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Chris Boden | CSN Chicago
Chris Boden

Muhammad Ali: He fought and he taught

Muhammad Ali: He fought and he taught

As a white kid sports nerd growing up in the late 60s and 70s in the near southwest suburbs, Muhammad Ali, at first, scared me. 

I was fortunate enough to be raised in a household with very open-minded parents comfortable enough to eventually follow in my siblings' footsteps to an integrated high school, and I'm glad they did. But little did I know prior to that, except for what I saw on the news, about the times we were in. Riots here about wars overseas. The all-too-slow evolution of this country's segregation and racism. But still, in those times, there was no one, absolutely no one, like Muhammad Ali.

You see, I was used to seeing Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, who probably held some of the same beliefs, deep down, that Ali expressed. But they chose, like many African-American athletes just grateful for the opportunity at the time, not to be IN YOUR FACE. Same for Bob Love and Chet Walker. Norm Van Lier? Maybe not so much (which I learned in the all-too-brief time we'd later work together). But he never mugged, shouted, and expressed himself publicly in such an unfiltered manner as the former Cassius Clay did. I've heard Dick Allen was very much his own man who didn't give a you-know-what, but barely ever expressed that publicly, other than his actions.

And Ali didn't just express himself about how he was going to beat his next opponent (which was a bit shocking for a kid like me, yet entertaining, especially when Howard Cosell would be stuck between him and his upcoming combatant on "Wide World of Sports."). But as my curious "I wanna be a sportscaster" mind read up more about him, I learned more about the risks and sacrifices he took. With the athletes I was familiar with in those times, what Ali did was absolutely nuts. His pushback against being inducted into the Army in 1967 during the Vietnam War took away what likely would've been the three greatest years of The Greatest's career (originally ruled to be five). 

That greatness in the ring extended to blacks who continued to feel, figuratively and literally, racism's sting, never backing down, alongside Malcolm X, choosing principle over the payday of his profession. He was their voice, and a lot of their strength.

"Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam, while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs, and denied simple human rights? No, I'm not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again: The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people, they wouldn't have to draft me, I'd join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I'll go to jail, so what? We've been in jail for 400 years."

Wow. 

Can you imagine Michael Jordan, or LeBron James, or (closer to those more volatile times) O.J. Simpson or Reggie Jackson or Wilt Chamberlain being so outspoken on social issues? Those that don't speak out get criticized by some, and they can't be forced to. It's their mirror to look into, their families they have to provide for, their life to live. Off the top of my head, Ali was the lead social voice in those times among a trio that included Jim Brown and eventually, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They were hard to like by those who closed their minds to the big picture. But that didn't stop them. And they were heroes to so many others.

As I grew older, and began to understand why Ali did what he did, he went from a guy I didn't like so much, to one I admired, for taking a stand on issues many were afraid to publicly confront, and be judged by. There were still times I rooted for George Frazier or George Foreman instead. But in the 70s, heavyweight championship bouts were events I'd await updates on, and was curious about, just as much as the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox.

Ali, in his comeback, was the very center of that universe, egotistical as ever. But it was part of the show. I "got it." And it made it more entertaining. If you've never seen "When We Were Kings," it's Exhibit A to the global power Ali had established by 1974.

Perhaps those three years he was out of the ring helped him stay with us a little longer. The ravages of his profession through Parkinson's Disease and dementia took the true Ali away from us so long ago. Think about it: It's been twenty years since he lit the cauldron, shaking, at the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He's fought to stick around this long.

Imagine if this city had a hero so admired, yet so outspoken, during these increasingly volatile times in Chicago, and the voice he'd provide to inspire an avenue for change.

As we enter this presidential election that sits atop a powder keg that could take this society backwards 30 or 40 years, could Ali's voice from 1967 knock some sense into enough of us like one of his uppercuts, before his profession was taken away from him for his views?

We all have our freedoms to express ourselves, and to believe in what we think is right. Ali finally lost this last fight late Friday at age 74. These are days many of us have anticipated for years as we've observed and heard about his condition deteriorating. Whether you still feel the way I first did when I saw and heard him as a somewhat isolated white kid from the suburbs, or grew to observe and admire his bravery in and out of the ring, both then and in the years since, it's hard to argue one point: No one provided an example so fearless in the public eye, between sports and society, as Ali.

He was The Greatest.

Relationships, opportunity land Brian Hoyer with Bears

Relationships, opportunity land Brian Hoyer with Bears

From Collins to Caleb. From Campbell to Clausen. Where can the Bears find the next....Josh McCown?

It’s been well-documented by now that Jay Cutler hasn’t played an entire season with the Bears since he arrived in 2009. His backups have thrown five touchdowns and ten interceptions. And Josh McCown has four of those touchdowns.

As another draft passed without the Bears selecting Cutler’s presumed successor, the team reached terms with veteran Brian Hoyer shortly after the seventh round ended.

“It’s an opportunity for me to come in and help this team whatever way I can as the backup quarterback,” Hoyer said after Wednesday’s OTA at Halas Hall. “You’re always one play away, but I’ve also been a backup.”

But he’s also started 22 games the past two seasons, for Cleveland (where Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains had the same role in Year 1 of the Manziel Mess) and for Houston last year. He’s a guy who has taken the high road through Browns management’s desire to get the unqualified Johnny Football on the field, to last year’s “Hard Knocks” competition with Ryan Mallett that was there for all the world to see.

And he continues to, despite a solid 2015 (19 touchdowns, seven interceptions) that ended in a disastrous Pick-4 finale at home in the playoffs to Kansas City. When free agency opened a couple of months later, the Texans wasted no time plopping $72 million ($37 million guaranteed) in Brock Osweiler’s lap.

“Look, it was a terrible last game, and that’s what it came down to. But prior to that, I had the best season I ever had, as a starter. So unfortunately, it ended down there but it opened another door for me here and I’m gonna make the most of it.

“In my experience,” Hoyer continued, “the best quarterbacks make those other guys around them better. After being around Tom Brady for almost four years, you see that, and he’s earned it. The right time, the right players, right scheme…I think a lot goes into it, more than just you see on the field.”

That shouldn’t be interpreted as an excuse for what happened against the Chiefs. Brady was a sixth round draft pick, and Hoyer was undrafted out of Michigan State before he backed up one of the best ever for three years. He’ll wear what the stat sheet shows from that game. 

But there are other times in helping guide the Texans back from a 2-5 start where he covered up some blemishes.

“The thing about football, it’s a team sport, moreso on offense than defense. If one guy messes up on offense, it can create a disaster for the whole play. Everything kind of has to fall into place. Obviously, you have to play well, but the guys around you have to play well.”

That’s what he hopes to do should something happen to Cutler. He went 7-6 in 13 starts (12 TDs, 13 interceptions) two years ago with Loggains in Cleveland, where Hoyer grew up. Once this offseason's quarterback merry-go-round stopped spinning, Hoyer felt things would fit well in Chicago.

“Really what it came down to was my relationship with Dowell,” Hoyer explained. “I’ve known Jay through the years as an opposing quarterback, and then his previous relationship with Dowell, he kind of hooked us together. Then the quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone, I’ve known him for a long time – he went to my high school. I knew there was a comfortability there from the Midwest. It was close to home and good to get my family back up here. It’s just exciting to be a Bear.”

“He gives you an established backup veteran guy,” Loggains said earlier this month during rookie minicamp, shortly after Hoyer was signed. “There’s competition. We haven’t set a depth chart but it gives us a guy who’s played in the league, has a winning record (15-11) as a starter, so it just creates competition.

The safe guess here is he’ll prevail over David Fales and Matt Blanchard to become Cutler’s main caddy.

“It’s an opportunity for me to come in and help this team whichever way I can as the backup quarterback. You’re always one play away, I know it’s a cliché, but I’ve also been a backup. I’ve started the last two years with two different teams but before that I was backing up Brady, so I have experience with that.  It’s kind of a different role because you have to prepare as a starter without getting the same reps.

“So for me, it’s coming in here, help however I can, whether that’s being ready to go at a moment’s notice, or pushing our defense, giving them a good look on the scout team.  To have familiarity with Dowell and the quarterbacks coach, it just felt like a really good fit.”

Tags: Chicago Bears

Bears' offseason rivalry report: Minnesota Vikings

Bears' offseason rivalry report: Minnesota Vikings

In our third and final look over this weekend at changes the Bears' NFC North rivals have made since the 2015 season ended, we look at the other big obstacle (besides Green Bay) in the Fox/Pace regime's bid to become a legitimate playoff participant.

Minnesota's strong overall drafts over the past five years, combined with the coaching of Mike Zimmer, helped them make the jump most people expected in 2015: a four-win increase to 11-5, and the division title, earning it in a Week 17 win at Lambeau Field.

Despite the heart-wrenching home playoff loss to Seattle, the Vikes move into their new home with Adrian Peterson predicting a Super Bowl win - a year before the Twin Cities will host the event.

Off-season acquisitions of note (*draft pick): G Alex Boone, OT Andre Smith, S Michael Grifffin, *WR Laquon Treadwell, *CB Mackensie Alexander, *OT Willie Beavers, *ILB Kentrell Brothers

Off-season departures of note: WR Mike Wallace, CB Josh Robinson, S Robert Blanton

Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner had two things on his wish list for the league's 29th-ranked unit (31st passing): a stud wideout, and offensive line help.  Enter former T.F. South All-Stater Laquon Treadwell, and Boone and Smith in free agency.  The latter takes over on the right edge, just as he anchored in Cincinnati, and Boone figures to set up right next to him to open holes for Peterson and protect Teddy Bridgewater as he enters year three.  He was sacked 44 times while only being able to match his rookie total of 14 touchdown passes, albeit protecting the ball better.  Struggling former first-round left tackle Matt Kalil rebounded last year.

Treadwell's not a burner, but his size, route-running and hands make up for that.  Besides, the speed comes from Stefon Diggs, who produced in the nick of time (team-high 52 receptions) after Cordarrelle Patterson just couldn't figure out the receiver thing.  Tight end Kyle Rudolph's numbers (49 catches, five TD's) could improve, courtesy of the added ingredients.

Zimmer's total defense was only able to climb one spot last season, to 13th, and he'll no doubt seek a jump to the league's elite.  It was a bit curious that after using first-round picks on cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes two of the previous three years, they selected Clemson's Mackensie Alexander in the second round.  And they still have solid veterans Terence Newman and Captain Munnerlyn in tow.

Harrison Smith (currently unsigned beyond this season) is among the best free safeties in the league when healthy, but has had to deal with a revolving door at strong safety.  Not anymore.  Michael Grifffin was signed away from Tennesee to potentially give Minni one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

They're even better behind an outstanding front seven, despite a step back from left end Brian Robison.  Last year's third-rounder, Danielle Hunter (six sacks), will be there to push him while Everson Griffen (10.5 sacks) makes life difficult for enemy left tackles.  Sharrif Floyd, run-stuffer Linval Joseph, and Tom Johnson will continue to form a stout rotation on the inside.

And we haven't even gotten to former UCLA stud linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.  Chad Greenway is back for an 11th season on the weak side, but was going to be pushed by Audie Cole before he was injured last fall.  Fifth-rounder Brothers might be an answer down the road.

Tags: Chicago Bears