Ex-Bears coach Mike Ditka turns down Trump convention invite
Iconic football coach Mike Ditka won't be making an appearance at the Republican National Convention this summer in Cleveland, even after Donald Trump extended an invitation to the former Chicago Bears legend.
"I can help him, but I don't know if I can give a speech at the convention," Ditka, a known supporter of the presumptive Republican nominee, told the Chicago Tribune Wednesday. "I don't travel much anymore except between Chicago and Florida, and giving a speech at a convention isn't really my style."
Trump was supposedly lining up a celebrity-filled guest list for the July convention, with Bloomberg Politics reporting names like Mike Tyson, Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, NASCAR chief Brian France and former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight.
Initially, Ditka told the Tribune Wednesday morning that he hadn't yet been invited.
"No one's ever talked to me about it," he said. "I have no idea where it's coming from."
But soon after, Ditka told the Chicago paper later that day: "I spoke with Mr. Trump this afternoon and he invited me. But I don't think I'm going to go."
Despite the declined invitation, Ditka said he still backs Trump -- and advised the GOP to fall in line with its nominee.
"The Republican Party has its head up its ass -- if he's the candidate, you've got to get behind him," he said. "It does the party no good. They're a bunch of a**holes."
"Da Coach" gave his support for Trump last year, saying that he does truly "like" the brash politician.
"I do like Donald Trump. I think he, sometimes he's gotta think a little bit more before he says things, but I think he's on the right track."