Former longtime Tribune sports activities reporter Don Pierson is among the many few who’ve spent hours with Chicago Bears principal proprietor Virginia McCaskey, most lately recording her recollections within the “Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook” written with Dan Pompei and revealed in 2019.
Pierson, who lined the Bears for the Tribune from the late Nineteen Sixties by way of the workforce’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts in 2007′s Super Bowl XLI, says McCaskey takes her function as matriarch of the Bears severely.
He answered questions on McCaskey, who turns 100 years outdated as we speak, in a telephone interview Wednesday. (This dialog has been edited for readability.)
When did you begin working on the Tribune?
As my granddaughter would say, method again within the final century — 1967.
And when did you begin overlaying the Bears?
It wasn’t actually a beat within the Nineteen Sixties — no one lined them each single day like they do now. The sports activities editor would exit to follow on Monday or Tuesday and write a few characteristic tales then go to the sport. And it wasn’t till 1971 or 1972, that I turned the primary full-time beat particular person. I used to be there every single day it doesn’t matter what. …
Every Monday after video games, the coaches beginning with Jim Dooley who succeeded Halas, they might invite the reporters — and there have been solely 4 or 5 of us — they’d invite us over to their places of work and watch and dissect the sport movie. That didn’t final very lengthy, however that’s the way in which it was within the early Nineteen Seventies.
How was the workforce throughout these years?
Pretty unhealthy. They have been chaotically organized, their construction wasn’t actually attuned to the way in which it’s now. They missed their flip within the draft, for instance, in 1969, and went previous the time restrict. So they actually didn’t have the sort of personnel that you just needed to need to compete. That was after Halas retired for the fourth and last time.
He actually hadn’t groomed individuals, hadn’t constructed the administration construction to compete within the ‘60s and ‘70s so they fell on hard times. They were really bad in the ‘70s. When his son, George Halas Jr., talked him into bringing in Jim Finks, he had to twist his old man’s arm with the intention to do this. And that’s what received the Bears into the trendy age.
I’m amazed, going by way of the Tribune’s archives, what number of occasions you’ve been capable of interview Virginia McCaskey, who’s notoriously personal. Do you bear in mind the primary time you met her?
Let me return even additional. If you learn Halas’ autobiography, in it he wrote that he was shocked when she was born. He was shocked as a result of he assumed it might be George Halas Jr. That’s the way in which it was 100 years in the past — you assumed your first youngster was going to be a boy.
Virginia was all the time blissful to play second fiddle. Her father actually didn’t embrace her husband, so the McCaskey household was not an integral a part of Bears administration.
When did I interview her? I knew her socially and talked to her and her husband (Edward McCaskey) principally informally as a result of they weren’t actually related to the Bears. But when her brother (George “Mugs” Halas Jr.) died of a coronary heart assault in 1979, that modified every thing.
(Halas) didn’t even inform Virginia he had most cancers. So, Virginia and the McCaskey household inherited the Bears with none expertise, with out a lot background, with none expectation, with none actual want on Virginia’s half, however she’s made it her lifelong, solemn obligation to do what she thinks her father would need her to do. She cherishes that legacy and he or she’s completed a terrific job of making an attempt to keep up that legacy. As lengthy as she’s alive, the Bears won’t ever be offered due to her very, very robust conviction that she is holding onto that legacy of her father, who just about began the National Football League. And you possibly can perceive her place.
So many issues needed to go improper to ensure that Virginia to be put on this place. As you talked about, her youthful brother died from a coronary heart assault in 1979, then Halas died in 1983 of most cancers. What did you make of it when it was introduced that she was going to be the top of the group?
I believe it was most likely certainly one of sympathy. Everybody knew of the slightly awkward place she was put in and acknowledged that she didn’t actually have a lot experience or expertise. She had an curiosity as a fan, however she didn’t have the background in enterprise or sports activities.
She tried to get Jim Finks, who was the overall supervisor that drafted the 1985 Bears, to remain and mentor her older sons, however Jim didn’t need to do this. So, he resigned. And then, finally, Virginia made Michael (McCaskey) the president. I imply, Halas was by no means going to groom him or the remainder of the McCaskey household to take over the household enterprise. So, Virginia and the household get blamed for lots of issues that weren’t actually beneath their management.
She by no means thought she can be the top of the group, proper? I imply, she was mother to 11 youngsters and was blissful to be a fan?
Absolutely.
Is there any validity to followers’ considerations as we speak that the McCaskeys have made errors over time as a result of they didn’t have expertise?
She would admit to you that errors have been made. She needed to change her personal son, which confirmed her resolve and I believe her power.
They have been form of fish out of water after they needed to take over the Bears. She’ll inform you that to this present day. When Dan Pompei and I did the one centesimal anniversary e book a couple of years in the past, we talked together with her for 10-12 hours. She instructed us she by no means anticipated to be within the place she was and in that place for, what, 40 years?
She looks like an sincere lady. What’s she like in particular person?
Very dignified. I believe it was Paul Tagliabue, former commissioner, who anointed her First Lady of the NFL and I believe that’s apropos. She’s very properly revered across the league. She doesn’t wield energy like a whole lot of homeowners needed to do. Maybe a bit cussed in that she’s clung to household and hasn’t employed too many individuals from exterior the household. Stubbornness was most likely certainly one of her father’s most distinguished traits.
What was the sense within the metropolis and among the many individuals overlaying the workforce when she turned chief of the group?
It’s attention-grabbing. Even although all of us knew she was the proprietor, she by no means referred to as herself chairman of the board or president. She was all the time secretary. Now, nothing occurred that she didn’t approve of, however I don’t ever sense that she was being dictatorial in any method.
She’s had a whole lot of troublesome factor occur in her life. (Her mom, “Min,” died of a coronary heart assault in 1966. The identical ailment killed her youthful brother, George “Mugs” Halas Jr., in 1979. Halas died in 1983 of most cancers, by no means revealing his analysis to his solely daughter. Virginia’s husband of 60 years, Edward W. McCaskey, died in 2003. She’s outlived two of her personal youngsters and certainly one of her favourite Bears, Walter Payton.)
How has that affected her?
She’s a really, very non secular one who goes to Mass every single day. And she’s so stoic in that regard. She depends on her religion and that’s real and honest and personal. So, I believe she’s not an at the least outwardly emotional particular person.
How do you assume she is going to have a good time her one centesimal birthday?
You know, it’s humorous. Usually, throughout a sport broadcast, they’ll present her in her field at Soldier Field. I don’t watch each minute of each sport any extra, however I don’t recall seeing that lately. I’m all the time shocked that she goes to as many away video games as she has. So, I believe it will likely be a quiet celebration this yr.
I learn your tales about Super Bowl XX that included quotes from Virginia. It appeared prefer it was the happiest she’s ever been. What was that like for her?
Well, it was vindication in a whole lot of methods. You know, as quickly as she took over the workforce individuals began saying she ought to promote it. In a method, it was vindication that the McCaskeys caught with the workforce and vindication for her dad in hiring Mike Ditka. It was vindication for Michael McCaskey, who was membership president. So it was actually the excessive level of the yr.
You’ve captured so a lot of her recollections within the “Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook,” however did you ever take into consideration writing a e book nearly Virginia?
She wouldn’t permit it. I bear in mind George (McCaskey), the president now, organising our interviews together with her. She needed to be satisfied that the e book was not about her, and we needed to construction the e book in order that it wasn’t a e book about Virginia McCaskey. I bear in mind George saying that it might mortify her.
She’s not an actual raconteur. We would have cherished it if we sat in her lounge and he or she stated, “Let me tell you a story about this,” however she by no means did that. We needed to pry every thing out of her, however she was very cordial and forthcoming when she received onto a topic.
What was the Bears100 celebration in 2019, like for Virginia?
I believe she was actually energized by seeing that many gamers. I bear in mind her saying one time that she form of regretted that the administration had gone from 30 individuals at Halas Hall to 300-400. She regrets that she doesn’t know all of them personally.
But she actually loved seeing the gamers as a result of she has private recollections about nearly each single participant that’s come by way of the group.
I’m certain the Bears won’t ever have a celebration the place they create that many individuals collectively — that can by no means occur once more.
And it’s a must to bear in mind the workforce was coming off of an ideal season, too, so every thing appeared rosier.
You talked about earlier that so long as she’s alive, then Virginia won’t ever promote the workforce. What do you assume occurs down the street?
One of the explanations I retired from the Tribune 15 years in the past is so I wouldn’t have to jot down that story.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com