Post by JABF on Mar 29, 2017 15:00:24 GMT -6
Sad to hear about Sayers.
LINK
George McCaskey heartbroken by Gale Sayers’ battle with dementia
Dan Wiederer
PHOENIX – When Gale Sayers broke into the NFL with the Bears in 1965, George McCaskey was 9, a wide-eyed and immediate fan of the all-purpose playmaker who was showcasing his Hall of Fame talents then for McCaskey’s grandfather, George Halas.
“I remember if we were ever down by 7, it was always, ‘Come on, Gale. Take that kickoff back,’” McCaskey said. “Or, ‘Break that run. Get us back in the game.’ He was one of the most electrifying runners in NFL history. … Just every time he got his hands on the ball, you never knew what was going to happen.
“Usually it was good.”
Nowadays, though, it’s not all good for Sayers, whose years-long battle with dementia became public this month. In a story first published by the Kansas City Star, Sayers’ wife Ardie detailed his mental deterioration and the strain that has put on the family. McCaskey read that account and called it “powerfully written.”
“It was heartbreaking,” McCaskey said. “Gale has been one of the all-time greats. We love him and his family. Bears fans of a certain age remember Gale as an electrifying performer on the field and a gentleman off the field. … It’s difficult to see.”
McCaskey twice referenced “Brian’s Song,” the 1971 film that portrayed Sayers’ deep love for fellow Bears running back Brian Piccolo as Piccolo battled cancer. “The story that was told in ‘Brian’s Song,’ I think, speaks well to the measure of the man."
Sayers’ family believes his current condition is connected to the rigors of his football career. Ultimately, McCaskey said, he hopes funding that the Bears and other NFL teams are providing toward cognitive research will be helpful to those dealing with dementia and other related issues.
“And not just for football players,” McCaskey said. “This is a debilitating force in society. I know there’s a lot of research going on at a lot of levels, and we’re hoping we can do some part to get on top of that.”
ETC: NFL owners this week formally approved a minor structural change in Bears ownership with one of Mugs Halas’ two children selling back a small stake of the team to the Bears, whose majority ownership remains the Halas-McCaskey family.
“This was a small transaction,” McCaskey said. “As we’ve said many times, we have every intention of continuing to own the Bears.”
George McCaskey heartbroken by Gale Sayers’ battle with dementia
Dan Wiederer
PHOENIX – When Gale Sayers broke into the NFL with the Bears in 1965, George McCaskey was 9, a wide-eyed and immediate fan of the all-purpose playmaker who was showcasing his Hall of Fame talents then for McCaskey’s grandfather, George Halas.
“I remember if we were ever down by 7, it was always, ‘Come on, Gale. Take that kickoff back,’” McCaskey said. “Or, ‘Break that run. Get us back in the game.’ He was one of the most electrifying runners in NFL history. … Just every time he got his hands on the ball, you never knew what was going to happen.
“Usually it was good.”
Nowadays, though, it’s not all good for Sayers, whose years-long battle with dementia became public this month. In a story first published by the Kansas City Star, Sayers’ wife Ardie detailed his mental deterioration and the strain that has put on the family. McCaskey read that account and called it “powerfully written.”
“It was heartbreaking,” McCaskey said. “Gale has been one of the all-time greats. We love him and his family. Bears fans of a certain age remember Gale as an electrifying performer on the field and a gentleman off the field. … It’s difficult to see.”
McCaskey twice referenced “Brian’s Song,” the 1971 film that portrayed Sayers’ deep love for fellow Bears running back Brian Piccolo as Piccolo battled cancer. “The story that was told in ‘Brian’s Song,’ I think, speaks well to the measure of the man."
Sayers’ family believes his current condition is connected to the rigors of his football career. Ultimately, McCaskey said, he hopes funding that the Bears and other NFL teams are providing toward cognitive research will be helpful to those dealing with dementia and other related issues.
“And not just for football players,” McCaskey said. “This is a debilitating force in society. I know there’s a lot of research going on at a lot of levels, and we’re hoping we can do some part to get on top of that.”
ETC: NFL owners this week formally approved a minor structural change in Bears ownership with one of Mugs Halas’ two children selling back a small stake of the team to the Bears, whose majority ownership remains the Halas-McCaskey family.
“This was a small transaction,” McCaskey said. “As we’ve said many times, we have every intention of continuing to own the Bears.”
