Article: 'I'm ready to fight now'; Mike Ditka has taken too many unnecessary hits for someone trying to raise money for a worthy cause, but he has no plans to back down

The lumbering bear ascends to his lair, the second-floor cigar bar at his restaurant on Chestnut Street.

Mike Ditka is clad in black like an animal unafraid to clash with the white snow of impending winter.

Just back from Minneapolis, where he attended a Gridiron Greats news conference at which former Vikings stars Ed Marinaro, Paul Krause, Jim Marshall, Chuck Foreman and others attended and current center Matt Birk vowed to donate $25,000 of his game check to the charity from the Monday night game against the Bears, Ditka is tired and unable to growl.

His voice is damaged because of his TV and radio work, and because defending his charitable work for injured, old NFL veterans means he ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!