History is both a friend and a foe for Chicago

CHICAGO -- Bears coach Lovie Smith is conscious of making history as the first African-American coach to advance to the Super Bowl -- if the Bears defeat the New Orleans Saints in today's NFC Championship game. (Colts coach Tony Dungy, also an African-American, could advance to the Super Bowl with a win over the Patriots.)

Smith acknowledged the timing, noting he celebrated the third anniversary of being named Bears coach on Martin Luther King Day. But Smith is keeping his hopes in perspective, and thinking about the Bears family tree, from owner Virginia McCaskey to her father, Papa Bear George Halas.

"My glass is always half-full," Smith said. "The dream I have had all week is the Chicago Bears being presented with the George Halas Trophy at Soldier Field and for Virginia McCaskey to accept it."

The Halas decades produced a strong Bears identity, but it has not been as formidable in the Mama Bear era. The Bears have been in comparative hibernation since winning the Super Bowl in 1986. Though the Bears are counting on home-field advantage, they have won only three of nine playoff games at Soldier Field since Jan. 12, 1986, including a 27-24 overtime victory over Seattle last week.

"We came up short last year but that really prepared us for this season," Smith said. "In the [preseason] we talked about finishing the job this year and the players have worked extremely hard and we are excited about the opportunity, the chance to play a very good New Orleans Saints team."

Smith is firmly rooted in the Bears' present. Wintry weather, a slick Soldier Field surface, faithful fans.

"Ideally, what kind of weather conditions would I like?" Smith said. "We're in Chicago. We want Chicago Bear weather. It's difficult playing up here in the cold. Again, conditions don't really matter, but we want to play in our conditions. Our formula for winning games -- here in Chicago we talk about the fourth phase, our fans. It matters, I think, to be playing at home."

The Bears have become accustomed to the underdog role, constantly reminded of the team's glory years. Supporters are used to being let down, the Bears unable to achieve the standards of the Walter Payton teams.

"The lack of respect goes way back to the end of last year and I think guys are immune to it right now," tight end Desmond Clark said. "But we know we can go out and play with the best of them. We have great fans but not everyone is going to love you and not everyone is going to hate you."

The Saints are a different underdog, representing a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans has a Payton (Sean) of its own, a coach who has reversed the Saints' fortunes, taking over a 3-13 team and guiding it to a 10-6 record, then a 27-24 playoff win over Philadelphia.

"It is important the relationship this team has with this city," Payton said. "At the start of the season we talked about it a little bit, about the first thing we can do is provide a better product, win more games and, outside that, if guys were interested in doing charity work. But the first way we can help is to improve the team and play better. But the relationship even prior to Katrina has been strong and significant. Not being from here, until we moved here, you can't appreciate that."

The Saints do not bother with the past very much. The media guide barely mentions anything occurring before 1985. And Payton started with a clean slate, revamping the offense behind quarterback Drew Brees, protecting him with offensive linemen that average 313 pounds, and drafting Reggie Bush to complement Deuce McAllister in the backfield.

"I can see why so much has been said about the New Orleans offense," Smith said.

Brees threw for 4,418 yards and was sacked 18 times on 554 pass attempts.

But the Saints are also impressed by the Bears defense, which led the NFL with 44 takeaways.

"Speed, that's the thing that jumps out at you," said McAllister, who rushed for 143 yards on 21 carries vs. the Eagles. "They do a good job of rallying to the ball. There is always one guy that makes the initial contact and then there's three or four guys coming in trying to rip the ball out. I think it starts up front with those guys. Their linebackers make a lot of plays. When you do get somebody up on them, they do a good job of shedding it and being able to get an arm on it or being able to make that play."