Two fundraisers benefitting ailing former Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael will be held simultaneously on Super Bowl Sunday.
The two "Mongo Bowls" will be hosted by the Arcada Theatre (105 East Main Street) in St. Charles and the Des Plaines Theatre (1476 Miner Street) in Des Plaines. All proceeds will benefit McMichael, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2021 and requires 24-hour care.
Admission is free and tickets are not required for entry. Funds will be raised via raffles, silent auctions and the purchase of food and drinks. Doors open at 11 a.m. Attendees will be able to watch a replay of the 1985 Bears' Super Bowl XX win over the Patriots at 1 p.m., followed by a live broadcast of Super Bowl LVII pitting the Eagles against the Chiefs.
Both events will be hosted by McMichael's wife, Misty McMichael, and Ron Onesti, CEO of Onesti Entertainment, which is coordinating the "Mongo Bowls."
"This Super Bowl experience will be incredible as our concert-quality sound systems and video walls will be utilized to show the game, while at the same time helping someone who gave us football fans so much joy," Onesti said.
Direct donations can also be made online at oshows.com, with proceeds going directly to the McMichael family.
McMichael was diagnosed with ALS following visits to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. ALS is a neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. The affected muscles are responsible for chewing food, speaking and walking. Motor neuron loss continues until the ability to eat, speak, move and finally breathe is lost.
McMichael was a warrior on the field for the Bears, a tough-as-nails defensive tackle who played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games in 13 seasons from 1981-93. He ranks second in Bears history behind Hall of Famer Richard Dent with 92.5 career sacks, an impressive total for a defensive tackle. McMichael helped the Bears win six division titles and was an instrumental part of the 1985 Super Bowl championship defense that many consider to be the best in NFL history.
Individually, McMichael was a two-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time second-team All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler. He was named the 19th best player in Bears history in 2019 by writers Don Pierson and Dan Pompei in the Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook—the second highest slot for a non-Hall of Famer.
