Coach Mike Ditka suffers 'very minor' stroke

[Mr. Laz]

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka suffers 'very minor stroke'

Mike Ditka prepares to do a radio segment as players and coaches from the 1985 Chicago Bears championship team gathered at the Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place in 2010. (Terrence Antonio James/Tribune Photo / November 16, 2012)

By Dan Pompei, Tribune reporter7:59 p.m. CST, November 16, 2012

Former Bears coach and Hall of Fame player Mike Ditka was hospitalized Friday after suffering what he said doctors told him was a "very minor stroke."

Contacted Friday evening, Ditka said, "I feel good right now and it’s not a big deal."

Ditka was at a suburban country club playing cards Friday when he noticed his hands “weren’t working quite right,” and then he had a problem speaking.

Ditka, 73, has not had any major health problems in recent years. But in 1988 when he was coaching the Bears he suffered a heart attack. He was back at work within a week.

ESPN producer Seth Markman tweeted that Ditka will not be on the NFL shows from Bristol, Connecticut, this weekend.