Memories of "Sweetness"

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since Walter Payton died of liver cancer. To commemorate this anniversary, the Chicago Bears honored "Sweetness" during half-time of Sunday's game at Soldier Field. You can watch the video of the tribute on the Bears' Web site.

I have a few of my own memories of Walter Payton. During the mid 1980s, a friend and I made several trips to the Bears' summer camp facility in Platteville, Wis., to watch the team's practices. I have only one photo of Payton from those trips. Yes, that's Walter in yellow lightheartedly brandishing a golf club to ward off fans as he got into a car. This was about as close as I would ever get to football's greatest running back.

We miss you, #34.