In what may only be described as caused by mystical forces, the Chicago Bears are playing the Vikings in Minneapolis tonight, 20 years after Mike Ditka brought national attention to the Metrodome by calling it the “Rollerdome.” The Bears coach disdained the dome and suggested it was a good place for rollerblading.
When the Bears came to the “Rollerdome” on December 6, 1987 they were greeted by Vikings cheerleaders wearing rollerblades. Later during Ditka’s reign as Bears coach he suggested the dome was a good place for livestock. The Vikings responded by placing plastic farm animals on the sidelines at another Bears game in the Metrodome.
The fiery coach, who led the 1985 Bears to a Super Bowl win and was one of the NFL’s great tight ends in the 1960s, was an old fashioned football guy who thought football ought to be played outside, even if the temperatures were below freezing and the wind was howling. Former Viking Bob Lurtsema, who played defensive end for the Vikings at the old Met Stadium from 1971-1976, understands the Ditka mentality. “When you get a dome, you get really a softer type image of an NFL player,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners.
Lurtsema remembers the classic picture so many pro football fans recall, too, of former Green Bay Packer Ray Nitschke playing a late season game in Green Bay with steam coming out of his nostrils. “That’s where it (football) should be played, outdoors,” Lurtsema said. “Home field advantage. …In (the) five years I was here, there were two games that were questionable (weather) for a player.
“Your adrenaline is going. The weather doesn’t bother the players. If the weather does bother the players, the players aren’t focused. They haven’t got the commitment. They’re going to have a bad game. And that’s why (coach) Bud (Grant) wouldn’t tolerate anybody that complained about the weather. Your adrenaline will carry you. No gloves on the sidelines. No heaters. …”
Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell wasn’t familiar with the Ditka tales but he told Sports Headliners he likes the dome. “I think it’s a great place to play,” he said. “The fans can get that place really loud, (and) make it a miserable place for visiting teams to come into. …”
Bottom line is players and coaches need to make an asset of their stadium, indoor or outdoor. “In this league you need your home stadium to be a huge advantage, whether you’re a cold weather team, whether you’re a dome team with noise,” Longwell said. “Whatever the scenario may be. You need to play well there and you need your fans to be a factor there. …”