In spite of his accolades and his tally of 2,101 career points in his total four seasons of playing college basketball, Seth went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. Rather than gripe about or accept this verdict as his fate, the savvy choice-maker choose to simply focus on keeping it moving towards where he believed lied his destiny, eventually playing in the NBA. “I try to be the best player I can be. Personally, I don’t really motivate myself by outside situations. I am self-motivated and know my talents and what I can do, and I try to make the most of it,” said Seth. Not getting drafted was Seth’s impetus to persevere and prove that he was indeed NBA material. His road to the NBA was not easy, and although he saw others get drafted, he was not bitter, but rather driven to blaze his own trail to NBA territory. In August 2013, Seth signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Golden State Warriors, but two months later in October, he was waived and the next month in November, he was sent to their affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League (D-League). With being in the D-League where any NBA team could nab him, Seth received an early Christmas present, as on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2013, the Memphis Grizzlies signed him. In early January 2014, Seth made his NBA debut with the Grizzlies, but he was waived. A few days later, he was reacquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors. In February 2014, Seth was named to the Futures All-Star roster for the 2014 NBA D- League All-Star Game. In March, Seth signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and played, but a few days later, he returned to Santa Cruz. Playing in 38 games, Seth finished the 2013-2014 season in the NBA D-League averaging 19.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 34.7 minutes. Seth was named to the 2013-2014 NBA D-League Third Team and to the D-League All-Rookie First Team. While playing in Santa Cruz, as Seth was paired in the back court with teammate Mychel Thompson, at the same time, respectively, their brothers Steph and Klay were playing for the Golden State Warriors and called the “Splash Brothers.” As Mychel and Seth played in tandem on the court, they were nicknamed the “Splash Brothers” of the D-League. The savvy choice-maker who’s his own man and appreciates individuality, was less than thrilled with him and Mychel having to share the same nickname with another duo. “They called us the Splash Brothers of the D-League. I hated that. It was so corny. We didn’t even have our own nickname,” said Seth. What Seth did have was motivation to keep it moving. In July 2014, Seth joined both the Orlando Magic for the Orlando Summer League and the Phoenix Suns for the Las Vegas Summer League.

Two months later in September, Seth signed with the Magic and a month later, in a trade with the Santa Cruz Warriors, his D-League rights were acquired by the Magic’s affiliated team, the Erie BayHawks. As the Magic waived Seth, he was acquired by the BayHawks for the start of D-League training camp. Seth posted great stats in his November 14, 2014 debut for the BayHawks in their season opener, scoring 23 points on 9-of-24 shooting in a win over the Idaho Stampede. For the second time in his career, in February 2015, Seth was named to Futures All-Star team for the 2015 NBA D-League All-Star Game. In March 2015, Seth signed a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. At the expiration of the 10-days, Seth returned to the BayHawks. During Seth’s 2014-2015 basketball season with the BayHawks, in 43 games, Seth averaged 23.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals. As Seth played his heart out for these various D- League teams, endeavoring to prove he was NBA material, general managers wanted to see more and more from Seth. They wanted to see him finish around the basket, defend bigger guards, they wanted his conditioning to improve, etc. In proving he was fit to play pro-hoops, Seth recalls how in addressing one concern, another would surface. “Can you focus more on defense? Ok, done. Can you score in ways other than jump shots? Ok, done. Can you shoot more free throws? Ok, done. There was always something. I didn’t know what else I could do,” said Seth. Scouts would often talk amongst themselves, comparing Seth to NBA players. “Scouts were comparing me to NBA MVP players instead of to the players in the D-League, a league that I was pretty much dominating,” said Seth. Seth was also being compared to family members. While Seth knows that people mention his facial resemblance to that of his father, and that people find similarities with him and Steph’s height and built, being his own man, Seth doesn’t care to be compared to his father or brother on the court, for the savvy choice-maker wants to be known as an individual and for his own moves on the hardwood. “When people watch me play, I want people to see what I can do. Not see what Steph can do, or my dad can do, and then assume that’s what I do. I want them to actually watch me play, and then decide who they think I am,” said Seth. While with the BayHawks, Seth continued to show what he could do, making savvy choices on the court. He scored 30 or more points eight times, operating on the ball and off. In the 43 games Seth played with the BayHawks, he drained 156 threes. Seth shot 66.7% in clutch situations. Seth threw flames from the perimeter, but also punished defenders who closed out too hard, driving past them for floaters and scoops. Being his own man, Seth indeed showed his own game on the court. Even so, there are always narrow-minded people who will compare Seth’s hoop skills to that of his brother and father, but Seth’s family keeps him encouraged and acknowledges that he is his own man. “Seth can’t escape the comparisons to me and our dad, but he can create his own story,” said Steph. Dell knows that while the public may talk about him and his son’s similarities on the court, he and his family refuse to feed in the tabloid fodder, and he acknowledges his sons as individuals. “The public can talk about that kind of thing, but we’re not talking about it in our house. I tell my sons all the time that they are not their dad. I highlight their individuality, and my sons know they are individual players. It is clear that they are two different people and that there are no comparisons,” said Dell.

As Seth played in the NBA D-League, invitations poured in Seth’s agent’s office, offering Seth a chance to play overseas. Seth’s agent, on behalf of the savvy choice-maker Seth, turned the offers down, for Seth is his own man who knew what he wanted, and playing overseas was not it. “I chose not to play overseas. That wasn’t what I wanted,” said Seth. Seth knew he was destined to play in the NBA and he wouldn’t stop until his dream came to fruition. In July 2015, Seth joined the New Orleans Pelicans for the 2015 NBA Summer League. Seth averaged 24.3 points and earned All-NBA Summer League First Team honors. In this same month, Seth finally got the opportunity he had been awaiting for so long. The Sacramento Kings offered him a spot in the NBA. But Seth also received offers from the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, and the Golden State Warriors. Being his own man, Seth knew he didn’t want to play for the Warriors, as this would only perpetuate people comparing him to his brother. “I didn’t want to go to Golden State. I didn’t want to be in Steph’s shadow,” said Seth. While Seth was grateful for both the Pelicans’ and the Hornets’ offers, he decided to accept the opportunity to play with the Sacramento Kings. In late July 2015, Seth signed a two-year, $2 million guaranteed deal with the Sacramento Kings. Seth was ecstatic to both receive the chance to play in the NBA and to be chosen by the Sacramento Kings. As Seth was not with family or friends when this exciting moment happened for him, he called his friends and FaceTimed his family to share the good news. And while most NBA draft picks unleash unbridled excitement by cheering and jumping for joy, in juxtaposition, Seth displayed his happiness quite opposite, just sitting, unable to move as he reflected on his long tedious journey to the NBA while simultaneously, internally feeling overcome with joy knowing his dream finally came to fruition.

“I just sat there. I’m not an emotional person, but I was emotional then. I was reflecting on the whole journey I’ve had,” said Seth. It seemed fitting that Seth Adham Curry would play for the Kings, for the first letter in his first, middle, and last name match the team’s abbreviated name, SAC. Seth indeed had great career highlights playing with the Kings. Seth got his first NBA career start on March 25, 2016 in a 116-94 win versus the Phoenix Suns. Three days later, in his third NBA start, Seth scored a career-high 21 points in a 105-93 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. On April 1 2016, he matched his career high, scoring 21 points versus the Miami Heat. On April 9, 2016, in a 114-112 win versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, Seth made a career-high six three-pointers and scored 20 points on 6-of 10 shooting off the bench. And two days later, in a 105-101 win versus the Phoenix Suns, Seth recorded his first career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 15 assists in a career-high 38 minutes of action as the starting point guard. Seth is pleased with his accomplishments on the court while with the Kings. As an NBA player, Seth’s goal is to consistently better himself, and as there are perks to advancing, he’d like to triumph as much as possible. “My goal is to be better than I was last year. I want to continue to get better every single year, every game. I’d like to win a lot of games,” said Seth.

Following the 2015-2016 NBA season, Seth became a restricted free agent. In July 2016, Seth signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Seth was happy to play with the Dallas Mavericks and felt honored to play alongside then teammate Dirk Nowitski and to be coached under the tutelage of his then Coach Rick Carlisle. “I was very excited to play with Dirk and under Coach Carlisle. From watching from afar, seeing the organization, seeing the offensive system and the way they go about things, it’s something I wanted to be a part of,” said Seth. Seth believed that he had a lot to offer the team. “I brought my versatility playing the 1 and the 2 position. Obviously a lot of shooting. And just spreading the floor and making it easier for my teammates,” said Seth.

Seth finished the 2016-2017 NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks having earned several career highs, including playing in 70 games, having 42 starts, and averaging 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 29.0 minutes of play. In spite of his career highs, Seth would reach a low point in his NBA career. In February 2018, it was determined that Seth needed surgery on his left tibia, an injury that sidelined him from playing during the 2017-2018 NBA season. The injury and lack of both play and practice for this whole year promoted Seth’s pensive mood throughout his ordeal. “It was a long year. It was the first time in my life where I was in so much pain,” said Seth. Seth recalls times under normal circumstances when he is well how during his free time, he often develops his game, and was sad that with the injury, he couldn’t and didn’t even have the energy to do this. “I didn’t really want to go into the gym and work on my game. Usually when I wasn’t doing anything, I would go to the gym and shoot. I couldn’t do that at all. It was tough,” said Seth wistfully. Eventually things changed for Seth. One change that took place was that he began healing, and the second change was that he ended up on a different NBA team. In July 2018, Seth signed a two-year $5.6 million contract deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. Seth was pleased with getting better and is having fun being a Trail Blazer. “It’s been fun for me especially just being back at practice. It’s my first time practicing since last October. My body is responding better than I thought it would and it’s fun to get out there and compete,” said Seth. As Seth continues to amp his game, he has been turning out grand performances so far throughout this 2018-2019 NBA season. On December 14, 2018, Seth scored a season high 13 points in a 128-122 win over the Toronto Raptors. And on January 1, 2019, Seth set a new season high with 18 points in a 113-108 overtime win versus the Sacramento Kings. Seth’s happiness to play for the Portland Trail Blazers certainly shows and his goal matches the buzz around town, namely that the savvy choice-maker will continue to make good choices to promote a successful current NBA season and hopefully have fruitful future NBA seasons.

As Seth knows firsthand the arduous journey he has traveled to reach NBA territory, he is grateful for the little things in life, for starters, like for his own two hands. He is grateful that one hand has allowed him to take blessings with gratitude, and being a Christian, his other hand will allow him to one day give back with sincerity. As Dell founded the charitable organization called the Dell Curry Foundation back in 1998, and as there are a trove of organizations Steph supports and actions he has taken to give back, it’s just a matter of time before Seth orchestrates notable philanthropy efforts, for the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
At 28 years of age, Seth, the man who is his own man, has definitely established his independence and continues to make a name for himself in the NBA. Once known as a Splash brother, the talented baller and savvy choice-maker is indeed an individual brother who has definitely earned the right to make his own splash on the court. Who knows? Maybe one day he’ll end up with his own moniker.

Photo: credit to: Portland Trail Blazers.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Per a report from Combate, Featherweight violence will make an appearance on October 3, 2020, as veteran knockout artists Edson Barboza and Jeremy Stephens will square off.

There are currently just a handful of fights loosely attached to UFC’s planned event on October 3, 2020, and especially in these pandemic circumstances, fight bookings two months out are always subject to change. However, there’s now reason to be excited, and hope at least this clash of Featherweights holds firm until showtime.

Admittedly, neither man has been doing particularly well as of late. Barboza has lost three straight bouts, though two of them were rather debatable split-decision losses — Barboza even appealed them both!

This will be his second fight at 145 lbs.

As for Stephens, his current five-fight winless streak (four losses, one “No Contest”) has seen “Lil Heathen” represent himself better than his record indicates. He’s gone through blood-and-guts wars of attrition with several of the division’s top contenders, proving that there’s still gas left in the tank 13 years into his UFC career.

Really, this bout is what’s great about MMA. Does it matter at least on viewing night that these two longtime action fighters are not winning consistently? No! It’s still likely to be an amazing fight, one equally likely to end via early knockout or see both men batter one another for the full 15 minutes.

Who ya’ got?

Insomnia

Eric Spicely was one of three men to be removed from UFC Vegas 5, and his reason is different than most — MMA sucks sometimes.

Story By: UFCMania.com

Their new humble abode was located just one block from John J. Jefferson High School, the segregated school African American children attended. It was at this school that Walter would begin developing into an accomplished football player. In his freshman year, Walter played drums in the marching band, complementing him playing in jazz-rock groups outside of school, sang in the school choir, and participated in sports, but only on the track team as a long jumper. Taking his parents’ principles to heart, Walter became a better than average student, though music took precedence over studies or sports. Enjoying his high school activities beyond the classroom, at home, Walter constantly drummed, tapping out a beat on anything within reach, and would sing or dance instead of doing household chores. He was encouraged to participate on the school football team, but eschewed playing because as his brother Eddie was the senior star running back, Walter didn’t want any competition between the two of them and he didn’t want his mother to worry about both of her sons being hurt. After Eddie graduated, the high school football coach asked Walter to try out for the football team. As long as Walter was allowed to stay in the band, football was a reality and the deal was sealed. As a junior, Walter found instant success as a football player at John J. Jefferson High School. On his first high-school carry, the junior ran 65 yards for a touchdown. It was just a taste of great things to come. John J. Jefferson High merged with all-white Columbia High School in 1969. That year, Walter and his teammates were upset that their head coach had become an assistant, and Walter boycotted some of the spring practices in protest, but returned during the fall season. Walter quickly became the undisputed star of the newly integrated football team. His performance helped ease the local tensions surrounding desegregation. The fire he displayed spread throughout his junior and senior years as he scored in every game as an upperclassman. Walter was named to the all-conference team. As a senior, he led the Dixie Conference in scoring and made the all-state team, leading Columbia to an unexpected 8-2 season. In addition to his football accolades, Walter excelled in long jumping, stretching his long jump record to 22-feet-11-and-1/4, inches and eventually joined the basketball team where he flourished, averaging 18 points per game and lettering in the sport. Amidst all the activities he was involved in at high school, he maintained his better than average academic standing. Walter’s high marks coupled with his sports talent yielded his seamless transition to college. He decided to attend nearby Jackson State University, the same place where his brother Eddie had established himself as a premier football player. Walter soon started alongside Eddie in the team’s backfield. As Eddie graduated to join the National Football League (NFL) after Walter’s freshman year, Walter became Jackson State’s lone star. As a freshman, upon setting foot on the football field to grace the public with his #34 jersey, in 1971, he was a talented starter. By the end of Walter’s sophomore season, he was the nation’s second leading scorer, including having the highest single-game total in college history with 46 points. The following year as a junior, he ran for 1,139 yards, led the country in scoring with 160 points, was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the conference, was named to the All-American team, and was named Black College Player of the Year. Determined to become an even better player, Walter embarked on a new training program with his brother Eddie during the summer after his junior 1973 season. Unlike nostalgic times when Walter was a child who took playing too far, annoyed his siblings, and would run and develop his moves when being chased, the more mature Walter further advanced his running and moves as he now ran alongside his brother as they both developed their physique. Walter and Eddie sprinted up and down the sandbanks and steep levees alongside the Pearl River during the hottest part of the day. These workouts did more than just build up leg strength and endurance; the constantly shifting sand helped develop balance and the ability to better make a cut or abruptly change direction. And throughout his career, Walter made it a habit of conducting similar workouts in comparable settings. This grueling conditioning led to a successful senior football season. Walter was again named to the 1974 All-American team, named College Player of the Year, and he capped his college career by becoming the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) all-time leading scorer with 464 points on 66 touchdowns, five field goals, and 52 extra points. As a senior, Walter made the NCAA Division II All-America team, and was named to the College All-Star team. Throughout Walter’s College career, as a four year starter, in 37 games, Walter had 584 carries for 3,563 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, had 474 yards passing for a total of 4,037 career yards, set nine school records, and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. Still never losing sight of his interest in music and rhythm, he even appeared on the popular television show Soul Train where he and a dance partner placed second in a dance contest. As Walter’s competitive side surfaced, he swore that if he’d had a girl who could’ve danced better, he would have won the contest. But of course, there was no contest to rank Walter on the football field, for he had solidified himself as the best. In fact, Walter was such a stand out person and player that he acquired the nickname “Sweetness” during his college years, a name that stuck with him throughout his career. Having a soft high pitched voice, humble disposition, a sincere demeanor, a devout concern for others, always leading the team in its pre-game prayer, and definitely displaying sweet moves on the football field proved why “Sweetness” was fitting for someone of his ilk. And yet others called him “Sweetness” as an ironic description of his aggressive playing style. So Walter was definitely known as an All-Star in the sport of football. And of course, Walter was an academic All-Star as well, graduating in three-and-a-half years with his bachelor’s degree in special education, and he actually began working towards a master’s degree. But as he began working toward this advanced degree, a higher calling to the windy city beckoned.
 
The Chicago Bears chose Walter as the 4^th pick in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft. The Bears offered him a $126,000 signing bonus, at the time, the highest amount ever paid to anyone from Mississippi. At the time, the Bears were one the NFL’s more storied teams, counting many legendary names among their former players, including Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. But these stars and their glory days were long gone, and the franchise had not had a winning season since 1963. A horde of rabid Chicago rooters sensed that Walter might just be their long awaited savior. Walter instinctively knew that he’d have a great rapport with the people in Chicago. “When I get through with Chicago, they’re going to love me,” he promised upon being drafted. He was immediately compared to the great Gale Sayers, an excellent football player who had terrorized NFL defenses in the 1960s. While Sayers danced around defenders, Walter was more apt to run them over. Walter played aggressive on the field and would rather punish tacklers than let tacklers punish him. So although undoubtedly flattered to the comparison, Walter knew he was his own man who would make a name for himself just as Gale Sayers did in his heyday. “No running back patterns himself after anybody. It’s something that is innate, it’s reflexes and instinct. I’m not Gale Sayers. If the people of Chicago give me some time and are patient, I’ll give them a new Gale Sayers,” Walter once said. And patience was the key word as Walter began his journey with the Bears, for his 1975 rookie season with the Bears began slow, and due to an ankle injury, he missed one game that his coach would not allow him to play in, the only game he missed in his illustrious NFL career. But by the season finale, things began to pick up, for at New Orleans, Walter rushed for 134 yards on 20 carries. By the season’s end, playing in 13 games, Walter finished his rookie season with 679 rushing yards, and 7 touchdowns. But the best was yet to come. Eager to improve his performance, Walter continued to progress forward. During his second 1976 NFL season, playing in 14 games, he became the focal point of the Bears’ offense, carrying the ball 311 times, the most in the league, and led the National Football Conference (NFC) in yards gained with 1,390. By the season’s end, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, and his performance helped the Bears finish with 7 victories and 7 losses, their best season in eight years. He made the 1976 Pro Bowl. Also another best that happened to Walter is that summer, specifically on July 7, Walter and his fiancée Connie who also graduated from Jackson State, jumped the broom, and she became a settling influence in his life as they had a happy family comprised of two children.
 
At training camp in 1977, people noticed a different Walter – specifically that he was withdrawn, silent, moody, and irritable. Once the season began, the reason became crystal clear – Walter had been preparing himself for one of the greatest individual seasons in NFL history. In the season opener, Walter gained 160 yards. His most memorable game of the 1977 NFL season was versus the Minnesota Vikings on November 20 when he rushed for a then record 275 yards on 40 carries while combating the flu, breaking the previous record of 273 yards held by O.J. Simpson. Playing in 14 games, Walter ended the 1977 season leading the NFC with 1,852 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, and his 5.5 yard per carry was the best of his career. The Bears qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. He made the 1977 Pro Bowl. And at 23 years old, Walter was the youngest player to be voted the league’s MVP. Further accolades came from United Press International (UPI), which designated him its Athlete of the Year. During the mid 1970s, when anyone talked about or made reference to the Chicago Bears, they thought of Walter; in fact, no one could converse about the Bears without bringing up the star player’s name. Walter defined the Bears, for he was the Bears. As Walter played, it was obvious that he had game. Everyone across the nation recognized Walter by his unique stutter step, running on his toes with short, stiff legged strides. Rather than be graceful, he was compact, and preferred running up the middle or off tackle, surprising would-be tacklers with frequent sudden cutbacks and punishing them with a forearm, shoulder, or helmet. Walter was defined by his speed, shiftiness, brute power, and his ability to seize the day, for his motto was “Never Die Easy,” words that he attributed to his college coach Bob Hill. On the field, this meant that Walter refused to deliberately run out of bounds, and always delivered some punishment to his tacklers before being forced off the field or forced down. In life, this signifies that when given an opportunity, it is important to give every action your best because tomorrow is not promised. And after scoring a touchdown, Walter was notorious for handing the football to a teammate for a triumphant spike, to one of the Bears’ offensive lineman who blocked for him. The reason he did this was because he wanted to give credit where credit was due. “Maybe it’s all right to brag if you’re Billie Jean King or Muhammad Ali. But I’m in a team sport. It takes ten more guys, and I don’t see why I should rip all the glory,” Walter once said to explain his humbleness following making a touchdown. Before the 1978 season begun, Walter signed contracts for the next three seasons reflecting his superstar status – $400,000 for 1978, $425,000 for 1979, and $450,000 plus incentive bonuses for 1980. Clearly the Bears were expecting big things from him and better days for the team. During the 1978 season, under new coach Neill Armstrong, the Bears finished with a 7-9 record despite Walter’s 1,395 yards, the most in the NFC, 11 touchdowns, and 50 pass receptions in 16 games played, and he made the Pro Bowl. As the 1979 season arrived, Walter played in all 16 games and had a painful pinched nerve in his shoulder, but still earned 14 touchdowns and amassed 1,610 rushing yards, again leading the NFC. He made his fourth Pro Bowl appearance. Although they were eliminated in the first round, the Bears made the playoffs with a 10-6 record. In 1980, Walter earned 6 touchdowns and gained 1,460 yards for an unprecedented fifth consecutive NFC rushing title, but the Bears fell to a 7-9 record. Walter still made his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. As 1981 surfaced, the Bears continued their mediocre play, finishing 6-10. Walter, injured most of the season with cracked ribs and a sore shoulder, made 6 touchdowns and only 1,222 yards, and although he failed to win the NFC rushing title or make the Pro Bowl, he became the first player in NFL history to run for at least 1,000 yards six years in a row. The Bears were not yet truly performing up to par and because life on the field some days was not necessarily fun, Walter helped ease tensions, especially in the locker room by resurrecting his days of pulling pranks, becoming the club’s biggest joker and purveyor of practical jokes. Some pranks Walter was notorious for included sneaking into the locker room before everyone else to lock the entire team out in the snow, taking over the Halas Hall switchboard to answer the organization’s phone calls, untying referees’ shoelaces during pileups, and repeatedly calling a teammate’s wife in a high-pitched voice pretending to be a girlfriend. Perhaps this sweet spirit Walter exuded was the underlying fuel to the charismatic Bears that would take the field a few years down the road.
 
As the Bears struggled to assemble consecutive winning seasons as they landed only two playoff berths since Walter’s arrival, Bears’ management was prompted to replace head coach Neill Armstrong. As it was argued that Walter was the best player on a losing team, he was credited to being the best contributor on a winning team with the arrival of Mike Ditka as Chicago’s new head coach in 1982. And the Bears realized Walter’s worth and signed him to a three-year contract worth $2 million. In Ditka’s first speech to the players in the spring of 1982, he stated that his team would be going to the Super Bowl, and some players would be there and some wouldn’t. This was the first statement of confidence the team had heard from a leader in some time, and Ditka intended to back his words up. Along with bringing a winning attitude, Ditka along with the Bears’ general manager began assembling a supporting cast to ensure Walter’s success. The 1982 season was tarnished by a player strike, and playing in 9 games, Walter earned 1 touchdown, 596 rushing yards, and the Bears finished with a 3-6 record. During the 1983 season, playing in 16 games, Walter ran for 1,421 yards and caught 53 passes for 607 yards, personally accounting for 36% of the Bears’ total yardage as they finished 8-8. Walter also made the Pro Bowl. Undoubtedly, Walter suffered all the bumps and bruises that all pro players experience, but he never let it bother him. When he had arthroscopic surgery on both knees following the 1983 season, Walter referred to it merely as “my 11,000-yard checkup.” Also following the 1983 season, Walter renegotiated his contract and received $240,000 a year for life, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. An accolade that Walter really wanted to add to his life accomplishments was to play in and undoubtedly win a Super Bowl Championship. The 1984 Bears’ team showed tremendous promise, for their defense was strong and the offense line was able to open big holes for Walter and other running backs, while effectively blocking for their quarterback. In 16 games, Walter dominated the NFC Central with 1,684 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, and caught 45 passes to set a new Bears career receiving record. As the Bears finished with a 10-6 record, Walter made the Pro Bowl. But the complete season was highlighted by Walter’s performance on October 7, 1984. With his family in attendance, Walter broke Jim Brown’s 19-year NFL career rushing record of 12,312 yards with 16,726 rushing yards. In the season’s sixth game early in the third quarter on a toss left, Walter broke the record. Following a few celebratory high fives, after the game, Walter dedicated his achievement to many late athletes who inspired him and who didn’t have the chance to achieve their goals, such as Brian Piccolo, Willie Galimore, David Overstreet, and Joe Delaney. And at a post-game press conference, even then President Reagan gave Walter his props. Later after the regular season, the Bears won their first postseason 23-19 in the divisional playoffs versus the Washington Redskins where Walter ran for 104 yards, threw a 19-yard touchdown pass, and blocked with such ferocity that he knocked a defensive back out of the game. But despite Walter’s 92 yards rushing and three pass receptions, the following week, the Bears were shut out by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game. With the loss, the television cameras showed Walter sitting dejectedly on the bench and he voiced his sorrow to the press. Walter knew his team had come so far and that tomorrow is promised to no one, and he wondered if he’d ever get his shot again at the elusive Super Bowl ring. Walter was despondent, and called this loss “the hardest thing I ever had to deal with.” But greater days were ahead. Walter and his teammates would have their revenge in 1985. Playing in 16 games, Walter finished the 1985 regular season with 9 touchdowns and 1,551 rushing yards. Walter also made the Pro Bowl. Running up a 15-1 record with a devastating defense and a powerful offense, the Bears blasted through the regular season, strutting their superiority with an arrogant attitude and a music video that Walter starred in entitled, “The Super Bowl Shuffle.” The recording went gold. After winning its two playoff games at home, the Bears earned the right to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. On January 26, 1986, the Chicago Bears crushed the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX with a score of 46-10. The victory was bittersweet for Walter, for despite Chicago rushing for 5 touchdowns, Walter was not given the ball to score, as New England scripted their entire game plan to stop him. Coach Ditka later called not getting Walter into the end zone in football’s biggest game his greatest career regret. But he did keep his word that his team would go to the Super Bowl. When the air cleared, the entire Chicago Bears team was indeed excited for the victory, and some fans across the nation read in the newspaper about Wonderful Walter, and others viewed on television how Greatness had reached the zenith of his career with the Super Bowl win.
 
During the 1986 season, playing in 16 games, Walter finished with 8 touchdowns, 37 pass receptions, and 1,333 rushing yards, and he also made the Pro Bowl. The Bears showed every sign of repeating champions, but they stumbled in the playoffs, losing 13-27 to the Washington Redskins. At the end of the 1986 season, Walter announced that he would retire after completing the 1987 NFL season. The 1987 season was marred by another player strike. Eventually playing resumed and although the Bears and Walter played well enough to win 11 of their 15 games, they again lost to the Redskins in the playoffs. Playing in 12 games, Walter finished the 1987 season with 4 touchdowns and 533 rushing yards, and was given a tearful sendoff in his last game at Soldier Field. He decided to retire while at the top of his game, and Walter left behind 26 Chicago Bears team records and several NFL records: finishing with 3,838 rushes, 16,726 yards rushing, 21,736 running and receiving yards, 110 rushing touchdowns, ten 1,000-yard seasons, and seventy-seven 100-yard games of any running back in history.
 
Following retiring from the NFL, Walter engaged in many ventures. Known for playing practical jokes, he received the chance to truly make people laugh. In 1987, Walter appeared on the NBC comedy show Saturday Night Live with fellow football player Joe Montana. In 1988, Walter devoted a great deal of time to various charities in the Chicago area and joined the Chicago Bears Board of Directors. He later formed a CART racing team with partner Dale Coyne and survived a spectator collision while racing at Elkhart Lane in 1993. The year 1993, specifically on July 31, was also when Walter was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His son Jarrett made the presentation, telling the crowd: “Not only is my dad an exceptional athlete…he’s my biggest role model and best friend. We do a lot of things together…I’m sure my sister will endorse this statement – we have a super dad.” A few years later, this super dad and his business partners bought a Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois and opened up “Walter Payton’s Roadhouse,” featuring a restaurant, brewpub, banquet and meeting facility, and a museum. The property received an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the beers brewed at the Roadhouse received numerous awards. Walter was also heavily involved with the Walter Payton Foundation, a children’s charity founded by the Chicago Bears. In 1996, Walter was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. So even though retired, Walter continued to have a fulfilling life off the football field and spent more time with his family as he and his wife began to entertain college scholarship offers for their son and were primed to face the public to announce the latest happenings with their son.
 
 
Sadly, instead of making a happy announcement on February 2, 1999, addressing his extreme weight loss and his jaundice eye condition, Walter tearfully faced the public to announce that he had been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a disease that causes ducts that remove bile from the liver to become blocked and when bile backs up, it permanently damages the liver. Walter told the press that in order to save his life, he needed a liver transplant. A God fearing Christian man with class, he also tearfully said to his supporters and others, “To the people that really care about me, just continue to pray. And to those who are going to say what they want to say, may God be with you also.” In May of 1999, Walter received another devastating blow when he learned that he had bile duct cancer, making him ineligible for a liver transplant. Suddenly the lines that Walter used earlier in his career, such as “Never Die Easy,” and “Tomorrow is promised to no one,” struck close to home. Although his fate was sealed and he accepted it with temperance, Walter faced the future with charismatic courage and dignity. In April 1999, at Wrigley Field, Walter threw the game’s ceremonial pitch at the Cubs game, his last public appearance. And even while ill, he still continued to enjoy whatever time he had, as he continued with his pranks, for in his last week, he purposely sent former Bears running back Mike Suhey to the wrong address on a trip to former Bears Mike Singletary’s house, and then had him hide a hamburger and malt in Singletary’s garage. And in the last few weeks of his life, author Don Yaeger worked with Walter to create his autobiography, Never Die Easy, an effort to help dismiss the stereotype that athletes in general and more specifically, that black athletes do not work hard to get their diplomas and that they don’t learn anything. On November 1, 1999, 45-year-old Walter died from complications that arose from his illness. All of Chicago, the place where Walter declared he would be loved by, the place he transformed into Payton Place, went into full scale mourning that Monday evening, a grieving that lasted the entire week. Millions, not only in the windy city, but also all over the country, did shed tears. Thousands of fans and the 1999 Chicago Bears team showed up wearing #34 patches on their jerseys at Soldier Field that Saturday to celebrate his life. The next day, the NFL held a moment of silence at all games, and the Bears upset Green Bay on a last-second blocked field goal by then Bears player Bryan Robinson. Walter may actually have pulled some strings from Heaven by arranging for the miracle finish.
 
Following Walter’s passing, a trove of great events happened to keep his legacy alive. In 1999, Sporting News ranked Walter #8 on the list of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time. Since Walter’s illness increased public awareness of the need for organ donations, donations in Illinois skyrocketed, and the regional organ bank of Illinois was overwhelmed with calls. The city of Chicago created a special city sticker that featured Walter. The profits from the sales of these stickers coupled with the special license plate created by the State of Illinois are given to support organ-donor programs across the state. Illinois named a high school, the Walter Payton College Prep in Walter’s honor. Jackson State University, Walter’s alma mater, opened the Walter Payton Recreation and Wellness Center in 2006. In 2007, the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center opened the Walter Payton Liver Center. Nickol Knoll Hill, an old landfill site turned Golf course in Arlington, Heights, Illinois was renamed ‘Payton’s Hill,’ and in addition to pictures and memorabilia of Walter that covers the walls of the golf course clubhouse, there are two plaques on the hill to remind visitors of the hill that Walter used to train in the 1970s and 1980s. Two athletic awards are named after Walter. The NCAA gives an annual “Walter Payton Award” to the best offensive player from a Division I-AA football team, and hands out the “Walter Payton Man of the Year” award for player achievements in community service during a particular season. And in addition to Payton’s Roadhouse drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the Aurora, Illinois site, in 2002, the family established the Walter Payton Cancer Fund.
 
Walter Jerry Payton’s timeline was from 1954-1999. Whether you call him Greatness, Wonderful Walter, Sweetness, or simply by his birth name Walter, within his dash, he wanted his legacy to shine. “I want to be remembered like Pete Rose — ‘Charlie Hustle.’ I want people to say, ‘Wherever he was, he was always giving it his all,'” Walter once said. And from the football field and beyond, what Walter delivered between his dash was certainly his best.

Dontari Poe is rich because he is: Really Internally Contently Happy (RICH), a way of life that lasts far beyond any ephemeral happiness a paycheck can provide. Poe’s Christian religion keeps him happy. Moreover, much of his happiness is attributed to his great attitude, supportive loving family, hard work ethic, willingness to give, and humbleness, qualities that have kept him in the NFL, and yet, happen to be the same qualities that got him to the pros, traits that were instilled in him since his days of youth. 

Dontari Poe was the youngest of three boys born to Robert Poe Sr. and Sandra Poe in Memphis, Tennessee on August 18, 1990. Eventually Sandra and Robert Sr. split and Sandra raised her three sons. Sandra always envisioned a better future for her family while simultaneously, working split shifts for minimum wage just to be home with her sons when they arrived home from school. As she concentrated on lifting their spirits about anything school related that got them down, taught them values, and reiterated the appropriate areas with which to never lose sight, her home was a safe place to be, a refuge where once they arrived, the support of a loving family created a serene aura that fostered a RICH group of individuals. “I wanted my children to know that our home was a haven, a place where once they got home, everything would be okay,” said Sandra. Sandra also fostered her family being RICH outside of the home, regardless of circumstances. She was the epitome of hard work, perseverance, and optimism, an overall high standard example where which Poe adheres. “I get my toughness from my mom. Whenever there were times where I’ve wanted to quit, I thought, ‘Man, she never quit on you. What would it look like if you quit on her right now?’ That’s why I’ve always said that no matter how difficult it gets, somehow, someway, you fight through it, and with the correct attitude. That’s coming from her because she always had gotten it done,” said Poe. Sandra also got busy by exploring her sons’ interests and skills, encouraging them to be grateful for the rich options around them where which they could use their rich talents to join some club or activity in their pastime. For Poe, at first, this was music. Before Poe’s freshman year of high school at Memphis based Wooddale High School, the football coach discovered Poe practicing with the school marching band. As he looked at Poe’s size, and with x-ray vision, saw the type of rich contributions Poe could potentially provide on the gridiron, rather than hitting a drum, he felt that Poe should be hitting someone in football pads. Hence, the coach’s recruitment efforts coupled with Poe’s willingness to explore football yielded Poe playing organized football at Wooddale High School, a sport Poe had never played prior to high school. By Poe’s junior year, his football talents were richly developed as he was an all-state honorable mention defensive lineman who was credited with 63 tackles and 8 sacks. In addition to football, Poe was also a talented shot putter, and as a junior, he earned the Class 3-A title at the state meet with a throw of 56 feet, 3.25 inches. Poe also defended his title as a senior with a throw of 54 feet, 1.25 inches, and also won the discus throw in the state meet with a personal best throw of 156 feet,
1 inch. Poe claimed city, district, and region track titles as a senior. Undeniably, as Poe’s adroit arm developed as a shot putter and discus thrower, it only complemented his football playing. In spite of Poe’s rich football skills in high school, both Rivals.com and Scout.com regarded him only as a two-star prospect. Scout.com ranked him No. 92 in a crop of defensive tackles, and Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 19 overall prospect out of Tennessee. In spite of the rankings, Poe was still RICH because he knew that if given a fair chance, he had the talent to go far in football, that rankings don’t necessarily determine one’s rank in life, and considering he had no prior football experience before high school, he played well at Wooddale High School. “These rankings only motivated me because I know I was a better football player than a lot of people ahead of me who were from my home state, let alone people in the country, and I know how I work. I push through everything, so I was ready for that,” said Poe. The all-state honorable mention defensive lineman did receive opportunities to play football at the collegiate level as opportunities came knocking from his hometown school which was the University of Memphis, from Auburn University, the University of Colorado, and from the University of Mississippi. Poe chose to stay in his hometown and attend the University of Memphis. As a redshirt freshman, Poe made six starts at nose tackle while playing in 11 of 12 games for the Tigers, missing only one game due to a death in his family. He led the team in tackles for losses (TFLs) with 7, tied for third on the team in sacks with 2, and tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with 3. He finished his freshman year with 27 tackles, including 18 solo stops. Poe’s rich performance earned him a Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection. As a sophomore, Poe became a consistent starter on the defensive line. He was one of six Tigers to start all 12 games in 2010 and ended the year ranked fifth on the team with 41 tackles, and forth in TFLs with 6.5. His TFLs generated a total loss of 27 yards. For the season, Poe earned an All-Conference-USA honorable mention. Poe was even presented one of the Leadership Awards by the coaching staff at the 2011 Blue-Gray Game and was voted by the media as the Defensive MVP at this event. Prior to Poe’s junior season, he was richly valued for his weight room performance and hence, was named one of the “10 strongest men in college football” by ESPN’s Bruce Feldman. As a junior, Poe started all 12 games on the defensive line and recorded at least one tackle in each game, tallying 33 total tackles, 18 of which were solo stops. He also ranked third on the team with 8 TFLs, for a loss of 26 yards. At the end of the 2011 football season, Poe was named an MVP as well as the Defensive Player of the Year at the team’s post-season banquet. He was also selected second-team All-Conference USA and was listed as an honorable mention All-America pick by Pro Football Weekly. Within his first three years of college, Poe earned three letters as a member of the Tigers’ defensive line, played in 35 contests with 30 starts, recorded 101 tackles where 57 were unassisted, earned 21.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 4 pass break-ups, and 4 forced fumbles. Poe was RICH because he was content with his accomplishments thus far and had faith that God had a good plan for his life, whatever the plan would be. Poe was in a good place because he had rich options concerning what his next move would be. He could continue developing his rich skills with the Tigers as a college senior, or he could forgo his senior season and enter the 2012 NFL Draft; Poe chose the latter rich option and made this announcement official on December 23, 2011. Soon enough, Poe also announced that he signed with agent Jimmy Sexton of Creative Artists Agency. Poe was satisfied with his college football career and was definitely ready to take his rich talents to the next level. “I was ready to move on. I love the city of Memphis. I love the college. But I just felt like it was my time to move out of Memphis to start doing bigger things,” said Poe. The next big thing in which Poe would have to progress in before he reached that next NFL level was the NFL Scouting Combine. Poe entered the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine as a potential second rounder. But Poe’s rich raw athletic skills turned heads, got positive grapevine talk going, and sky rocketed his potential NFL value. When Poe got on the field, he impressed as if his life depended on it. Poe was shockingly nimble for a 346 pounder as he displayed an epic performance of posting 4.98 seconds in the 40-yard dash, bench-pressed 225 pounds, an astonishing 44 repetitions, a number topped only by 5 men in the history of the scouting extravaganza, and he had a vertical jump of 29.5 inches. Poe was the first defensive lineman off the board, selected in the 2012 NFL Draft in the first round, eleventh overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. Poe was the highest drafted player from Memphis since 1978 and the highest drafted player from Conference USA ever. At 22 years of age, Poe was happy to go pro. “Getting drafted to the NFL was crazy – it was a lifelong dream. You have to understand that a lot of people don’t even get to live out their dreams at all, so for me to be in a position at the age that I was, with my family and friends, it was really fun,” said Poe. 

On the eve of training camp, July 26, 2012, Poe signed a four-year deal worth around $11 million, with a fifth-year team option. After another teammate injured his ankle, Poe was moved into the starting lineup for his entire rookie season. He played and started all 16 regular season games at nose tackle and was a three-down player for most of the season. Poe finished the 2012 NFL season with 38 tackles, including 28 unassisted. According to the Sporting News, as a rookie, Poe appeared to be advanced in grasping the Chiefs’ two-gap system. The Kansas City Star named Poe the Chiefs’ Rookie of the Year. Twelve games into Poe’s second season, he lined up on 804 defensive snaps – 85 more than any other defensive tackle in the NFL. During the 2013 NFL season, Poe played and started 15 regular season games and recorded 51 tackles, including 43 unassisted. At the conclusion of the 2013 season, Poe was selected to participate in the annual Pro Bowl. During the 2014 NFL season, Poe played and started all 16 regular season games and recorded 45 tackles, including 37 unassisted, and had 6 sacks.  At the conclusion of the 2014 season, he was again selected to play in the Pro Bowl. During the 2015 NFL season, Poe played in 15 regular season games and started 13, earning 39 tackles, including 29 unassisted, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. During the 2016 season, Poe played and started all 16 regular season games and recorded 27 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1.5 sacks, and 3 passes defended. On March 16, 2017, Poe signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He made a bonus of $125,000 after passing his July 26th weigh-in. During the 2017 NFL season, Poe played and started all 16 regular season games and recorded 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2 passes. On March 15, 2018, Poe signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. During the 2018 NFL season, Poe’s first season with the Panthers, Poe played and started all 16 games and recorded 17 tackles and 1.0 sacks. Poe is grateful to be playing for the Panthers and plans to continue playing up to par. He is happy to be a part of the NFL period, and regardless of what team he may play for, he has a couple of goals he’d like to accomplish. “I’d like to win a Super Bowl game; that’s the biggest goal I’d like to accomplish as a NFL player period. Equally important is for me to be the best that I can be and to earn any accolades that can help me accomplish this,” said Poe.     

Poe is happy to be a NFL player, not only to live the life that God planned for him, but also to be in a position to accomplish perhaps some even more important goals off the field, namely giving back. Poe is RICH because he’s been that happy struggling child whom others have helped, whether he received a kind word, great advice, or even a genuine friend, all things that funds can’t necessarily buy. Poe is RICH because he genuinely desires to give, executing acts of kindness that foster one feeling a true purpose in life. “For me to accomplish what I have, and go back to lend a helping hand – anything I can do to help people is really big for me,” said Poe. His Poe Man’s Dream Foundation was established in 2016. “Ever since I got to the NFL, I’ve wanted to help out children, children coming from the same place I came from – I’ve always wanted to do that. At the end of the 2015 NFL season, my team and I started talking about having a foundation, and it came to fruition during the summer of 2016,” said Poe. Poe Man’s Dream Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps under-served middle-school and high-school children, started off with an annual free football camp for local children at Poe’s alma mater, Wooddale High School. Poe wanted the first event to be in his neighborhood, in the city where he is from. “Home is where the heart is. I know what these people are going through. I know how everyday life is because I was just here. I went to and graduated from Wooddale High School in 2008, so I know what it’s all about,” said Poe. Poe Man’s Dream Foundation has since grown to service children in both Memphis, Tennessee and in Kansas City, Missouri where participants are given support with tech events and can participate in a 3-month program called Dream Big, Build Strong. “The Dream Big, Build Strong program teaches the children about healthy living and eating, and provides additional educational support,” said Poe. Having grown up in the inner city, Poe has a good grasp of what will benefit these children, but always appreciates input from his team when developing ongoing programs to help them. “I grew up the inner-city, so I have an understanding of what the children need. I speak with our board and team on a regular basis to figure out what sort of programs make the most sense for these children,” said Poe. It makes sense that Poe always wants to provide these local children the best, desiring to orchestrate an ongoing backpack drive for them, donate turkeys to families on Thanksgiving, and even work his way to providing more intricate events. “The events we’ve provided thus far is just a starting point. The more people I can touch around here, the more it’ll spread, and the bigger it’ll get,” said Poe about his foundation activities and programs. To learn more about Poe and his foundation events, donate, or get involved, visit: www.poemansdream.com.

Poe, the richly talented RICH big tall 6’3″, 346 pound man with the even bigger heart, like his mother, continues the trend in setting the standard for hard work, perseverance, and optimism for the next generation. So it’s good that Poe continues to walk to the beat of his own drum. Maybe his time spent with the marching band came in handy after all.