{"id":26958,"date":"2016-01-28T15:06:30","date_gmt":"2016-01-28T21:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=26958"},"modified":"2016-01-28T15:06:30","modified_gmt":"2016-01-28T21:06:30","slug":"a-30-for-30-at-30-years-the-85-bears-stand-the-test-of-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/a-30-for-30-at-30-years-the-85-bears-stand-the-test-of-time\/","title":{"rendered":"A 30 for 30 at 30 years: The ’85 Bears stand the test of time"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Tolly Taylor<\/strong><\/p>\n

As they had so many times before, players from the 1985 Chicago Bears readied to party. But this time, they celebrated sitting in padded chairs in a movie theater, not standing with drinks at a bar. And the focus was an anniversary, not a victory.<\/p>\n

Roughly 15 former players from the Super Bowl championship team came together to see the premiere of ESPN\u2019s newest 30 for 30: \u201cThe \u201985 Bears.\u201d AMC River East 21 hosted the Wednesday night event, with a packed theater eager to applaud one of the most dominant teams in NFL history.<\/p>\n

It was a 30 for 30 at 30 years, and several former players were in the mood to reflect.
\n
\n\u201cWhat George Halas put together, let no man put asunder,\u201d said Steve McMichael, the former Bears\u2019 defensive tackle. \u201cThe way the Carolina Panthers party on the field is how we partied off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Executive producer Vince Vaughn, who grew up in Lake Forest, and director Jason Hehir joined former head coach Mike Ditka and former stars Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon and Gary Fencik on the red carpet for photos and interviews prior to the screening. Missing was former defensive coordinator and player favorite Buddy Ryan, who\u00a0wasn’t up to making the trip because of health issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know the values that make America great?\u201d McMichael said. \u201cThat\u2019s who [Ryan] is.\u201d<\/p>\n

At one point in the film, Singletary visits Ryan at his farm in Kentucky, the two reminiscing about the 46 defense while Singletary pushes Ryan around his farm in a wheelchair. When asked about the visit in a panel discussion following the documentary, Singletary echoed McMichael\u2019s thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to put into words, but I mean I love Buddy Ryan,\u201d said Singletary, the former linebacker. \u201cI\u2019ve told him that many, many times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ditka-interview\"
Mike Ditka discusses his memories of the ’85 Bears with Walter Payton’s son, WGN-TV reporter Jarrett Payton. (Tolly Taylor\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though he butted heads with the quarterback during the \u201985 season, Ditka had nothing but great things to say about McMahon three decades later.<\/p>\n

\u201cJim McMahon was a rebel and a maverick and he was a great competitor, maybe as good a competitor as I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d Ditka said.<\/p>\n

Hehir, a self-described Patriots fan, wanted people to understand that the film is\u00a0about more than just a Super Bowl champion. He said the players were so transcendent that he and his friends would fight to be them on the playground.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the iconic team of my youth,\u201d Hehir said.<\/p>\n

Vaughn said he was a devoted Bears fan growing up, which makes the documentary that much more special to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get a glimpse into that kind of brotherhood that can only be earned by the price that these guys paid,\u201d Vaughn said. \u201cI think that\u2019s the thing that you take away as a fan most, is an appreciation for the commitment and the joy and the ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"85
Former players, family and fans packed the theater for the premiere. (Tolly Taylor\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The film will air on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.<\/p>\n

Photo at top: Vince Vaughn and Mike Singletary arrive at the 30 for 30 premiere. (Tolly Taylor\/MEDILL)<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Tolly Taylor As they had so many times before, players from the 1985 Chicago Bears readied to party. But this time, they celebrated sitting in padded chairs in a movie theater, not standing with drinks at a bar. And the focus was an anniversary, not a victory. Roughly 15 former players from the Super […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":236,"featured_media":26979,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,585],"tags":[1110,1115,61,1112,1111,1113,1114,1109],"class_list":["post-26958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","category-winter-2016","tag-85-bears","tag-bears","tag-chicago","tag-football","tag-mike-ditka","tag-nfl","tag-super-bowl","tag-vince-vaughn"],"yoast_head":"\nA 30 for 30 at 30 years: The '85 Bears stand the test of time - Medill Reports Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/a-30-for-30-at-30-years-the-85-bears-stand-the-test-of-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A 30 for 30 at 30 years: The '85 Bears stand the test of time - Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Tolly Taylor As they had so many times before, players from the 1985 Chicago Bears readied to party. 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