362 Payton had first outwardly expressed: “Payton Considers Buying NFL Team,” The Washington Post, August 7, 1986.
363 Payton and Clinton were first introduced: Thomas, “4-Wheel Drive: Unusual Quartet Homes in on Paydirt,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 20, 1993.
363 “This is a difficult track”: Clinton and Rains. Accept the Challenge, 57.
363 “Jerry was just kind of an ego guy”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 144.
364 Despite mounting hostilities between: Poor, “Fumbled Away; Behind-the-Scenes Turmoil Doomed NFL Hopes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 5, 1993.
364 Shortly thereafter, bonds to: Thomas, “4-Wheel Drive: Unusual Quartet Homes in on Paydirt,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 20, 1993.
365 “The demographics are there”: Mitchell, “St. Louis could become Payton’s place,” Chicago Tribune, March 11, 1990. 366 “You know what?”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 145.
366 On September 9, 1993, the partnership: Poor, “Fumbled Away; Behind-the-Scenes Turmoil Doomed NFL Hopes,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 5, 1993.
368 Although Walter Payton would never: Brian Hewitt, “Payton High-steps Into the Hall,” Chicago Sun-Times, January 31, 1993.
368 “I have mixed emotions”: Jay Mariotti, “Was Vote Unanimous? It Doesn’t Matter, Walter,” Chicago Sun-Times, January 31, 1993.
368 One week later Payton, citing: Pierson, “Payton misses his Hall induction,” Chicago Tribune, February 7, 1993.
369 Around this same time, Payton also turned: Ivan Maisel, “Historical Perspective,” The Dallas Morning News, February 21, 1993.
369 A couple of days later, Payton groused: Pierson, “Ex-teammates’ snub hurts: Payton,” Chicago Tribune, February 14, 1993.
369 The first person to come to mind was Jim Finks: “Finks Was to Present Payton,” The Times-Picayune, August 1, 1993.
373 He missed an important Thursday: Mariotti, “Honors Day Tugs, Tears At Payton,” Chicago Sun-Times, August 1, 1993.
374 “This is an historic event that my dad”: Steve Springer, “Younger Payton steals show,” Houston Chronicle, August 1, 1993.
CHAPTER 24
382 “He ate junk”: Mark Konkol, “Restaurant employee turned into good friend,” Chicago Sun-Times, November 1, 2009.
389 He spent several years as a member of the Chicago: “Presenters named for 1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement,” Business Wire, July 15, 1993.
CHAPTER 25
393 He underwent further testing: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 202.
394 He delighted in seeing his boy: Charley Walters, “What? Moss Wants to Play Pro Basketball, Too,” Saint Paul Pioneer Press, June 2, 1998.
394 “I wasn’t as hungry”: Walter Payton, interview by Larry King, Larry King Live, February 3, 1999.
394 He swigged from bottles of Pepto-Bismol: Payton, Payton, and Payton, Payton, 145.
394 “I had been traveling between Chicago”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 203.
395 Tests were conducted: Payton, Payton, and Payton. Payton, 145.
396 “His health was [starting to affect] his business”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 204.
396 “I was not panic-stricken at this point”: Ibid.
398 When Charley Walters, a staff columnist: Walters, “Hall of Famer Payton at Mayo Clinic,” Saint Paul Pioneer Press, January 3, 1999.
399 Gores explained to Payton: Don Babwin, “Doctors Discuss Payton’s Condition,” Associated Press, November 1, 1999.
399 “I was at level three”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 206.
399 “This won’t get any better”: Walter Payton, interview by Larry King, Larry King Live, February 3, 1999.
399 The average wait for a liver in Illinois: Joe Gergen, “Description Irked Payton,” Newsday, February 4, 1999.
399 The success rate was 88 percent: Bud Shaw, “Payton Puts Sports, Life In Perspective,” The Plain Dealer, February 4, 1999.
401 On the afternoon of January 29, 1999: Steve Tucker, “Miami a sweet choice for Payton’s son,” Chicago Sun-Times, January 30, 1999.
401 “Miami is the best fit for me as a student”: D. L. Cummings, “UM Feels Chipper Over Blue-Chippers,” The Miami Herald, February 1, 1999.
401 That evening Mark Giangreco: Robert Feder, “Giangreco offers apology for jokes about Payton,” Chicago Sun-Times, February 3, 1999.
402 “That upset me beyond what you can”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 212.
403 He gripped a white microphone: Cote, “Day of Irony for Payton Family,” The Miami Herald, February 3, 1999.
404 “There was some unspoken comfort level”: Shaw, “Payton Puts Sports, Life In Perspective,” The Plain Dealer, February 4, 1999.
404 Toward the end, Jiggets asked Payton: Mike Lupica, “Sweetness Needs Liver: Explains, Doesn’t Complain,” New York Daily News, February 3, 1999.
404 Payton was the marquee guest: Larry King Live, February 3, 1999.
406 Jay Leno sent a note that read: Steve Schoenfeld, “Greene Lays Down The Law,” The Arizona Republic, February 14, 1999.
406 “Cry for him, pray for him”: Mariotti, “Payton’s dignity shines through life’s dim reality,” Chicago Sun-Times, February 4, 1999.
406 “Never before have we had anything”: Erica Key, “Payton sparks rise in organ donations,” The Bloomington (Indiana) Pentagraph, February 5, 1999.
406 Some thirty-odd letters came from people: Don Yaeger, “One of a Kind,” Sports Illustrated, November 8, 1999.
407 Payton wrote back, and kept: Jeff Pearlman, “A Hard Burden to Bear,” Sports Illustrated, February 22, 1999.
407 In early February a spokeswoman for Payton: “Payton’s Disease Progressing,” Associated Press, February 12, 1999.
407 In April Dr. Joe Lagattuta, one of Payton’s: Leslie Cummings, “Payton’s doctor says hero has good chance,” Chicago Daily Herald, April 16, 1999.
408 “I don’t feel sorry for myself”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 225.
CHAPTER 26
410 When Payton was introduced: Rick Gano, “Payton makes first pitch for Cubs,” Associated Press, April 12, 1999.
410 On the day after the first pitch: “Payton Fatigued After His Appearance at Cubs Opener,” Chicago Tribune, April 13, 1999.
411 Payton’s final public appearance came: Teresa Mask, “Faith gave Payton strength in last days, pastor says,” Chicago Daily Herald, November 4, 1999.
413 “One time we got stuck in traffic”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 235.
413 “I never heard him say, ‘Why me?’ ”: Ibid., 248.
414 That night, October 28, 1999: Stephen Nidetz, “Payton’s Son Called Home,” Chicago Tribune, October 29, 1999.
CHAPTER 27
417 On the morning of April 5, 2000: Judith Cookis, “Payton’s widow shares family memories,” Chicago Daily Herald, April 6, 2000.
418 President Bill Clinton issued a statement: No byline, “Clinton Statement on Payton,” Associated Press, November 1, 1999.
418 A former Burger King drive-thru worker: “Remembering Walter,” Chicago Daily Herald, November 7, 1999.
422 Between fifteen thousand and twenty thousand spectators: Mask, “A most sweet sendoff,” Chicago Daily Herald, November 7, 1999.
422 The Sweet Holy Spirit Gospel Choir sang: “Payton’s Soldier Field ‘encore,’ ” The Star-Ledger (Newark), November 7, 1999.
422 “In some respects”: J. A. Adande, “Memories of Payton Raise Cheers During Service at Soldier Field,” Los Angeles Times, November 7, 1999.
422 “I remember this guy playing on this field”: John Mullin, “Inspirational Leader Recalled,” Chicago Tribune, November 7, 1999.
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Anderso
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Berghaus, Bob. Black & Blue: A Smash-Mouth History of the NFL’s Roughest Division. Cincinnati, Oh.: Clerisy Press, 2007.
Clinton, Jerry, with Rob Rains. Accept The Challenge. St. Louis, Miss.: Reedy Press, 2007.
Conrad, Dick. Walter Payton: The Running Machine. Chicago: Childrens Press, 1979.
Cramer, Richard Ben. Joe DiMaggio: The Hero’s Life. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.
D’Amato, Gary, and Cliff Christi. Mudbaths & Bloodbaths. Black Earth, Wisc.: Prairie Oak Press, 1997.
Davies, David R. The Press and Race: Mississippi Journalists Confront the Movement. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi, 2001.
Davis, Jeff. Papa Bear: The Life and Legacy of George Halas. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Delsohn, Steve. Da Bears! New York: Crown Archetype, 2010.
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Halas, George, with Gwen Morgan and Arthur Veysey. Halas by Halas. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1979.
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INDEX
Page numbers followed by an n refer to notes at the bottom of the page.
Abercrombie, Walter
Adamle, Mike
affairs. See under women
agent. See Holmes, Paul H. “Bud”
Alberts, Mark
Albrecht, Ted
Allen, Egypt
All-Star football team
Anderson, Neal:
drafted
injury
1986 season
Payton’s blocks for
as Payton’s replacement
as starting fullback
success of
Andrews, Tom
Armstrong, Neill:
background
on Baschnagel
coaching style
death threat
drive of
hired as coach
initial meeting with Payton
moodiness of Payton
1978 season
1979 season
1980 season
1981 season
replaced by Ditka
Ascher, Scott
athleticism of Payton:
balance
in college career
in professional career
spatting technique
stiff-arm tactic
training regime
in youth
Atlanta Falcons
Atlas, Ron
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
auto racing of Payton
Avellini, Bob:
on Armstrong
and Finks
on Gault
irritation with Payton
limitations of
linemen’s regard for
1976 season
1977 season
1978 season
1979 season
1982 season
on personality of Payton
release of
on tackling Payton
Baker, T. J.
Baltimore Colts
Bannister, Frank, Jr.
Barba
ro, Gar y
Barnhardt, Tommy
Bartkowski, Steve
Baschnagel, Brian:
on Gillman
1976 season
1977 season
1979 season
1985 season
Super Bowl XX
Becker, Kurt
Beckman, Witt
Bell, Todd
Berry, Raymond
Black College All-American Football Team (1971)
Blackmon, Don
Bleier, Rocky
Bortz, Mark
Boston, Charles:
background
and college-bound seniors
and college recruiters
as Columbia High’s receivers’ coach
and Eddie Payton
Hall of Fame induction
initial interaction with Payton
and integration
as Jefferson High’s coach
and jersey number
plays designed for Payton
and running style of Payton
bowl games:
college bowls
Pro Bowls See also Super Bowl XX
Brandt, Gil
Brazile, Robert:
on athleticism of Payton
on attire of Payton
College All-Star football team
on Connie Norwood
East-West Shrine Game
on future of Payton
on Heisman campaign
and Holmes
Mavericks game
NFL draft (1975)
relationship with Payton
talent of
Brewer, Jill
Brockington, John
Brown, Jim:
all-purpose yards record
all-time rushing record
on athleticism of Payton
background
Payton-Harris showdown
Payton’s regard for
skills of
social and political activism
Brupbacher, Ross
Bryant, Bear
Bryant, Waymond
Buffalo Bills
Buffone, Doug
Buford, Maury
Buick events
Bunting, John
business dealings of Payton. See investments and business dealings
Butkus, Dick
Butler, Kevin
Sweetness Page 59
