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| | Saturday, November 6 | |||||
| SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. -- To most people, Walter Payton was
the NFL's greatest rusher. To the hundreds of mourners at his
private memorial service Friday, he was much more.
Teammate. Father. Friend. Prankster. Philanthropist.
At the altar's center was a color portrait of Payton in his Chicago uniform, with his trademark white headband. Payton's body was cremated and his ashes were in a vase on the altar. "I thought Walter Payton was the greatest football player who ever lived," former Oakland coach and TV commentator John Madden said on his way into the service, where he also spoke. "He did it and he did it better than anyone. And he had more fun -- and that combination is a treasure." Madden said he will ask Tagliabue to create a book and video for all NFL players on how Payton handled both his career and his life outside of football. It would teach them, he said, "how to be a pro." Jarrett Payton, who at the age of 12 introduced his father at his Hall of Fame induction, said, "Little did I know that six years later, I'd be standing before you." Jarrett told the assembly how as a child, when his father needed him, he would whistle. No matter where he was, he could always hear that whistle. He heard the whistle as he got off the bus before playing his first high school game at tailback after switching from soccer. He understood that his father was saying: "Represent me well." Two weeks ago, the University of Miami, where Jarrett plays, was trailing Boston College. Jarrett said though he knew his father was at home watching the game, he could swear he heard his whistle. It was Jarrett's last game before he was called home to say goodbye to his father. "I'll never forget that moment," Jarrett said. For Ted Albrecht, a former Bears offensive lineman who started 83 NFL games with Payton, the service was bittersweet. "I thought all the speakers were very different. There was a lot of diversity in that room. It was one of the greatest reunions I've ever been to," Albrecht said. "Walter would have been very, very pleased. I didn't think I would handle this at all. It was so comforting to be in that room. I didn't know what to expect. I needed to put closure on this thing." Ditka, Payton's brother Eddie and teammate Mike Singletary also offered tributes. Singletary told of how Payton set off a firecracker in front of his dorm room during his rookie year, the first of many practical jokes.Former Bears attending were Gale Sayers, Matt Suhey, who was one of Payton's best friends, Dennis McKinnon, Chris Zorich, Dave Duerson, Doug Buffone, Richard Dent, Mark Bortz and Jim McMahon. Former NFL greats Marcus Allen and Gene Upshaw, ex- Chicago Bulls star Bob Love, Chicago Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz, agent Steve Zucker, Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley and Illinois Gov. George Ryan were also present. Payton's widow, Connie, Jarrett and his 14-year-old sister Brittney, arrived just after Bears' owners Ed and Virginia McCaskey. | ALSO SEE Payton, NFL's career rushing leader, dies at 45
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Walter Payton career highlights
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AUDIO/VIDEO   Mike Ditka talks about Payton after the private service.wav: 113 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6  | |||||
