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From: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz)
Newsgroups: net.sport.football
Subject: Re: Congrats!
Message-ID: <399@3comvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Feb-86 13:48:08 EST
Article-I.D.: 3comvax.399
Posted: Mon Feb  3 13:48:08 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Feb-86 08:22:17 EST
References: <736@decwrl.DEC.COM> <1201@ihuxb.UUCP>
Reply-To: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz)
Organization: 3Com Corp; Mountain View, CA
Lines: 20


Walter Payton is the greatest running back to ever play - make that the
greatest football player.  He proves it every year, every game.  However,
he has never gotten anything just for the sake of it, he earned it.  I
remember one year he won the NFC (or was it NFL) rushing title when the
Bears beat up OJ Anderson during the last game and Walter passed him up.
But Walter had over 1700 yards that year, so no one can say he got it
through the back door.  

I think that if Walter had gotten a Superbowl touchdown, it would have been
tainted.  I am sure that he would have wanted to get a touchdown against
the Pats when the Pats were still in the game, and his points would have
made a real difference.  But to give him the ball on the 1 yard line with
the score 30-3 (or worse) just to get him a touchdown is not Walter's style.
Yes, I think he can be disappointed for not scoring, but he can be proud that
he didn't take a gimme just to get one.  

I think a more fitting tribute to Walter Payton would be giving him the game
ball, which he deserves.  Besides, unless the Bears pull a 49ers, Walter
might get a few more chances to get a "real" SuperBowl Touchdown!