Mike Ditka (Photo Credit: Getty Images, By: Jonathan Daniel)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBBM/CBS) – The Bears-Packers game Sunday is the first time the teams play for a spot in the Super Bowl.
But the football rivalry dates back to 1921.
As WBBM Newsradio 780′s Josh Liss reports on another memorable and infamous moment in Bears-Packers history, from the Bears’ legendary 1985 season.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s Josh Liss reports
At Lambeau Field on Nov. 3, 1985, Coach Forrest Gregg’s Packers aimed a flurry of memorable cheap-shots at Mike Ditka’s Bears.
In one play, Walter Payton had gained about five yards when Packers cornerback Mark Lee sent Payton flying over a bench in the first quarter. Lee was ejected.
“I think the Packers are losing some composure now,” CBS 2’s Johnny Morris said as he called play-by-play for the game. “It’s happened too many times in this football game.”
A few minutes afterward, Packers safety Kevin Stills took down the Bears’ Matt Suhey well after the whistle. Stills was flagged.
“Suhey was just standing there watching the play, and Stills came in and just gave him a clobber. Just gave him a clobber,” Morris said. “Completely uncalled for.”
The acrimony between the Bears and Packers had reached its greatest heights in the mid-1980s. Ditka and Gregg were no big fans of each other, and their teams followed suit, according to PackersNews.com.
Later in the game, Ditka would call William Perry’s number, and the Fridge caught his first touchdown pass. The Bears went on to win the game 16-10.
Visit Milwaukee’s Newsradio 620 WTMJ’s Bears-Packers pages for more info on the enemy, Packers’ insider Bill Michaels’ blog and to talk trash to Cheese Heads. Go Bears!
