Monsters of the Midway - Brian Urlacher, Mike Singletary, and Dick Butkus - Chicago Bears

1) Brian Urlacher #54, Mike Singletary #50, and Dick Butkus #51 are Hall of Fame linebackers who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. 

2) Urlacher (2005), Singletary (1985,1988), and Butkus (1969,1970) were all named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in their career.

3) All three Bears legends rank at the top of the list of players at their position in career statistics. In 182 career games, Brian Urlacher totaled 1,229 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. With 179 games played, Singletary had totals of 885 tackles, 7 interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries. In Dick Butkus' 119 games played, he wreaked havoc on his opponents each and every snap as he compiled career totals of 1,020 tackles, 22 interceptions and 27 fumble recoveries.

D to Brian Urlacher: What is your favorite fruit and vegetable?

BU: My favorite fruit is probably oranges and my favorite veggie is cucumbers. Those are veggies, right?

D's Follow Up: These were the same answers as Vikings player Adam Thielen. I like still like oranges but not cucumbers. I like the bigger oranges, cuties, mandarin oranges, and Mariano's orange juice. I tried cucumbers once and didn't like them. 

Photo credit Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

J to Brian Urlacher: Who was your favorite player growing up?

BU: Darren Woodson from the Dallas Cowboys.

J's Follow Up: I just watched some of his (Darren Woodson) YouTube highlights and he was like a bullet on the football field. I saw he was the all-time leading tackler and won 3 Super Bowls. He was awesome.

 Photo credit Simon Bruty / Allsport

Dom to Mike Singletary: Who was your favorite player growing up?

Photo credit Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

MS: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach.

D's Follow Up: I watched his highlights and I think Mike would like Roger Staubach because he did a lot of twists and turns and he would always find a hole to run through. He also is from Texas too like the Cowboys.

Photo Credit Getty Images

We had the opportunity of a lifetime to meet the Monsters of the Midway linebackers, Brian Urlacher, Mike Singletary, and Dick Butkus at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in Rosemont on March 18th, with our friends David and Dominic. To meet all three of these Hall of Fame Bears players at one time in the city where they dominated the gridiron, might very well be a once in a lifetime occasion for us and the other Chicago Bears fans in attendance. 

Photo credit Photofile

Our visit with the football legends was brief as there were many in attendance to be in the presence of greatness. Urlacher, Singletary, and Butkus were larger than life and we were in awe as we lined up next to them for a photo and handshakes. It surely was a moment that the five of us will never forget in our lifetime. Luckily, the boys were able to sneak in a few questions to Urlacher and Singletary after our picture was taken too. Unfortunately, we were all moved along before the boys could ask Dick Butkus their questions.

When you think of greatest linebackers in NFL history, Urlacher, Singletary, and Butkus are all near the top of the list. Meeting the Monsters of the Midway together at one time may be the greatest sports moment we've ever experienced together and we are happy that we can share our adventure on VincentsGo3on3. #BearDown

Harrison Smith - Minnesota Vikings

1) Harrison Smith (#22) is a 3x Pro Bowl safety for the Minnesota Vikings who compete in the NFC North division of the National Football League.

2) Smith attended the University of Notre Dame and was a first round draft choice (29th overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft. Harrison finished out his career as a red shirt senior in 2011 where he served as team captain as recorded 90 tackles and had 3 tackles for loss.

3) Harrison was a three sport athlete in high school where he starred on the basketball and track teams along with the football team. He was a state champion in the high jump and the decathlon.

Photo credit Adam Bettcher / Getty Images

J: Who is the fastest player you've ever played against?

HS: Tyreek Hill. He is the fastest.

J's Follow Up: Tyreek Hill said he was the fastest guy in the NFL so I get why Harrison Smith said that. Harrison has to be really fast to be the free safety too otherwise people would blow right by him.

D: What is your favorite fruit or veggie?

HS: I like asparagus a lot? Do you like veggies?

D's Follow Up: I've never tried asparagus and I think it might be good. My mom just bought some and I'm going try it tomorrow.

Dom: What team do you like to go against the most?

HS: The Bears.

Danny's Follow Up: Yeah. My whole family likes the Bears but I don't. I always want the Vikings to beat the Bears.

Jordan's Follow Up: He probably said that because he was in Chicago with Bears fans. I'm sure he likes to play against the Packers and Lions too.

Harrison Smith is the third and final Minnesota Vikings player we met at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in Rosemont on March 18th. His resume also suggests he's the best player at his position in the NFL as Harrison has been selected to three Pro Bowls in his young career and he was voted First-Team All-Pro in 2017. 

Photo credit Hannah Foslien / Getty Images

Harrison Smith was just as inviting and friendly as his Vikings teammates, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. The First-Team All-Pro safety was quick to reference Tyreek Hill as the fastest player he's played against. We are assuming he is referring to playing against Tyreek in the Pro Bowl game since Harrison's Vikings have not matched up against Tyreek's Chiefs since 2015, which is one year before Tyreek Hill entered the NFL. 

We are still waiting on Danny to try asparagus even though he had his chance at dinner recently. He loves his vegetables more than Jordan does and I'm hopeful he'll give asparagus a shot soon because I'm sure he'll like it.

It was a special opportunity to meet one of the premier safeties in the NFL and he is certainly one of the nicest players we've had a chance to interact with at a signing. We wish him a great 2018 season when he's not playing my Bears (Jordan too) and Danny's Packers. 

Tyreek Hill - Kansas City Chiefs

1) Tyreek Hill (#10) is a wide receiver and return specialist for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.

2) Hill was selected by the Chiefs in the 5th round (165th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft out of the University of West Alabama. 

3) Tyreek is a 2x Pro Bowl player and former USA Today All-American track and field high school sprinter who is widely regarded as the fastest man in the NFL. Hill is nicknamed Cheetah for his incredible speed and can be found on Twitter by his handle @cheetah . 

Photo credit Jamie Squires / Getty Images

D: What are your favorite healthy foods?

Cheetah: My favorite healthy foods? I do not eat healthy foods. I'm sorry to tell you. I eat Popeye's and bad stuff. Candy. I love candy. What about you? What do you like?

D: I like carrots, yogurt, strawberries. I like a lot. 

Cheetah: OK. So you got a little strength to you.

D's Follow Up: I eat some candy at home but I don't really want my friends to see because I'm so good at football. I want to be a good example and eat lots of fruits and veggies in front of them. My dad says I eat too much candy and sugar. I've never been to Popeye's so I don't know if I like it.

J: Are you the fastest man in the NFL?

Cheetah: Me? No, it's him (pointing to the photo of himself). My twin. I've got a twin brother.

J's Follow Up: Of course, how could I have been so blind. I definitely think Tyreek is the fastest guy in the NFL. I want to see Tyreek Hill race a cheetah like Devin Hester did a few years ago. But I also want to see him race John Ross from the Bengals. He's probably the only one with a chance.

The boys and I met Tyreek Hill (a.k.a. Cheetah) at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in Rosemont on March 18th, 2018. The 2x Pro Bowl player has been a highlight reel since bursting onto the NFL scene in 2016. Regarded as the fastest man in the NFL, Tyreek Hill is always one play away from breaking a game wide open. 

Tyreek was all smiles and happy to meet up with two of his young fans in Chicago. J and D came ready with questions and Tyreek was ready to answer. J stepped up first and was looking to hear from the man himself when he asked him if he is the fastest man in the NFL. The Cheetah gave confirmation by telling Jordan that the guy in the picture he was signing was the fastest. Judging by the way he accelerates away from defenders on the field and the fact that he is willing to challenge anyone in the NFL to a race , J got the answer he knew was coming.

Photo credit Justin Edmonds / Getty Images

Danny was up next with his famous healthy food question. Tyreek is not the first athlete to tell us he doesn't always make healthy eating choices. Of course, Danny loved hearing how much Tyreek loves candy but he was also excited to tell Tyreek how much he likes carrots, yogurt, and strawberries. As much as Tyreek works out in the gym and on the field, he has the ability to get away with eating meals that are not always the healthiest option. I'm assuming when he's at the Chiefs facility, they are providing him with more balanced meals to keep the Cheetah running at optimum level.

It was a fun experience meeting Tyreek Hill and we all hope that a little bit of his speed was transferred to us while shaking hands. We look forward to more highlights in the 2018 season!

Mitchell Trubisky (Take 2) - Chicago Bears

1) Mitchell Trubisky (#10) is the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. He was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

2) Trubisky grew up in Ohio where he was a youth and high school football star along with Kansas City Chiefs running back, Kareem Hunt. Mitchell was named 2012 Ohio Mr. Football during his senior season and left as the area's all-time leader in passing yards.

3) Mitchell finished his rookie season with the Chicago Bears as the highest rated rookie quarterback according to Pro Football Focus where he edged out Texans QB Deshaun Watson. Trubisky had 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 330 pass attempts in his 12 starts under center in 2017.

D: Do you have North Carolina winning it all in your NCAA tournament bracket?

MT: Of course! I have them going all the way.

D's Follow Up: I know why he picked North Carolina. Because he went to that college and was a quarterback for North Carolina. He should have picked Villanova. 

Photo credit Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

J: Who was your favorite athlete growing up?

MT: Lebron James. 

J's Follow Up: This makes sense because Lebron James was an Ohio guy and Trubisky is from Ohio. Lebron is probably the best player in the world after Michael Jordan.

Photo credit Getty Images

Dom: What are your favorite restaurants in Libertyville?

MT: Clucker's and Chipotle.

J's Follow Up: I've been to Clucker's and it's really good. I like Chipotle too and it is probably our family's favorite. Clucker's is awesome, especially the chicken! 

Photo credit VisitLakeCounty.org

J: What's your favorite part about living in Chicago?

MT: The fans, the football and the food.

J's Follow Up: I can relate. I especially love the pizza. Bears fans are probably some of the loudest around. Bears football is the best because we get to watch him and the best team in the NFL.

Dom: Who was your favorite Chicago athlete growing up?

MT: Walter Payton

D's Follow Up: My favorite athlete is Ray Nitschke from the Packers. I'm not a fan of many athletes from Chicago. Everyone tells me that Walter Payton was the best running back to ever play in the NFL. I will watch him on YouTube now.

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

It was our second opportunity to meet up with the 23 year old Chicago Bears QB and this time it took place at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in Rosemont on Sunday, March 18th, 2018. J and I (Danny too...) believe Mitchell Trubisky is a future superstar in the NFL and we took advantage of another opportunity shake hands, ask questions, and take pictures with the young quarterback. Once again, Mitchell was courteous and eager to talk with these young NFL football fans. 

Photo credit Chris Gaythen / Getty Images

Mitchell's answers to each question were not a big surprise to us. First, we know Mitchell attended college at North Carolina, so picking the #2 seed to go all the way was a no-brainer for him. Unfortunately, the Tar Heels came up short against the #7 seed Texas A&M in a year that was filled with upsets. Next, was another likely answer to hear when Mitchell told the boys that Lebron James was his favorite athlete growing up. As an Ohio native during most of Lebron's reign as King of the NBA, it makes sense that Trubisky would look up to arguably the world's greatest athlete who happens to play in his home state. Answering the third question, Mitchell quickly responded with Clucker's and Chipotle as two of his favorite spots to grab food in Libertyville. Clucker's is fantastic and we are big fans too and it's widely known that I love Chipotle and may make more visits than anyone, anywhere. 

Ultimately, we think Mitchell Trubisky has a bright future in Chicago and we are excited to have him as the face and leader of the Chicago Bears. We look forward to the 2018 season as Mitchell enters his sophomore season with Da Bears!

Adam Thielen - Minnesota Vikings

1) Adam Thielen #19 is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings who compete in the NFC North division of the National Football League.

2) Thielen played college football at Minnesota State University and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2013. 

3) In his 4th season on the Vikings 53-man roster, Adam became the first Vikings receiver to have a 1,000 yard receiving season since Sidney Rice in 2009. His impressive 2017 season also earned Adam his first Pro Bowl invitation.

D: What's your favorite fruit and veggie?

Adam Thielen: I like oranges and I like cucumbers.

D's Follow Up: I like oranges but not cucumbers. I like big oranges, cuties, halos, mandarin oranges, and orange juice. I tried cucumbers once and didn't like them. 


J: Who's the best quarterback you've ever played against?

Adam Thielen: Well, I've played against Tom Brady. He's pretty good.

J's Follow Up: I really said cornerback but he misheard me. I can still talk about Tom Brady though. It's not a surprise to me that he picked Tom Brady because Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T. and has won 5 Super Bowls and played in 8 of them.

Photo Credit Phelen M Ebenhack / Associated Press

Dom: Who's your best friend on the team?

Adam Thielen: Man, I've got a lot of best friends. Everybody.

Dom: If you had to pick one, who would it be?

Adam Thielen: Well, Cordarralle Patterson was my closest friend but he's not on the team anymore. So probably (Stefon) Diggs.

D's Follow Up: I know Cordarralle Patterson was on the Vikings then the Raiders and now the Patriots. I thought Stefon Diggs was really nice because he smiled a lot and was happy. I would like to be his friend too.

J's Follow Up: Stefon Diggs really wanted to talk to us and was interested in what we had to say. He seems like a fun friend to have.

Photo credit Hannah Foslien/ Getty Images

We met another Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver, Adam Thielen, at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in Rosemont on March 18th. We are very familiar with Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and their Vikings teammates as they play our Chicago Bears and Danny's Packers twice each season. Adam's 2017 season was his best one yet as he posted 91 receptions for 1,276 yards and 4 touchdowns and earned a starting spot in the Pro Bowl along side Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. 

The boys and I found out quickly that Adam Thielen is just as impressive off the field as he is on the field. As we waited in line to meet Adam, the boys and I were talking about how well he catches the ball. When we arrived to the front, Danny asked for a "good luck" handshake, hoping that some of Adam's catching ability would rub off on him. Adam happily obliged and Jordan and Dom both got "good luck" handshakes too and let them know he was excited to meet them. Adam was also happy to take the time to answer each question, even the hard hitting one about his best friend on the Vikings. 

We are big fans of Adam Thielen, especially when he's not going up against our Bears or Packers teams. It was a great opportunity for us to meet one of the two top receivers in the NFC throughout the 2017 NFL season. We look forward to watching Adam and his Vikings in September and we hope he can have another Pro Bowl caliber season in 2018!

Stefon Diggs - Minnesota Vikings

1) Stefon Diggs #14 is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings who compete in the NFC North division of the National Football League. 

2) Diggs attended the University of Maryland and was a fifth round draft choice (146th overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft. He declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season.

3) Stefon Diggs has been one of the top receivers in the NFC throughout his first three NFL seasons, posting regular season totals of 200 receptions, 2,472 receiving yards, and 15 receiving touchdowns. Diggs is most known for his game winning reception dubbed the Minnesota Miracle , where he caught a 61-yard pass from QB Case Keenum that sent the Vikings to the NFC Championship game.

D: Who's your favorite team to go against?

Stefon Diggs: Green Bay. It's always fun.

D's Follow Up: In my opinion Green Bay is the best BRO! Maybe the Vikings were better this year but next year the Packers will be better.

Photo credit Jamie Squire/Getty Images

J: We saw you were just at Mall of America for Nickelodeon Universe's 10 year anniversary celebration. What's your favorite ride at MOA?

Stefon Diggs: Oh, I didn't get on any rides this time but I may do them next time. I don't ride too many roller coasters. I have been on one of the roller coasters. It was an orange one. (Pepsi Orange Streak?) It goes really high and goes straight down. You guys can go on it with me next time though. (Um, yes please!)

Photo credit NickelodeonUniverse.com

J's Follow Up: Rides and roller coasters are awesome. My favorite ride at Mall of America is Brain Surge. My all time favorite roller coasters are Raging Bull and Goliath at Great America and Maverick and Rougarou from Cedar Point. 


Dom: Who was your favorite NFL player growing up?

Stefon Diggs: That's an interesting question. Probably Michael Vick. He was pretty good.

Photo credit Getty Images

Dom's Follow Up: I think Michael Vick was a very good QB because he was fast and had a powerful arm. My favorite player is a tie between Jordan Howard and Mitch Trubisky.

We were fortunate to meet Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver Stefon Diggs at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in Rosemont on March 18th. As huge fans of the NFL and fans of other teams in the NFC (Bears and Packers), we are very familiar with Stefon Diggs and his Vikings teammates. We watched the Vikings all season long as they finished tied for the best record in the NFC in 2017 with 13 wins and 3 losses. The Vikings defense was the top ranked defense in the NFL and the Vikings boasted one of the best wide receiver tandems in the league with Stefon and Adam Thielen. It was a tremendous season for the Vikings and with the addition of Kirk Cousins at quarterback and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, the Vikings are sure to be the NFC North favorites in 2018 and a popular pick to win the Super Bowl.

Stefon Diggs is a tremendous player on the field and we quickly found out he is just as great off of the field. He took his time answering the boys' questions and Stefon and the boys were all smiles during their time together. We saw on Twitter that Stefon was meeting with fans at the Mall of America for hours at the Nickelodeon Universe 10th Anniversary celebration the night before, so we are very thankful that he made it to Chicago on short notice to sign for his fans in the area. We were already big fans of his play on the field before we met him in person but we all left the Chicago Sports Spectacular even bigger fans of the superstar Minnesota Vikings wide receiver. We'll be cheering Stefon on when he's not playing our Bears or Danny's Packers...and we are planning a trip to the Mall of America this summer and we'll be riding everything at Nickelodeon Universe and we'll certainly take Stefon up on his offer to ride with him if he's in town!