Walter Payton

Walter Payton bio paints bittersweet portrait of a deep, good man

We have the memory of Walter Payton, most of them were so great, that challenge the limits of humanity.
Ol 'Sweetness was such a great footballer, so hard yet childish, even if malicious epic - and he died so young - it seems he has always been a bronze statue that hangs over Lake Michigan, the stiff arm, the ball kept as a grapefruit, a blessing of forgiving our sins and bears grill.

But there is no statue of Walter in our city, but it should be. And long-time sports Writer Jeff Pearlman speculated for years: What really is this man?

''It was an icon, but I knew nothing about him,''Pearlman said when he spoke on Wednesday. I have read his autobiography,''with Don Yaeger, never die easy, that was my reference to Walter Payton.

''When I did more research, nothing new has been covered. I found the "legend Walter Payton" can be summarized in two ways. "Ringer", "Great broker" and I thought to be more to that person.''

And Pearlman, who writes sports books for a living, which is more. Yes, he did. Part of this is old news, some of them are newly renovated, but a lot of things he has discovered through research Gumshoe, and fans might want to worship Payton knowledge.

In his book, soft news: the enigmatic life of Walter Payton, who was a part and used as the cover story in Sports Illustrated this week by titlen''Walter Payton, the hero did not know,''Pearlman described Payton , depression, thoughts of suicide, infidelity and drug addiction. These substances, Pearlman wrote, was sometimes used for pleasure, but also physical pain Payton felt after retiring from the NFL in 1987 as a leading Rusher in the league.

But there were also emotional and psychological pain Payton sense of not being part of the one thing that he was the best.

''Payton finds himself faced with a realization that hit thousands of ex-athletes in front of him, I miss my mind,''Pearlman writes. ''When the stranger asked if he spoke of how he was happy to be free football burdens. . . . The words were pure fantasy. It would be desperately missed. "It went from an abnormal life as an athlete in a normal," says [daughter] Brittney, now 26th "How can we do that?"''

The point here may be that we - sports fans and people with issues that life brings - not irrelevant, and perhaps not even want to know.

Mike Ditka, Payton Bears Super Bowl coach, was upset when I asked him what he thought of the extracts.

And'''pathetic, and I will not talk about it,''From The Coach growled.

One of the teammates Payton, who asked not to be identified, was also less happy with the revelations, but not angry, just depressed.

''It was certainly surprising,''said the player. ''And the beating he received was incredible. I often had to be covered in ice after the game.''

In fact, the reporter often seen as bulbs sniffed ammonia Payton on the sideline for the most people breathe air. Sometimes, these bulbs crushed helped to recover from what appeared to be a concussion were a few moments before the crash huge.

Clyde Emrich,''our strength coach, has always wanted to obtain data on how Walter was strong, "said the player." But he never did any "in person". He did not like being caught. But one night at Hall's Ferry, where we stayed at camp in Lake Forest, who slipped down and do military presses with 210 pounds, had everything - an incredible amount.''

The player had a break.

''But Walter, I remember is the man who writes poetry and laughter, fun-loving man.''

A deeply

Pearlman understand.

''I saw the reaction of the fans,''he said. And make me unhappy''- people think, "Who is this man has written about our hero" But I mean, read the book took 20 pages of its darkest period! extract. The book is 450 pages. Her deep, was unique. I mean, that rotates Columbia, Mississippi, was a good person. Roger Clemens wrote about in my last book, and it was a satisfying experience. There was no depth.

Walter,''was the depth, was a person who actually thought of something.''

Pearlman raised two issues that he thinks prove the incomplete and inaccurate picture of Payton is common.

''When he died, the Sun-Times and Tribune - all - wrote in his obituary that he was 45. It was not. He was 46. He had taken a year off the way back was because I thought I could make him a Heisman Trophy candidate better.''

I looked. ''Born July 25, 1954.''Provided that all the research says.

Nickname origin

''And no one knows where "Sweetness" is the nickname. Do you?''Pearlman asked.

I thought. I did not. Something about being a player or a forearm mild sweet?

''No, the practice of the 1975 All-Star Game, he said Neal rape, an Ohio State corner back, "Your sweetness is your weakness" and he ran after him.''

Don Pierson, the author retired NFL that can always be the most respected writer in the history of Pro Chicago, contributed does checkbook.

''I'd say about 100 percent of what happened was Sunday evening, Mr. Pierson said.''''While he was not surprised by something Jeff wrote, I do not think it changes my opinion of Walter all. I never thought that some football players off the field is more interesting than anyone else does. The book as a whole is very positive.''

Maybe we should just read it.

And remember Walter was a man.