Football Time to tear down Walter Payton, I guess... - Page 3

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, 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 $$$$$$$$.

**dirk digler** · 09-28-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

That's stupid. There were many, many stories about Jackson when he was still alive, it wouldn't change after he died.

Nobody anywhere ever had anything bad to say about Walter Payton, but now that he's dead it's perfectly kosher to drag out a bunch of dirty laundry. It's bullshit.

So he is just supposed to write good things and ignore the bad?

The guy is a legend but flawed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backwards Masking

he was hardly the first guy to have a drinking / drug and fidelity problems. they were a part of his story, and are what they are, i don't think it trashes his legacy or drags his name through the mud to write about them. it shows he had flaws, and, screwed up as it may be, will help sell books. certainly does nothing to tarnish his legacy on the field.

RIP Walt

I totally agree

big nasty kcnut · 09-28-2011, 10:12 PM

I don't believe it i think this a bullshit book. It's only to get a cash cow and that it.

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.

FAX · 09-29-2011, 12:22 AM

It's funny how some people view certain things as idyllic, Mr. SportRacer.

Kind of like a lady who spends her life savings on a home ... only to learn too late that the house is haunted by ghostly imbeciles from the '50s.

Which reminds me of a very deserving thread I made that's right on the front page as we speak.

FAX

**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.

listopencil · 09-29-2011, 02:12 AM

**Dave Lane** · 09-29-2011, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I guess I believe it.

I was having a beer with a former nfl player an hour ago who was talking about taking 1000 vicodin on 1 bender after an injury, and preferred to wash them down with vodka...and asked if I had any.

You shouldn't say anything, he has a family you know...

Seriously, who cares? believe what you want and dont read the book if you don't want to know.

Amnorix · 09-29-2011, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

They had a spot about this on the news tonight, and it is not going to be well accepted up here. The man and his memory mean a lot to many people in Chicagoland.

A man who spent much of his life being a highly conditioned athlete died at age 45. The truth behind that isn't likely to be very pretty, no matter how beloved he was.

Nor does it tarnish his football playing days, IMHO.

Amnorix · 09-29-2011, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

That's stupid. There were many, many stories about Jackson when he was still alive, it wouldn't change after he died.

Nobody anywhere ever had anything bad to say about Walter Payton, but now that he's dead it's perfectly kosher to drag out a bunch of dirty laundry. It's bullshit.

The dirty laundry seems to be the kind of thing that wouldn't make people say bad things about him. People don't criticize the rich and famous for drinking or using drugs. It's being an ass, usually in public (after they drink or use drugs, if applicable) that gets them criticized (Lohan, etc.)

KCUnited · 09-29-2011, 06:34 AM

I'm sure Walter would be more mortified by holding on to that jheri curl for as long as he did, than people knowing about his drug use.

Doesn't diminish a thing too me.

TEX · 09-29-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big nasty kcnut

I don't believe it i think this a bullshit book. It's only to get a cash cow and that it.

Probably a lot of truth to it. Think of how he died...

TEX · 09-29-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backwards Masking

he was hardly the first guy to have a drinking / drug and fidelity problems. they were a part of his story, and are what they are, i don't think it trashes his legacy or drags his name through the mud to write about them. it shows he had flaws, and, screwed up as it may be, will help sell books. certainly does nothing to tarnish his legacy on the field.

RIP Walt

This.

lcarus · 09-29-2011, 09:26 AM

Who cares if he abused painkillers? I'm sure he at least used them for a very good reason at first. They're addicting. He had easy access to them and a good reason to take them, so it's perfectly understandable how he needed them after football for a long time.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-29-2011, 09:34 AM

Not really shocking news, I highly doubt he was the only player back then (hell, or even now) that abuses pain medication. It seems pretty easy to get hooked on that shit - not that I'm condoning his actions. Jason Peter's (Nebraska) book is a good read regarding football and drug use.

Dude's still "Sweetness" to me. Best RB I've ever seen play.

09-28-2011, 07:52 PM
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, 10:12 PM	#33
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $1080900	I don't believe it i think this a bullshit book. It's only to get a cash cow and that it. __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother****er!
Posts: 18,930

09-29-2011, 12:22 AM	#35
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	It's funny how some people view certain things as idyllic, Mr. SportRacer. Kind of like a lady who spends her life savings on a home ... only to learn too late that the house is haunted by ghostly imbeciles from the '50s. Which reminds me of a very deserving thread I made that's right on the front page as we speak. FAX
Posts: 44,492

09-29-2011, 02:12 AM	#37
listopencil Immanentize The Eschaton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $1685880	__________________ Good friends we have had, oh, good friends we've lost...along the way. In this great future, you can't forget your past. So dry your tears, I say.
Posts: 56,058

09-29-2011, 06:34 AM	#41
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $1748244	I'm sure Walter would be more mortified by holding on to that jheri curl for as long as he did, than people knowing about his drug use. Doesn't diminish a thing too me.
Posts: 34,233

09-29-2011, 09:26 AM	#44
lcarus Everybody Lies. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: 22 Acacia Avenue Casino cash: $1349928	Who cares if he abused painkillers? I'm sure he at least used them for a very good reason at first. They're addicting. He had easy access to them and a good reason to take them, so it's perfectly understandable how he needed them after football for a long time.
Posts: 17,370

09-29-2011, 09:34 AM	#45
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $4671115	Not really shocking news, I highly doubt he was the only player back then (hell, or even now) that abuses pain medication. It seems pretty easy to get hooked on that shit - not that I'm condoning his actions. Jason Peter's (Nebraska) book is a good read regarding football and drug use. Dude's still "Sweetness" to me. Best RB I've ever seen play.
Posts: 60,273