Glad to see the Chicago Bears won one for Walter Payton today.

Today is the 10th anniversary of Payton’s death from a rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis. The Bears honored the late Hall-of-Fame running back during halftime of their game against the Cleveland Browns. The Bears won the game 30-6; my wife and I watched part of the game at Duffy’s Tavern in Utica before going for a walk along the I&M Canal.

I remember the day Payton died. Don Baylor was announced as the new manager of the Chicago Cubs that day, and during the press conference, Baylor asked that everybody say a special prayer for Payton.

I heard about Payton’s death later that day as I was leaving the Villa Park police station. I was there to check the weekend police reports, and a secretary asked me if I heard the news.

I also remember seeing Bruce Springsteen in concert about a week later. That concert, at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, was one of the best I’ve ever experienced live and it hooked me on Springsteen for life.