Kids win in Netsch-Bears squabble // Youngsters see Cardinals game from skyboxes

Walter A. Netsch used the language of diplomacy to describeaffairs last night at his "house."

"We have a peaceful rapprochement," the Chicago Park Districtboard president said from his Soldier Field skybox before the Bears'preseason game with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The reconciliation between the Park District and the Bears overcontrol of the stadium's skyboxes is probably only temporary, but itspared some 24 underprivileged youths from adult politics last nightand gave them a dream view of their Bears.

"It's like being on top of the world," said Roger Love, 17, ashe and his buddies from the Lawndale Fellowship of Christian Athleteswalked into one of the two plush skyboxes reserved for the youths.Other youths came from Jones Memorial Childrens Hospital, theMaryville Academy foster home and the Jesse White Tumblers from theCabrini-Green housing complex, who performed at half- time.

Bears' President Michael McCaskey, who invited the youths, hadintended them to sit in two of the four skyboxes adjacent to thepress box. Netsch said last week those boxes were for the ParkDistrict and its guests because they were built at district expense.

"It's like (our) house," Netsch said Friday in response to theBears' claim to control over the skyboxes.

The two sides settled the dispute temporarily last night bybringing the kids to McCaskey's skybox and to one just aboveNetsch's. Both offered the usual amenities - upholstered chairs,closed-circuit television, refrigerators and ice-cube makers - and anadded touch for the kids: hot dogs and chili sauce simmering on thebars.

"And we've made sure there is no beer," Netsch said, opening arefrigerator full of Pepsi.

While the youngsters were happy, the adult camps agreed tocontinue to disagree. McCaskey's brother, Pat McCaskey, the Bears'director of community involvement, said the arrangements were "finefor tonight."

"We have our stand," he said, "and future games are still anissue for us with the skyboxes."

For Danny Greenwood, 13, a patient at Jones, the only importantissue of the night was seeing "the Fridge." With injured Bears widereceiver Dennis McKinnon sitting by his side in the box, he beamed:"Nobody's head is in my way tonight."

Neither were the grown-ups.