Wlie 540 Am Sportstalkny

Dick Butkus possessed a desire to excel that few have equaled. He played as the Chicago Bears' middle linebacker for nine years with only one goal in mind – to be the best, and from the very start, he was just that. In his rookie season, Butkus, a first-round draft choice, had only one challenger for National Football League Rookie of the Year honors, teammate Gale Sayers. That same year Butkus was named first-team All-NFL, an honor he would record five more times. Butkus also played in the Pro Bowl following his rookie season and in each of the next seven years. He even figured in the career statistical columns with 22 interceptions and 27 opponents' fumble recoveries. Dick had drive, meanness, a consuming desire to pursue, tackle and manhandle – anything he could do to thwart the enemy on every play. Still, he was a clean player, totally devoted to his career, a man who by his own admission played every game as though it were his last one. Butkus had the speed and agility to make tackles from sideline to