Sarley: When the outdoors helped bring a former Packer and a Bears fan together

You know I love pro sports and am a die-hard fan of all of our teams. The Cubs are No. 1 for me, but I love the Bears and I am walking on air about how well they are performing this season. It’s amazing how the mood of the fan base has soared since they have become a winning team.

I am not hanging my head over last week’s loss to the 49ers, and I am excited over the fact that we will be in the playoffs. I make no predictions about how far the Monsters will go, I am just happy to be here. I look forward to the fact that we will probably be facing the dreaded Green Bay Packers again. I have no doubt that we will beat them again.

Yep, I’m putting my reputation as a football prognosticator on the line.

One of my favorite football connections was when I called Packers linebacker Brian Noble to do an interview. He had been a hard-nosed player who was hated by Bears fans. Noble was a huge outdoorsman and had hosted his own hunting program throughout the Midwest. Noble was the color commentator for the Packers’ game-day broadcasts. He also owned the Green Bay Arena Football franchise.

The Bears were at the bottom of the standings and the Packers were vying for a playoff spot. I asked Noble what he felt the Packers’ chances were looking like. I told him that I hoped they made the playoffs because I enjoyed watching Brett Favre play on Sundays. I meant it, I loved watching Favre when he wasn’t playing the Bears.

The telephone line went dead and Noble finally grunted. He said: “You know, I already said that I’d do the damned interview. You don’t have to B.S. me. There is nobody in the world that sounds like you, that ever cheered for a Packer in his life.”

I was aghast. I had meant what I said about Brett Favre, as hard as that might be to believe. I asked him: “How can you say that? You don’t know a thing about me?”

He growled: “Your voice sounds like you were born and raised on the South side of Chicago. You’re a total Bears fan and nothing you will say can ever change my mind.”

He was right about my accent. I sound like an extra in the Sopranos. I said: “I’m a Bears fan, but I love watching good football. Brett Favre is a great football player no matter what jersey he is wearing. Why don’t you ask me what I thought of you when you were still playing in the league?”

He posed the question to me and waited for my response. I said: “I liked watching you. You were tough and gritty and played hard every down. You played what the Bears fans called ‘Bear football.’ You were as tough and hard-hitting as they come. That said, I absolutely hated your guts. You hurt our guys on occasion, and I have to say that you were a dirty player.

“If you weren’t a Packer and played for us, I would have thought you were the greatest. Too bad you played on the wrong side of the field.” He laughed and said, “I’ve heard that ‘Bear Football’ thing before. I guess it was a compliment from your fans. I appreciate that.”

We did the interview and it was excellent. We got along extremely well talking about hunting.

Anyway, my hat is off to the exciting 2025 Chicago Bears. I hope we are still playing as long as possible this year.

• Daily Herald Outdoors columnist Steve Sarley can be reached at sarfishing@yahoo.com.