Bears always happy to defeat Packers

Even though Monday's “Rivalry Cup” between the Bears and the Green Bay Packers at Medinah Country Club was held in the name of charity, and even though some of the players and coaches participating in the Ryder Cup-sponsored event have long since retired, it's still, well, Bears and Packers.

And if you didn't think that would get the participants' juices flowing, all you had to do was listen to the pregame yapping on the practice green and watch as it carried over to the first tee for a day of competitive golf featuring nine holes of four-ball play and nine holes of singles in front of a gallery of around 300 fans.

“Everybody here, to an individual, understands the Bears-Packers rivalry,” said former Bears offensive lineman James “Big Cat” Williams. “We always, always, want to beat the Pack, and we understand the fans want that, too.”

Mission accomplished.

The Bears, led by former coach Mike Ditka, held the Packers to just a safety en route to romping to a 10-2 victory in the inaugural event.

To no one's surprise, Ditka, who was in the first group out, sped around the course almost as fast as he sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” finishing about a half-hour ahead of the group behind him.

In addition to Ditka and Williams, the Bears' roster included Kevin Butler, Richard Dent, Robbie Gould, Patrick Mannelly, Adam Podlesh and special-teams coach Dave Toub.

Williams sensed that would be a winning roster despite a Packers crew that featured Bill Schroeder, Lynn Dickey and Mason Crosby. “We've got to be good,” Williams said, “we've got a lot of kickers and punters on our team.”

It wasn't under the easiest of conditions, however — temperatures in the mid-90s with wind gusts nearing 50 mph.

Harder to play golf in the wind or football in the cold?

“Golf,” Williams said with a laugh. “I could play football in any weather. That wind today was unbelievable.”