Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site 3comvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!sun!idi!oliveb!3comvax!mykes
From: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz)
Newsgroups: net.sport.football
Subject: Re: Bears "51"
Message-ID: <400@3comvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Feb-86 13:54:37 EST
Article-I.D.: 3comvax.400
Posted: Mon Feb  3 13:54:37 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Feb-86 08:22:29 EST
References: <924@houxa.UUCP>
Reply-To: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz)
Organization: 3Com Corp; Mountain View, CA
Lines: 9


The reason that "51" was never retired is because (real fuzzy recollections
here, so be gentle with the flames) he felt he was forced to retire by the
Bears at a time he didn't want to (that was the fuzzy part) and ended up
suing the Bears.  You don't do that to George Halas and still get your
number retired, even if you are Butkus.

I seem to remember something about the knee injuries Butkus suffered as being
part of the lawsuit...