When the 1985 Bears headlined Super Bowl XX, the NFL was still evolving into the slick television spectacular it is today.
January 30, 2007 (Press Release) --
And the Bears' 1985 rap hit "Super Bowl Shuffle" certainly didn't stand out because of any slick musical attributes. It is memorable because of its cast of surprising characters -- actual Chicago Bears players, including William "The Refrigerator" Perry, Walter "Sweetness" Payton and Otis Wilson -- gave us a first glimpse of personality off the field.
Now everyone in the NFL thinks they're characters. Just look back at the Saints' Reggie Bush somersaulting in the end zone during the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field. Bush is a rookie. The 1985 Bears were deemed colorful because quarterback Jim McMahon wore a headband. How old school.
We weren't pre-packaged," said Bears safety Gary Fencik, who sang on the "Super Bowl Shuffle" and appeared in the video. "There wasn't sports radio [back then]. There wasn't 'NFL Today' and ESPN to the degree you see now. We weren't crowded out by the plethora of sports you see today. The 'Super Bowl Shuffle' was one of the first things that started to widen viewership of NFL games. It wasn't just what we were doing on the field but an image off the field, as well."
The "Super Bowl Shuffle" even earned a Grammy nomination for the best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group (they lost to Prince and the Revolution's "Kiss."). "Super Bowl Shuffle" sold half a million singles and a million videos, and a portion of record's proceeds went to local charity -- as the late Walter Payton sang, "We're not doin' this because we're greedy / The Bears are doin' it to feed the needy ..."
Source: http://www.msn.com
POSTED BY DAVE HOEKSTRA
Now everyone in the NFL thinks they're characters. Just look back at the Saints' Reggie Bush somersaulting in the end zone during the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field. Bush is a rookie. The 1985 Bears were deemed colorful because quarterback Jim McMahon wore a headband. How old school.
We weren't pre-packaged," said Bears safety Gary Fencik, who sang on the "Super Bowl Shuffle" and appeared in the video. "There wasn't sports radio [back then]. There wasn't 'NFL Today' and ESPN to the degree you see now. We weren't crowded out by the plethora of sports you see today. The 'Super Bowl Shuffle' was one of the first things that started to widen viewership of NFL games. It wasn't just what we were doing on the field but an image off the field, as well."
The "Super Bowl Shuffle" even earned a Grammy nomination for the best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group (they lost to Prince and the Revolution's "Kiss."). "Super Bowl Shuffle" sold half a million singles and a million videos, and a portion of record's proceeds went to local charity -- as the late Walter Payton sang, "We're not doin' this because we're greedy / The Bears are doin' it to feed the needy ..."
Source: http://www.msn.com
POSTED BY DAVE HOEKSTRA
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