Chicago Suburban News - Batavia, IL, USA - Smokey Robinson, one of the biggest names in Motown music from the 1960s, and award-winning actor Dennis Farina are two of the celebrities scheduled to conduct a free clinic on theater beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club as part of the 2007 Tom Dreesen Celebrity Invitational golf tournament.

The clinic, one of several scheduled that day as part of the All-star Community Clinic, will provide insight into performing/stage careers, said Terry Hanley, general manager of the golf club.

“This is going to be an outstanding opportunity for anyone interested in acting, singing or dancing to learn

nwitimes.com - Munster, IN, USA - Mike Ditka stepped out of a black stretch limo at the entrance to Majestic Star Casino on Saturday night and the world seemed to stop as stunned spectators froze in their tracks.

Wearing sunglasses and chomping on a Cuban cigar, with ashes landing everywhere, Ditka and his family had come to roll the dice but the former Bears coach first agreed to an exclusive sitdown with The Times. The topic was dear to his heart: Aid for retired players in dire need of financial assistance.

It's been an ongoing, often ugly, battle of words with NFL owners and Players Association President Gene

CBS News - New York City, NY, USA - There is an old expression about NFL players: When you sign a pro football contract, you sign away your right to be middle-aged.

Many NFL players seem to drift overnight from being robust young men in their 20s and 30s to appearing staggered and elderly once they hit their 40s.

This isn't about superficial appearance, of arthritic knuckles or the altered gait that comes with age. It's about the long-term effects of brain injury and concussions. As William C. Rhoden wrote in The New York Times, "The legion of retired players has become a haunting presence for the National Football League and

The Open Press (press release) - USA - Move Ahead 1, the promoter of business success seminars, hosted legendary NFL coach and player, Mike Ditka, on June 19, 2007, at the Holiday Inn in Edison, N.J., in the second installment of Move Ahead 1’s “Success Seminar Series.” Former NY Giant lineman, Brad Benson, who now owns and operates multiple car dealerships in New Jersey, also spoke to the crowd of over 250 business professionals.

Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles, and later head coach of the 1986 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, delivered a powerful presentation using his experiences,

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh, PA, USA - ESPN is set to unveil a second "Monday Night Football" announcing team today: play-by-play Mike Greenberg, analysts Mike Golic and Mike Ditka and sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein.

The new team will make their debut during the Arizona Cardinals-San Francisco 49ers game Sept. 10, says ESPN's Norby Williamson, executive vice president for remote and studio production. The game will be the nightcap in a national NFL doubleheader on ESPN and will kick off at 10:15 p.m.

ESPN's main "Monday Night Football" team of play-by-play Mike Tirico, analysts Tony Kornheiser and Ron Jaworski and sideline reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya will do the

The Open Press (press release) - USA - Mike Ditka, one of only two men to have won a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, will be the featured speaker at the second installment of Move Ahead 1’s 2007 Success Seminar Series on June 19, at the Holiday Inn in Edison, NJ. Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles, and later head coach of the 1986 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, will deliver a powerful presentation using his experiences, anecdotes, and humor, to help attendees master the key characteristics they need to achieve personal and