Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 November 1999 — Page 20

V

V 4 i

k 114#U * •■'i* .

PAGE B8

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1990

•i

4-:

COLTS ContlmMd from B7

Just ask “them Cowboys.” “I don’t know if it’s a statement game. I’m not into those kinds of things. It was a big game for us. It wasn’t just another game. We were playing another 4-2 team. We’re playing the Cowboys on national television. I think winning this game is a test that we passed. I’m pleased with that.” Playing in the AFC East, arguably the toughest division in the NFL, times aren’t going to get any easier for the Colts. The New England Patriots (6-2) continue to find ways to win. The Miami Dolphins (6-1) are evolving into one of the dominant teams in the American Football Conference. The Buffalo Bills (5-3) are right in the thick of things and with Doug Rutie at quarterback, are poised to pull a rabbit out of the hat any time. | However, the Colts made a major statement last week. ; “I thought they were a very good football team. I was very impressed with them overall. They execute and things they do make them a gbod football team. You have to give them credit,” said Cowboys head coach Chan Gailey. I But next up are the Chiefs.

Edgerrin James continues to emerge as one the NFL’s premier running backs. He will have his hands full this week against Kansas City. “We were wanting to go out and play our game. All week I was saying that I wanted to be more involved in everything so that I can do better on my pass routes and recognize when a blitz is coming,” said James. ,; We practice hard. If you talk to any of the other guys around the NFL, they’ll tell you that they don’t practice like we practice. We practice hard, and we do it all through the week.” The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the strongest defenses in the AFC. They are ranked seventh in the conference in total defense, including third against the run (eighth against the pass.) Offensively, the Chiefs are ranked third in the AFC in rushing offense. They are ranked ninth in total offense. The Colts are 10th in the AFC in rushing defense and 14th against the pass. The defensive line for the Colts will have to play tougher if the offense expects to get on the field. Time of possession will be a telling statistic in this one. Stay tuned.

The Help You Need To Own A HOME Is At Your Fingertips...

lit

Ask about $0 Down Payment (with 18 mo. reestablished credit) • • ' . ' ’ • ' Affordable Monthly Payments New & Existing Homes Available All Over Central Indiana Past credit issues & bankruptcy can be overcome Mortgage Assistance Available , Veterans Ask About Your $0 Down Payment Program PRE-QUALIFICATION ANALYSIS/CREDIT REPORT

Call Today

1-800-639-HOME

v:t-

ductive season of his career. He rushed for 1,852 yards and 14 touchdowns, both career highs. His 5.5 yards per cany also was the best of his career. Against Minnesota, he ran for 275 yards, an NFL single-game record that still stands. And in 1984, he broke Jim Brown’s longstanding rushing record of 12,312 yards. In tribute to Payton, Lambeau Field in Green Bay fell silent before Monday night’s game between the Packers and Seattle Seahawks. “He was a guy of small stature but gigantic heart,” said Eric Dickerson, third on the NFL’s career rushing list behind Payton and Sanders. “He was an icon to all the guys who played that position...! loved to watch him play.” Even his teammates were amazed by him. “The guy didn’t want to lose, didn’t want to be tackled, didn’t want to miss a game,” McMahon said. ‘To miss one game in his career was phenomenal. I couldn’t figure out how he could do it week after week.” After carrying mediocre Chicago teams for most of his career, Payton saw the Bears finallyn make it to the Super Bowl in 1985. He rushed for 1,551 yards and nine touchdowns as the Bears went 15-1 in the regular season, and also caught 49 passes for 483 yards receiving and two TDs. Chicago beat New England 46-10 in the Super Bowl, but Payton didn’t score in the game. Widely celebrated in Chicago, he was the city’s highest-profile athlete in the years after Cubs Hall of Earner Ernie Banks retired and before Bulls superstar Michael Jordan emerged. “Walter was a Chicago icon long

PAYTON Continued from B7 before I arrived there,” Jordan said. “He was a great man off the field, and hison-the-fieldaccomplishments speak for themselves. I spent a lot of time with Walter, and I truly feel that we have lost a great man.” Part of Payton’s greatness was his selflessness off the field. As word of his death spread, sports radio talk shows in Chicago were flooded with stories of his kindness and generosity. One woman told of how Payton put her mother at ease at a charity dinner, asking to see photos of her family. A well-known prankster, he set off firecrackers in the rookie locker room at the start of training camp. He occasionally would answer the phone at the Bears’ reception desk. The jokes continued even as he was dying. Last week, he purposely sent former Bears running back Matt Suhey to wrong addresses on a trip to Singletary’s house, and then had him hide a hamburger and a malt in Singletary’s garage. Tt was his duty to bring humor and light in any situation,” Singletary said. "The Bears had some tough years, and Walter was always the guy who, no matter how tough it was, would always make you feel great about playing the game and playing for the Bears. “As a person, he was a bright spot for any darkness that appeared.” Which is why it was unfathomable to see Pgyton looking so gaunt and frail at the emotional news conference in February when he disclosed his liver disease.. “Am I scared? Hell yeah. I’m scared. Wouldn’t you be scared?” he asked. “But it’s not in my hands anymore. It’s in God’s hands.”

V

\

He made few public appearance^ ! after that. Though he kndw in recent i weeks he was dying, he didn’t talk > about it. Instead, he spent as much time ^ as he could with his family and close ^ friends. |J On Wednesday night, his son, Jarrett, ^ who plays for the University of Miami,.^ was called home.^ , “From the day in February when dad told the world of his liver diseaseC^ the outpouring of love,'support arK^ prayers from around the world a£~^ tounded even him,” Jarrett Payton said^ holding back tears as he read a state'£* mental the Bears’ headquarters in Lake;

Forest, 111.

Bom July 25, 1954, at Columbi^ p Miss., Payton played college football at, j Jackson State, where he set nine school records, scored 66 touchdowns rushed for 3,563 yards. He once scorerf t* 46 points in one game. ; He led the nation in scoring in 197£ vj with 160 points, and his 464 career points was an NCAA record. He Fin-?r ished fourth in voting for the Heismai>‘i Trophy in 1974, and was drafted fourth t* overall by the Bears. He retired after the 1987 season, aiftl the Bears immediately retired No. 3<C> He was elected to the Hall of Fame in*! 1993, his first year of eligibility.. y+i: “After Brian Piccolo died, my hus^T band and I promised ourselves wd^v wouldn’t be so personally involved witfi-v the players,” said an emotional ginia McCaskey, daughter of Bear$*£ founder George Halas. “We Were able*!; to follow that resolve until WalteKj; Payton came into our lives.” ! Besides his son, Payton is survived*^ by his wife, Connie, and daughter

Brittney.

TYSON Continued from B7 to arrange a fight in England or Germany. At Friday’s hearing, The Nevada Athletic Commission uphdld refcree Richard Steele’s action of deducting two points from Tyson as the sole punishment for hitting Norris after the bell at the end of the first round of the fight. Norris fell, dislocated his knee and was unable to continue. Ghanem said the commission was worried about Tyson’s actions both against Norris and in January when he twisted - Ftancnis Bothals^nn at the end of the first round of Ifacir } •/< .n i'4 rN Hit-t.tMf , c. mi >•« **»»»«' m* « i ) r - m

fight.

Steele’s rating in the ring that the left hook that dropped; £ Norris after the bell sounded was not deliberate. That was f; the key factor in Tyson avoiding any penalties for the latent'

blow.

“He made the call right there and the call was appropri- ^ ate/' commissioner Glen Carano said. Tyson’s attorney Jim Jimmerson noted that no other ^ fights had been disciplined outside the ring for hitting after / the bell. “It was the heat of the moment, the intensity of the moment,” Jimmerson said. Tyson said after the fight that he did not hear the bell, even though it rang five times.

A Special Advance Screening will be held onltieeday, November 9,1999 at 7:30 p.m. at the Keraeotee Showpiece 10, 4325 South Meridian St Complimentary paftaee will be given on a first oome, first served basis. A limited amount of passes will be available only at fhe Indianapolis Recordsr, 2901 N. Tacoma on Monday, November 8 at 11:00 a.m. - 1KX) p.m. \ * Ptoaae Pnsent Coupon On* Coupon Pm Pmnon

NOVEMBER 10th ONLY IN THEATRES

they don't want to be heroes.

they just want to be heard.

Hop in for the Pacers' inaugural season in Conseco Fieldhouse!

,it.. vvitlt im rerJiUe ighthnes of all (hr

Ik.iI oa-'ly ttiiTiugh extra ■ sioi points

Satuidoy 13 Woihiny;