Ditka Introduces new Chicago Rush Mascot

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Sep 28, 2005 6:38PM

Legendary Bears coach Mike Ditka -- now part owner of the Chicago Rush Arena League Football team -- introduced Grabowski, the team's new mascot yesterday.

Twenty years ago I respectfully referred to my team as a bunch of ‘Grabowskis.' That same description is even more perfectly suited for my Rush players – a bunch of hard-working, tough guys who play for the love of the game and its fans, not the weekly paycheck.

With that in mind, I felt we needed to create a mascot that embodied the tough, but fan-friendly nature of the AFL players, and the Grabowski character is a perfect match.

According to the Rush's web site, Grabowski "is a tall, athletic mascot wearing a Rush uniform bearing Ditka’s number 89. In addition to his football gear, Grabowski is armed with a hard hat, lunch pail and tool belt, symbolizing the blue-collar nature of the Rush players and coaches."

Grabowski tell us in his bio, his favorite foods are "Chicago-style pizza, hot dogs (no ketchup), pork chops at Ditka's restaurant..." but mentions that he takes his vitamins, too.

The Rush also mentioned that Grabowski will reside at the Allstate Arena. Is he some sort of evacuee from Hurricane Katrina? Is Grabowski some old friend of Ditka's from his days coaching the Saints? Maybe they should have held off on mentioning his living in a stadium. Anyway, you'd think Ditka could offer him a room at his house...