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Show SHjr Section Sports jlalt fake tribune C 27, 19JJ6 Monday, January Page 1 I ( nr ,ciril-i- sr,. l ail I ... al 2.57-2u2- spoi ill I1' I Call 2.57-200- urination 1 .' Bears Destroy Patriots in Super Bowl XX Bears Chicagos 4D, McMahon Produce 46-1- 0 Victory By Angelo Cataldi Newspapers Knight-Ridde- r With a devasNEW ORLEANS of and panache, mixture power tating the Chicago Bears proved Sunday that they are fearless and peerless. In another Super Bowl devoid of drama, the Bears unleashed their swarming, hellbent defense on the New England Patriots and swaggered their way to the National Football League championship with a 0 victory at the Superdome. It was a game that lived up to its boisterous billing only through the exploits of the Bears, who responded to some early troubles with an unprecedented show of strength against the overmatched Patriots. The margin of victory was the greatest in the history of the Super Bowl. I'd have to say this is one of the greatest teams of all time, declared Bears linebacker Mike Singletary. "When I looked in their eyes, I knew we had them. They looked confused. It was like they were saying, Man, I hope were not in for one of these games. But they were. ; We got in the ring with a champion today, and they connected with every punch, conceded New England offensive tackle Brian Holloway. Theyre all big talkers over there, .and the way I like to stop big talkers is with a big fist in the mouth. But they deserve to be cocky after this. And rest assured, they were. The Bears are nothing if not and Sundays thorough pasting of the .Patriots only served to reinforce their belief in themselves. recor- d-breaking 46-1- . d, Victory Incomplete: No Payton TD In the sweltering underbelly of the Superdome after the game, the Bears as so talked of creating a dynasty many others have boldly, and erroneously, proclaimed in other years and seemed not the least bit surprised by their success. "I'm supposed to be on top of the world right now, but I just feel like this is just another ball game, said quarterback Jim McMahon, resplendent in a pair of white sunglasses. Im just glad this week is over with. In that sentiment, McMahon was clearly not alone. Many of the Patriots had to fight bact t a c after one of the most dicisive losses in a NFL championshp game, tears of frustra tion and embarrassm-ntRefore an estimated television audience of 110 million witnesses, they suffered the indignity of a first half in which their offense had a net offensive output of minus-1yards, one first down and one completed pass. Those numbers rendered all others insignificant Sunday. By the time the halftime intermission had mercifully arrived, the Bears were ahead, 23-- and planning a winter-lon- g celebration. I was ready to go to Bourbon Street at the start of the third quarter, boasted defensive tackle Steve McMichael. Weve got the best defensive line in pro football. Give me a break. Nobodys even close. Im telling you, added Singletary, I thought when we played the New York Giants, we were an 8V4. Then when we played the Los Angeles Rams, we were a 9 Vi. Today, we See C-- Column 5 NEW ORI KAN'S (AP) Sunday's Super Bowl mauling of the New Eng- land Patriots was incomplete for the Chicago Bears and their star running back, Walter Payton. While his teammates were overpowering the Patriots in a record-settin0 romp, Payton failed to score a touchdown. The National Football League's leading rusher was held to 61 yards on 22 carries, and his fumble on the second play on the game led to a New England field goal Bears ha I' egame Even when safely in hand, Coach Mde Ditka let 300 pound-plu- s defensive tackle William The Refrig', rator" Perry carry touchdown run, instead for a of Payton. Earlier, Ditka had called for quarterback Jim McMahon to div in for a score. g 46-1- e . . 9 I 3 New Englands defense didnt put Chicago Jim McMahon on his head i many times Sunday, though Patriot nie Lippett did get in this one good shot. CHICAGO (UPI) Chicago sports fans, who have endured 22 years with- out a major champion, erupted with joy Sunday after the Bears routed the New England Patriots 0 in the Super Bowl. The fans flowed from bars onto Chicagos famed Rush Street, the center of downtown nightlife, which police barricaded from automobile traffic just as the game ended. Despite temperatures in single digits and wind chills well below zero, the streets were filled with revelers enjoying Chicago's first major sports champion since 1963 when the Bears won the NFL title. 46-1- Its about time, said Dave Geopke of Indianapolis, a student at Purdue. Ive been waiting for this. Im just going to celebrate until they close the bars down. The fans danced in the street, jumped on cars unlucky enough to be parked along Rush and poured champagne in paper cups and onto each other. Strangers shook hands and exchanged hugs while police surrounded the area and watched. Police reported only a few arrests for disorderly conduct. Central District Sgt. Fred Hoff said the cold was expected to cut down the revelry and there were no plans for a police emergency in downtown. Its cold, but thats the only way it should be, said Paige Perkin, 32, of Chicago. Its more patriotic than the Fourth of July. The moon is full. Its a great time for Chicago. Were going to party all night, said Mike Murphy, 21, a student at Marquette in Milwaukee. We have to be up for a 9 a m. lab. I dont think well make it. The Bears victory was more than a triumph for Chicago sports fans. It vindication for a was a city that has labored to shake its inferiority complex of being called the long-awaite- d nations Associated for Patriots like Pay-to- As for Perrys TD plunge with 3.22 left in the third quarter that gave the Bears a 44-- lead, McMahon said: I think he Payton should have been carrying the football, but thats not my decision." Perry said he was surprised when he was given the ball. Rush Street Goes Wild After Bears End Drought made life miserable 34 McMahon said He waited 11 years to get here, and to not score a touchdown, I know he's feeling pretty bad right now. 3, Chicago Bear defenders like Otis Wilson feel real bad for No. Press Loserphoto quarterback Tony Eason throughout ti e Super Bowl as Bears coasted to victory. Second City. "No Second City now, Brown, 26, of LaGrange, said Marty who was among the 300 people watching the game at the Ultimate Sports Bar and 111., Grill in Chicagos trendy north side. Its a tremendous shot in the arm. Nobody really believed this day would ever come. This is something I can tell my grandchildren about. This is history. The celebration started early with the Bears in control from the start. Fans started talking about a Bears dynasty during the third quarter. A city as great as Chicago deserves a team as great as the Bears, said John Rudie, 25, of Chicago. This is only their first year back as the Monsters of the Midway. The Bears are the best team, said Craig Tomera, 27, of Chicago. Chicago has been waiting a long, long time for this. This is one of those few towns that live and die with their teams. As Super Bowl Sunday dawned, Chicago sports fans were still nursing the psychic bruises left by the depressing collapses of its professional sports teams in the past few years. The Bears lost last years NFC championship game against San Francisco, the eventual Super Bowl champions. In 1984 the Chicago Cubs lost the National League playoffs after winning the first two games of a e set from the San Diego Padres. One year earlier the White Sox lost the American League playoffs to the Baltimore Orioles. Only the Chicago Sting of the now disbanded North American Soccer League provided some respite, winning the title in 1981. Ive been following the Bears for so long. Its the first Chicago team in 22 years that hasn't choked, said Marge Pastor, 27, of Chicago. five-gam- Several hundred hearty fans braved frigid weather and 20 mph winds in Daley Plaza, renamed Bears Plaza for one week, to watch the game on a giant outdoor television screen. By the time the game was over, only a few dozen fans remained. "If you're going to be in Chicago, youve got to be with all the people, said Jon Asplund, 21, of Chicago. Theres too much energy to be cold. Coach Ditka called it, and I was overwhelmed, Perry said. I thought I was going in to block for Walter, and Walter deserves all the credit. This win is for him. McMahon said his own touchdown run four minutes earlier, his second score of the game, was the safe call. Thats how it worked out. Payton, who said all week that his first Super Bowl was just another game, admitted to being frustrated by not scoring. Yes, I was disappointed, he said. I feel bad, but that's the way it goes. I am disappointed that Walter didnt score, but our plays on the goal line were not designed for him to score, Ditka said. He complements our offense. You cant hand it to him every down. Asked whether the Super Bowl victory was the culmination of his brilliant career, Payton said: Not at all. Id like to end up with 18,000 yards. Payton, 31, rushed for 1,551 yards g this season, increasing his total to 14,860. He earned his eighth Pro Bowl appearance of an career with his strong regular which included a reseason effort cord nine straight games yet he was unable to break loose in the Bears romp through the playoffs. In Chicago victories over the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams in winning the National Football Conference title, Payton was held to 125 yards on 45 carries. Those two Bears victories put Payton and his teammates into the Super Bowl for the first time. I dont feel anything, Payton said after Sundays game. It really hasnt sunk in. Its one of those things where you have it in your mind for so long what its going to be like, and then it takes awhile to sink in," Payton said. Payton had hoped to improve on his playoff performance in the Super Bowl, and he got off to a good start. On the games first play from scrimmage, he scooted off the left side for a gain. But that would go as his longest run of the day, and his afternoon suddenly soured on 'he second play when he took a handott, was hit behind the line b Gorin Veris and fumbled. It was my fault," McMahon said, I referring to Payton's fumble. called the wrong play. It was supposed to be a slant to the other side." NFL-lead-in- ar 100-ya- There Are a Few Things Td Rather Do Than Watch the Super Bore ," The Super Doui. Isn't that some kind of sporting event? Comedian Steven Wright. Wright is wrong. The Super Bowl isnt a sporting event. It's a Super Bore. In the 20 years since the Packers toyed with the Chiefs in Super Bore I, America has tried to make it into more than a game. ; And, I suppose, it has succeeded. Why else would the downtown bars have been open on Sunday afternoon? Personally, though, hate the Super Rore. It all started, I guess, back in 1969. That's when Joe Namath the $400,000 man who cried when Pete Rozclle took his bar away shot off his mouth and shot down the Colts. The hippies beat the establishment. And, as the only creweut Colt fan in a very establishment-oriented family, I couldn't deal with it. Remember a wide-opeJimmy Orr wave 1 n frantically for the football? Remember Earl Morrall throwing it to a New York Jet instead? I still get nightmares. The only other remotely interesting Super Bore was in 1978, when most of my friends went berserk because the Broncos made it to New Orleans. Call it interest by association. The best part of the game came an hour before kickoff. In warmups, the Broncos wore the striped socks they made infamous in their early American Football League days. Nostalgia. And a nire touch. Even for the Super Bore. Denver, however, lost to the Cowboys, making my Super Bore record Hey, you dont have to hit me over the head. Enough was enough. Right then, I took a vow of Super Bore celibacy. No mas. No mas. So, you wonder, what else besides drinking, 0-- BYU football game and then have the school president tell me I cant boo the quarterback. I'd rather coach football at Utah State. Id rather coach basketball and teach eating, yelling and partying is there to do on Super Bore Sunday? Glad you asked. Theres plenty of things Id rather do: Id rather I'd rather I'd rather jog. hunt. Successfully. ski. Unsuccessfully. visit Butte, Mont. sex education at Minnesota. Id rather coach baseball at Utah and be in the same division as BYU, San Diego State and Hawaii. I'd rather go to a Golden Eagles game. Id rather go to the Ice Capades. I'd rather ice skate. I'd rather play for Frank Layden and hold out. I'd I'd I'd I'd I'd I'd rather play for Mike Ditka and lose. rather coach John Drew. rather recruit Tito Horford. rather referee Bobby Knight. rather be Bobby Knight's chair. rather pay for a Super Bore Id rather Id rather live in Provo. Id rather pay $15 to sit in the end zone for a commercial. BYU football game. I'd rather pay $15 to sit in the end zone for a commercial I'd rather watch a Super Bore I'd rather fly Sky West. I'd rather wait for the bus. I'd rather drive my car. When it's running. Id rather psycho analyze Jim McMahon. I'd rather compile, edit and sell his head-band- s. I'd rather race Willie Gault. I'd rather wrestle the Fridge. Mrs. Irving And Id rather knife-figh- t Fryar. But watching the Super Bore? Getting excited about the Super Bore? Planning a whole day around the Super Bore? No way. Give me any baseball game. Give me any horse race. Give me any college basketball game. Give me a World Cup soccer game. Give me the Masters. Give me Wimbledon. And give me liberty. But don't Super Bore me to death. |
