MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Former Bears Mike Singletary and Jim McMahon have an impressive collection of titles, awards and records between them.
But much to their chagrin, neither can escape the inevitable and invariable inquiries about ''The Super Bowl Shuffle.''
''People always ask me about The Shuffle,'' McMahon said Wednesday. ''Always.''
Said Singletary, ''It's amazing. I've tried to burn and throw them all away.''
McMahon said he's often asked to recall and recite the words (the answer is always no), and Singletary said he's often asked to perform some of the dance steps (the answer usually is a piercing glare).
Yet McMahon, Singletary, Richard Dent, Willie Gault, Otis Wilson, Steve Fuller and Maury Buford decided to embrace, rather than fight, their history.
'Great to act like idiots again'
Boost Mobile, which offers wireless phones without long-term contracts, reunited the players to parody the 1985 music video. The ''Boost Mobile Shuffle'' will air for 30 seconds during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday and then immediately be available for download on the company's Web site.
''It was great to get together and laugh and act like idiots again,'' McMahon said.
The 1985 Bears didn't need the gimmicky ''Shuffle'' to bolster their place among the greatest teams in NFL history. They boasted a star-studded offense and defense, suffered just one regular-season defeat, blanked their two NFC playoff opponents and routed the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.
But ''The Shuffle'' connected them with more than football fans during a time when the sport wasn't the undisputed king. The song earned a Grammy nomination and, even now, a video on You Tube has more than 700,000 views.
Identity always will be there
''This is a tribute to the success that we had that year, and really, the success that the whole video was,'' said Singletary, a Hall of Fame inductee and the current head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. ''It was fun.''
And who can forget the video?
Singletary with his oversized glasses. Punter Buford with the cowbells. And backup quarterback Fuller's regrettable rapping (''it's no wonder, I run like lightning and pass like thunder'').
Even avid football fans lose track of Super Bowl champions from specific seasons. But the 1985 Bears remain popular because of the futility of the franchise since. Aside from the appearance in 2006, the Bears mostly have struggled, winning their division three times since 1991, and they've largely failed to diminish the popularity of the cast of characters from the '85 team.
Coach Mike Ditka remains a beloved figure in Chicago, even after a forgettable run with the New Orleans Saints, and McMahon remains popular despite mostly disappointing stretches with six other NFL franchises.
That he -- the fifth overall pick in 1982 -- was traded after the 1988 season remains a sore topic with McMahon, turning him against the franchise that made him famous.
Asked about the Bears' well-documented problems finding a franchise quarter, McMahon said, ''It hasn't bothered me since they traded me. I could [expletive] care less.''
His life partner Laurie Navon said the trade is a ''sore spot,'' though she described his relationship with Ditka as ''great.''
McMahon still ... McMahon
Sporting a bald dome now, McMahon seemed -- fittingly -- annoyed Wednesday during countless media interviews. And even though Boost Mobile arranged his schedule, McMahon certainly would have been asked about the same topic each time.
''It's amazing,'' Navon said when asked how often McMahon is asked about ''The Shuffle.'' ''But he can't dance, and he definitely can't Shuffle -- he's had 19 surgeries.
''If he could, I would have pushed him to do 'Dancing With the Stars.'''
Story reprinted from Jan. 3, 1986
This story's not here to start no trouble;
It's just here to explain the Super Bowl Shuffle.
You've heard it.
You've seen it.
You've rapped along with it.
You've tapped along with it.
Maybe you've even bought it.
But you probably don't know the inside story behind the phenomenon known as "The Super Bowl Shuffle."
In Chicago, the song is among the top five on most radio station's play lists. Red Label Publishing has shipped 750,000 records and 150,000 videos.
The seed was planted when Bear receiver Willie Gault and Red Label producer Richard Meyer worked together on a video called "Heat In Me" by Linda Clifford and featuring Gault.
Soon, Gault was asking teammates Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, Otis Wilson, Steve Fuller, Richard Dent, Gary Fencik, William Perry and Dan Hampton if they would like to become real stars.
"The hardest part was getting a bunch of football players together," said Gault, who helped choose players based on their visibility.
All except Hampton accepted Gault's offer to have a singing role in the project. Hampton's replacement was Mike Richardson.
"I thought it was pretentious," Hampton said. "After the Super Bowl I might have done it."
Every other Bear was asked to perform in the background on the video. The 14 who accepted are Maury Buford, Mike Tomczak, Thomas Sanders, Leslie Frazier, Shaun Gayle, Dennis Gentry, Ken Taylor, Calvin Thomas, Reggie Phillips, Jim Morrissey, Dan Rains, Stefan Humphries, Mitch Krenk and Tyrone Keys.
Others turned it down for reasons similar to Hampton's.
"It was premature," Steve McMichael said. "I don't believe in bragging before the fact."
Skeptics point to the 1984 Cubs cutting a record, "Men In Blue," and the 1969 Cubs recording "Hey, Hey, Holy Mackeral." Both teams fell short of expectations.
Backers point to the 1985 San Francisco 49ers recording "We're The 49ers" on their way to the Super Bowl.
"None of us think of it as bragging," Gault said. "Those people who criticize it are envious."
The line that might be construed as most boastful is Dent's "We love to play for the world's best fans; you better start makin' your Super Bowl plans." Several lines are similar to Wilson's "Ain't no sucker gonna get past me."
The lyrics were written by Meyer, who consulted with the players.
The song was recorded at Red Label Studios the two days before the Bears' 36-0 pounding of Atlanta on Nov. 24.
The vidgeo was recorded a day after the Bears' 38-24 loss to Miami (look for Fuller's bandaged foot and ankle) on Dec. 2.
All but Payton, who was hurt, and McMahon, who wasn't interested, took part in the videotaping at Park West. Payton was available the next day, and McMahon was talked into it, so a camera crew filmed their scenes in a racquetball court at Halas Hall. Their images were superimposed on the original video.
One of Payton's lines is, "And we're not doin' this because we're greedy. The Bears are doin' it to feed the needy."
The 10 players with vocals are giving 50 percent of their royalties to assorted charities, including Mayor Washington's Sharing It program.
"We wanted to show some gratitude to the neediest people in the city," Gault said.
Some players, such as Thomas, wish they received some gratitude. Those without singing roles weren't paid.
CHORUS
We are the Bears Shufflin' Crew
Shufflin' on down, doin' it for you.
We're so bad, we know we're good.
Blowin' your mind like we knew we would.
You know we're just struttin' for fun
Struttin' our stuff for everyone.
We're not here to start no trouble.
We're just here to do The Super Bowl Shuffle.
WALTER PAYTON
Well, they call me Sweetness,
And I like to dance.
Runnin' the ball is like makin' romance.
We've had the goal since training camp
To give Chicago a Super Bowl Champ.
And we're not doin' this
Because we're greedy.
The Bears are doin' it to feed the needy.
We didn't come here to look for trouble,
We just came here to do
The Super Bowl Shuffle.
WILLIE GAULT
This is Speedy Willie, and I'm world class.
I like runnin' but I love to get the pass.
I practice all day and dance all night,
I got to get ready for the Sunday fight.
Now I'm as smooth as a chocolate swirl,
I dance a little funky, so watch me, girl.
There's not one here that does it like me,
My Super Bowl Shuffle will set you free.
MIKE SINGLETARY
I'm Samurai Mike, I stop 'em cold.
Part of the defense, big and bold,
I've been jammin' for quite a while,
Doin' what's right and settin' the style.
Give me a chance, I'll rock you good,
Nobody messin' in my neighborhood.
I didn't come here lookin' for trouble,
I just came to do The Super Bowl Shuffle
(Repeat chorus)
JIM MCMAHON
I'm the punky QB, known as McMahon.
When I hit the turf, I've got no plan.
I just throw my body all over the field.
I can't dance, but I can throw the pill.
I motivate the cats, I like to tease.
I play so cool, I aim to please.
That's why you all got here on the double,
To catch me doin' The Super Bowl Shuffle.
OTIS WILSON
I'm mama's boy Otis, one of a kind.
The ladies all love me
For my body and my mind.
I'm slick on the floor as I can be,
But ain't no sucker gonna get past me.
Some guys are jealous
Of my style and class,
That's why some end up on their --.
I didn't come here lookin' for trouble,
I just get down to The Super Bowl Shuffle.
STEVE FULLER
They say Jimbo is our man.
If Jimmy can't do it, I sure can.
This is Steve, and it's no wonder
I run like lightnin', pass like thunder.
So bring on Atlanta, bring on Dallas,
This is for Mike and Papa Bear Halas.
I'm not here to feathers ruffle,
I just came here to do
The Super Bowl Shuffle.
MIKE RICHARDSON
I'm L.A. Mike, and I play it cool.
They don't sneak by me 'cause I'm no fool.
I fly on the field and get on down,
Everybody knows I don't mess around.
I can break 'em, shake 'em,
Any time of day.
I like to steal it and make 'em pay,
So please don't cry to beat my hustle,
'Cause I'm just here to do
The Super Bowl Shuffle.
(Repeat chorus)
RICHARD DENT
The sackman's comin', I'm your man Dent.
If the quarterback's slow,
He's gonna get bent.
We stop the run, we stop the pass,
I like to dump guys on their --.
We love to play for the world's best fans,
You better start makin'
Your Super Bowl plans.
But don't get ready or go to any trouble
Unless you practice
The Super Bowl Shuffle.
GARY FENCIK
It's Gary here, and I'm Mr. Clean.
They call me ''hit man,''
Don't know what they mean.
They throw it long and watch me run,
I'm on my man, one-on-one.
Buddy's guys cover it down to the bone,
That's why they call us the 46 zone.
Come on everybody, let's scream and yell,
We're goin' to do the Shuffle,
Then ring your bell.
WILLIAM PERRY
You're lookin' at the Fridge,
I'm the rookie.
I may be large, but I'm no dumb cookie.
You've seen me hit, you've seen me run,
When I kick and pass, we'll have more fun.
I can dance, you will see;
The others, they all learn from me.
I don't come here lookin' for trouble,
I just came here to do
The Super Bowl Shuffle.
This song has to rank up there with some of the gheyest songs on the planet. It was ok 25 years ago but today it is more embarassing to watch or listen too.
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Originally Posted by dabears54
12 games X 63 yards =1008 is simple math
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