• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

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

213 A couple of weeks after Armstrong: Pierson, “Bears hire ex-coach of 49ers,” Chicago Tribune, March 21, 1978.

214 Were that not bad enough: Pierson, “Bears land ‘safe pick’ in Texas star Shearer,” Chicago Tribune, May 3, 1978.

214 According to a scathing March 13 Tribune article: Pierson, “How Bear salaries rate,” Chicago Tribune, March 13, 1978.

214 “I wish Walter were a free agent”: Pierson, “Agent’s goal: satisfy Payton on his worth,” Chicago Tribune, July 2, 1978.

214 Holmes assumed Chicago’s fans: Bill Jauss, “Even lawyer pulls for Payton to sign,” Chicago Tribune, July 18, 1978.

214 On July 19, Finks offered Payton: Pierson, “Payton weighs $375,000-a-year offer,” Chicago Tribune, July 20, 1978.

215 In 1997, years after both men had retired: Caulton Tudor, “Dickerson gets Sayers’ nod as best,” The News & Observer (Raleigh), January 31, 1997.

216 “Walter’s not running as well as he had”: Jauss, “Dispute hurting Walter, team—Noah,” Chicago Tribune, August 9, 1978.

216 Finally, one day before the Bears’: Pierson, “Payton agrees to sign for $400,000,” Chicago Tribune, September 3, 1978.

216 The call came to the Chicago Bears: “In brief,” The New York Times, September 5, 1978.

217 The Bears won 17–10, and Payton played: Davis Israel, “Payton’s spark electrifies Bears,” Chicago Tribune, September 4, 1978.

218 “Payton is acting like a very hollow person”: Pierson, “Payton figures to rebound,” Chicago Tribune, September 29, 1978.

219 In the days leading up to a matchup at Green Bay: Rollow, “Packer pride is avenged, Luke crows,” Chicago Tribune, October 9, 1978,

219 On October 10, two days after: Byron Rosen, “H-e-e-e-r-e Come the Women,” The Washington Post, October 12, 1978.

220 “I kind of liked Jack Pardee’s philosophy”: “Payton said he ‘kind of liked Jack Pardee’s philosophy,’ ” Chicago Tribune, October 18, 1978.

221 Through the first eight games, the Bears had opened with: Pierson, “It’s predictable—Bears will run,” Chicago Tribune, October 27, 1978.

CHAPTER 16

230 When asked to name his extravagances: Pierson, “Payton,” Chicago Tribune, December 14, 1979.

230 “[It] just seemed like this cold, faraway”: Pickett, “’We were opposite, opposite,’ ” Chicago Sun-Times, May 12, 2002.

232 “Even that great year he had [1977]”: Pierson, “Payton: Doing it all, and doing it better,” Chicago Tribune, September 23, 1979.

232 The Bears beat two two-win clubs: Pierson, “Bears’ streak doesn’t mean they’re a good team yet,” Chicago Tribune, November 22, 1979.

233 When the Raiders offered Ken Stabler: “Bears Nixed Stabler,” The Sporting News, November 10, 1979.

234 When asked about Harold Carmichael: Pierson, “Bears on Eagles: who you don’t know can’t hurt you,” Chicago Tribune, December 19, 1979. 234 Seconds before the ball was snapped: Bob Verdi, “Payton’s pride hurt more than shoulder,” Chicago Tribune, December 24, 1979.

235 Payton spoke optimistically of better days: Ibid.

235 In the summer of 1980 the team moved: Bob Logan, “Title thoughts dominate Bear camp opening,” Chicago Tribune, July 26, 1980.

237 “If I never face another defense like them”: Verdi, “Bears seem to be in prevent offense,” Chicago Tribune, November 4, 1980.

237 “A resoundingly innovative”: Ibid.

238 He was named after a character: Bob Herguth, “Off and running with Payton,” Chicago Sun-Times, August 11, 1996.

238 “My son brought me tremendous joy”: Payton and Yaeger, Never Die Easy, 198.

240 “I talked to a lot of clubs, just social”: George Vecsey, “Walter Payton Fits in Chicago,” The New York Times, July 28, 1981.

240 When Holmes told the Tribune Payton would: Pierson, “Payton won’t get $1 million: Halas,” Chicago Tribune, February 3, 1981.

240 Under the new ownership of a: Pierson, “I’ve made offer to Payton—Montreal owner,” Chicago Tribune, May 1, 1981.

242 “Pay me eight hundred thousand dollars”: Pierson, “Too often, Payton