Sweetness stops in to see Ditka
Walter Payton visits as Saints, Bears practice
Posted: Saturday August 01, 1998 02:00 PM
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Ditka and Saints QB Billy Joe Hobert prepare for their scrimmage against Chicago AP |
LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (AP) -- Walter Payton visited his old coach on Friday.
He also watched his old team.
Payton was in La Crosse for the second day of practice between the New Orleans Saints and the
Chicago Bears.
After watching the work from the sidelines, Payton the NFL's leading career
rusher for the Bears, did not head toward his old team, however. Like
everyone else at the session, Payton was intent on seeing Saints coach Mike
Ditka.
The Hall of Fame running back also took time to speak to the Saints'
running backs and lay claim to Ditka's latest inspirational slogan.
New Orleans coaches and players have been outfitted with T-shirts labeled
"Whatever it Takes," at camp. Payton said he originated the maxim during
his playing days.
"Maybe I should have gotten a trademark on it," he laughed.
Ditka leaves no doubt that Payton is one of his favorite players and a big
reason he wears a Super Bowl ring. Would he like to get him involved with
the Saints?
"Yes, but you've got to understand, Walter Payton is a Chicago Bear," Ditka
said. "That's the difference. Mike Singletary is a Chicago Bear, and that
means something. That's their history. That's their tradition. That would
be unfair to them and the Bears to do that." Bring the kids
The Saints-Bears practice sessions drew about 2,000 fans Friday, Saints
officials said.
In addition to watching two practices, there were also kick, punt and pass
clinics and contests, a Ditka sound-alike contest and an autograph session.
"It grows in popularity every year," said Doug Collister of the La Crosse
Convention and Visitors center. "Hotel rooms are scarce, I know that. We
have about 2,200 hotel rooms and I bet at least 1,800 of them are full."
Gaining respect
What do the Bears and Saints have in common besides Ditka having coached
both teams? How about an image problem.
When either team comes up in conversation Ditka said the words used are not
nice.
"We have an identity, but it's not good," he said. "We are the people that
people like to make fun of. That's it. But I've been around a long time,
and I've seen that change with teams like Dallas, seen it change in Green
Bay. People make fun, and then all of a sudden when you see they're playing
better, people say, 'These guys are pretty good. They're pretty tough.'
"That time will come, but you have to earn it. You have to get rid of that
identity that you're one of the also rans, you're one of the teams that
just lines up and lets other people use you for cannon fodder."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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