Re: New Walter Payton book has some shocking revelations

[Old Style]

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/7031006/chicago-bears-walter-payton-used-drugs-talked-suicide-according-book

[Soul]

He was human. Jordan was human.

 

He was also in a lot of pain, no doubt. I feel terrible for what happened to him. I would probably have self-medicated if my liver was turning on me, too.

 

 

 

Not saying this information is untrue, but I find it distasteful when an author digs up the negative stuff in order to gain a book contract for himself.

[Tracer Bullet]

He was human.

 

BS. He was a god.

[minnesotacubsfan]

if anything, this stuff just makes it seem like he was human after all. until now, I've always thought him as being a saint.

 

 

hes still the Greatest.

[NewUserName]

I used to know a guy who was convinced that Payton was gay and actually died of AIDS, all because he basically talked like a "sissy." I basically always called him a moron, basically because his statement was "moronic." When I read the title of this thread my first thought was, oh crap that idiot can't be right.

[Soul]

It doesn't surprise me that Walter was somewhat tortured as an individual. He was a different kind of guy, that's what made him so special. He didn't necessarily fit in with everyone's notion of who a "sports hero" should be.

 

I haven't read this book, so my comments are premature and probably inaccurate. It does seem strange that someone is drudging up all this stuff now. Why? Walter is a historical figure at this point. Shall we do a book on all these other sports heroes who passed away, too? And all the things that made them less than perfect? I guess I just don't really get it, other than to say the writer is looking for a payday. I'm sure he'll net a lot of sales on this book. It leaves me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

[Magnetic Curses]

apparently, from what I've heard, Walter was less than courteous to Chamillionaire, as well.

[Guest]

Many pro football players of his generation did exactly the same thing with regard to pain killers. Many still do now. It's part of their culture and is a natural by-product, unfortunately.

 

I hope this joker isn't trying to portray Walter as out of the norm.

[Prizefight]

I'm pretty much just assume all athletes kick puppies when they aren't playing their sport.

[Pushfrog98]

basically

[Old Style]

Gotta love Ditka.

 

Mike Ditka, coach of the '85 Bears, was even more upset about Pearlman's book.

 

"I'd spit on him," Ditka told WMAQ-Ch. 5. "I have no respect for him."

[javy knows my name]

I used to know a guy who was convinced that Payton was gay and actually died of AIDS, all because he basically talked like a "sissy." I basically always called him a moron, basically because his statement was "moronic." When I read the title of this thread my first thought was, oh crap that idiot can't be right.

 

I'd like to trip this person onto a land mine.

[KingCubsFan]

Wrong thread

[NewUserName]

basically

 

I know...when I reread my post I thought I had become as bad as Hardcore:)

[DivineBovine]

So he cheated on his wife. So do a lot of people, even people who aren't famous athletes. And he took pain killers. Big deal. So do a lot of NFL players, and many others for that matter.

 

The "shocking revelations" are so blah, that I can't believe all the attention this is getting. And are there still people around who want to view athletes as role models?

 

The author is a whore as far as I'm concerned. Try and make it interesting by publicizing these "shocking revelations". Anyone who's actually shocked by revelations like this has been living under a rock. It seems like such an uninteresting book based on these lame excerpts. I definitely won't be reading the book.

[Flames24Rulz]

Gotta love Ditka.

 

Mike Ditka, coach of the '85 Bears, was even more upset about Pearlman's book.

 

"I'd spit on him," Ditka told WMAQ-Ch. 5. "I have no respect for him."

 

Yeah, let's spit on a guy who wrote a biography. Real classy.

[Pushfrog98]

Gotta love Ditka.

 

Mike Ditka, coach of the '85 Bears, was even more upset about Pearlman's book.

 

"I'd spit on him," Ditka told WMAQ-Ch. 5. "I have no respect for him."

 

Yeah, let's spit on a guy who wrote a biography. Real classy.

That's when you know you're either really young or getting old. In between, you just want to kick some ass. As a little kid or an old fart, you just want to spit on people.

[Soul]

Gotta love Ditka.

 

Mike Ditka, coach of the '85 Bears, was even more upset about Pearlman's book.

 

"I'd spit on him," Ditka told WMAQ-Ch. 5. "I have no respect for him."

 

Yeah, let's spit on a guy who wrote a biography. Real classy.

 

Well, he's digging up dirt on a long-dead player for a paycheck. Yes it's a bio but that's hardly the reason anyone cares about this.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yes, when one writes a biography they should just try to be nice and ignore certain things.

[Tracer Bullet]

Yes, when one writes a biography they should just try to be nice and ignore certain things.

 

No, they should just wait for the person to die and then write a bunch of mean [expletive]. There's no middle ground.

[Sammy Sofa]

WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN.

[Old Style]

So you'd be OK with a writer who didn't know a close friend of yours writing a book exposing all that person's flaws and demons over a decade after their death?

[Sammy Sofa]

If my friend actually did those things, yeah.

 

I am baffled by this mindset where people seemingly expect this guy to ignore anything he found in his research that didn't reflect well on Payton.

 

So many seem to be looking like this is some kind of effort to smear Payton. It doesn't sound like a cheap, trashy hackjob looking just to smear Payton. It sounds like it's an examination of the man's life; both the good and the bad. That's what happens when someone researches and writes a thorough biography.

Edited October 4, 2011 by Sammy Sofa

[Old Style]

You're a great friend. :good:

[erik316wttn]

If my friend actually did those things, yeah.

 

I am baffled by this mindset where people seemingly expect this guy to ignore anything he found in his research that didn't reflect well on Payton.

 

So many seem to be looking like this is some kind of hack job. It doesn't sound like a cheapy, trashy hackjob looking just to smear Payton. It sounds like it's an examination of the man's life; both the good and the bad. That's what happens when someone researches and writes a thorough biography.

 

I'm in complete agreement on this. As long as facts weren't cherry-picked and good and bad both had representation I don't see an issue with it. He was a man with flaws just like everyone else.