'Sweetness': Walter Payton and the 1985 Chicago Bears: With the Super Bowl tomorrow and my grade school knowledge of Roman numerals unable to calculate which number this one will be...

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

With the Super Bowl tomorrow and my grade school knowledge of Roman numerals unable to calculate which number this one will be, my thoughts have turned not to the Super Bowl yet to come, but to a Super Bowl of football past.

It was a time when there was less hype — less self-promotion and less on-field braggadocio. It was also a time of more patriotism — more happiness and more fun. It was the time when Walter Payton played in Super Bowl XX.

In Chicago, there were always Cubs fans and Sox fans, and though never those twain would meet, the city was always brought together by the Chicago Bears. Especially the 1985 version. Different men, from decidedly different backgrounds, who brought love of team, love of city, and love of country to a lunch pail town that was even more of a smorgasbord of people than the team itself.

The 1985 Bears would rout the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. And though, sadly, Walter Payton didn't score a touchdown that day, he did leave us with the Super Bowl Shuffle, a long list of records, and a nostalgic nickname: "Sweetness."

"Sweetness" was an unusual nickname for a football player, yet Walter Payton was an unusual player. Chicagoans are more partial to earthier names for their football heroes — names like "Bronco"; "Bulldog"; and, of course, "Iron Mike." Indeed, Chicago’s professional football team is not just referred to as the Bears; they are the "Monsters of the Midway."

Yet on the field, "Sweetness" was every bit a "Monster" as his more colorfully named predecessors. He punished would-be tacklers with a unique style of in-your-face running that had never been seen before and has been poorly imitated since. Long before Michael Jordan came to town, Walter Payton would "fly" over a goal line defense as if he had been shot out of a cannon. Rather than seek the sanctuary of the sideline, he would absorb a punishing hit from an opposing tackler just to gain an extra six inches. And even after a particularly bruising blow, that might have sent a more mortal athlete to the bench, Walter would miraculously spring to his feet with a move so acrobatic that it would make an Olympic gymnast envious.

At the time he retired, Walter Payton had rushed for more yards than anyone who had ever played the game. He was the most durable running back in history. He is the Bears' career receiving leader. He could pass, kick, and punt with the best in the league. When he had to, he blocked and tackled with flawless technique. Quite simply, he was the finest football player there ever was.

But there was more to Walter Payton than unparalleled athletic ability. He trained harder off the field than anyone else. He never made a mental mistake. He rarely fumbled. He was the consummate team player. He consoled mistake-prone teammates. He pursued excellence. He didn't make excuses. He never quit. And he did it all with such grace, such sportsmanship — such, well, such "Sweetness."

This was a man who did not taunt his opponents, argue with referees, or quarrel with his teammates. There was no childish breast-beating after a good run, no orchestrated dancing after a touchdown, and no juvenile posturing after a victory.

When Walter Payton played for the Bears, you could shamelessly point to No. 34 and say to your son, "If you want a role model, look at him." I think there were a lot of other fathers who did the same. Perhaps that is the highest tribute one man can pay to another.

And then, suddenly, he was gone, and with him an erstwhile love of team, city, and country that Walter Payton brought to millions of people.

I never knew that "Sweetness" could be so sad.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Parky60 wrote:

With the Super Bowl tomorrow and my grade school knowledge of Roman numerals unable to calculate which number this one will be, my thoughts have turned not to the Super Bowl yet to come, but to a Super Bowl of football past.

It was a time when there was less hype — less self-promotion and less on-field braggadocio. It was also a time of more patriotism — more happiness and more fun. It was the time when Walter Payton played in Super Bowl XX.

In Chicago, there were always Cubs fans and Sox fans, and though never those twain would meet, the city was always brought together by the Chicago Bears. Especially the 1985 version. Different men, from decidedly different backgrounds, who brought love of team, love of city, and love of country to a lunch pail town that was even more of a smorgasbord of people than the team itself.

The 1985 Bears would rout the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. And though, sadly, Walter Payton didn't score a touchdown that day, he did leave us with the Super Bowl Shuffle, a long list of records, and a nostalgic nickname: "Sweetness."

"Sweetness" was an unusual nickname for a football player, yet Walter Payton was an unusual player. Chicagoans are more partial to earthier names for their football heroes — names like "Bronco"; "Bulldog"; and, of course, "Iron Mike." Indeed, Chicago’s professional football team is not just referred to as the Bears; they are the "Monsters of the Midway."

Yet on the field, "Sweetness" was every bit a "Monster" as his more colorfully named predecessors. He punished would-be tacklers with a unique style of in-your-face running that had never been seen before and has been poorly imitated since. Long before Michael Jordan came to town, Walter Payton would "fly" over a goal line defense as if he had been shot out of a cannon. Rather than seek the sanctuary of the sideline, he would absorb a punishing hit from an opposing tackler just to gain an extra six inches. And even after a particularly bruising blow, that might have sent a more mortal athlete to the bench, Walter would miraculously spring to his feet with a move so acrobatic that it would make an Olympic gymnast envious.

At the time he retired, Walter Payton had rushed for more yards than anyone who had ever played the game. He was the most durable running back in history. He is the Bears' career receiving leader. He could pass, kick, and punt with the best in the league. When he had to, he blocked and tackled with flawless technique. Quite simply, he was the finest football player there ever was.

But there was more to Walter Payton than unparalleled athletic ability. He trained harder off the field than anyone else. He never made a mental mistake. He rarely fumbled. He was the consummate team player. He consoled mistake-prone teammates. He pursued excellence. He didn't make excuses. He never quit. And he did it all with such grace, such sportsmanship — such, well, such "Sweetness."

This was a man who did not taunt his opponents, argue with referees, or quarrel with his teammates. There was no childish breast-beating after a good run, no orchestrated dancing after a touchdown, and no juvenile posturing after a victory.

When Walter Payton played for the Bears, you could shamelessly point to No. 34 and say to your son, "If you want a role model, look at him." I think there were a lot of other fathers who did the same. Perhaps that is the highest tribute one man can pay to another.

And then, suddenly, he was gone, and with him an erstwhile love of team, city, and country that Walter Payton brought to millions of people.

I never knew that "Sweetness" could be so sad.

With the Super Bowl tomorrow and my grade school k... (show quote)

On this subject, the legend of Walter Payton, aka "Sweetness", we agree.

Much of the same could be said of another Chicago Bear running back...Gale Sayers, aka "The Kansas Comet".

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

slatten49 wrote:

On this subject, the matter of Walter Payton, aka "Sweetness", we agree.

Much of the same could be said of another Chicago Bear runnng back...Gale Sayers, aka "The Kansas Comet".

If we are going dredge up historical players, we must not forget my father’s favorite; Johnny Unitas.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

AuntiE wrote:

If we are going dredge up historical players, we must not forget my father’s favorite; Johnny Unitas.

Well, he was the premiere QB of his time. His Baltimore Colts victory over the New York Giants in 1958 is, by many, considered one of the greatest...if not the greatest NFL Championship game of all-time....

https://www.bing.com/search?q=1958+nfl+championship+game+greatest+game&cvid=b0665fbf232a4609b29b36b608427d1a&aqs=edge.1.69i57j0l8.19631j0j4&FORM=ANAB01&PC=HCTS

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

AuntiE wrote:

If we are going dredge up historical players, we must not forget my father’s favorite; Johnny Unitas.

He was Lithuanian like me.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

slatten49 wrote:

Well, he was the premiere QB of his time. His Baltimore Colts victory over the New York Giants in 1958 is, by many, considered one of the greatest...if not the greatest NFL Championship game of all-time....

https://www.bing.com/search?q=1958+nfl+championship+game+greatest+game&cvid=b0665fbf232a4609b29b36b608427d1a&aqs=edge.1.69i57j0l8.19631j0j4&FORM=ANAB01&PC=HCTS

My father compared every quarterback to him. In my memory, he never found one to measure up.

elledee

Parky60 wrote:

With the Super Bowl tomorrow and my grade school knowledge of Roman numerals unable to calculate which number this one will be, my thoughts have turned not to the Super Bowl yet to come, but to a Super Bowl of football past.

It was a time when there was less hype — less self-promotion and less on-field braggadocio. It was also a time of more patriotism — more happiness and more fun. It was the time when Walter Payton played in Super Bowl XX.

In Chicago, there were always Cubs fans and Sox fans, and though never those twain would meet, the city was always brought together by the Chicago Bears. Especially the 1985 version. Different men, from decidedly different backgrounds, who brought love of team, love of city, and love of country to a lunch pail town that was even more of a smorgasbord of people than the team itself.

The 1985 Bears would rout the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. And though, sadly, Walter Payton didn't score a touchdown that day, he did leave us with the Super Bowl Shuffle, a long list of records, and a nostalgic nickname: "Sweetness."

"Sweetness" was an unusual nickname for a football player, yet Walter Payton was an unusual player. Chicagoans are more partial to earthier names for their football heroes — names like "Bronco"; "Bulldog"; and, of course, "Iron Mike." Indeed, Chicago’s professional football team is not just referred to as the Bears; they are the "Monsters of the Midway."

Yet on the field, "Sweetness" was every bit a "Monster" as his more colorfully named predecessors. He punished would-be tacklers with a unique style of in-your-face running that had never been seen before and has been poorly imitated since. Long before Michael Jordan came to town, Walter Payton would "fly" over a goal line defense as if he had been shot out of a cannon. Rather than seek the sanctuary of the sideline, he would absorb a punishing hit from an opposing tackler just to gain an extra six inches. And even after a particularly bruising blow, that might have sent a more mortal athlete to the bench, Walter would miraculously spring to his feet with a move so acrobatic that it would make an Olympic gymnast envious.

At the time he retired, Walter Payton had rushed for more yards than anyone who had ever played the game. He was the most durable running back in history. He is the Bears' career receiving leader. He could pass, kick, and punt with the best in the league. When he had to, he blocked and tackled with flawless technique. Quite simply, he was the finest football player there ever was.

But there was more to Walter Payton than unparalleled athletic ability. He trained harder off the field than anyone else. He never made a mental mistake. He rarely fumbled. He was the consummate team player. He consoled mistake-prone teammates. He pursued excellence. He didn't make excuses. He never quit. And he did it all with such grace, such sportsmanship — such, well, such "Sweetness."

This was a man who did not taunt his opponents, argue with referees, or quarrel with his teammates. There was no childish breast-beating after a good run, no orchestrated dancing after a touchdown, and no juvenile posturing after a victory.

When Walter Payton played for the Bears, you could shamelessly point to No. 34 and say to your son, "If you want a role model, look at him." I think there were a lot of other fathers who did the same. Perhaps that is the highest tribute one man can pay to another.

And then, suddenly, he was gone, and with him an erstwhile love of team, city, and country that Walter Payton brought to millions of people.

I never knew that "Sweetness" could be so sad.

With the Super Bowl tomorrow and my grade school k... (show quote)

An incredible man and player in every way and would never tolerate any player kneeling during the national anthem. Payton's legacy goes back to the high school he attended in Miami that named their football stadium after him.

Rose42

slatten49 wrote:

On this subject, the legend of Walter Payton, aka "Sweetness", we agree.

Much of the same could be said of another Chicago Bear running back...Gale Sayers, aka "The Kansas Comet".

The Bears had Sayers and Butkus at the same time and wouldn’t get good support players. They never even won a playoff game. Who knows what could have been if Sayers didn’t injure his knee.

Walter Payton is one of my all time favorite players. What a class act. Its a real shame they let The Fridge go for a touchdown in the Super Bowl rather than him - after all he’d done for the team and the city.

okie don

Bart Starr is hard to beat too👍

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

okie don wrote:

Bart Starr is hard to beat too👍

True.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

AuntiE wrote:

True.

Otto Graham could arguably be one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Graham was quarterback for my hometoen team the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. Graham is regarded by critics as one of the most dominant players of his era, having taken the Browns to league championship games every year between 1946 and 1955, making ten championship appearances IN A ROW, and winning seven of them, four of them in the AAFC and three in the NFL. With Graham at quarterback, the Browns posted a record of 105 wins, 17 losses, and 4 ties, including a 9–3 win–loss record in the AAFC and NFL playoffs. He holds the NFL record for career average yards gained per pass attempt, with 8.63. He also holds the record for the highest career winning percentage for an NFL starting quarterback, at 81.0%. Long-time New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a friend of Graham's, once called him "as great of a quarterback as there ever was."

Rose42

Parky60 wrote:

Otto Graham could arguably be one of the best quar... (show quote)

Sammy Baugh was also great and ahead of his time

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

Rose42 wrote:

Sammy Baugh was also great and ahead of his time

Wasn't he known as "Slinging Sammy Baugh" or something like that? Or maybe it was he had an outstanding singing voice and was known as "Singing Sammy Baugh".

Rose42

Parky60 wrote:

Wasn't he known as "Slinging Sammy Baugh" or something like that? Or maybe it was he had an outstanding singing voice and was known as "Singing Sammy Baugh".

Yes Slinging Sammy Baugh. He played back in the day when the football was a lot fatter and harder to throw

I wonder how Dan Marino would have done in this era of friendly quarterback rules. He was also a great one - and I never liked the Dolphins

okie don

This last game ( Eagles vs KC Chiefs) was an upset.
Phil Eagles say it was the terf on the field that missed them up???
🤔