2008 Woodie Awards
Bears players leave fans wanting more
Daniel Jerez
Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: Sports
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Page 1 of 1
Who doesn't love watching Monday Night Football at a bar? There is just something about watching the game amongst friends, drinking pitchers of beer and second-guessing every call that makes for a great evening-now picture doing this with actual Chicago Bears players.
Every Monday night during the football season, linebacker Lance Briggs and Co. will be at Junior's Sports Lounge, located at the corner of Maxwell Street and Halsted Street. The event is billed as an opportunity for fans to interact with Bears players and watch the game. However, last week, during the first outing, the fans were not given the opportunity to interact with any of the players.
One by one, players walked to the VIP section, ignoring the packed bar full of fans. To have an event billed as an opportunity to meet the players, the first week was a disappoint, to say the least.
And the fan base, including several UIC students, was very vocal about the misguided event.
"You have to catch them while they go to the bathroom," joked Phillip Poole.
A full-page advertisement that ran in last Monday's Red Eye is what initially caught most eyes.
"I came here to interact with the players, like the ad said," explained Jan Sagun. "The ad should have read: drink beer, with Bears players hanging out over there, by themselves."
Despite the lack of interaction, both students were surprised to see several star players. Alex Brown, John Gilmore and Thomas Jones were easily seen along with Lance Briggs. And both agreed that Junior's was a good time, and a nice place to watch Monday Night Football with a group of friends.
Juniors is an upscale bar with the look and atmosphere you would expect. I have watched a few Sox games and a few football games there. But, it is definitely not a sports bar, so it was not surprising when the night led to Bears players secluding themselves in the VIP section.
Which is what made this event seem like an unnecessary gimmick to draw in customers to an already good bar. If the event had taken place at a real sports bar, the players would be more inclined to interact with the fans, who looked out of place wearing Bears paraphernalia.
The players seemed uninterested in meeting fans and more interested in hanging out with each other on their day off. Which left the entire bar gawking at the players, hoping for an opportunity to talk to one of them.
If you're looking to watch the 'Monday Night' game at an upscale bar with the possibly of meeting a Bears player, then stop by and check out the event going on every Monday at 724 W. Maxwell St.
If you're looking to watch the game in a sports bar atmosphere, then this event may not be for you.
- Page 1 of 1
Every Monday night during the football season, linebacker Lance Briggs and Co. will be at Junior's Sports Lounge, located at the corner of Maxwell Street and Halsted Street. The event is billed as an opportunity for fans to interact with Bears players and watch the game. However, last week, during the first outing, the fans were not given the opportunity to interact with any of the players.
One by one, players walked to the VIP section, ignoring the packed bar full of fans. To have an event billed as an opportunity to meet the players, the first week was a disappoint, to say the least.
And the fan base, including several UIC students, was very vocal about the misguided event.
"You have to catch them while they go to the bathroom," joked Phillip Poole.
A full-page advertisement that ran in last Monday's Red Eye is what initially caught most eyes.
"I came here to interact with the players, like the ad said," explained Jan Sagun. "The ad should have read: drink beer, with Bears players hanging out over there, by themselves."
Despite the lack of interaction, both students were surprised to see several star players. Alex Brown, John Gilmore and Thomas Jones were easily seen along with Lance Briggs. And both agreed that Junior's was a good time, and a nice place to watch Monday Night Football with a group of friends.
Juniors is an upscale bar with the look and atmosphere you would expect. I have watched a few Sox games and a few football games there. But, it is definitely not a sports bar, so it was not surprising when the night led to Bears players secluding themselves in the VIP section.
Which is what made this event seem like an unnecessary gimmick to draw in customers to an already good bar. If the event had taken place at a real sports bar, the players would be more inclined to interact with the fans, who looked out of place wearing Bears paraphernalia.
The players seemed uninterested in meeting fans and more interested in hanging out with each other on their day off. Which left the entire bar gawking at the players, hoping for an opportunity to talk to one of them.
If you're looking to watch the 'Monday Night' game at an upscale bar with the possibly of meeting a Bears player, then stop by and check out the event going on every Monday at 724 W. Maxwell St.
If you're looking to watch the game in a sports bar atmosphere, then this event may not be for you.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Carrie
posted 10/06/06 @ 11:15 AM CST
I'm suprised by this article, because I was at Junior's to watch the game last Monday and both Lance Briggs and Tommie Harris came to our table during halftime to sign autographs and mingle with the fans. (Continued…)
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