Ex-Bear Evey returns to Fire

The Chicago Fire found strength in the familiar now-familiar words of Theodore Roosevelt yesterday and also took heart in the return of Dick Evey.

Reading from an inspirational Roosevelt address, invoked by President Nixon in resigning last week, was Maurie Daigneau, designated poet following the Fire's practice at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines.

"Roosevelt spoke of the main the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood," said Daigneau. "Who strives valiantly. Who errs and comes up short, again and again, because there is not effort in shortcoming."

"Who knows the great enthusiasms, great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievement. And with the worse, he fails at least while daring greatly.

"The Fire had known triumphs of high achievement four times, and now we have known failure," added Daigneau. "We must rededicate ourselves never to know failure again, and that starts with Wednesday's game against Philadelphia." His teammates cheered and appluaded.

Ressurrected along with Roosevelt's words yesterday was Evey, an ex-Bear defensive end who walked out of the Fire's Lake Forest camp on June 23 and asked to be retired.

FIRE Personnel Director Bill Byrne summoned the 33-year-old Evey three days ago from Knoxville, Tenn., where the NFL veteran operates a construction company.

"I felt like I had lost face when I arrived," confided Evey. "I was just getting into shape when I first decided to leave camp in June. My legs were still bothering me, and I wasn't sure if I could do the job.

"But the Fire feels I can help them now," he added, "especially the youngsters. Once I get my wind, I should be all right. But, at my age, you can't promise much. The Fire understands that."

Noted Coach Jim Spavital: "it's not that we're concerned about our pass rush, just concerned about beefing up our back up men. We have as many sacks as any WFL team. We'll check his condition and see if we'll activate him this week."