Steve McMichael, the Chicago Bears legend and recent Hall of Fame inductee, is facing a longer stay in the hospital than expected. After a battle with a severe urinary tract infection landed him in intensive care last Thursday, the family's hopes for a quick return home have been dashed as complications arose, including a tough-to-treat MRSA infection.
Despite the setback, there's a ray of hope for McMichael's return home as soon as Friday, stated publicist Betsy Shepherd, "He's a fighter, still tackling health challenges as fiercely as he played on the gridiron." But the family, initially aiming for Tuesday, then Thursday, has learned that with MRSA — setbacks come with the territory.
McMichael, 66, isn't just revered for his time with the Bears' formidable "46 defense," but also as a chatterbox on sports talk radio and, not to forget, a five-year stint in professional wrestling. He clinched All-Pro honors in 1985, the same year the Bears snagged the Super Bowl title, and again in 1987, according to The Chicago Tribune.
The man known as "Ming The Merciless" and "Mongo," ranks second in Bears' history with 92 1/2 sacks, trailing only the legendary Richard Dent. Even after hanging up his cleats following the 1994 season with Green Bay, McMichael's voice and personality remained larger than life in the Windy City, ESPN reported.
While the infection has proved a formidable opponent, and the family's spirits have been tested, the goalposts have moved to Friday for McMichael's homecoming. The tenacity that defined his career is now at the forefront of his health battle, showing that some Bears never lose their bite.
