I didn't much follow the career of Walter Payton. He was known as "Sweetness", and I knew of his importance to the history of the game and watched with my mouth agape when watching his amazing feats each week on NFL highlight films.
I had an opportunity for a "brush with greatness" while a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneer Band. That's right. A lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan firmly entrenched in the trumpets and french horns sections of the band representing the creamsicle orange and white-clad Buccaneers. I have a separate blog entry planned for another time, but for now......
After debuting in the AFC West division in their inaugural season of 1976 (yes, the Western division. Tampa isn't west of much of anything, right?) they moved to the NFC central joining the Lions, Packers, Bears and my Vikings. So this meant that each those teams made a trip to Tampa each season to play at "The Big Sombrero", as termed by ESPN's Chris Berman.
During my time in the trumpet section we had a tradition where during the game four of the trumpeters would leave the stands and head down to the field. Once they got there they would stand shoulder to shoulder in one corner of the area directly in front of the crowd and play six notes which signal fans to yell "Charge!" at their completion. They would play this three times in succession and then move down the sideline until they'd made a complete circuit of outer edge of the field. I was lucky enough to be chosen to do this once during my 4 seasons as a trumpet player. (My final two seasons I was in the french horn section). On the day I was chosen to be one of the fantastic four we were playing the Bears.
The four of us hit the field and we played our way around the field, only playing while the Bucs were on offense. The Bucs' sideline was first as we moved counter-clockwise around the floor of Tampa Stadium. We made the turn and headed behind the area behind the Bears' bench. I was the furthest to the right as the four of us watched the action on the field during a short period just prior to our next mini performance.
While watching the game, a glance to my right showed a 4-5' gap between myself and one of the Bears players. With helmet under his arm and intensity in his eyes the player glanced to his left and we each acknowledged one another with a "Hey, man. How ya doin'?" We each nodded and then went back to what we were doing. The player? #34, Walter Payton.
We finished our rounds and headed back up into the stands to join the rest of the band. The rest of the game was a bit of a blur as I tried to process what had just happened to me. I had spoken to Walter Payton DURING a game on the sideline. While the number of people who have done this is quite extensive, I never thought that I would be on it.
While this may not be as glamorous of a celebrity meeting as maybe my meeting Stevie Wonder or any number of other professional athletes, it often comes to mind when I hear Walter Payton's name or mention of the Chicago Bears. Just thought I'd share it with you.
I'm just sayin'
Thanks, Walter.
Thanks, Walter.
