Chi-town chat
Published: 2/1/2007 7:20 AM
Last Modified: 2/1/2007 7:20 AM
Confession time: I will miss dealing with Vance Bedford.
Not because I liked grilling the now former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator about strategies or hearing him discuss anything from insects to opposing talent. Bedford is a man’s man and was willing to discuss his unit’s successes and shortcomings. More often it was the latter rather than the former.
But the reason I’ll miss conversing with Bedford was our typical Monday exchanges the past two falls about the Chicago Bears. I’ve been a Bears fan for 30 years. Bedford was the Bears defensive backs coach from 1999-2004 before coming to OSU. Despite the amount of success the Bears had the past two years, I was the typical fan.
Heck, I’m a Chicago fan. The Bears have provided heartache many times despite winning the Super Bowl 21 years ago. The Bulls glory days ended with the Michael Jordan-posed jump shot at Utah in 1998. Please don’t bring up how that Cubs fan turned Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series and please don’t bring up how that other Chicago baseball team recently won the World Series. I’m always wondering when the bottom would fall out. Looking at the negative rather than the positive. Having thoughts of doom and gloom.
Bedford didn’t necessarily reassure this fan (or cockroach?)
“If they just let my man Rex Grossman do his thing, they’ll be fine,” Bedford often told me.
Rex Grossman? Are you kidding coach? My perception of Grossman is a mistake waiting to happen. I still think that, and yet Grossman will be quarterbacking my team in the Super Bowl on Sunday. What if Grossman joins the “Punky QB known as McMahon” as the only Bears QB to win the Super Bowl?
If that happens, I’m sure Bedford will be smiling. I know I will.
--- Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
