A blue football-shaped patch with an orange "34" will be one of the Bears' tributes to Walter Payton the rest of the season.Details regarding another tribute - a memorial service at noon Saturday at Solider Field - are still being planned, city officials said Wednesday. Officials were meeting into the night to discuss the logistics of the event, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of people.
Payton, 45, died Monday after a yearlong battle with a rare liver disease that led to bile duct cancer. The current Bears team plus dozens of former Bears and NFL players are expected to remember him with kind words and funny stories during Saturday's memorial. The Bears plan to meet with Chicago television and broadcast media today to discuss live coverage.
One drawing card to Soldier Field will be Mike Ditka, the coach who led Payton and the Bears to their only Super Bowl appearance, a 46-10 win over the New England Patriots in 1986. Edward McCaskey, Bears chairman emeritus, said Ditka will stay in Chicago Saturday after attending a private memorial service for Payton Friday in South Barrington.
Bears CEO Ted Phillips said he isn't expecting Saturday's crowd to exceed Solider Field's 66,900-seat capacity. The Chicago Park District is working with police and the Chicago Transit Authority to devise traffic, parking and seating plans.
Instead of charging admission or collecting flowers and donations, the Payton family is asking fans to bring a new toy to Solider Field Saturday. The toys will be distributed as part of the Walter Payton Foundation's "Wishes to Santa Program" for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
The Highland Park Hospital Health and Fitness Center in Buffalo Grove will serve as a drop-off site for people who cannot attend the service but want to contribute toys. The center, which will accept toys until Nov. 13, is at 1501 Busch Parkway. Call (847) 229-0292 for more details.
The Bears unveiled the No. 34 patch, which will be sewn to the left breast of team jerseys, Wednesday. It will be worn the rest of the season.
Daily Herald staff writers Timothy S. Rooney, Shamus Toomey and Bob LeGere contributed to this report.
