The history of the NFL is replete with examples of club owners and coaches arguing and bickering.
But the Bears, owned by the McCaskey family, have maintained a friendly and cordial relationship with Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, even when he guided the division rival Green Bay Packers.
Virginia McCaskey, the daughter of former Bears founder and coach George Halas, presented Holmgren with the NFC championship trophy at Lambeau Field when he coached the Packers.
“That was a special day,” said Brian McCaskey, one of her sons. “[Holmgren] has a lot of supporters at North Park University. And it is kind of neat that two NFL teams have ties to North Park.
“My wife (Barb) and I both went to North Park,” said Brian, the Bears’ senior director of business development. “Mike’s wife, Kathy, went to North Park, and he has four daughters who went to North Park. Mike and his wife have been very generous to North Park. He had the lead gift on the new recreation center. And he also had the last gift of the campaign.”
Holmgren also provided the generous lead gift to the North Park facility that was later named the Holmgren Athletic Center, in his honor.
“It is unique because it is a facility that is shared with the community,” McCaskey said.
Sunday night’s Bears-Seahawks game lacked the history and tradition of the rivalry experienced by the Bears and Packers. But the matchup between the defending NFC champions and the Bears had been much anticipated last January before the Bears failed to make it to the NFC championship game after being dumped by Carolina.
“It’s a friendly rivalry, to be sure,” McCaskey said. “The relationship goes back a ways through `Golf For Kids.’ Mike had been the lead guy in the `Golf For Kids’ effort, which was a nice coming together between the Packers and the Bears in a common charity for at-risk kids in Chicago and Milwaukee. . . . It has become more of a Bears event than a Packers event. But Mike was a big part of getting that charity started.”
Over the years, the McCaskey family has maintained a strong relationship with other family-owned NFL teams, including the New York Giants, owned by the Wellington Mara family, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, owned by Dan Rooney and family.
“Last year, with the Steelers and the Seahawks being in the Super Bowl, it was like, `OK, who do you cheer for?'” McCaskey said. “It was kind of a tough call.”
Word on the street
Mike Ditka has announced the formation of Ditka Records. The first CD being produced by the label will be a compilation of Frank Sinatra songs performed by John Vincent, who appears in Ditka’s cigar lounge, upstairs from Ditka’s restaurant on Chestnut Street. The CD, which will be recorded in October with a 48-piece orchestra, also will include one original composition by Vincent.
Ditka Records joins the list of Ditka’s other business interests, which include a winery, Ditka’s famous pork chops and a line of apparel as well as the coach’s sports ventures.
Sights seen
The Bears’ tight ends apparently are very, very tight. At least they broke bread together Saturday night at Harry Caray’s Restaurant downtown. Desmond Clark, Gabe Reid and John Gilmore were spotted dining together. Clark was a surprise starter Sunday night after missing practices all week with a foot injury. He caught two key passes in the first quarter. . . .
A free Bears back-yard tailgate party was held outside Soldier Field on Sunday night and will take place before the next three home games. Former Bears Otis Wilson and Kurt Becker were slated to appear before Sunday’s game. The tailgate parties will begin two hours before each of the upcoming home games.
Local attractions
Clark will visit Chase Elementary School (2021 N. Point St.), safety Todd Johnson will appear at Jamieson Elementary School (5650 N. Mozart), kicker Robbie Gould is scheduled to visit Mollison Elementary School (4415 S. King) and safety Cameron Worrell will appear at Murphy Elementary School (3959 W. Grace St.) in Chicago on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the Bears School Outreach program. . . . Bernard Berrian, Danieal Manning, and Mark Anderson of the Bears will appear at the Deerfield Hyatt and sign autographs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Call 815-464-2831 for more information.
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fmitchell@tribune.com
