Just in case anyone is wondering, no, I wouldn’t support Ditka for Senate. I just like a good story.
But will Mike take the spot? While I’m not going to predict anything too strongly, for good reason, I tend to think not. While the initial flattery of the idea has to be appealling to anyone, the reality of running for the United States Senate means your life is an open book and you are on all of the time. Being Mike Ditka in Chicago doesn’t mean a whole lot of privacy, but it doesn’t involve people looking at every aspect of your life and for little in return.
From the Trib:
His membership in the men-only Bob O’Link Golf Club in Highland Park could create some concerns among women voters, some Republicans said privately.
On top of that he doesn’t seem to have voted since at least 2000. He’d have to give up his announcer gigs for the season and we all can remember our favorite hysterical Ditka moment which is funny in relation to a legendary football coach, but not so conducive to being a candidate for the US Senate. While I’d never say that Ditka wasn’t up to the challenge, he has a nice life right now and giving that up at age 64 would be a lot to do. He couldn’t stand the sports press attacking his play calling, I don’t think he’ll want to answer indepth questions about his past.
But damn would that be a funny campaign.