[NYCBillsFan]

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Ex-Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka was hospitalized on Friday after suffering what he said is a "very minor stroke." Ditka said that he was playing cards at a suburban country club on Friday when he noticed that his hands "weren't working quite right," and that he was having trouble speaking. The Chicago Tribune reached Ditka on the phone on Friday, and the coach downplayed the incident.

Ditka said, "I feel good right now and it's not a big deal."

(via Chicago Tribune)

Ditka is a part of ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown," and will not be on set in Bristol, Conn. this weekend. Ditka last had a health scare in 1988, when he suffered a heart attack while still coach of the Bears. He returned to the team only a week after that incident.

Ditka played for the Bears from 1961-1966, making five Pro Bowls and winning a Super Bowl in 1963. He then returned to Chicago in 1982 as coach, where he stayed until 1992. As coach, he won a title in 1985 and was a two-time AP Coach of the Year.

Gotta wonder about this writer. Super Bowl in 1963? Seriously?

[NYCBillsFan]

Here's the original Chicago Tribune article....

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Former Bears coach Mike Ditka suffers 'very minor stroke'
November 16, 2012|By Dan Pompei, Tribune reporter


Mike Ditka prepares to do a radio segment as players and coaches from the 1985 Chicago Bears championship team gathered at the Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place in 2010. (Terrence Antonio James/Tribune Photo)
Former Bears coach and Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka was hospitalized Friday after suffering what he said doctors told him was a "very minor stroke."

Contacted Friday evening, Ditka said, "I feel good right now and it's not a big deal."

Ditka was at a suburban country club playing cards Friday when he noticed his hands "weren't working quite right," and then he had a problem speaking.

Ditka, 73, has not had any major health problems in recent years. But in 1988 when he was coaching the Bears he suffered a heart attack.

These days, Ditka spends his time doing broadcast work for ESPN, tending to his restaurant Ditka's on East Chestnut in the Tremont Hotel, making appearances and playing golf.

Ditka will not fulfill his ESPN duties from Bristol, Conn., this weekend, the network said.

After he suffered his heart attack at 49, he was back in the office eight days later and back on the sidelines in 11 days against doctor's orders.

At the time, Ditka said he was "embarrassed" by the heart attack, and he reflected on his mortality when he returned to Halas Hall.

"I don't know what I experienced," he said at the time. "I think I almost experienced embarrassment. It kind of was embarrassing that it happened to me. I mean, how could this ever happen to me? That's the way I felt in the beginning, and then it didn't matter. I mean it was so bad at a certain point that I knew that we're just mortals. I mean, we're here for a while and then we're gone. It can happen to anybody at any time. It was a very humbling feeling after that, believe me."

The Bears made Ditka the fifth overall pick in the 1961 draft out of Pittsburgh. He was rookie of the year and went to five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears. As a pass catching tight end, he helped redefine the position.

Ditka eventually ran afoul of owner-coach George Halas and was traded to the Eagles in 1967. He finished up his playing career with the Cowboys.

In 1982, Halas hired Ditka to coach his team. Ditka was coach of the year in 1985, when the Bears won the Super Bowl, and in 1988. After going 5-11 in 1992, Ditka was fired.

He coached the Saints for three seasons, retiring with a record of 121-95, before settling into his broadcasting career. Ditka is one of only two men, Tom Flores being the other, to win a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

[statjeff22]

I'm reminded of one of the definitions of a "minor stroke" - one that happens to someone else.

[Royal Tee]

Originally Posted by statjeff22

I'm reminded of one of the definitions of a "minor stroke" - one that happens to someone else.

That is so true and a definition to so many things in life

[flajetfan]

the stroke,however,suffered from a ditka and is not expected to recover