Michael McCaskey's 15-year tenure as Bears President
"ended" Wednesday, as his mother, Bears co-Owner Virginia
McCaskey, "turned over control" of the team to CFO Ted
Phillips, according to Don Pierson of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
The move marks the first time in the franchise's 79-year
history that someone outside the Halas-McCaskey family "has
assumed the role of president." Virginia, who is the
controlling voter for nearly 80% of the Bears' stock, "made
the decision" to make Michael board Chair, succeeding her
husband Edward, who will become Chair Emeritus. The move,
which the McCaskeys called "a family decision," comes less
than a month after Michael McCaskey "botched the hiring of
[Dave McGinnis] to replace fired Dave Wannstedt." Virginia
McCaskey said the decision was a "difficult" one: "It just
makes so much sense. It took me overnight and then I began
to look at it realistically rather than sentimentally and
realized this was the way to go and the thing to do."
Phillips has been McCaskey's "right-hand man" on stadium
issues, and he said that he will "continue to serve as
`point man' on stadium matters, with the first order of
business securing a lease extension to play at Soldier
Field." McCaskey's departure "could help the team's stadium
efforts" with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, who had an
"obvious" personality conflict with the former Bears
President. A source familiar with stadium negotiations said
he "would expect a quick announcement on a Soldier Field
[lease] extension." Phillips said that he has "no plans" to
hire a GM to run the team's operations, but "emphasized that
he has the power to do so." Virginia McCaskey, on Phillips'
role: "He has virtual autonomy" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/11).
PHILLIPS HEAD: Phillips said that "he has been given
full authority over all decisions regarding the Bears," but
said he would leave the football matters to personnel chief
Mark Hatley and new head coach Dick Jauron. Phillips
"acknowledged" that the McGinnis situation "was one of the
team's all-time low points." Phillips: "We pretty much hit
rock bottom from a public relations standpoint" (Melissa
Isaacson, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/11). In Chicago, Fran Spielman
writes that how Phillips' hiring will affect the Bears'
search for a new stadium "depends on how much power and
autonomy is vested" in him. Spielman notes Phillips is a
"solid businessman, a good communicator and a straight
shooter who likely will be more than willing to take the
first step" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/11).
MCCASKEY'S PLANS: Michael McCaskey called his
transition "the next natural transition." On his plans for
the team: "We'd like to have our own Bears Web site. That's
something I've been working on quite intensely for the last
couple of months." McCaskey added that he wanted to upgrade
the team's facilities, including landscaping projects and a
new entrance at Halas Hall (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/11).
REAX: Virginia McCaskey: "It was time. It's been
difficult, of course. Any mother would rather see her son
approved and supported." Michael called the decision to
replace him "mutual" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/11). The SUN-
TIMES' Rick Telander, under the header "Time May Be Right
For Family To Sell Bears," writes: "Why not sell the team.
Vague stewardship and controlling stock interest, which the
McCaskeys have, are not the same as steering the ship"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/11). Bernie Lincicome calls McCaskey
"just a crummy football man" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/11).
