Reports: Mike Ditka has minor stroke

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2009 file photo, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka speaks at a news conference in Chicago. ESPN producer Seth Markman says Ditka suffered a minor stroke Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. / AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File

CHICAGO Hall of Famer Mike Ditka has had a minor stroke, an ESPN producer said.

ESPN's Seth Markman posted on Twitter that the former Chicago Bears coach and player fell ill Friday and will not appear on the network's NFL shows this weekend.

Markman wrote that Ditka "wanted everyone to know he's ok."

Ditka did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press.

He told the Chicago Tribune he was feeling "good right now and it's not a big deal." He was playing cards at a suburban country club Friday when he noticed his hands "weren't working quite right," and he then started having difficulty speaking.

The 73-year-old Ditka had a heart attack during the 1988 season when he was coaching the Bears.

The stroke came on the same day that a Lake County prosecutor said in court that Ditka's son, Mark E. Ditka, tested positive for opiates during a pretrial screening earlier this month, according to the Tribune. The younger Ditka is awaiting trial on his fourth DUI charge.

[rcbcd50]

Mike had what is called a TIA (transient ischemic attack) there can be several causes including heart realted, carotid artery disease, diabetes, ect...in a small percent a TIA can lead to a full blown CVA...I would assume that Mr Ditka has had excellent medical workup and all is well he will be on some sort of antiplatlet therapy and agressive medical management ongoing ( cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Blood sugars, ect) Remember that TIA are not to be taken lightly

[npbstl]

At least somebody got it right ! NO STROKE. Had a TIA 3 months ago.

[MLHoenig0510]

I watched my Mother recede from the world over the final 20 years of her life via TIAs; I knew immediately that Coach Ditka had one, simply by the descriptors: slurred speech coupled with a "just plain wrong" feeling in the extremities.

Not only did my Mother black out and fall several times, she related to me one of her early TIAs, before they were diagnosed as such. She was driving on I-635 (the LBJ Freeway as it's known in D/FW) when she went blind for a few seconds. We and every driver around her were extremely lucky that day...

Yes...I know *very well* what happened to Coach.

Hope he and his family don't go through what my brother and I did; a slow deterioration of the person who is Coach Ditka.

All my best to Coach and his family!

[46tallison]

I really hope he is ok!!