The Bears are likely to be in England by the time you read this, having flown off cheerfully Monday after whipping the Panthers 36-10 on Sunday. But these frequent trips to England that NFL teams are making are about more than W’s and L’s.<\/p>\n
Consider that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is going to London to watch the Bears and to seize the football moment to promote the international business possibilities of our ‘\u2018City of Big Shoulders\u2019\u2019 and, notably, bigger debts. ‘\u2018As we navigate budgetary challenges, we\u2019re focused on identifying creative, non-tax revenue solutions,\u2019\u2019 Johnson said in a news release filled with bureaucratic gibberish. What he meant was: ‘\u2018London, Chicago’s near broke, so please invest some pounds here, mate.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The NFL sees a U.K. market of 69 million soccer-saturated folks who are increasingly interested in ‘\u2018American football.\u2019\u2019 The same goes for other global marketplaces, which is why the NFL has played in Mexico and Canada, with Germany and Brazil also on the schedule this season. The Jaguars actually are staying in England for another week to play the Patriots on Oct. 20 at Wembley Stadium. They might return with Cockney accents.<\/p>\n
The Bears have been to London three times \u2014 in 1986, 2011 and 2019 \u2014 and I was lucky enough to go with them on the first two. The second one was a regular-season game at Wembley against the Buccaneers, with the Bears winning 24-18. It was a dull affair, and I don\u2019t recall much except that Matt Forte ran well, Jay Cutler threw two interceptions and Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman threw four. I also recall the Bucs\u2019 Michael Koenen blasting the opening kickoff straight out of bounds rather than kicking to Bears return man Devin Hester.<\/p>\n
The main thrill of that trip came during a day off, when fellow Sun-Times sports guy Mark Potash and I took a train to Liverpool and spent an afternoon scouting out the spots John, Paul, George and Ringo frequented as lads. It was atop an open-air double-decker bus lurching near the Mersey River that we envisioned 14-year-old George Harrison performing his guitar tryout for Beatles-to-be John Lennon and Paul McCartney.<\/p>\n
But it was an exhibition game against the Cowboys at Wembley on Aug. 3, 1986 \u2014 just six months after the Bears won Super Bowl XX \u2014 that really got the foreign drumbeat pounding. And the reason for the frenzy was the Bears themselves. More of a traveling circus than a football team, the Bears offered up not only ringleader Mike Ditka but also \u2018\u2018Punky QB\u2019\u2019 Jim McMahon, suave wide receiver Willie Gault, famous running back Walter Payton and beyond-famous William \u2018\u2018The Refrigerator\u2019\u2019 Perry.<\/p>\n
Indeed, The Fridge was so renowned for his uncommon girth and gap-toothed smile that the hottest-selling T-shirt that week showed a likeness of him running the football. Perry also made the cover of Sports Illustrated, standing in front of Buckingham Palace in game uniform with the Cowboys\u2019 Ed \u2018\u2018Too Tall\u2019\u2019 Jones, also in game uniform, flanking a stone-faced, red-jacketed Royal Guardsman.<\/p>\n
It\u2019ll be calmer this time, for sure. Unless, of course, somebody such as Caleb Williams decides he\u2019s ready to be the next Beatle.<\/p>\n
What is the reason for the Bears’ frequent trips to England?
\n———————————————–<\/p>\n
The NFL sees a growing global market and is attempting to promote American football worldwide.<\/p>\n
What is the motivation behind Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s trip to London?
\n———————————————————–<\/p>\n
Mayor Johnson is looking to promote international business opportunities in Chicago and encourage investment.<\/p>\n
What was the main attraction of the Bears’ trip to London in 1986?
\n—————————————————————-<\/p>\n
The exhibition game against the Cowboys at Wembley Stadium and the media frenzy surrounding the Bears’ presence in England.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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