And if it wasn't for black guys on the football field nobody would have ever heard of Mike Ditka...that cracker.

Agreed.

So why didn't you fucking run? And spare us this big-eared nanny state socialist.

Polack.

Mike Ditka was an All-American in college, Rookie of the Year in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, a 5 time Pro-Bowler, and even caught a touchdown pass for the Cowboys in the Super Bowl.
In fact, he was such a kick-ass player, that he was the FIRST Tight End to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Thus, for anyone to suggest that nobody would have heard of Ditka had he not coached black players to Super Bowl glory, is just plain silly.

Below is an excerpt from what the July 8, 2004 edition of "The Hill" wrote about the attempt to draft Ditka to run against Obama. (Ditka ultimately chose not to run. His wife was opposed, and he would have to neglect his private businesses.)
************************
Mike Ditka emerges as possible Senate candidate

By Patrick O'Connor

In the wake of Steve Rauschenberger’s withdrawal from the Illinois Senate race, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka has surfaced as a favorite of many Hill and state Republicans, according to interviews with GOP members and staff in Illinois and Washington.

The Super Bowl-winning coach and Hall-of-Fame player is a Chicago icon whose name identification and stature would make him a well-known, if inexperienced, candidate in the race to replace Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R), who is stepping down at the end of this legislative session.

Ditka has not made a public statement about his candidacy, but Republicans on the Hill and in Illinois said they would be eager for him to enter the race.

“If Ditka ran, Democrats would claim to vote for Obama and then secretly vote for Ditka,” said Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) “It would immediately put Chicago in play.”

Kirk said Ditka could campaign with his former players in minority areas, like Chicago’s South Side, that other Republican candidates could not previously touch.

Having been in Illinois during Obama's run, Ditka is wrong on this one and full of ego as ever. This is the guy who basically traded away his whole team for Ricky Williams after all.....

Von Bek,

I don't know if you watched the video of Dikta's appearance on PTI, but he followed his remark about Obama by saying he was just "being facetious."
Thus, it would probably seem a little unfair to hold him "seriously" to that remark.

The Daley Democrat machine certainly is a powerful force in Illinois---so powerful, that they are successful in persuading dead folks to cast ballots on election day---however, I can tell you that Mike Ditka remains an icon in Chicago.
The Democrats truly did fear his entry into the Senate race.

P.S.
Ditka traded away the Saints' 1999 draft picks to the Washington Redskins for the rights to Ricky Williams.
No Saints players were traded for Williams.

The one time a post concerns PTI and I miss the episode. Seriously, I love Mr. Tony and wish him to come back to radio. Look, I used to live in Oak Park and I agree with all you say. But there was no way in hell that Ditka would have done as well as the Republican needs to down state to make up for it. Yes, Ditka traded every pick he had in 1999 for Ricky. It was dumb. Just ask the Vikings who did the same damn thing for H.Walker....Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikmen, E. Smith and M. Irving made out like bandits with a lot of rings. I think Ditka helped mortgage the Saints future on that trade though they have clearly turned the corner. Not that I think they are going to win this weekend.