Come To Think of It: The Curse of the Honey Bears

Chicago Cubs fans have certainly heard of the Curse of the Billy Goat, while the Red Sox killed the Curse of the Bambino when they won the World Series in 2004. But have you heard of this one?

Yes, ever since then-President Michael McCaskey got rid of the Bears cheerleading squad, the team has not won a Super Bowl.

While it's not surprising that a guy like McCaskey wouldn't be interested in female cheerleaders, it is a fact that the Bears' cheapness is personified in a move like this.

Just prior to Super Bowl 20 in New Orleans, founder/manager/choreographer Cathy Core was informed by Bears management that her group's contract would not be renewed to take the field for their 10th year at Soldier Field.

The real reason for this choice has not been revealed publicly, but the semi-official reason given by the Bears organization is that they felt cheerleaders were not an acceptable part of the gameday experience for an NFL team.

Right, and neither is beer drinking and tailgaiting.

Look, Papa Bear himself reportedly decided that he wanted cheerleaders. Hey, no man purse for this guy.

In fact, Halas said that "as long as I'm alive, we will have dancing girls on the sidelines."

The Honey Bears danced on the sidelines, as well as made appearances around the city, from 1977 to 1985. Halas made good on his word that the cheerleaders would always be a part of the team as long as he was alive. He passed in October of 1983. The following season the team attempted to end the relationship, but had a binding contract with the group through the end of the '85 season.

Since then, the Bears have appeared in, but not won, a Super Bowl. Coincidence? Perhaps. But then again, crazier things have happened, come to think of it.