Sweetness


Book Description

The definitive biography of Chicago Bears and Hall of Fame superstar Walter Payton. Based on meticulous research and interviews with nearly 700 contacts, an unforgettable portrait that describes a man who lived his life just like he played the game: at full speed.




Never Die Easy


Book Description

"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." His legacy is towering. Walter Payton—the man they called Sweetness, for the way he ran—remains the most prolific running back in the history of the National Football League, the star of the Chicago Bears' only Super Bowl Championship, eleven times voted the most popular sports figure in Chicago's history. Off the field, he was a devoted father whose charitable foundation benefited tens of thousands of children each year, and who—faced with terminal liver disease—refused to use his celebrity to gain a preferential position for organ donation. Walter Payton was not just a football hero; he was America's hero. Never Die Easy is Walter Payton's autobiography, told from the heart. Growing up poor in Mississippi, he took up football to get girls' attention, and went on to become a Black College All-American at tiny Jackson State (during which time he was also a finalist in a Soul Train dance contest). Drafted by the Bears in 1975, he predicted that he would last only five years but went on to play thirteen extraordinary seasons, a career earning him regular acknowledgment as one of the greatest players in the history of professional football. And when his playing days were over, he approached business and charity endeavors with the same determination and success he had brought to the football field, always putting first his devotion to friends and family. His ultimate battle with illness truly proved him the champion he always had been and prompted a staggering outpouring of love and support from hundreds of thousands of friends and admirers. Written with veteran journalist and author Don Yaeger in the last weeks of Walter Payton's life, Never Die Easy presents Walter's singular voice—warm, plainspoken, funny, self-aware—along with the voices of the friends, family, teammates, and business associates who knew him best at all stages of his life, including his wife, Connie, and their children, Brittney and Jarrett; his teammate and friend Matt Suhey; former Bears head coach Mike Ditka; and many, many others. Walter made Don Yaeger promise that his book would be "inspirational and leave people with some kind of lesson . . . and make sure you spell all the words right." Never Die Easy keeps all those promises.




Walter & Me


Book Description

Widely regarded as one of the best football players to ever tie on a pair of cleats, Walter Payton led a fascinating and ultimately tragic life. Told in the voices of those who knew him best, this biography of the Chicago Bears legendary running back tells the inspiring account of the reward of hard work and is an uplifting testament to the power of the human spirit. It is a story of inspiration, redemption, and the deep passion two brothers felt for the sport of football. More than a decade after the untimely death of Walter Payton, his older brother recalls the moments they shared and the continuing sting of the loss of a legend. This glimpse into Payton's life doesn't sugarcoat the issues or glorify the late superstar, but rather it addresses the subjects of suicide, drug abuse, and infidelity head-on with intimate knowledge of the facts. In this candid take, Walter's older brother discloses the true life of man simply known as "Sweetness."




Payton


Book Description

Presents the life and accomplishments of Walter Payton, the record-setting running back for the Chicago Bears, who played on the Bears 1985 Super Bowl winning team and whose life was tragically cut short by liver cancer.




Walter Payton


Book Description

Examines the life and career of legendary running back for the Chicago Bears, Walter Peyton, and contains a number of personal testimonies about him from former teammates and coaches, childhood and college friends, fans, business partners, and many others.




I Remember Walter Payton


Book Description

Includes personal anecdotes about Walter Payton, the football star who succumbed to cancer in 1999, by his closest friends and family members.




The '85 Bears


Book Description

The ultimate record of a great franchise's greatest season as told by none other than Da Coach himself In Ditka's own words, this 30th anniversary volume of The '85 Bears is packed with special features that make it the ultimate must-have treasure for every Bears fan. This updated edition features the authors' reflections on the incredible championship season as well as recaps and statistics for every regular- and post-season game bring the entire 1985 campaign to life. Interviews with fan favorites—from the Fridge to Buddy Ryan—as well as special commentary from Gary Fencik offer extra insight into the team's Super Bowl run. Capping off a truly memorable volume is a bonus audio CD that features an exclusive interview with Mike Ditka, providing even more memories from a truly golden era of Chicago football.




"Then Ditka Said to Payton. . ."


Book Description

Written for every sports fan who follows the Bears, this account goes behind the scenes to peek into the private world of the players, coaches, and decision makers—all while eavesdropping on their personal conversations. From the Chicago locker room to the sidelines and inside the huddle, the book includes stories about Dick Butkus, Red Grange, George Halas, Walter Payton, and Gale Sayers, among others, allowing readers to relive the highlights and the celebrations.




Captain for Life


Book Description

Captain for Life offers a unique and powerful personal tale about the great joy and devastating price of playing professional football, by a legendary former NFL linebacker Harry Carson. One of the greatest linebackers to ever play professional football, Harry Carson built a reputation during his 13 years in the NFL as a fearsome, physical and passionate player who would give everything he had to win. Whether violently tackling running backs, engaging blockers with reckless abandon or ferociously attacking the line of scrimmage, Carson will always be remembered as having played the game the way it's meant to be played--all out. For the first time ever, this legendary athlete takes readers on an unlikely journey to the NFL that began in the small town of Florence, South Carolina to his days at little known South Carolina State University--and then the bright lights of professional football in New York, playing for the Giants. Carson's story of his life as a football player and after his retirement is more powerful and eye-opening than any that's come before. Within these pages, Carson reveals the startling truth behind the sacrifices these great warriors make for our entertainment, the thrill of stepping onto a field with 80,000 fans screaming your name, and the debilitating physical and mental toll this violent and uncompromising game takes. With insight into some of the game's biggest stars, from Lawrence Taylor to Bill Parcells to Phil Simms this book is a must for any NFL fan.




PASS THE LEGACY


Book Description

With 80 million grandparents in the United States, you are one of many seniors searching for help in being a Godly grandparent. Pass the Legacy: 7 Keys for Grandparents Making a Difference is a book to encourage, inform and equip you in your important role while living in a culture that tells you your purpose is minimal. Many seniors desire to be Godly grandparents of their families. They simply do not know how. As you read this book, you will be empowered to live into the utmost calling God has on your life: to pass a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ to your grandchildren. What an awesome calling for someone living in a generation that struggles to find purpose in life. As you grab “The Seven Keys”, prepare to run an amazing race with the Lord. You will be living into His calling for you. Are you worried about your lovely granddaughter as she navigates this tumultuous world? Maybe you are concerned about your grown son. He seems to be moving farther and farther from the Lord. Then check out these “Seven Keys”. They are basic steps that can propel you towards leaving the most precious legacy of all: a legacy of faith in the Lord. FIRST KEY: Surrender Your Heart to Jesus Christ In order to pass a legacy of faith you must BE a person of faith! People are in one of three categories: those living in Egypt, those wandering around the desert or those abiding in the Promised Land. Discern which category describes you and learn the next step towards a life surrendered to the Lord. SECOND KEY: Read the Bible Daily Since we live in a noisy world, we must choose to set aside Quiet Time. By daily resting in God’s Word, we strengthen our spirits. Learn effective ways to delve into the Bible so that you can implement these Godly truths into your life. Then you will be powerfully prepared to encourage faith in your loved ones. THIRD KEY: Pray Fervently “Babushka Time”! Be like the Russian grandmothers in World War II who fell to their knees praying fervently for their loved ones. Discover powerful ways to prayerfully protect and guide the children and grandchildren the Lord has placed in your life and under your care. FOURTH KEY: Pursue Healthy Relationships with Loved Ones In a culture crowded with smart phones, computers and heavy schedules; relationships are diminished. This key encourages and equips grandparents and parents with grown children to run hard after healthy relationships with their children so that they can pass faith in Christ to the next generation. FIFTH KEY: Heal Broken Relationships We live in a tumultuous world. Many of us have strained, or broken, relationships with our children and grandchildren. Learn three steps towards resolving issues and mending broken relationships with loved ones. SIXTH KEY: Leave a Well-Written Legacy of Love With the world becoming heavily infiltrated by technology, the written word is decreasing. Study ways to write letters, create journals and scribe blessings to family members such that you communicate God’s love to your children and grandchildren. SEVENTH KEY: Pass Your Faith Every person has a God-story to tell. Maybe your story is how you accepted the Lord when you were eight years old, or forty eight years old. Maybe your God-story is that you have always struggled with faith in Christ. Regardless, you have a story that is worthy to be told to your children and grandchildren. God’s highest vision for grandparents is to pass a legacy of faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, to your loved ones. In this world where most seniors retire, God is calling YOU to become a life-changer in the lives of your children and grandchildren. You can make a difference by impacting their hearts for the Lord. Grab these keys and run the race marked divinely for you by God. Never has there been a more important job to do. Never has the need been more urgent.