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Building Character
Walter Payton
~ “Sweetness” ~
Though it is often said that records are made to be broken, the breaking of records once established by number '34' of the Chicago Bears will never diminish the character demonstrated on and off the field by the man known as 'Sweetness' - Walter Payton. Arguably one of the most gifted players to ever don a Chicago Bear or any other football uniform, he was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1993 after 13 years of stellar performance with the Bears.
Racking up a total of 16,726 rushing yards in his career, this 5'10" and 200 lb. package of muscle and agility never allowed his defensive opponents the luxury of an easy tackle. Known as both a punishing ball carrier and blocker, Payton made his defensive opponents pay a stiff and often painful price for attempting to bring him down. That was not, however, the prevailing expectation of many when he was drafted 4th overall in the 1975 NFL draft. With his relatively small size for a running back and coming out of a small college (Jackson State University), no one other than Sweetness ever imagined the impact he would have on the NFL. With a personal regimen of strengthening and conditioning second to none, he was consistently ready for the season to open when he reached training camp.
Being a 2-time NFL MVP and a 9-time selection to the NFL Pro Bowl was not totally attributable to his physical assets, however. Walter was also fueled by a competitive drive that would not allow him to accept taking second to anyone - whether on the playing field or running dashes against teammates in training camp. Knowing that Bear football was completely dependent upon the success of its running game, he literally carried his team through most of the seasons in his career. When the Bears finally had an offense and defense to complement him in 1985, he captured his 2nd MVP and the team won Super Bowl XX 46-10 over the New England Patriots. Many have wondered how many yards he would have accumulated if he had not played on such a mediocre (at best) team for so many years.
As much notoriety as Walter gained for his football accomplishments, they were dwarfed by his character as a human being - he was and still remains a true role model for many. As gifted and competitive as he was, he also demonstrated humility, compassion, and generosity. Setting the record for career rushing touchdowns in 1987, Walter was certainly no stranger to the endzone. And yet, he was the consummate sportsman in his conduct when he crossed the goal line. There were no dances, no stunts, or no jumping into the bleachers when he scored a touchdown - he acted as though he had been there before - his performances were reserved for between the goal lines.
After having retired in 1987, Walter never sat still. He served on the Bears board of directors, was a part-owner of an Arena Football franchise, a co-owner of a CART racing team, and owned restaurants and a variety of other businesses. Leaving the game at which he set the standard of excellence certainly did not imply retirement for #34. In fact, it allowed his truest character to unfold and demonstrate his attributes of generosity, compassion, and humility. Unlike so many athletes and celebrities that are of the "me first" generation, Walter Payton had perspective about his purpose and expressed it this way:
"Does God care that I could run the ball better than most? Obviously God gave me that ability, but I was always questioning if that was why he gave me that ability. He didn't do it so I could become rich and famous. He didn't do it so I could make the Hall of Fame or help the Bears win a Super Bowl. He must have done it so I could use my fame and my popularity to rally people and help others. He gave me a gift and I need to use it. I have tried to do that and want to continue to do it after I am gone. It is why I have set such ambitious goals for my charities and challenged people to help me meet them."
In November of 1998, Walter found he was losing weight and had a noticeable change of coloration in his eyes. Upon further tests and examination, he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare liver disease. With his only hope being through a liver transplant, Walter finally succumbed to the disease and died at age 45 on November 1, 1999. Walter Payton was a man of great abilities, a generous heart, and a role model for human character.
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