[CBFF] Bears' fans stiff-armed at convention

[mom2iancal]

 Bears' fans stiff-armed at convention 

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 12:46 AM CDT 

Al Hamnik/Times Columnist 

CHICAGO | Throughout the first three levels of the luxury hotel, the noise 
was deafening. There were bodies everywhere, laying in carpeted hallways, 
propped up against walls. 

Panic had not yet set in, but there were few answers and even less 
organization when it came to "directing" those who were lost. 

Each day, the grumbling continued. Frowns replaced smiles. Near the end, 
threats were made, both vocal and implied. Thousands of weary sheep had been 
shorn as they wandered the hallways and various mazes, their wallets 
considerably lighter. 

It's too late for them. They never saw it coming. But for those planning to 
follow this path next year, be warned. 

The sold-out Bears Fan Convention last weekend at the Chicago Hilton and 
Towers was a rip-off. 

Don't blame the site, also home for the Cubs and White Sox fan conventions. 
The Hilton folks were gracious hosts to the Bear crazies who spent hundreds 
of dollars a night for a room, as well as those daily visitors who shelled out 
$24 to park -- for three hours. 

It is the Bears and their inconsiderate players who must be penalized for 
this latest PR abomination. 

If you checked the team Web site days before, you were told at least 50 past 
and present players were scheduled to attend. Believing that list was your 
first mistake. 

Rex Grossman never showed. Neither did Brian Urlacher, the alleged face of 
the Bears, nor Hunter Hillenmeyer. And where was Cedric Benson, your new No. 1 
running back? Or Bernard Berrian, Robbie Gould, Brad Maynard, Desmond Clark 
and John Gilmore? They weren't even on the list of favorite Bears. 

The defensive unit was basically a no-show other than injured Tommie Harris 
and Chris Harris. At least Tank Johnson had an excuse. He was in jail. And 
Lance Briggs has filed for divorce from the Bears, so you kinda figured he 
wouldn't dare show his two faces. 

But where were Danieal and Ricky Manning Jr., Charles Tillman, Adewale 
Ogunleye, Brendon Ayanbadejo and Nate Vasher? Could they have been protesting the 
team's treatment of Briggs? Makes you wonder. 

Rookie return specialist Devin Hester did attend Friday night's opening 
ceremonies, as did Roberto Garza, Ruben Brown, Olin Kreutz and Muhsin Muhammad. 
But Saturday and Sunday, pickings were slim. 

Saturday morning, Bears coach Lovie Smith, general manager Jerry Angelo and 
CEO Ted Phillips hosted a 60-minute preview of the 2007 season. Then they 
simply vanished. 

All of which brings us to the autograph sessions -- endless lines of fans 
standing and laying on the floors, snacking and snoozing -- who paid mostly for 
the scribblings of the Super Bowl XX champion Bears. 

Thanks to Chicago's failed attempt against Indianapolis in Super Bowl XLI, 
the 1985 Bears will find work for another year. At least someone benefitted 
from the convention