The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Petra — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:17:21 -0000

The greatest-- and sweetest ever. The most popular man in Chicago... still.

What a good, great man. And not too bad a running back either. )

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Jake Austen — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:47:20 -0000

I certainly am willing to concede that Jim Brown may be the all time best in terms of pure skill, talent and achievement, but the fact that Brown seemed to be fueled by anger, while Payton's powers seemed to be related to his joy, at the very least makes me feel better about being a football fan. He is my favorite athlete ever, and no other football player was ever as fun to watch. And no disrespect to Emmitt Smith, but I doubt even his mom thinks he's better than Walter Payton.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

mjm — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:14:38 -0000

Sweetness was the best I ever saw, certainly. Emmitt is 1A to Walter's #1, but Emmitt's O-line was much more highly regarded than Walter's ever was.

Doesn't make them better, but I can't recall the Bears ever having an O-lineman in the Pro Bowl, while there were big guys with stars on their helmets in Honolulu every year.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

The Puzzled One — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:16:09 -0000

Watching NFL highlights make it seem like fun. Yet watching actual NFL nowadays is beyond unbearable, unless the atmospherics help (friends, beer, etc). You're basically putting down three hours of your precious time to watch at most 6 minutes of action, and (with luck) two or three highlights like this reel.

And yup, I'd rather watch soccer. Americans who call soccer "boring" have been brainwashed out of their minds.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

JC — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:35:24 -0000

That was so much fun to watch - thanks for the clip.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

tricstmr — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:36:09 -0000

Thanks for that. I grew up with Sweetness, when all that Chicago had was him... and it was truly a thing of beauty.. Running backs these days just don't seem to compare. Perhaps that's because everyone's gotten so much bigger and everyone gets creamed to early.. but when was the last time that you had a running back stay in the top 3 in yardarge for 5 or more years in a row..

Payton may never have gotten the 2000 yards a season that some new backs get.. but usually wihtin 3 years, they're gone.. and Walter was there for 13 years...

Thanks again.. it was sweet.. even if his death makes it bittersweet..

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Roq — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:34:55 -0000

To add to the above, he used to run up that hill by his house with logs on his shoulders. It was insane.

I grew up in Chicago, and I can tell you - he made every game a gift. And was such a wonderful person on top of it all. Losing him was beyond cruel.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

The Golux — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:38:08 -0000

Amazing clips. I loved how perfectly the action and lyrics were synchronized; it made me smile in many places.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

JR — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:11:10 -0000

Thanks for the memories. I'm a 37 year old white guy from Iowa. Walter was my first and only true sports "hero." Gives me chills to watch the old stuff.

I know people here are complaining about the Fridge scoring instead of Walter, but I'm not sure that he (Walter) ever gave it a second thought.

One stat not mentioned here was that, in addition to the all-time rushing record, he held the all time receptions record for a running back when he retired. It was an era of less specialization, granted, but still incredible.

Who knows how many yards he could have gained with better all-around teams in his early years and slightly more top end speed? As it was, he was still "The Best" for me.

All-time best athlete with jheri curls?

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Doug T — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:29:56 -0000

Man, it's great to look at the clip and the other highlight clips of Sweetness. In addition to all the other aspects already touched on, one thing that really struck me watching these clips was his ability to be patient, and to set up blocks. Not just at the line of scrimmage, but downfield, too. He'd wait for a block, or take the right line so that a blcker would be able to help him out.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Tungsten — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:13:50 -0000

man, I had forgotten about that one run juke of his that's around 2:50. He just bounces off / smacks back the tackle (#49) who has to come at him a for a second shot. Thanks for that.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Tungsten — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:26 -0000

I live right next to Soldier Field, and I'd say at least 1 out of every 20 people wearing jerseys wear Payton's. Haven't seen a McMahon yet. Sweetness indeed. Some think that Hester might actually fill those cleats, who knows.

By the way, when I don't get my own tickets, I always manage to get in with a stub I beg off of some fool leaving at halftime. The new Soldier field is great.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Joe Klein's conscience — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:45:55 -0000

Ed & Dave:

You do remember that Sweetness played at least one half of a game at QB, right(I think he was in for Greg Landry .. which goes to show when .. and how dire the QB situation was)?

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Just Karl — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:22:34 -0000

Finally! I've been jonesing for one of your NFL Films posts. I realize the Cowboys suck this year but the NFL open threads ain't cuttin it.

Why Ditka never ran for political office in Chicago can be found here:

http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/we_flicked_it_up_for_sports_illustrated.php

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

dbt — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:20:24 -0000

Martin, my sister had that poster growing up, I think it's still around my parents' house.

To me the most amazing thing about Walter -- he could run, pass, catch, block, probably kick pretty well too, but his goal line leaps were just unbelievable. There's one in this package, but man. That thing where his legs, hips, shoulders, head, and the ball could all move in completely different directions? He could do that shit in MIDAIR.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

mattf — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:35:58 -0000

Beautiful. Jim Brown on film is awe-inspiring.

Love Payton's black shoes covered with white tape, like spats.

And boo to Ditka - Payton should have smelled the Super Bowl end zone!

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

mickslam — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:34:30 -0000

"Seemingly after every time tackled, his back on the ground, he would very casually extend his carrying arm such that the ball would lie about one length beyond his helmet, and he would pop back up to return to the huddle... And I'll be damned if the great majority of the time, Walter's placement didn't become the new line of scrimmage."

Every freakin' play. Then, frequently he would pop up without using his arms, just flip a quick situp to get up.

And the blocking - my god. You all must remember the bears vs minnesota on MNF when McMahon was hurt, the bears are down by 10 without him, and they put McMahon in the game. A blitz, McMahon is going to get slaughtered, and Payton stands up the linebacker - stops him cold from a full blitz - and McMahon passes for a TD. I don't think anyone else could have done that. He was the greatest blocker ever. Three passes, three TDs, but that block was so freakin' intense.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

metricpenny — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:51:16 -0000

There is a line in the Bears' fight song "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" that states,

"We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation, with your T-formation."

When I think of it, it changes to,

"We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation, with your T-formation and Walter Payton."

Thrill us he did!

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

pb — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:29:29 -0000

thanks TC for that. i was 5 when they won the superbowl. that clip just filled me up with the excitement and jitters of a kid coming to the stadium for the first time. he will always be the greatest ever to play the game of football. he played with such ferocity you wondered where it came from since he was such a gracious man.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Guest — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:04:40 -0000

Walter is my all time favorite. That kickstep thing was a thing of beauty. Brown might have been a marginally better pure runner, but Walter had other skills that made him the whole, sweet package.

I never get affected much when a celebrity passes away, but Walter's death really got to me.

I was a grown man, bawlin' like a baby.

Hero is a tragically overused word, and Walter was certainly no hero, but he was a role model of the highest caliber. I idolized him.

That '85 Bears team is still the best ever, even though Ditka is a dooshnozzle. I'll never forgive him letting Perry have that TD.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

patagonia — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:24:38 -0000

When it comes to Tecmo Bowl, no one comes close to Bo Jackson.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Loneoak — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:19:49 -0000

Dammit Dave, you stole my Tecmo Bowl joke!

I'm not entirely sure that Walter's hips were attached properly to his torso, he moves them in different directions so fluidly. I can't imagine trying to tackle him ... he's kinda like a mix of a large cat and a bulldozer.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

Dave Goldberg — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:02:05 -0000

This video clearly makes us understand why the makers of Tecmo Bowl do what they did.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

steve — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:40:01 -0000

A recollection that has nothing to do with his running, but probably had a lot to do with winning, has to do with how Walter Payton finished plays. Seemingly after every time tackled, his back on the ground, he would very casually extend his carrying arm such that the ball would lie about one length beyond his helmet, and he would pop back up to return to the huddle. Not a big reach to draw attention to the placement, but certainly beyond the actual forward progress of the play. And I'll be damned if the great majority of the time, Walter's placement didn't become the new line of scrimmage.

I don't watch much football anymore, but I don't recall any ball carrier then or since who had/has this in his repertoire.

Re: Let us now speak of a great man of Chicago

keith — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:33:31 -0000

Timmer-

I agree, Walter was great at every aspect. But I think its hard to understate just how different the game was when Jim or Gayle played. Pass protection was a completely different animal back then compared to when Walter played. I think it is a stretch to say that Jim or Gayle couldn't absolutely lay out a blitzer if need be.

I couldn't agree with you more about that blowhard Ditka, what a travesty.