Sweet Virginia: Bears’ Matriarch Sits For Rare Interview

McCaskey (c) Discusses Family’s Ownership Of Bears

Bears Principal Owner Virginia McCaskey sat for a rare Q&A with the Chicago Tribune’s Don Pierson, who served as a pool reporter for several Chicago writers. She said of her tenure as owner, “It was a bumpy road a lot of times, how I should sell the team and give Chicago competent ownership.” McCaskey, on the renovated Soldier Field, “It works for the fans. It works for the team. Personally, it’s wonderful because we have a suite that accommodates 20 people, which can take care of most of my family (laughing).” When asked how the stadium has improved the financial outlook of the team, she said, “It means more responsibility. We're more comfortable in a lot of ways, but along with that there are things that we have to be more concerned about. We’re involved in community efforts.” McCaskey, on the Bears’ Lovie Smith and the Colts’ Tony Dungy being the first African-American head coaches in a Super Bowl: “I was a little surprised last week when it became a topic for discussion. I've never thought of Lovie Smith as our black coach. He's our coach. And he has his friend, Tony Dungy, who is the coach of the Colts. But listening to some of Lovie's comments I have come to realize how important it is to him, so it is to me also” (CHICAGOBEARS.com, 1/24).