Sweetness

Walter Payton is the first African-American to influence me and impact my life. I was eight years old when I moved to Chicago from Puerto Rico with my family in 1976. I had never seen a football or a game, let alone even played the sport.

The very first football game I ever saw involved the Chicago Bears and their star running back, Walter Payton. I was intrigued by this new sport I had discovered and was mesmerized by the athleticism known as Sweetness.

I became a student of the game and quickly learned the rules as I began to play. My professor, Walter Payton. I was glued to the television set every Sunday afternoon watching the best football player to ever play the game. Then I would go outside and play football with my friends and mimic all of Payton's patented moves.

Walter Payton was a megastar in the Windy City. The local media had exposés about him all the time. I watched every single one. It was then that I learned of his work ethic. He trained all year round, meaning it wasn't just a job that began with spring training and ended with the playoffs. I remember seeing footage of the rugged hill he used for strengthening and endurance by running up and down it repeatedly. I learned of his tenacity, dedication and will. I still see the images of his fighting for that extra yard. He never ran out of bounds. He was unselfish and gave his all. I learned of his perfectionism. The image of Sweetness sitting by himself after a big game with his head buried in his hands feeling that he could have done more, even though he left it all on the field.

These are all values and qualities that I emulated because I wanted to be like Walter Payton. It is a shame athletes now-a-days believe they are not role models. Walter Payton was my first role model. I was an eight-year-old kid with an open mind, heart and soul...seeking direction, a purpose. I was a sponge. By wanting to become the best football player by following the example established by Walter Payton, there was no way I could have known that I would be shaping the characteristics that made me the man I am today.

I met Walter Payton when I was 23 years old. By this time he was retired from football. He had a Super Bowl ring and he had gained the most yardage in NFL history. He was an entrepreneur. I was a club promoter. Walter had a club in downtown Chicago named America's Bar. He gave us Tuesday nights to do Salsa. He was present on opening night. We hung out before opening the doors to the public. I was in awe of his presence, his strength and his smile. I say that because Walter was known to be a prankster and had a great sense of humor. He had us laughing the whole time.

My heart broke the day he died. I am grateful I got to meet him. I am grateful I got to tell him what he meant to me and that he was my role model, to which he replied, "well it looks like you turned out to be a fine young man." We laughed.

And that's my lasting image of Walter Payton. The greatest football player in the history of the sport. A powerful man who was known as Sweetness. A man who understood that sweat, blood and tears must be balanced by laughter.