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. ** But At Least STAFF PHOTOS BY WAYNE GAYLORD 1 He Was A For one week, Jim Thayer lived the dream that hundreds of children dream, and hundreds of parents dream for their children-He was a Chicago Bear. He was a place kicker for a bonafide professional football team. Thursday, the dream ended for Jim Thayer. No, Jim Thayer wasn't awakened from his dream by the shrill ringggging of an alarm clock signaling another day of work, or by the crisp slapppp of a teachers ruler upon the child's desk. Rather, Jim Thayer was awakened from his dream by Pat Fichter, a Bear assistant coach, who delivered the news that, "Sorry Jim, but we're going to have to let you go" And, unlike the hopeful child or the overeager parent who can return to his dream the next night or day, the door swings only oneWay for Jim Thayer-out. "I didn't get a fair shot, nbt even a chance to kick. I kicked one field goal and that's air'. Jim Thayer * cut by Bears Thursday, July 28, Jim Thayer, kicker, was cut from the Chicago Bears. The news came swiftly. As he was headed for the locker room after practice, a practice in which he attempted only one field goal, the coach called him over to some vacant bleachers, and gave him the news. Many veterans walked past Thayer and the coach as they sat and talked alone, but none even blinked an eye. They'd seen players cut before, and they'll see more players cut. Except for a very few, even the veterans worry that they may be next Thayer's departure leaves sixty-six hopefuls wearing the blue and orange jerseys of a professional football team. Only forty-three will remain when the season begins. Bob Thomas, the kicker who beat Thayer out of a job, was the only veteran who attempted any consoling words. But what could he say to the man he helped fire? There were tears, which Thayer wiped away with his jersey sleeve. Somehow his o Bear For A WeekI shirt number, 2, was not apropos. In the world of placekicking, there is no No. 2. It's either No. 1 or out For those who know the world of professional football wily from a television set, it is somewhat difficult to understand how someone can cry over a 'game'. It must be remembered, though, that football is not a game to Jim Thayer, it's a career. It WAS a career. \ What happens to the "has beens" and "nerver wases" of professional football? For Jim Thayer, it is a time to return to his home in Las Vegas, and to his job at a major hotel. It's also a time to reflect on what wait wrong, and to attempt to understands? he was dropped from a team without, in his words, "even being given a chance." The bitterness toward the Chicago organization shows. "It's a blow. I don't understand it, and probably won't all the way home. There must be some reason that I just don't comprehend right now. I'm sure later that I'll realise why it happened and learn something from it. I was looking forward to the game Saturday (the Bears played the New York Jets). I didn't know if I'd play, but was looking forward to going, and maybe getting a shot. "I didn't even get a chance to show what I could do," he sobbed for the umpteenth time. "All I want is a fair shot." A 'fair shot', of course, is in the eyes of the beholder. According to Bear head coach, Jade Pardee, Thayer received the opportunity to show what he could do. "He was kicking with Thomas, and Thomas was kicking the ball fifteen yards farther than he was. Thayer isn't a scatter-leg kicker. His balls were down the middle, but he just didn't have the distance. 'Tve talked with Jim several times, but he just doesn't have a strong enough leg right now. If he works hard and builds his leg up, maybe he'll hook on with some team. "Cutting a player is one of the toughest things a coach has to do," Pardee said. "It's never,pleasant. But at this stage of the game, (the first weeks of camp) the players know if they belong. A linebacker who runs the forty-yard dash in 5.3 while everyone else runs it in 4.8, knows it's just a matter of time. "The players know. The handwriting is on the wall," Pardee added. "What we try to ^ do is take a player aside and tell him so he can clear out his gear between practice sessions. We try to ma^eit the least embarassing as possible. But, there's no easy way. The one thing we don't want is for a player to read about getting cut in the newspapers or hear it on the radio." - With Thayer's cut Thomas remained the only placekicker in camp. Does that mean ^said. "We've been pteasedVSKSaXt we don't know what other teams have and who might come up on waivers." Bear fans who recall that last season, even an extra point attempt with Thomas was an adventure, certainly must be concerned with the absence of competition in camn As for competition for Thomas in camp, Pardee doesn't think it's a bad idea But Jim Thayer apparently wasn't the type of competition Pardee was lockir* for. "They only have room for one kicker. It's tough if you don't play another position or two." Bob Thomas Bear place-kicker The Bears are the second team that has cut Thayer without, in his opinion, a fair fhance;ia,t ye". k®ah the luxurious campus at the University off Nevada-Las Vegas, Thayer was dumped from the Kansas City Chiefs roster, again after just one But keep an eye on pro football rosters in the next several weeks. Jim Thayer is not That's one of the nice things about dreams. They don't have to end if you don't want diem to. And maybe, just maybe, the next time Jinj Thayer lives the dream of being a professional football player-nobody will wake him up. Get VAGES-PLAINDEALER- WEDNESDAY, AUGUST J, He Didn't A *Kick Bah Thomas kicked (right) while Jim Thayer (left) watched, before Thayer was given the news hy assistant ceach Pat Fichter (heiew) that he was being cat by the Chicago Bears. After being given the news, Thomas and Thayer taked, (left belew), before Thayer anA a close friend console one another (far below), as the reaUsatieB sets in that Thayer is no laager a member sf a professional football team.