Can Bears fans learn anything from Dallas history books? Dave Wannstedt faced a rebuilding project with Jimmy Johnson when they arrived in 1989. Though the club went 1-15 and 7-19 the first two years before catching fire, there wasn’t a wholesale unloading of players. “The Bears have better defensive personnel right now than they did those years in Dallas,” said a Cowboys’ source. “Dave got them to play over their heads. He doesn’t have the offensive personnel, however. Troy (Aikman) was there the first year, and Emmitt (Smith) came the second. That was a big help.” What turned the ‘Pokes around? Some say it was an upset defeat of the Rams in 1990, when the club started believing in itself and went on a winning streak. Others say it was simpler. The club’s key move was Johnson firing offensive coordinator David Shula after two years and hiring Norv Turner, brother of Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner.
P.S.: What’s the perception in Dallas about the situation? Answer: Wannstedt really wanted to sign ex-Notre Damer Steve Beuerlein when he first got the job here, but settled on Jim Harbaugh as a “concession” to Mike McCaskey.
Two gushers: You can be sure irascible Buddy Ryan doesn’t have remorse over taking a swing at Oiler offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride during Sunday’s game. They’ve been feuding almost since Day One of Ryan’s arrival in Houston. But you can also be sure Gilbride can spit a few nails, too. Last year, Kevin was diagnosed late in the season with cancer, had a kidney removed, and was back on the sidelines two games later-about three weeks earlier than the wishes of doctors.
Nice fit: Whether or not an Isiah Thomas deal was consummated before Tuesday’s tipoff in the Stadium, rookie Lindsey Hunter has been in a good spot as a Detroit point guard. Thomas’ early injury from banging his fist on Bill Laimbeer’s noggin has meant extra playing time for the first-year NBA player. Hunter’s name should be familiar to De Paul followers. Last year, he shot Jackson State-Walter Payton’s old school-into the NCAA playoffs in the season’s final weeks. Many feel it was at the expense of the Blue Demons, a team on the tournament bubble. Hunter will rendezvous Tuesday with Chicago-based agent Henry Thomas. Together, they negotiated one of the more unusual shoe deals when Hunter became a pro. In addition to providing Hunter with footwear, it was written into the contract that Nike also supply both the men and women players in Jackson State’s programs with free shoes.
Diamond dealings: It didn’t get much notice, having occurred during the holiday season, but Ned Colletti, a vice president for baseball administration, has resigned from the Cubs for “personal reasons.” As of now, insiders say his duties will be absorbed by others in the front office. Bottom line: Probably the bottom line, say insiders. . . Dana Noel has left the White Sox public relations staff to join Nike as a Midwest marketing rep. “Nike was looking for someone familiar with both baseball and football, and it was the perfect opportunity,” said Noel, a Wheaton native who played football at Minnesota and in the U.S.F.L. Bottom line: As a PR man and ex-athlete, Noel was a valuable middleman for the Sox between reporters and players.
Boys on the bus: The Bears game, being played late on a Sunday afternoon, put a lot of reporters in a transportation bind. Many stayed over an extra night, opting for a leisurely return Monday. A few had to hustle to airports after the game to get back for Monday gigs. WSCR-AM’s Tom Shaer, sticking in Anaheim later than most to do WMAQ-TV duties, took the red-eye and went straight to the radio studio to do his regular early-morning shift Monday that starts at 7:15 a.m.
Then there’s WMVP-AM’s Les “Marathon Man” Grobstein, a legend among peers for his schedules. Grobstein worked Saturday until 11 a.m. in the station’s studio in the John Hancock Building. Then, he grabbed a cab to O’Hare, arrived in LA in time to go directly to the Rose Bowl to cover the game. Then, following the Bears game the next day, he hopped on a late flight, arrived home a little after midnight, grabbed a few hours of something and reported for duty at 5 a.m. for the first of nine Monday morning sportscasts with Steve Dahl. Then, he did his regular, two-hour, early afternoon show before going home for a few hours and returning to do play-by-play of the Loyola-Illinois-Chicago basketball game Monday night, leaving the Pavilion around 10 p.m. Of course, he planned to be back in the WMVP-AM studio at 5 a.m. Tuesday. He does get to see his wife more than you’d expect. Diane Grobstein produces the Illinois-Chicago broadcasts.
Mum was the word (then): There’s another angle to ABC-TV’s Keith Jackson and his “indignation” over the Rose Bowl brawl on the sidelines between Wisconsin and UCLA players. Don’t forget Jackson was the network’s play-by-play man for the 1978 Gator Bowl, when Ohio State’s Woody Hayes slugged a Clemson player on the sideline in an incident that led to the coach’s firing. Rev. Keith’s reaction to that disgraceful chapter? He always maintained he never saw a thing-and didn’t care to, according to network insiders.