Book Description
Former Chicago Bears star Steve McMichael takes readers through the most vibrant years of a charter NFL franchise—as seen through the eyes of a legendary carouser. His no-holds-barred practice habits and fondness for after-hours merriment moved his first NFL bosses with the New England Patriots to label him part of "the criminal element" in the league before they waived him prior to his second season. He was a much better fit for a Bears team that was still under the watchful gaze of its tough-as-nails founder, George Halas, and in the process of developing its revolutionary "46" defense under Buddy Ryan. McMichael was witness to the last days of Neill Armstrong’s ill-fated coaching regime, all of Mike Ditka’s tempestuous tenure, and Dave Wannstedt’s rookie season in charge. He covers it all, from training camp misadventures in Lake Forest, Illinois, and Platteville, Wisconsin and Ditka’s locker room tirades to nights on the town with Dan Hampton and friends and behind-the-scenes glimpses of extraordinary teammates, including Hall of Famers Hampton, Walter Payton, and Mike Singletary. McMichael relives his week in New Orleans—the perfect party town for the perfect party team—before the Bears won Super Bowl XX in dominating fashion. Steve McMichael’s Tales from the Bears Sideline recounts the rivalries with Green Bay and San Francisco, the rise to stardom of William "Refrigerator" Perry, and the Grammy-nominated team video, the "Super Bowl Shuffle," which McMichael loathed. He revisits all the reasons the team failed to win a couple more titles—from Jim McMahon vs. Doug Flutie to everybody vs. Michael McCaskey, the late Halas’s Yale-educated grandson and successor. McMichael watched training camp in Platteville become a carnival, literally, and watched the Bears at the end of his career from a most unexpected vantage point: through the facemask of a Green Bay Packers helmet.


About the Author
Steve McMichael played 13 seasons for the Chicago Bears, twice reaching the Pro Bowl and four times being named All-Pro. He played in 191 games with the Bears, more than anyone else in the team’s history and all of them consecutively. He joined the Bears in 1981, helping to form the core of a defense that in the ’80s set NFL records for sacks and fewest points allowed in a season. While McMichael was a Bear the team won six NFC Central Division titles and the 1986 Super Bowl and went to the NFC championship game three times. The Texas native now lives in Chicago with his wife, Misti. Phil Arvia has been a sportswriter at the Daily Southtown in Tinley Park, Illinois, since 1987. His columns have earned national recognition in the annual Associated Press Sports Editors writing competition, and first-place awards from the Illinois Associated Press Editors Association (2002) and Chicago Headline Club (2001). The lifelong resident of Thornton, Illinois, still lives there with his wife.

FROM THE PUBLISHER