Chicago Bears

The 30-yard line on each side of the ancient lakefront stadium was repainted into a '34' in the Chicago Bears colors of orange, blue and white. And the play clock was frozen on that same number Payton carried into the Hall of Fame. Payton, the leading rusher in NFL history, a man known for his sense of humor and consideration of others, died Monday of bile duct cancer. He was 45. "In this stadium where he glowed, we wanted an encore," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said, adding that God "had another plan for Walter." "Walter flew like an eagle, he flew high. We have lost 'Sweetness,' but there is a lot of 'Sweetness' left. The light did not go out. This light called 'Sweetness' belongs to the heavens, belongs to the ages," Jackson said. Moments earlier, Jackson made the crowd and those sitting around a stage in the middle of the stadium get out of their seats and give Payton yet another ovation. On a sunny day with a light chill, they responded enthusiastically for minutes, following with a chants of "Walter, Walter." Mike Singletary, another Bear Hall of Famer who was with Payton in his final hours, tried to put the public outpouring in perspective. Singletary had been one of five people to give a tribute to Payton during a private ceremony Friday. "The finality of what has happened, adding closure to the situation now, is just saying that final goodbye in the public. But as life goes on, we'll never say goodbye," he said.