The Wieners Circle gives away free hot dogs after Ben Johnson goes shirtless to celebrate Bears win
Chicago Bears fans had an extra reason to celebrate the team's big win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday: free hot dogs from The Wieners Circle on Tuesday.
Last month, the famed hot dog stand had offered free hot dogs if head coach Ben Johnson took his shirt off after any Bears victory this season.
Asked at the time if he'd take his shirt off after a victory to force The Wieners Circle, 2622 N. Clark St., to make good on its bet, Johnson played it coy.
"It's a little disturbing. Why would we want to see that?" Johnson said. "I'm a man of the people, so time will tell."
While the Bears went on to win four of their next five games after The Wieners Circle's challenge, but Johnson didn't decide to go shirtless until their 24-15 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles on Friday.
Johnson stripped off his shirt in the jubilant visiting team's locker room in Philadelphia after the win.
"I know you guys are hungry for more, right? Let me tell you something, the city of Chicago is hungry, too. They're hungry for some hot dogs!" Johnson said before leading his team in their victory chant, "Good, better, best. Never let it rest till your good gets better and your better gets best."
With that, The Wieners Circle did indeed give away free hot dogs on Tuesday. The giveaway began 11 a.m. and continued as long as supplies lasted.
It was sunny Tuesday morning, but temperatures were only in the teens to lower 20s. Diehard Bears fans didn't care as they lined up early outside the hot dog stand.
Al Kindle was first in line at the Wieners Circle to get a free hot dog. He was there before 8 a.m., more than three hours ahead of time.
He put on four pairs of pants, an electric heated jacket, and other proper garments.
"I have on some other electric underthings that I won't mention, but that also includes heat pads in my shoes. I got heat pads in my hands," Kindle said. "I'm prepared. And I'm warm-hearted. I believe in our people and our city and our county. Go Bears!"
Kindle also lauded The Wieners Circle for its efforts.
"I support the Wiener and the owner for doing this, for inspiring our city to be positive," he said.
Wieners Circle owner Ari Levy chuckled at Kindle's choice of words that shortened his hot dog stand's name. CBS News Chicago caught up with him as thousands of poppyseed buns from S. Rosen's were getting delivered for the giveaway Tuesday.
David Weinberg, known by his social media handle "I Am Trash Paint," was out for the occasion too. Weinberg comes to Soldier Field for every Bears game for a chance to win free art for the best trash talk — and he brought his routine to The Wieners Circle too.
Weinberg brought garbage drums full of artwork, and urged people to trash talk rival teams, such as the Green Bay Packers. He got cheers from the crowd in line when he asked them, "Is Green Bay trash?"
Meanwhile, CBS News Chicago had to know — what kind of free hot dog challenge involving the Bears is Levy cooking up next?
"Something that channels Bill Veeck. Maybe the Stanford band — you know, something really wacky. Maybe something around the Super Bowl, but not sure yet," Levy said. "If anyone has any ideas, send us a message on Twitter or Instagram."
For those unfamiliar, Bill Veeck was the owner of the Chicago White Sox who introduced the exploding scoreboard that shot off fireworks every time the Sox hit a home run, and who encouraged Harry Caray to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch — a tradition that Caray took with him from the White Sox to the Cubs. Veeck didn't have anything directly to do with the Bears, but his name remains synonymous with joyful bells and whistles in Chicago.
The Stanford band that Levy said would be the Stanford University marching band, though there are other marching bands from closer schools.
The hot dog stand famous for serving up hot dogs with good-natured, profanity-laced insults directed at its customers already gave free hot dogs away in September to celebrate another big Bears victory.
They had vowed to give away free hot dogs if quarterback Caleb Williams threw for four touchdowns against the Cowboys in Week 3. He did just that, and The Wieners Circle made good on their promise.