Mike Ditka speaks out against proposed Chicago smoking ban

"Da Coach," Mike Ditka is also a Chicago restaurant owner. And a cigar smoker. He testified in front of Chicago's city council today.

From CBS 2 Chicago:

Mike Ditka was one of many restaurant owners who engaged in a heated debate Tuesday morning about the city’s proposed smoking ban.

The debate raged at City Hall as public hearings on the proposed ban were held. If the measure is approved, Chicago will have the most restrictive anti-smoking ordinance in the nation, tougher even than New York City and Los Angeles.

Various health experts also came to City Hall to testify on behalf of the ordinance as restaurant and bar owners called for its defeat. “All you are trying to do is really hurt the restaurant business and the rest of the businesses’ business, really,” Ditka said. “And that bothers me a lot"

Best not to get Ditka bothered.

More Ditka-talk:

“Now, I drove down Michigan Avenue yesterday, and I bring this up as a point. I got behind a CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) bus, and I thought I would be asphyxiated,” Ditka said. “Are we going to outlaw CTA buses?”