Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka, whose temper...

Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka, whose temper boiled over during a well-publicized gum-throwing incident in San Francisco earlier this week, said he will cut back his availability to the media.

A two-line statement released by club spokesman Ken Valdiserri read: “Mike Ditka has decided to decrease his activities with the media in disgust over the media’s treatment over the trivial incidents that have occurred over the past several weeks. He will be available only for postgame interviews on Sunday and on Monday following the game.”

The Bears absorbed a 41-0 pounding by the 49ers in a nationally televised game Monday night, and Ditka, after being pelted by debris from fans as he walked to the locker room at halftime, responded by throwing a wad of gum into the stands.

The incident received substantial media coverage after a woman claimed she was hit in the back of the head by the gum and San Francisco police held the gum as evidence.