Super Bowl swill . . .
• • Translation: Pigskin prognosticator extraordinaire Sister Jean Kenny predicts Chicago Stampedes Indy in Miami. Get it?
P.S. Sister Kenny is looking for tickets, airfare and a hotel for the big game . . . for two.
Any offers?
Why? The McCaskey's 1986 Super Bowl victory party at the team hotel in New Orleans was "no big thing compared to the party thrown by the owners of the losing New England Patriots," according to a Sneed source who was at the bash. "It didn't last long, Bill Murray was the lone notable celeb, and most of us wound up at the [New England] Patriots' party, which went on into the wee hours."
That championship celebration was a Bourbon Street blur of well-lubricated Grabowskis, frantic fans, and oyster-slurping journalists -- all doing the Super Bowl Shuffle. These are some of the nuggets I remember from my time in New Orleans.
• • The late Mayor Harold Washington refusing to party on the Delta Queen riverboat because he was afraid of water.
• • Ald. Ed Burke shedding his stern demeanor by tickling the ivories during the city's party on the Delta Queen and leading sing-a-longs with city corporation council Jim Montgomery.
• • The buxom Honeybears competing for press with a group of hefty females dubbed "The Refrigerettes" in honor of massive Bear William "Refrigerator" Perry. Some Refrigerettes had a tough time squeezing into their airplane seats on the flight down to New Orleans.
• • Washington, who reportedly screamed, "Let's give them the finger" on national TV, being refused pregame entry to the Bears locker room. Coach Mike Ditka left orders that no one could get in. No one.
• • To wit: The Lake Forest-raised Hollywood star attended the Bears' win over the Seattle Seahawks and rearranged the shooting schedule for his new movie to make it to Soldier Field for Sunday's dismantling of the New Orleans Saints. Betchya, betchya he's Miami bound.
• • Munch 'em: Big Bear Brian Urlacher was greeted with a standing ovation when he entered Gibsons eatery Sunday night after the NFC championship win. Teammates Muhsin Muhammad, Charles "Peanut" Tillman, Cedric Benson, Alfonso Boone and Brian Griese also hit the Gold Coast meatery for a post-game meal.
• Shake 'em: Special teams ace Devin Hester and his family opted for Harry Caray's, where their champagne and steak celebration was interrupted by congratulatory handshakes from Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg.
• Sip 'em: Offensive lineman Ruben Brown tossed one back with a Chicago institution: blues master Buddy Guy. Brown popped into Guy's club Legends and joined the guitarist on stage for a cognac victory toast. The veteran blocker was last seen with other teammates at Spoon on Wells.