superbowl. our elementary school officals let us out of class for an all-school assembly the friday before superbowl XX for a pep rally, during which we were supposed to show our support "so they'd feel the love all the way down in louisiana." the teachers dressed up, painted their faces and led us in several songs and cheers. everyone wore orange and blue.

as a 7-year-old, i was too young to roll my eyes at such an event and had never been in a giant room with so much energy. even though there wasn't a member of the chicago bears organization there to hear it, i truly believed our cheers were going to help the team win and i felt close to the people in my school because we were all rooting for the same thing. maybe it's the soft-focus lens we use to remember our childhoods that makes me look back on it with a smile, but the '85 bears did go on to win, and big (they set a record with a 36-point margin). i know i helped.

the '06 bears are a good team despite fielding more than than their share of criticism-- much of it from their own fans. however, they've got nothing on '85 in terms of personality. the oldschool superbowl team was cocky enough to put out a song and a video about kicking ass, prove it true and use it to nearly win a grammy as well as the championship. not only that but today, 21 years after that assembly in the school gym, i can still remember nearly all of the words.

12 comments:

omar said...

Wow, that brought me back. I only remembered the words to Walter's part, the Fridge's part, and some of Jim McMahon's part. Super Bowl XX was the first that I still remember watching. The '06 Bears have nothing on the '85 Bears in MANY ways.

I'm not a Bears fan, but I'll probably root for them because I like Lovie.

ML said...

What a great story and wonderful memory for you!

Beenzzz said...

Refrigerator Perry! Man, that takes me back. I was 13 in 1985!

Anonymous said...

Is it true that Mike Ditka can walk on water?

Bill C said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bill C said...

(stupid typo-spaz fingers; try again)

When Ditka gives Water one of his trademark glares, Water freezes and dry walking ensues. Or he hits Water with one of his trademark verbal barrages; the heat makes Water melt, then boil away. Again, dry walking.

Those '85 Bears - incomparable.

Anonymous said...

I'm the punky QB, known as McMahon.
When I hit the turf, I've got no plan.
I just throw my body all over the field.
I can't dance, but I can throw the pill.
I motivate the cats, I like to tease.
I play so cool, I aim to please.
That's why you all got here on the double
To catch me doin' the Super Bowl Shuffle.

Lia said...

Now I know how old you are. :)

Jon said...

Few teams have the sheer charisma of the ’85 Bears…

However, in this particular match-up, I’m mostly rooting for a good game. I happen to be a very very very big Rams fan, and I might be biased, but the last two Superbowls they were involved in I felt were great games. One had the right ending, one did not, but both games were worth watching. That’s all I can really ask.

Does anyone remember the music video that the Patriots had back then too?

I didn’t think so… (and if I could find it on youtube, I’d link it, but I’ve been stymied so far…)

cadiz12 said...

i love walter payton. and i'm very happy for lovie smith. hopefully now the lowest-paid coach will get a raise.

i actually saw william "refrigerator" perry sing his part of the superbowl shuffle about 10 feet away from my desk in the tower. it was amazing.

i don't know about all the water stuff, but there is still a lot of love for "da coach" in these parts.

it would be hilarious to see that patriots' song. i don't remember them having one, but i'd doubt that they'd want to flaunt it after losing by so many points.

highcontrast said...

my first ever music purchase: 50 cents for a bootleg tape of the superbowl shuffle recorded on Chicago's very own B96.3

The Stormin Mormon said...

GO COLTS!!!