Sweetness_ The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton - Jeff Pearlman [272]
Sweetness (dog)
Sweetness (nickname)
Tagge, Jerry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Taylor, Ken
Telander, Rick
Thomas, Bob
Thomas, Calvin
Thompson, Arland
Thompson, Bill
Thrift, Cliff
Till, Emmett
Tobin, Bill
Tobin, Duke
Tobin, Vince
Tomczak, Mike
Traficant, Jim
Tucker, Kimm:
cancer diagnosis of Payton
as confidant of Payton
on eating habits of Payton
emotional instability of Payton
final months of Payton’s life
funeral of Payton
Hall of Fame induction
on marriage of Payton
moodiness of Payton
on Nigel Smythe
relationship with Payton
responsibilities of
24 Karat Black Gold
United States Football League (USFL)
Vainisi, Jerry
Valdiserri, Ken
Vanderventer, Donna
Van Horne, Keith
Wagner, Bryan
Walker, Herschel
Waller, Bill
Walsh, Bill
Walter Payton Foundation
Walterscheid, Len
Washington Redskins
Waters, Charlie
Wattelet, Frank
Watts, Rickey
Wedge, Don
Weishuhn, Clayton
Wheaties cereal box
White, Randy
White, Steve
wife. See Payton, Connie Norwood
Williams, Dave
Williams, Delvin
Williams, Oliver
Wilson, Otis
Winston, Dennis “Dirt”
Winter, William
women:
attention from
college relationships
disposability of
extramarital relationships with
herpes diagnosis of Payton
high-school romantic interests
objectification of
Payton’s preferences in
See also Gonzalez, Lita
World Football League
Young, Rickey:
and Holmes
Mavericks game
on-field defense of Payton
as Payton’s roommate
professional career of
talent of
and World Football League
youth of Payton
athleticism
and black community
church attendance
discipline
home
musicianship
nicknames
pastimes
and racial climate
See also Columbia High School; John J. Jefferson High School
In the final months of his life, Walter Payton received remarkable care from the Mayo Clinic, the worldwide leader in medical treatment, research, and education.
If, in the aftermath of completing this book, you find yourself inspired by Walter’s life and are interested in making a contribution in his name, Mayo is a wonderful option—one Walter Payton surely would have appreciated.
Donations can be sent to:
Mayo Clinic: Department of Development
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
1
Oddly, though the school educated kindergarteners through seniors, it was formally named “John J. Jefferson High School.”
2
Not to be confused with Eli Payton the preacher, another cousin.
3
In Never Die Easy, the autobiography Walter wrote with Sports Illustrated’s Don Yaeger shortly before his death, it is said that he debated between Jackson State and the University of Kansas. The same point is made in Payton, a biography released by Walter’s family. Both texts are incorrect. “We never recruited him,” said Don Fambrough, the University of Kansas football coach at the time. “And believe me—if we’d recruited Walter Payton, that’s something I would remember.”
4
Payton’s take on Griffin would prove prophetic. Selected by Cincinnati in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft, Griffin lasted seven years, never gaining more than 688 yards in a season. “Archie and Walter were actually very similar people,” said Tom Klaban, Ohio State’s kicker and, in 1976, an invitee to Bears camp. “Both polite, modest, soft-spoken gentlemen.”
5
There has long been a myth that Halas was succeeded in right field by Babe Ruth. It was actually Sammy Vick who took over for Halas.
6
In a July 22, 1979, note to a peer, the Tribune’s Ron Sons recalled watching Robertson that night. “My definite impression,” he wrote, “was that Robertson was riding a high stronger than Pepsi-Cola at the time. He may not remember what he said.”
7
Said Rives: “I like Bob, but he was a typical sissy kicker. I’m true to my word—if he misses the kick, he never has any kids.”
8
As he grew older, Payton’s stance softened. In an interview with ESPN’s Roy Firestone in 1989, he said: “The reason it happened is it was a small town and people were not aware as to certain things . . . It wasn’t a case of racism. It was just a small-town atmosphere. People didn’t know what was