By Gregory Trotter, Tribune reporter
5:20 p.m. CDT, July 17, 2014

Being a Pro-Bowl football player doesn't guarantee turf time at Deerfield High School, Chicago Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long found out recently.

Long said he was working out at Deerfield High School Wednesday when he was asked to leave, according to disgruntled dispatches posted on Long's Twitter account.

On Wednesday, Long tweeted:

"Remind me never to go train at Deerfield High School football field again."

And then:

"Something about crushing optional 100 yard sprints that Deerfield HS doesn't like on their vacant fields."

Earlier in the day, Long had asked his Twitter followers which Lake County high schools had turf fields for a workout. He later explained that he was "nostalgic" running on a high school field.

Long later tweeted that the athletic director gave him "the boot at about 3/4 through."

The pro football player, though, said he didn't throw his weight around to persuade school officials to let him stay.

Asked by a Twitter follower whether he informed the school employee who he was, Long responded: "No I'm not much for that kinda thing."


Jennifer Waldorf, spokeswoman for Township School District 113, said the district's turf fields are only for the use of students and staff members during school hours because of insurance liability and maintenance costs.

Signs posted at the field prohibit public use, she said.

While running sprints, Long spotted Athletic Director Robert Ruiz, Waldorf said, and he acknowledged that he likely wasn't allowed on the field. Ruiz confirmed that to be the case.

"I think it was a quick conversation," Waldorf said. "There was no confrontation. … He quickly finished his sprints and left."

Waldorf said Long told Ruiz his first name, but didn't say he was a Bears player.

This isn't the first time a Chicago Bear has been ousted from a suburban high school athletic field.

In 2011, tight end Greg Olsen, who now plays for the Carolina Panthers, said he was kicked off the field at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

Many of Long's Twitter followers said he could come train at their respective high schools in the Chicago suburbs.

Meanwhile, Waldorf extended an olive branch of sorts on behalf of Deerfield High.

"We would certainly welcome him back to practice with the (Deerfield High) Warriors at any time," she said. "We'd love to have him back."

gtrotter@tribune.com

Twitter: @NorthShoreTrib

Copyright © 2014 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC
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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Next time don't cry on twitter about it if you are "not much" for that sort of thing.

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Why is this a story?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

At least he wasn't tossed off at a high school.

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Sort of snobby actions taken by Deerfield when classes are out... I still run on my old high school track when I'm home.

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I lift at my old high school when I'm home to remind all the kids that their youthful physiques will disappear quickly.

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Our track is a MILF walking course when no events. But I guess they are referring to the expensive field turf field specifically.

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Elections have consequences.

I'll bet Danny was behind this--that's the exact field where he made his lasting mark as a JV soccer player. No CTE-suffering neanderthals allowed.

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Soccer 1,2,3
Spanish Honor Society 1,2,3,4
Forensics 1,2,3,4

"Smiles with Nostrils"

"...no Hmong, go find some blacks"

he sent out a tweet asking what HS has play turf,with the black rubber, with lines because he wanted to run on it.

Now I dont know why he wanted to run on that, but hasnt this been an issue with other players in the past? Why do players feel the need to go elsewhere other than the Bears facility!

And I guess it is tough to replicate Soldier field.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Poor guy had to leave The Duck facility and come to the McCheapskeys and their cheapest facility they could build, then tell everyone it is state of the art!

WHENEVER YOU BUILD SOMETHING IT SHOULD BE START OF THE ART WHEN YOU BUILD IT!

The bears facility is a warehouse, cheaply built, cheap materials, doors, carpet, etc etc....

I am sure they are saving up to build their new stadium!!!

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Someone mentioned the same thing happening to Greg Olsen at Stevenson H.S. When I was a kid, Hawks Defenseman Keith Brown used to run up and down a public sledding hill with a tire around his waist. Obviously, we had him arrested.

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Soccer 1,2,3
Spanish Honor Society 1,2,3,4
Forensics 1,2,3,4

"Smiles with Nostrils"

"...no Hmong, go find some blacks"

Its been an issue of bears players going other places to workout and practice. I wouldnt be surprised if these places where in the west burbs or the city, because they didnt want to drive to lake forest, but WTF, they are all within 20 mins of Lake forest.

How does not every player have an ID to get in and out anytime they want to run or workout

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

That kind of talk is getting dangerously close to pernicious myth territory!

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dey tro nickels aroun like manehole covers!

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Some owners have an image of being cheap, then some people come to the defense of the owners with look how much they spent on ______.

The Bears are amazingly cheap. Yes, the spend the max on players, so does almost every NFL team, because they are making so much money, spending to the cap is like doing the bare minimum.

Other owners release players under amnesty and then the 'he isnt cheap' rumor flys around. I would say Jerry is just responsible. He isn't cheap, but he spends what they have. Boozer was Amnestied because they have tons of cash on hand to be able to do that. He wasnt going to create an organizational loss in order to amnesty Booze. Just wasnt a really tough call to make and not a reach financially either. Let me also add, it's not really Jerrys money. I am not going to say he doesnt care, but he doesnt own that much of the Bulls, he runs them. He owns 50% of the UC. Thats the money

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Douches all around, the school and Long

I don't know this for sure, but I was under the impression that he actually owned more of the Bulls (like around one-third) than the White Sox (maybe like 15%). But yeah, owning the UC is where the money is, for sure. That's how the Blackhawks can "lose money" the way they claim to without going out of business.

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