Temperatures are expected to be freezing in Chicago ahead of Sunday’s divisional playoff game between the Bears and Los Angeles Rams, but there will be a warm-up event to get the crowd at Soldier Field excited.
Jim Cornelison will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” as Mike Tirico told ESPN1000’s “Waddle and Silvy” on Friday, with the legendary anthem singer’s performance set to air on NBC.
“We felt it when we watched the Blackhawks game on NBC,” Tirico said. “I experienced it at the Indy 500 in my home state of Indiana, where Jim sang. On Saturdays during pre-race rehearsals for the Indy 500, I would walk out just to be there and hear Jim sing in rehearsal so I could hear it live on Sunday. It’s the best anthem you can hear in any race, any year… that place [Soldier Field] It would be 11 out of 10. “
Cornelison, 61, began singing the national anthem at Chicago Blackhawks games in 1996 and took on the role full-time in 2007. His pregame anthem drew attention during the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup games in the 2010s.
Soldier Field also heard his roaring pipes heard many times before Bears games. But it’s the national anthem on Sunday that will likely bring him the biggest reaction, as he’ll be playing in the NFC Championship Game.
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Cornelison won’t be the only star not on the court but in the building on Sunday night. Brandon Martinez, better known as “The Cheese Grater Guy,” received a free ticket from Miller Lite after going viral during last week’s win over the Green Bay Packers.
It’s unclear whether “Bill Swerski’s biggest fans” will also be in attendance to cheer on the Big Bears.
