Imagine that: Smith approach plays in Chicago

As the Bears prepare for a new season, Lovie Smith's most remarkable achievement should be noted.

No, not getting the Bears to the Super Bowl or earning a lucrative contract extension.

It was making local fans care whether he stayed as head coach or left in a contract dispute.

Chicago never appreciated the Smith-type football coach, or baseball manager, or business leader, or even mayor for that matter.

You know, the even-keeled, laid-back, soft-spoken, always-measured type.

In recent times the Bears' Dick Jauron, the White Sox' Gene Lamont and the Cubs' Jim Riggleman were too in control of themselves for this town's tastes.

This is a Leo Durocher, Ozzie Guillen and Mike Ditka kind of market. Cubs fans love the animated Lou Piniella, especially since his dirt-kicking outburst a couple of months ago kick-started the club's drive toward pennant contention.

Smith is the anti-Ditka, anti-Durocher and anti-Piniella. He doesn't rant, rave or race around with arms flapping over his head.

"I never bought into that," Smith has said.

Ditka's players called him "Sybil" after the multi-personalities title character in the film. Smith's players refer to him as "consistent."

When the Bears were looking for Jauron's successor, it seemed an expert on offense would be the natural fit.

Instead, the defense-minded Smith was hired. Why? Well, I was told a year later that more than anything the Bears needed a strong leader.

Smith leads in a quieter manner than, say, Ditka did. Asked the last time he yelled at players on the practice field, Smith said Super Bowl week, "I can't remember. Brian Urlacher can tell you."

The Bears' linebacker said, "I don't think I've ever heard him yell out on the field. I have never heard him say a curse word. I love his demeanor because he doesn't gripe-coach."

Doesn't gripe-coach? My goodness, what in the name of Leo the Lip is going on here, anyway?

During news conferences, Smith directs you and your questions where he wants you and them to go. All he has to do is finish a sentence with his customary "and we'll go from there," and the subject is finished.

Or like his response to whether criticism of quarterback Rex Grossman was fair: "I think the criticism is what it is and I'll take the next question."

Smith said when asked how he gets the Bears' attention, "I think they know. There's a look. Once you are upset, I think the guys know. If they don't, you tell them."

The look is your dad's look. Eyes steel, the head cocks a little to the side, the dog hides under the couch ...

"Not just a look," former Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera explained. "He can come up with a word or two to get you going, as far as challenging players."

Smith's strength is what he says as opposed to Ditka's being the way he said it. Each way was good enough to take the Bears to a Super Bowl.

Bears veteran offensive guard Ruben Brown said of Smith, "He's been nothing but respected from Day One."

Why is that? How has this coach earned respect? What qualities make him a leader?

"I can't really say," Brown said. "It's like that eBay commercial. The 'It' ... he's got 'It.' "

Smith is a couple of decades and light years removed from Mike Ditka in manner, yet he has won over a blustery town like Chicago without being blustery.