Sweetness (80 page)

133
More than two hours after he was selected, Tom Siler
: Tom Siler, “Walter Payton—Gifted Runner,”
The Sporting News
, February 15, 1975.

133
“We’ve been sweating it out”
: Robert Markus, “Bears go after ‘little big man’ in first draft pick,”
Chicago Tribune
, January 29, 1975.

134
“He was easy to find on film”
: Pierson, “ ‘If the people of Chicago give me some time and be patient, I’ll give them a new Gale Sayers,’ ”
Chicago Tribune,
November 7, 1999.

134
Bud Holmes, however, wasn’t sold
: Downing, “J-State Pair ‘Buzzing’ After Hearing Draft News,”
The Clarion-Ledger
, January 29, 1974.

136
“There are other leagues”
: Pierson, “Elusive Payton talks,”
Chicago Tribune
, January 30, 1975.

138
“Walter, they ain’t got no grits”
: Bill McGrane,
Sweetness
, (Los Angeles: National Football League Book, 1988), 8.

139
“The major deciding factor was that it has been his life’s”
: Ed Stone, “Bears sign Payton for big bucks,”
Chicago Tribune
, June 4, 1975.

CHAPTER 11

140
“Gale Sayers has been my idol”
: Pierson, “Payton shows up . . . with his agent,”
Chicago Tribune
, February 4, 1975.

141
It was once said that if Helen of Troy
: Jack Schnelder, “Gibron Brings New Image to NFL—300 Pounds,”
The Sporting News
, September 14, 1972.

142
Halas was born on February 2, 1895
: Eugene Carlson, “George Halas Put Pro Football in Big Leagues,”
Wall Street Journal
, June 20, 1989.

142
In helping the Illini capture the 1918
: Arthur Daley, “Story of the Papa Bear,”
The New York Times
, December 7, 1951.

143
The Staleys finished 10-1-2
: Frank Graham, “Keeper of the Bears,”
New York Journal-American
, March 5, 1947.

143
“I’m afraid we can’t make a go of it”
: Ibid.

143
It came on the morning of January 30, 1922:
Jerry Liska, “Halas: Last of a Series,”
Associated Press
, December 12, 1962.

144
As Frank Graham wrote
: Frank Graham, “Keeper of the Bears,”
New York Journal-American
, March 5, 1947.

144
In 1933, Halas, along with Redskins owner:
Jerry Liska, “Halas: Last of a Series,”
Associated Press
, December 12, 1962.

144
He also added—among other things
: Frank Deford, “ ‘I Don’t Date any Woman Under 48,’ ”
Sports Illustrated
, December 5, 1977.

144
“Our game has assumed many of the characteristics”
: Cooper Rollow, “Papa Bear,”
The Sporting News
, November 14, 1983.

145
“The juices of humanity seem to have been squeezed”
: Bill Furlong, “George Halas: Saint or Sinner?”
The Sporting News
, December 15, 1962.

145
“[Halas],” wrote Furlong
: Richard W. Johnston, “Chicago: The Once and Future Bears,”
Sports Illustrated
, December 9, 1974.

145
The Bears, wrote Jerry Green of
The Sporting News: Jerry Green, “New Era for Bears With Finks,”
The Sporting News,
September 28, 1974.

146
“I have the authority to hire or fire”
: Ibid.

146
A quarterback with the Steelers from
: William N. Wallace, “Ex-Quarterback Behind Surging Vikings,”
The New York Times
, December 11, 1969.

146
“He has the temperament and disposition”:
“Bears Hire Pardee as Head Coach,”
The New York Times
, January 1, 1975.

147
On June 1, 1975, two days before Payton signed
: Roy Damer, “McKay selects 54 College All-Stars,”
Chicago Tribune
, June 1, 1975.

152
At one point Payton was sent to Illinois Masonic
: Stone, “Payton is hospitalized; Bears sell Pagac, Barnes,”
Chicago Tribune
, August 6, 1975.

152
He was milking cows on the family’s farm
: Tony Kornheiser, “Pardee!”
The Washington Post
, September 17, 1979.

152
Told he could either die or
: Sam Smith, “This time, Pardee will stay a while,”
Chicago Tribune
, September 13, 1987.

152
“I didn’t think I’d die”
: Kornheiser, “Pardee!”
The Washington Post
, September 17, 1979.

153
“It was more of a gut feeling”
: Phil Elderkin, “ ‘Sleeper’ coach shakes Bears from hibernation,”
The Christian Science Monitor
, November 2, 1976.

156
While booting balls during a practice
: Pierson, “Bears’ Coady waived,”
Chicago Tribune
, August 29, 1975.

157
As Don Pierson noted in that day’s
Chicago Tribune: Pierson, “Bears vs. Dolphins tonight; Payton to make debut,”
Chicago Tribune
, September 6, 1975.

CHAPTER 12

158
In a piece titled “Bears are putting
”: Pierson “Bears are putting it all together,”
Chicago Tribune
, September 14, 1975.

158
In the lead-up to the game
: Stone, “Payton: ‘Give me time, I’ll give ’em a new Sayers,’ ”
Chicago Tribune
, September 14, 1975.

159
The Bears lost 35–7
: Pierson, “Unbearably Colt (35-7) NFL debut,”
Chicago Tribune
, September 22, 1975.

160
“Zero yards for the number one pick?”
: Payton and Yaeger,
Never Die Easy
, 77.

161
“He ran for zero yards, but it was”
: Pierson, “1975: ‘I just like to do whatever it takes to win. And if it takes that much I’ll do it,’ ”
Chicago Tribune
, November 7, 1999.

162
Payton, in the words of
: Pierson, “Bears prevail 15-13 with :08 left,”
Chicago Tribune
, September 29, 1975.

163
“They weren’t as good as I expected”
: Pierson, “Tarkenton, Vikes stifle Bears 28-3,”
Chicago Tribune
, October 6, 1975.

163
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen an opponent laugh”
: Pierson, “Lions ax Bears in ‘laugher’ 27-7,”
Chicago Tribune
, October 13, 1975.

163
“He played a good game”
: Pierson, “Bear offensive line criticized by Pardee,”
Chicago Tribune
, October 14, 1975.

167
That Sunday, Payton stood on the sideline
: Stone, “Bears battle Steelers in ‘morbid’ mismatch,”
Chicago Tribune
, October 19, 1975.

169
“I can’t believed it’s the Mike Adamle”
: Neil Milbert, “Cosell crew kind to Bears over TV,”
Chicago Tribune
, October 28, 1975.

169
Payton was a backup for the first
: Pierson, “Vikes turn back stubborn Bears 13-9,”
Chicago Tribune
, October 28, 1975.

169
“If they want me to run, I’ll run”
: Joe Mooshil, No headline,
Associated Press
, November 18, 1975.

171
Five months later, when he prepared to return to Chicago
: Payton, Payton, and Payton,
Payton
, 179–181.

CHAPTER 13

172
On July 14, the third straight day
: Pierson, “Bears run ‘best practice’ despite heat,’
Chicago Tribune
, July 15, 1976.

174
Fed up, Pardee announced after
: Pierson, “Musso moves us after Bear win,”
Chicago Tribune
, August 9, 1976.

174
When Finks slyly told the
Tribune: Pierson, “Payton ready to carry big load, shed pressure,”
Chicago Tribune
, August 12, 1976.

177
The lineman began the process of bringing the back
: Pierson, “Bears top 49ers but lose Buffone,”
Chicago Tribune
, September 20, 1976.

180
The story was published in the November 22, 1976
: Dennis Breo, “Since Walter Joined the Football Bears, Chicago Has Turned Into Payton’s Place,”
People
, November 22, 1976.

181
He craved the bright lights and glitter
: Rollow, “Beating Payton no special kick for Simpson,”
Chicago Tribune
, March 13, 1977.

182
By the time the half ended, Payton had run
: Pierson, “Payton has his best day,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 6, 1976.

183
With Soldier Field’s scoreboard
: Pierson, “Payton vs. O. J. to take back seat to Bears win,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 10, 1976.

183
Among those in attendance were
: David Condon, “Celebration turns into anxiety for Payton’s mom,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 14, 1976.

184
Late into the third quarter
: Pierson, “Broncos ruin finale for Bears, Payton
,
”
Chicago Tribune
, December 13, 1976.

185
“It was, I guess, the low point of”
: Rollow, “Loss to O. J. ‘low point’ of life: Payton,”
Chicago Tribune
, February 17, 1977.

CHAPTER 14

186
“Walter Payton is concerned enough about”
: Stone, “Payton’s goal: quit in 1 piece,”
Chicago Tribune
, November 1, 1977.

188
Five months later, in another
: Pierson, “Bears, Phipps flop in Cleveland,”
Chicago Tribune
, August 26, 1977.

189
Later on, following a third-quarter sweep
: Pierson, “Robertson backs down—sort of,”
Chicago Tribune
, October 12, 1977.

190
“Wally Chambers is the poorest excuse”
: Rollow, “Rams rage over Bear ‘cheap hits,’ ”
Chicago Tribune
, October 11, 1977.

191
The Bears were coming off a 47–0
: Pierson, “Bears take early hibernation, fall 47–0,”
Chicago Tribune
, November 7, 1977.

193
“It was the first time I saw him,” recalled Brown
: Interview with NFL Network for 100 Greatest Players program, 2010.

194
Asked now to assess the Bears
: Pierson, “It’s high noon of Bears’ season,”
Chicago Tribune
, November 20, 1977.

194
He had prayed throughout the week for health
: “Payton Breaks Record, Rushing for 275 Yards,”
The New York Times
, November 21, 1977.

196
“It never came up”
: John Underwood, “Payton Runs All Over The Place,”
Sports Illustrated
, November 28, 1977.

197
“Nobody would ever confuse running back Walter Payton”
: Phil Elderkin, “Wonderful Walter makes end zone ‘Payton Place,’ ”
The Christian Science Monitor
, December 13, 1977.

198
“Payton’s record rushing brought out”
: Pierson, “World runs to Payton,”
Chicago Tribune
, November 22, 1977.

198
The one Bear who seemed most irked by Payton
: Joe Lapointe, “Memories Of a Stadium, Served Cold,”
The New York Times
, December 27, 2009.

199
“I think we’ll be the Beehive”
: Pierson, “Payton enjoys day of slipping past cameras,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 14, 1977.

199
The red-hot Bears traveled to Detroit
: Richard L. Shook, “Payton Leads Bears’ Lion-Tamers,”
The Sporting News
, December 10, 1977.

200
“If I don’t catch any passes I feel worthless”
: Stone, “Bears want rushing record for Payton, but . . . ,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 18, 1977.

201
As soon as he spotted the rain
: Sufrin,
Payton
, 98–99.

203
“I was getting worried there”
: Pierson, “Bears reach playoffs—miraculously,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 19, 1977.

204
Just in case the sentiment didn’t resonate
: Lapointe, “Memories Of a Stadium, Served Cold,”
The New York Times
, December 27, 2009.

204
What if Thomas had shanked
: Pierson, “Bears reach playoffs—miraculously,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 19, 1977.

CHAPTER 15

207
On the evening of Monday, December 11, 1978
: “Payton’s father dies in jail,”
New York Post
, December 13, 1978.

209
According to Gonzalez’s report
: “Payton autopsy,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 16, 1978.

210
Jack Pardee, the only professional coach
: Wallace, “Pardee Quits as Bears’ Coach; Will Apply for Redskins’ Post,”
The New York Times
, January 20, 1978.

211
“No one cares that he’s leaving”
: Pierson, “Bears were losing respect for Pardee,”
Chicago Tribune
, January 20, 1978.

211
“I hate to see the guy leave”
: Pierson, “Add Marchibroda to Bear stew,”
Chicago Tribune
, January 22, 1978.

212
“I don’t know what people consider dull”
: Pierson, “Bears End Long Snooze, Name Armstrong,”
The Sporting News
, March 4, 1978.

212
On the final day of taping, Payton
: Markus, “ ‘New’ Payton keeps audience, himself in stitches,”
Chicago Tribune
, February 9, 1978.