[CBFF] CT - Bears? Clark: Just give me the darn ball

[NEWS ARTICLE]

Bears’ Clark: Just give me the darn ball
'I'm what people are looking for,' incumbent says
Fred Mitchell
AROUND TOWN

May 7, 2006

Raise your hand if you were disappointed when the
Bears decided not to select a tight end in the early
rounds of last weekend's NFL draft.

OK, now make note of what starting tight end Desmond
Clark has to say, because he really needs to vent.

"We all share the blame for not getting the tight end
the ball last year," said Clark, referring to himself,
the quarterbacks and the coaching staff.

Clark was one of several players at Friday night's
Bears Care Gala at Soldier Field.

"We're asked to do more than catch the ball, and that
has been the big issue," said Clark, who caught 24
passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games
last season. "We need a tight end who catches the
ball. That's how I make my money—by catching the ball!
When I came into the league, I came in as a receiver.
So I'm what people are looking for. We just have to
get more of it."

The 6-foot-2-inch, 254-pound Clark was a wide receiver
at Wake Forest. Drafted by Denver in the sixth round
in 1999, Clark caught his first NFL touchdown pass
from Brian Griese, whom the Bears signed this
off-season as a free agent.

"I really don't get high or low, because [the tight
end controversy] was real media-motivated," Clark
said. "It wasn't the organization motivating this.

"I didn't make [the NFL] by chance. I made it by hard
work and being one of the better tight ends in the
league. I wasn't voted as an alternate for the Pro
Bowl for nothing. My peers see what I do. What the
media has to say and what the unknowing public has to
say doesn't affect me."

Clark has the endorsement of the man who counts
most—coach Lovie Smith.

"There isn't any second-guessing in Halas Hall," Smith
said.

Overhead

Bears safety Chris Harris, who was escorted by
security personnel from his seat behind the Miami Heat
bench during Thursday night's Bulls playoff loss at
the United Center, was contrite at Friday night's
gala.

"I made a comment to Michael Doleac as to how come he
wasn't in the game," Harris said. "And Alonzo Mourning
didn't like it too much, so he turned around and had
some choice words for me. We talked back and forth for
a little while. And I had to leave my seat and go
upstairs. I was just becoming a fan out there
supporting the Bulls and having a good time. I never
meant for any of that to happen, but it did. I'll be
out of the heckling business for a while."

Former Bears wide receiver Tom Waddle, who emceed the
gala, introduced Harris as "president of the Alonzo
Mourning Fan Club."

Word on the street

Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is looking
forward to the season opener against Brett Favre and
the Green Bay Packers. "When you face an archrival
like that, it's a great way to kick a season off,"
said Rivera, who added he figured Favre would not
retire. "He has too much good football left." 
 Eddie
Payton, older brother of Walter Payton, recently
coached both the men's and women's golf teams at
Jackson State to Southwestern Athletic Conference
championships. The men's team captured its 19th
consecutive title, all under Payton's guidance. Eddie
Payton was an NFL kick returner for six seasons with
Minnesota, Detroit, Kansas City and Cleveland. 
 Dave
Greeley, who has served as the chief marketing officer
for the Bears, will join Northbrook-based Kemper
Sports this month as executive vice president and
general manager.

Local attractions

Dru Anne Smyth, representing Jewels of Lake Forest,
made a generous jewelry donation to Friday night's
Bears Care charity event. Bears Care is the charitable
beneficiary of the Bears and a fund of the Robert R.
McCormick Tribune Foundation. Over the last nine
years, through the proceeds from the gala and the
match provided by the foundation, Bears Care has
granted nearly $5 million to support research and
treatment of breast and ovarian cancer. Virginia
McCaskey, Bears secretary of the board of directors,
club Chairman Michael McCaskey and President and Chief
Executive Officer Ted Phillips also attended Friday
night's black-tie event. 
 Veteran Bears offensive
lineman Ruben Brown will host the Ruben Brown
Motorcycle Run to benefit the Salvation Army of
Metropolitan Chicago on June 10-11. A VIP welcome
reception will be held at 6 p.m. June 10 at Sundance
Saloon. The event will be open to the public for $5.
Registration is $20 per rider. Riders can register at
www.RubensRun.com.

The last word

"This is just a great sports town. I'm a season
ticket-holder to the Bulls. And of course I love what
Ozzie [Guillen] is doing with the White Sox. Dusty
[Baker] is a friend, and he's doing a great job with
the Cubs. You can't beat it around here."

—Smith on Chicago sports

fmitchell at tribune.com

Copyright © 2006, The Chicago Tribune 

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