Walter Payton

(Walter Payton)

             "He believed his duty was to play football. That's what he was put on this Earth for. I believed in my heart that when God made a football player, he made my father." - Jarrett Payton. (Never Die Easy Quotes." By Walter Payton. Web. 21 May 2012.) When Walter Payton first played the game of football, it was his sophomore year in high school. Who knew a boy nobody knew would turn out to become a Hall of Fame running back. Walter Jerry Payton, son of Peter and Alyne Payton was born in Columbia Mississippi 1954. He was one of three siblings-two boys and one girl. Growing up, Payton was never a competitive athlete. His older brother Eddie was the star of the family so Walter played drums and participated in Boy scouts. He went to Columbia High where he was a long jumper, basketball player, band member, and eventually football star. He played his first ever football game and rushed for 65 yards his first play. He followed his brother's footpaths and attended Jackson State College. He broke many NCAA records and got drafted to the Chicago Bears in 1975. He retired at age 33 averaging over 100 per game. Walter broke multiple records in the NFL and exceeded the boundary for everything he did. When he retired that didn't stop him. He donated to several different charities and was active in as many things as he could be. Walter demonstrated he was an achiever, had determination, and had heart. Walter demonstrated being an achiever, having heart, and having determination. He never gave up and reached for the impossible. He set up goals and obtained all of them, and because of that, he is a hero.

             Walter always strove to be best. He was a boy scout, a band member, and played multiple sports such as track and field, basketball, and football. He worked as hard as he could to be the best and made sure nobody would stand in his way. Walter was one of the most complex, physical, aggressive players the NFL has ever seen. He's former teammate and best friend said this soon before Payton's death. "With all the greatest runs, the greatest moves I saw from him, what I experienced this weekend was by far the best of Walter Payton I've ever seen. As a person, he was a bright spot for any darkness that appeared." (Walter Payton Biography - Born In Columbia, Mississippi, Joins Track Team As Long Jumper, Chronology, Named Ncaa Leading Scorer Of All Time) Payton touched lives. He made it so people could see the light throughout him. He showed that no matter what, you can find the good in things. He spread his love to everyone, whether it was on or off the field. Anyway he could he would send a messages about who he was. Walter achieved to be the best and made sure everyone knew it. Everyone knew who he was which was exactly what Walter wanted. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said about Payton "Walter exemplified class, and all of us in sports should honor him by striving to perpetuate his standard of excellence. Walter was an inspiration in everything he did. The tremendous grace and dignity he displayed in his final months reminded us again why 'Sweetness' was the perfect nickname for Walter Payton." (HEARTLIGHT Magazine. Web. 21 May 2012) Nobody wanted to go against him and that's what he wanted since he first started playing the game of football. With his extraordinary skill, Walter could do just about anything. He never planned on being a football player growing up and once he found out how good he was, he committed to it. Striving for success, Walter got what he wanted. He got people, or the nation, to know who he was not just as a football player, but by how he got to that point.

As committed as Walter was, it just wasn't enough. He spent ruthless hours training. Great wasn't good enough. He wanted to be perfect. He wanted it to be so he would be the only one around. He wanted to out beat any competition he had.  He went on workouts with his brother on the hottest part of the day, every day in summer. They ran up and down sandbanks for hours at a time. It helped with leg strength, endurance, and balance. Throughout his career he continued to do similar workouts. John Madden (a famous coach and commentator) said about Payton, "Too many people judge running back only by how many rushing yards he has. You seldom hear how many passes a running back caught for how many yards. And you hardly ever hear how good a blocker he is, either as a pass blocker, picking up a blitzing linebacker blocker or as a run blocker for the other running back; but that's how coaches evaluate a running back. And that's why Walter Payton is the best running back I've ever seen." ("Nfl Communications." Web. explored-in-walter-payton-a-football-life-thursday-october-13) Walter was a well-deserved running back and he earned all the fame he got. Nobody will better than Walter at what he did. After Payton's death, many people spoke at his funeral to honor him. Mike Ditka, his former head coach said this about Payton. "He was the best football player I've ever seen, and probably one of the best people I've ever met." ("Nfl Communications." Web. explored-in-walter-payton-a-football-life-thursday-october-13) Walter had many more impressive speeches coming from Dan Marino, Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith, hall of famer Franco Harris, and of course his family. He fought for everything he wanted, trained every single day, became his own creation. All in all, Walter was determined to be a star by the way he trained and how he ate. Nobody questioned him once he showed the public who he was.

             Walter loved to love, he shared it anytime he could. It could be for his family, helping someone out, or for his career in football. Wherever it is, it was always going on. Walter grew up with his brother; they were close and always were outside doing something active. He also spent a lot of time with his mother and father, "My parents spent a lot of time with us and made us feel loved and wanted. I didn't care much about what went on around me, as long as I was in solid at home." (Walter Jerry Payton. Podesta, James. Web) He described his childhood as a "kids paradise" they grew up next to a river and factories so they would often play hide and seek. His Baptist parents instilled both a strong religious faith and a desire for excellence in all their children. His family was strict, but in the long run he enjoyed it. He enjoyed having parents who treated him the way he deserved to be treated. It made him who he was, and formed out the rest of his life. Walter tried to help as many people as possible. On his was to Florida he met a father whose boy had liver cancer. Walter insisted on meeting the young boy and tried to make the boy feel better. "You will come through this. No matter what follows, you need to keep your head up, you need to keep fighting forward, and you need to believe. You've gone through more in your short life than most of us have in a lifetime." ("Sweetness:." Google Books. Web. 21 May 2012) Believing is what he did; he showed through his heart he could make people feel better about themselves. All anyone wants to do is be happy, so Walter turned that to reality for many young children. He donated to children's hospitals and met and spoke with the kids in them. He turned all their dreams and hopes into reality and pushed them to fight for their life. Having the heart do this isn't hard. The only thing that was stopping people is they don't stop to think about other people out there with much harder lives than ours. Whether it's a breakup or a fight with a friend, it's nothing compared with people fighting for their lives. Walter saw past that, and did what he could to help.

Walter was born to play this game. Every obstacle in his way was overcome. Nobody could tell him otherwise and he stuck to his gut. In his book Never Die Easy Walter says, "Never die easy. Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that linebacker pay. It carries into all facets of your life. It's okay to lose, to die, but don't die without trying, without giving it your best." (Never Die Easy Quotes." By Walter Payton. Web. 21 May 2012.) He broke high school records, college records, then went to the NFL and broke records there. He treated people with respect at all times and cared for everyone; he was capable of anything and everything. Walter Payton thrived on being a leader, role model, and mentor. "If you ask me how I want to be remembered, it is as a winner. You know what a winner is? A winner is somebody who has given his best effort, who has tried the hardest they possibly can, who has utilized every ounce of energy and strength within them to accomplish something. It doesn't mean that they accomplished it or failed, it means that they've given it their best. That's a winner." (Never Die Easy Quotes." By Walter Payton. Web. 21 May 2012.) Walters a hero to kids growing up and wanting to be just like him. He shows how to commit yourself to something you love and never give up until you have that. Through thick and thin he followed his destiny. Starting off by being nothing, to having everything he ever wanted. His path to glory was unstoppable and he made it clear to everyone that's the way he wanted it to be.

Never Die Easy Quotes." By Walter Payton. Web. 21 May 2012.

 Nfl Communications." Web.

Sweetness:." Google Books. Web. 21 May 2012.

"They Called Him "Sweetness"" : HEARTLIGHT Magazine. Web. 21 May 2012.

Walter Jerry Payton. Podesta, James. Web.

Walter Payton Biography - Born In Columbia, Mississippi, Joins Track Team As Long Jumper, Chronology, Named Ncaa Leading Scorer Of All Time." - JRank Articles. Web. 21 May 2012.