Page, Alan
pain management
Parcells, Bill
Pardee, Jack:
background
coaching style
concerns about Payton
drive of
game theory
hired as coach
injuries of Payton
introductory press conference
NFL draft
1975 season
1976 season
1977 season
offensive line
resignation
rookie of the year award
on rushing title
Parsons, Bob
pastimes and passions of Payton:
dancing
hunting
music
racing
in retirement
vehicles
in youth
Paul, Whitney
Payton, Alyne Sibley:
background
and Boston
in Chicago
children
college recruiters
college years
current status
death of Peter Payton
desegregation
final hours of Payton’s life
funeral of Payton
Hall of Fame induction
musicianship of Payton
NFL draft
and Nigel Smythe
rushing title competition of 1976
youth of Payton
Payton, Brittney:
birth
cancer diagnosis of Payton
current status
death of Payton
on fashionability of Payton
final months of Payton’s life
Hall of Fame induction
memorial service for Payton
and Nigel Smythe
parents’ marriage
racing career of Payton
relationship with Payton
retirement of Payton
values of Payton
Payton, Connie Norwood:
cancer diagnosis of Payton
in Chicago
children
as confidant of Payton
current status
death of Payton
divorce proposed by Payton
final months of Payton’s life
funeral of Payton
Hall of Fame induction
home
infidelities of Payton
at Jackson State
married life
and Nigel Smythe
perceptions of
salary of Payton
Super Bowl XX ring
wedding
Payton, Edward Charles “Eddie” (brother):
athleticism
current status
final hours of Payton’s life
funeral of Payton
Hall of Fame induction
and Holmes
at Jackson State
in Memphis
professional football career
relationship with brother
scouting of
youth
Payton, Edward Charles “Peter” (father):
and Boston
children
and college recruiters
death
desegregation
infidelity of
musicianship of Payton
on nicknames
and youth of Payton
Payton, Jarrett Walter (son):
birth
cancer diagnosis of Payton
childhood
college career
current status
death of Payton
final months of Payton’s life
Hall of Fame induction
on Jheri curl of Payton
and Nigel Smythe
parents’ marriage
racing career of Payton
relationship with Payton
retirement of Payton
services for Payton
on sweet tooth of Payton
values of Payton
Payton, Pamela
Payton, Walter Jerry:
age discrepancy
appearance
birth
celebrity
character
childhood (see youth of Payton)
children (see Payton, Brittney; Payton, Jarrett Walter; Smythe, Nigel)
confidants
death (see also cancer of Payton)
depression
drug use
education (see Columbia High School; Jackson State College; John J. Jefferson High School)
fatherhood
finances (see finances of Payton)
football career (see Chicago Bears; retirement of Payton)
funeral and memorial service
home
humanity of
memory
nicknames
parents (see Payton, Alyne Sibley; Payton, Edward Charles “Peter”)
personality (see persona of Payton)
recreation (see pastimes and passions of Payton)
sexuality (see also women)
siblings (see Payton, Edward Charles “Eddie”; Payton, Pamela)
skills on the field (see athleticism of Payton)
social and political interests
wife (see Payton, Connie Norwood)
See also retirement of Payton
Payton Power
Peacy, Brandon
Pear, Dave
Pearson, Drew
Peiffer, Dan
Peoples, John
Perry, William “Refrigerator”:
celebrity
drafted
endorsements
Miami Dolphins game
“Rappin’ Together”
reactions to
“Super Bowl Shuffle”
Super Bowl XX
persona of Payton:
anxiety
charisma
compassion
“complicated” nature
desire for attention
enigmatic nature
immaturity
insecurity
mischievous nature
moodiness
perfectionism
reticence
self-effacement
selfishness
Philadelphia Eagles
Phillips, Bum
Phillips, Reggie
Phipps, Mike
Pierson, Don:
on attitude of Payton
on debut of Payton
on drafting Payton
on growing maturity of Payton
on Halas
on honesty of Payton
on McClendon
on 1975 season
on 1977 season
on 1978 season
on 1979 season
on 1981 season
on 1983 season
on 1985 season
on painkillers
on quarterback issue
on rushing record
on salaries of Bears
Pifferini, Bob
Pinckney, Mike
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pitzele, Lewis
Plank, Doug
Playboy Club luncheons
Plumb, Ted
Poole, Barney
Potocnik, Ron, Jr.
Powers, Clyde
Pullano, Eugene
Quirk, Ginny:
cancer diagnosis of Payton
as confidant of Payton
current status
death of Payton
on death of Peter Payton
on drive of Payton
on Eddie Payton
emotional instability of Payton
executor of Payton’s will
final months of Payton’s life
funeral of Payton
Quirk, Ginny (cont.)
Hall of Fame induction
on marriage of Payton
moodiness of Payton
on NFL franch
ise bid
on Nigel Smythe
on relationships of Payton
relationship with Payton
responsibilities
on Studebaker’s
on Suhey
race issues:
black pride
and Brown
death threats
desegregation
in high-school football
Holmes on
at Jackson State
in Mississippi
in professional sports
Raines, Mike
Ralston, John
“Rappin’ Together”
Rather, Bo
Reagan, Ronald
Reamon, Tommy
Reed, Frank
Reel, Deana
religious faith of Payton:
in college
in early adulthood
and infidelities
in later life
in youth
retirement of Payton
adjusting to
bodyguards
community service
confidants of Payton
drug use
eating habits
emotional instability during
extramarital relationships during
family life
Hall of Fame induction
investments and business dealings
loss of Super Bowl ring
and NFL team ownership bid
potential return from
racing career
shooting incident
speaking engagements
staff
suicide threats
Rhodes, Wayne
Richards, Golden
Riebandt, Jim
Rives, Don
Robertson, Isiah
Rogers, Jimmy
Roland, Johnny:
1983 season
1984 season
1987 season
and Payton’s bid for St. Louis team
on rushing record
on Suhey
on telegraphing of Payton
Roller, Dave
Rothschild, Doug
Rozelle, Pete
Runck, Dennis
rushing competitions and records:
Brown’s all-purpose yards record
Brown’s all-time rushing record
consecutive hundred-yard games
and drive of Payton
Harris–Payton competition
rushing title of 1979
rushing title of 1980
Simpson–Payton competition
single-game rushing record
single-season rushing record
tracking of yardage
Rust, Rod
Ryan, Buddy:
departure
and Ditka
on importance of Payton
Los Angeles Rams game
Miami Dolphins game
on Perry
Ryan, Tim
Saldi, Jay
Sanders, Thomas
San Francisco 49ers
Sayers, Gale:
criticisms of Payton
and Ditka
and Halas
Payton compared to
Payton’s regard for
retirement
rushing yards
Schembechler, Bo
Schletzer, Jim
Schmidt, Terry
Schons, Ronald
Schubert, Steve
Scott, James
Seattle Seahawks
Selmon, Dewey
shooting incident at Studebaker’s
Siemon, Jeff
Simmons, Berl
Simms, Phil
Simpson, Bill
Simpson, O. J.:
consecutive hundred-yard games
Ditka on ‘75 draft
funeral of Payton
Payton compared to
rushing title competition of 1976
salar y
single-game rushing record
single-season rushing record
Sims, Billy
Singletary, Mike:
book deal
cancer diagnosis of Payton
as confidant of Payton
final months of Payton’s life
funeral of Payton
1985 season
1986 season
1987 season
and Ryan
“Super Bowl Shuffle”
Super Bowl XX
on womanizing of Payton
Sipe, Brian
Skalbania, Nelson
Skibinski, John
Slocum, R. C.
Smythe, Angelina
Smythe, Nigel
Sorey, Revie
Soul Train National Championship Dance-Off
South’s emphasis on football
Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
spatting technique of Payton
Spencer, Ollie
Sports Illustrated:
on Bears’ 1984 season
on Brown
cancer diagnosis of Payton
College Football Preview issue
complaints addressed to
Payton on cover of
on racing career of Payton
on speed of Payton
Staley, A. E.
Staubach, Roger
Stevenson, Mark
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis NFL franchise bid
Studebaker’s
Suhey, Matt:
cancer diagnosis of Payton
on celebrity of Payton
as confidant of Payton
death of Payton
as executor of Payton’s will
final months of Payton’s life
1980 season
1984 season
1985 season
1987 season
on pride of Payton
as replacement of Harper
Super Bowl XX
“Super Bowl Shuffle”
Super Bowl XX
game
party preceding
Payton’s participation
postgame reaction of Payton
pregame attitude of Payton
preparations for
ring
subsequent honors and endeavors
Superstars competition
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 wrong.”
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