It all started with a little trash-talking.
Randy Gonigam, a Chicago furniture store owner and "huge Bears fan," got tired of players bragging about their defence, so he decided to do something about it.
Over Labour Day weekend, Gonigam's World Furniture Mall offered customers free furniture -- up to $10,000 US -- if the Chicago Bears shut out the Green Bay Packers in their season opener.
Four quarters, 206 customers and about $300,000 later, Gonigam is still a little shell-shocked.
"This is beyond our wildest dreams," he said.
The Bears blanked the Packers 26-0 Sunday, ending Green Bay's 233-game scoring streak and giving Brett Favre the first shutout of his 16-year NFL career.
The idea that it was a long shot didn't keep him from insuring the store for up to $300,000 worth of furniture with a company that specializes in insuring prize reimbursements.
TRIPLE GOOSE EGG: The three shutouts on the NFL's opening weekend marked the first time in 15 years that three teams went scoreless in a single weekend.
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Football/2006/09/13/1833942-sun.html
Randy Gonigam, a Chicago furniture store owner and "huge Bears fan," got tired of players bragging about their defence, so he decided to do something about it.
Over Labour Day weekend, Gonigam's World Furniture Mall offered customers free furniture -- up to $10,000 US -- if the Chicago Bears shut out the Green Bay Packers in their season opener.
Four quarters, 206 customers and about $300,000 later, Gonigam is still a little shell-shocked.
"This is beyond our wildest dreams," he said.
The Bears blanked the Packers 26-0 Sunday, ending Green Bay's 233-game scoring streak and giving Brett Favre the first shutout of his 16-year NFL career.
The idea that it was a long shot didn't keep him from insuring the store for up to $300,000 worth of furniture with a company that specializes in insuring prize reimbursements.
TRIPLE GOOSE EGG: The three shutouts on the NFL's opening weekend marked the first time in 15 years that three teams went scoreless in a single weekend.
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Football/2006/09/13/1833942-sun.html
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