Football Time to tear down Walter Payton, I guess...

Brock · 09-28-2011, 07:52 PM

Book: Walter Payton abused painkillers, discussed suicide
By Chris Chase

A new biography of Walter Payton details the Hall of Fame running back's frequent drug use, extramarital affairs and the crippling loneliness that plagued him after his retirement from the NFL.

Sports Illustrated's Jeff Pearlman spent more than two years working on "Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton" and uncovered startling details about the Chicago Bears running back who was so highly regarded that the NFL named its Man of the Year Award after him.

The book is set for release next week. Excerpts appear in this week's Sports Illustrated. In one section, Pearlman describes Payton's drug use:

The burden of loneliness and his marriage weren't Payton's only problems. As a player he had numbed his maladies with pills and liquids, usually supplied by the Bears. Payton popped Darvon robotically during his playing days—says Holmes, "I'd see him walk out of the locker room with jars of painkillers, and he'd eat them like they were a snack"—and also lathered his body with dimethyl sulfoxide, a topical analgesic commonly used to treat horses. Now that he was retired, the self-medicating only intensified. Payton habitually ingested a cocktail of Tylenol and Vicodin. In a particularly embarrassing episode, in 1988, Payton visited a handful of dental offices, complaining of severe tooth pain. He received several prescriptions for morphine and hit up a handful of drugstores to have them filled. When one of the pharmacists noticed the activity, he contacted the police, who arrived at Payton's house and discussed the situation.

Pearlman also details Payton's use of the painkiller Darvon during his playing days and how he equipped an RV with nitrous oxide to use during training camp.

Once Payton's career ended, he battled depression and often discussed suicide with close friends. Two failing relationships contributed to his malaise. Pearlman describes how Payton's estranged wife and girlfriend both attended his Hall of Fame induction ceremony -- "they were like ships passing in the night," Payton's assistant said -- and made the triumphant weekend one of the worst of Payton's life.

Like Andre Agassi's recent autobiography, in which he detailed his previously unknown drug use, "Sweetness" will be most remembered for the salacious tales revealed within. They'll dominate discussion over the next few days and obscure the brighter stories included in the book: How Payton delighted a cancer-ridden youngster on a flight or those moments when he'd play catch with kids before signing their football. The drug use and affairs will make some forget about how graceful Payton was on the field and how strong he was when facing terminal illness, and how he grew up in segregated Mississippi and calmed racial tensions there with his on-field heroics.

As "Sweetness" shows, our heroes are always more complex than we know.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shu...urn=nfl-wp8200

WV · 09-28-2011, 07:54 PM

All in the name of $$...sad. Let him rest in peace and be remembered as Sweetness.

Thig Lyfe · 09-28-2011, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVChiefFan

All in the name of $$...sad. Let him rest in peace and be remembered as Sweetness.

It's pretty cynical to assume that any book that tries to paint an honest portrait of a public figure is just done for money.

I don't think the things mentioned in the article really tarnish his legacy. They simply make him more human. Complex, flawed characters are always more interesting than simple, pure ones.

WV · 09-28-2011, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsRacer

It's pretty cynical to assume that any book that tries to paint an honest portrait of a public figure is just done for money.

I don't think the things mentioned in the article really tarnish his legacy. They simply make him more human. Complex, flawed characters are always more interesting than simple, pure ones.

Cynical my ass....I'm sure this guy is doing this so we all understand Walter a little better. **** him it's for $$$$$$$$.

Thig Lyfe · 09-29-2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVChiefFan

Cynical my ass....I'm sure this guy is doing this so we all understand Walter a little better. **** him it's for $$$$$$$$.

Yeah, this post is the definition of cynical.

If this were some hastily-written schlock put out by a tabloid hack, you might have a point. But Jeff Pearlman is an experienced journalist and sportswriter, and he did two years worth of research in putting together the book. Including Walter Payton's warts is him being an actual journalist -- you know, somebody who's supposed to report the story as it happened, not as everybody wishes it happened -- rather than trying to tarnish his legacy in some kind of ruthless cash grab.

Flawed people are infinitely more interesting than mythical supermen. The same people who hate knowing that a hero wasn't perfect also probably think that the 1950s and '60s were actually idyllic.

**Rain Man** · 09-28-2011, 08:26 PM

Don't even want to read it. Even at 48, a guy has to have heroes.

GloryDayz · 09-28-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Don't even want to read it. Even at 48, a guy has to have heroes.

This...............

4th and Long · 09-29-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Don't even want to read it. Even at 48, a guy has to have heroes.

Yep.

**dirk digler** · 09-28-2011, 08:35 PM

If it is the truth what is the problem?

Brock · 09-28-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

If it is the truth what is the problem?

Uh, because it isn't any of your business?

**dirk digler** · 09-28-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Uh, because it isn't any of your business?

Since when are public figures off limits?

Brock · 09-28-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Since when are public figures off limits?

It isn't anybody's business. He has a family, but I'm sure you don't give a flying **** about that.

**dirk digler** · 09-28-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

It isn't anybody's business. He has a family, but I'm sure you don't give a flying **** about that.

As long as it is the truth I really don't have a problem with it.

So if a book came out about Michael Jackson and in the book it was disclosed he molested kids they shouldn't print it because of his family and because he is dead?

**jAZ** · 09-29-2011, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

It isn't anybody's business. He has a family, but I'm sure you don't give a flying **** about that.

Good point. We shouldn't be talking about this. Mods? Can we get his thread deleted and a short-ban whomever posted it? Thanks!

Jeez, some people.

Marcellus · 09-28-2011, 08:37 PM

Didn't he die of liver failure? You would have to think the painkillers played a part.

09-28-2011, 07:52 PM	Topic Starter
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	Time to tear down Walter Payton, I guess... Book: Walter Payton abused painkillers, discussed suicide By Chris Chase A new biography of Walter Payton details the Hall of Fame running back's frequent drug use, extramarital affairs and the crippling loneliness that plagued him after his retirement from the NFL. Sports Illustrated's Jeff Pearlman spent more than two years working on "Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton" and uncovered startling details about the Chicago Bears running back who was so highly regarded that the NFL named its Man of the Year Award after him. The book is set for release next week. Excerpts appear in this week's Sports Illustrated. In one section, Pearlman describes Payton's drug use: The burden of loneliness and his marriage weren't Payton's only problems. As a player he had numbed his maladies with pills and liquids, usually supplied by the Bears. Payton popped Darvon robotically during his playing days—says Holmes, "I'd see him walk out of the locker room with jars of painkillers, and he'd eat them like they were a snack"—and also lathered his body with dimethyl sulfoxide, a topical analgesic commonly used to treat horses. Now that he was retired, the self-medicating only intensified. Payton habitually ingested a cocktail of Tylenol and Vicodin. In a particularly embarrassing episode, in 1988, Payton visited a handful of dental offices, complaining of severe tooth pain. He received several prescriptions for morphine and hit up a handful of drugstores to have them filled. When one of the pharmacists noticed the activity, he contacted the police, who arrived at Payton's house and discussed the situation. Pearlman also details Payton's use of the painkiller Darvon during his playing days and how he equipped an RV with nitrous oxide to use during training camp. Once Payton's career ended, he battled depression and often discussed suicide with close friends. Two failing relationships contributed to his malaise. Pearlman describes how Payton's estranged wife and girlfriend both attended his Hall of Fame induction ceremony -- "they were like ships passing in the night," Payton's assistant said -- and made the triumphant weekend one of the worst of Payton's life. Like Andre Agassi's recent autobiography, in which he detailed his previously unknown drug use, "Sweetness" will be most remembered for the salacious tales revealed within. They'll dominate discussion over the next few days and obscure the brighter stories included in the book: How Payton delighted a cancer-ridden youngster on a flight or those moments when he'd play catch with kids before signing their football. The drug use and affairs will make some forget about how graceful Payton was on the field and how strong he was when facing terminal illness, and how he grew up in segregated Mississippi and calmed racial tensions there with his on-field heroics. As "Sweetness" shows, our heroes are always more complex than we know. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shu...urn=nfl-wp8200
Posts: 47,314

09-28-2011, 07:54 PM	#2
WV Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: In the Holler Casino cash: $10004950	All in the name of $$...sad. Let him rest in peace and be remembered as Sweetness.
Posts: 4,983

09-28-2011, 08:26 PM	#6
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2778491 VARSITY	Don't even want to read it. Even at 48, a guy has to have heroes. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,864

09-28-2011, 08:35 PM	#9
dirk digler Please squeeze Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $2774644	If it is the truth what is the problem?
Posts: 66,436

09-28-2011, 08:37 PM	#15
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $2582662	Didn't he die of liver failure? You would have to think the painkillers played a part.
Posts: 69,791