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.

**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...............

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.

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

If it is the truth what is the problem?

Marcellus · 09-28-2011, 08:37 PM

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

Spott · 09-28-2011, 08:40 PM

He was still the best RB I've ever seen play the game and he never acted like a jackass when he got to the end zone. Such a shame that he had to die so young.

**HemiEd** · 09-28-2011, 09:17 PM

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.

ThatRaceCardGuy · 09-28-2011, 09:18 PM

I don't care what the book says. I will always remember him as a gentleman, and the best RB I ever watched play the game. He might be flawed, but that only makes him human. RIP to Sweetness.

Marcellus · 09-28-2011, 09:18 PM

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.

It wont matter. People tend to believe what they want to.

**KcMizzou** · 09-28-2011, 09:19 PM

Everybody has their personal demons... leave the man alone.

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?

**HemiEd** · 09-28-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

It wont matter. People tend to believe what they want to.

True, but it was shocking to see on the news. It would be about like having them run something like this about DT on the KC news.

Some stories are just better left untold.

Marcellus · 09-28-2011, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

True, but it was shocking to see on the news. It would be about like having them run something like this about DT on the KC news.

Some stories are just better left untold.

I agree. I also wonder why it took this long. Maybe it took a while to get people (sources) to open up about it.

I still doubt it will taint his legacy. People are more forgiving of the deceased than they are the living.

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, 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	#3
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3058491 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: 141,647

09-28-2011, 08:35 PM	#6
dirk digler Please squeeze Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $3024644	If it is the truth what is the problem?
Posts: 66,394

09-28-2011, 08:37 PM	#7
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $2832662	Didn't he die of liver failure? You would have to think the painkillers played a part.
Posts: 69,466

09-28-2011, 08:40 PM	#8
Spott Court Jester Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Orlando Casino cash: $2822400	He was still the best RB I've ever seen play the game and he never acted like a jackass when he got to the end zone. Such a shame that he had to die so young.
Posts: 19,772

09-28-2011, 09:17 PM	#9
HemiEd Supporter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ozarks Casino cash: $3020564	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.
Posts: 33,500

09-28-2011, 09:18 PM	#10
ThatRaceCardGuy I BRAUGHT THE BOOZE Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: KU VILLE Casino cash: $10007253	I don't care what the book says. I will always remember him as a gentleman, and the best RB I ever watched play the game. He might be flawed, but that only makes him human. RIP to Sweetness.
Posts: 2,895

09-28-2011, 09:19 PM	#12
KcMizzou Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Parkville MO Casino cash: $10005170	Everybody has their personal demons... leave the man alone.
Posts: 54,695