Dick Butkus, more than most probably knows a little something about the loyalty and love Chicago Bears fans show. Remember this is a man who played during arguably the darkest era of football in franchise history. After a non-playoff winning season as a rookie in 1965, he would never experience another in his career up until he retired in 1973.
While that may be personally disappointing for arguably the greatest middle linebacker in NFL history, it does have a positive coming out of it. Bears fans remained steadfast in their support of the team through that period. Despite the losing, they kept showing up every week. Believing in their hearts that things would get better with time.
It's for reasons like that Butkus is convinced Bears fans are second to none. He made that clear during his appearance at the kickoff of the teams' 100th anniversary celebration in Rosemont. One that opened with quite a spectacle of fans literally lining the streets for blocks calmly waiting to gain entry. The old defender seemed quite moved by it all.
Dick Butkus was and always shall be Chicago to the core
It's not a surprise that Butkus would say something like that. People tend to forget that this man has Chicago in his blood. He was raised on the south side and went to college at Illinois. Football in this area of the country has been part of him since he little. Nobody can say they've seen Bears fans as an entity up close and personal for longer than him.
Sure, there are other fan bases who can claim they love their teams as much. Most of them though aren't willing to stick it out through the tough times. They never show up to games when the team is struggling and sometimes don't even when they start to win. That is what separates Chicago from most. They come regardless.
Butkus wants to make sure everybody out there who's never experienced something like that understands how special it is.
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