Remember this summer when we here in Chicago were chomping at the bit for the arrival of Jay Cutler? When hopes were high, the weather was warm and Brian Urlacher was healthy?It seems like a long time ago.
The Bears now sit at a disappointing 4-7 headed into tomorrow's game against the St. Louis Rams. Cutler has been a bust through those 11 games. The weather is crummy and Brian Urlacher is making news for his off-field comments and not his play.
Perhaps we need to revist what has been the highlight of the Bears' year.
BY DAVE NEWBARTThere might not be a more down-to-earth future NFL Hall-of-Famer than Ruben Brown. Brown, who played four seasons for the Bears and helped push them to the Super Bowl, has moved back to Buffalo, where he played nine great seasons for the Bills. But he's still well-loved among Bears fans and players and gets back to town frequently - primarily for Ruben Brown's Motorcycle Run, a charity ride that raises cash for the Salvation Army.
Sunday, the third year of the run in Chicago, saw more than 300 riders following Brown as he rode 100 miles on his vintage yellow bike with side-car from far North Suburban Woodstock to Elkhorn, Wis. and eventually to Island Lake. During an after-ride bash at Sideouts Bar & Eatery, Brown hung out with riders and diehard Bears fans, like Glenn Timmermann, 45, a Round Lake Beach factory manager who has covered his body in Bears-related tattoos. He has 92 autographs inked on to him permanently, highlighted by Da Coach's signature across the back of his skull.
Chris Zorich, another former Bear who now spends a lot of time raising money for charity, was also on-hand. The event was headlined by local power blues great Wayne Baker Brooks (son of the legendary Lonnie Brooks), who gave a few lessons to 9-year-old budding blues phenom Tallan Latz, of Elkhorn, Wis.
Brown notes that despite all his years playing pro ball in New York and in college in Pittsburgh, he is still best recognized by the legion of Bears fans around the world. "They're everywhere,'' he says. Even his two sons have split allegiances, with one rooting for the Bears and another cheering for the Bills.
Sunday's ride raised more than $15,000 for the local Salvation Army. As Brown says, "I benefited from the Salvation Army when I was a kid, and now I'm giving back.''
Rube, as his friends call him, will lead two more rides this month: this Sunday, June 7, in Lynchburg, Va. (where Brown grew up) and June 28 in Buffalo. For that last ride Brown expects 3,000 bikers.
For more information or to make a donation visit www.rubensrun.com.
***HERE ARE SOME MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT:
Glenn Timmermann shows off his Walter Payton ink on his leg.
Timmerman shows off his permanent autographs.
Former Chicago Bear Chris Zorich and Jerry DeLaurentis,
owner of Sideouts Bar & Eatery in Island Lake, hang out.
Bikers cruised in a wide variety of bikes.
Blues great Wayne Baker Brooks performs with Tallan Latz, 9, after the ride.
Chris Zorich, another former Bear who now spends a lot of time raising money for charity, was also on-hand. The event was headlined by local power blues great Wayne Baker Brooks (son of the legendary Lonnie Brooks), who gave a few lessons to 9-year-old budding blues phenom Tallan Latz, of Elkhorn, Wis.Brown notes that despite all his years playing pro ball in New York and in college in Pittsburgh, he is still best recognized by the legion of Bears fans around the world. "They're everywhere,'' he says. Even his two sons have split allegiances, with one rooting for the Bears and another cheering for the Bills.
Sunday's ride raised more than $15,000 for the local Salvation Army. As Brown says, "I benefited from the Salvation Army when I was a kid, and now I'm giving back.''
Rube, as his friends call him, will lead two more rides this month: this Sunday, June 7, in Lynchburg, Va. (where Brown grew up) and June 28 in Buffalo. For that last ride Brown expects 3,000 bikers.
For more information or to make a donation visit www.rubensrun.com.
***HERE ARE SOME MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT:
Glenn Timmermann shows off his Walter Payton ink on his leg.
Timmerman shows off his permanent autographs.
Former Chicago Bear Chris Zorich and Jerry DeLaurentis,
owner of Sideouts Bar & Eatery in Island Lake, hang out.
Bikers cruised in a wide variety of bikes.
Blues great Wayne Baker Brooks performs with Tallan Latz, 9, after the ride.
MAN I TRULY LOVE THAT. MAN A TRUE BEARS FAN AT LAST. KEEP UP THE NICE TATTOOS. THATS THE SHIT. I WAS STUCK IN TEXAS FOR 27YEARS JUST GOT BACK AFTER A DEVORCE AND IN LOVE WITH CHICAGO ALL OVER AGAIN. SHE NEVER LIKED CHICAGO SO I LEFT HER BACK THIER.LOVE THAT SOME ONE STILL LOVES THE BEARS THE SAME WAY.
thats wats up die hard bearz fan