He Couldn’t Bear Ditka’s Forearm

Re Jim Murray’s column on Mike Ditka: I was at that Coliseum game many years ago and it was not a drunk that Ditka forearmed into oblivion; it was a boy who was playing wise guy and ran into the Bears’ huddle. The punch, in full view of 75,000 fans was greeted with shock and ultimately many minutes of booing. The game had to be held up because of the noise, dissatisfaction and disbelief over Ditka’s display of brutality. Since that day, I have always been a great fan of Ditka’s opponents. Come on, 49ers. And you, Mr. Murray, are too good a writer to make a hero of a villain when you obviously were not in attendance.

DON LIEBMAN

Agoura Hills