Do you RememBear....Revie Sorey?

Odelay!

Revie Sorey was an offensive guard for the Chicago Bears from 1975 through 1983. Revie was drafted from the Illini in round 5 along with another Bear offensive player in the first round, Walter Payton.

Why Revie Sorey?

Revie was part of the offensive line, with Noah Jackson, that was not quite up to par to the greatest running back of all time. If you see the highlights of Walter, my favorite was done by CBS to the song "Nobody Does it Better", as Walter carries half the defense on his back Revie was in the background waving him on and Noah was on his back like a turtle.

Revie and Walter

Anyways growing up in Chicago's Southside as an Irish Catholic boy, I attended a Catholic grammar school. If you are not familiar, people from the Southside do not ask what street you lived on but what church parish you were from.

Queen of Martyrs, St Barnabus, Christ the King and my case St John Fisher.

St John Fisher had their annual father and son pancake breakfast in  March 1981, right after the 9:00 mass in the school basement. We would enjoy our flapjacks, had a raffle and enjoyed a visit and a speech from a local professional athlete.

Being the Southside it usually was Minnie Minoso.

No thanks, I already have your autograph

Minnie would show up for functions like this and Little League banquets, park openings, and the refilling of the fuel tanks at the Shell on 103rd and Kedzie. If you grew up on the Southside in the 70's and 80's and don't have a Minnie Minoso autograph you were locked away in your family's attic.

Luckily this year the dad association clutched up and got a Bear. Revie was heading to the Southside. And in style.

Stylin' and profilin'

As we were finishing our breakfast a 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood pulled up in the parking lot. Out walked a large man in full length fur coat. Fathers and sons of the Emerald Isle....Revie Sorey!!

Revie stepped up to the podium to talk football and the Bears and had our full attention. I don't remember much of the talk but I do remember the question time involved mostly about Walter Payton. I do remember him being patient and joking with us that cool March morning.

Thanks Revie and my father still has the golf bag we won in the raffle.