Book reveals new details on life of hall of famer walter. Walter payton abused painkillers, had affairs, claims new. But to those who knew him, even close friends and family, he was an enigma. Pearlman s a pro with two bestsellers to his credit.
Former chicago bears coach ditka thinks the book, which comes more than a decade after payton died of cancer at age 45, is illtimed at best. The enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman 2012, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. At the mahopac library, before an audience of about 30, mr. Sep 30, 2011 a new book on football star walter payton claims that the hall of fame inductee running back abused drugs, had affairs, and threatened to commit suicide sports author jeff pearlmans book. So hang tight for the next bunch of weeks as jeffpearlman. Author jeff pearlman, whose new biography says walter payton abused drugs and cheated on his wife, says he greatly admires payton and is. Walter paytons brother to release a book about their lives. Sweetness book is deep, cumulative look at walter payton. Thus its not surprising that chicago is enraged by a new biography of payton that is excerpted in the current issue of sports illustrated. Pearlman explores the walter payton who never turned down a fan, the walter payton who acquired autographed sports memorabilia to raise money for sick children, the walter payton who liked to joke. Sep 29, 2011 jeff pearlman is an american sports writer. His new book is entitled sweetness the enigmatic life of walter payton.
In october 2011 he released his fifth book, a biography of walter payton titled, sweetness. Pearlman said he wanted to write a book about someone decent. Jeff pearlman born 1972 is an american sports writer. Pearlmans a pro with two bestsellers to his credit. Walter payton was insanely curious, and his interest in other people. The enigmatic life of walter payton, which depicts mr. Oct 07, 2011 if walter payton, magnificent football player and chicago treasure, is enough for you, ignore the book and cherish your memories. Mike ditka is skeptical of new book on walter payton. The enigmatic life of walter payton, the author assesses payton was addicted to prescription drugs, abused laughing gas, and had a mistress.
Walter payton is back in the public consciousness following the release of the controversial biography, sweetness. Author and sports illustrated columnist jeff pearlman decided to take matters into his own hands and write a book about the great walter. Remembering payton, with eyes open the new york times. They spent about 30 minutes in an interview at paytons home in arlington heights, ill. The definitive biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton. If youre going to wait 12 years after somebodys passed, come on. Oct 02, 2011 the journey to find walter payton begins here. Jeff pearlmans book, which includes allegations of.
While i am not a big football fan i do enjoy reading biographies of sports standouts, and walter payton certainly fits that category. Sep 30, 2011 michael wilbon is a featured columnist for and. Of course, the multiple layers of paytons life had pearlman detailing the controversy he endured in light of an. Author jeff pearlman discusses the motivation behind his new book, sweetness. Jeff pearlman comes home to discusses his book and the. Last tuesday, author jeff pearlmans fifth book hit the bookstores and the online world. Sep 29, 2011 former chicago bears coach mike ditka dismissed the author of a controversial new book on walter payton as totally gutless. Nicknamed sweetness, walter payton was a star running back for the chicago bears, establishing multiple records and earning nine pro bowl selections during his hall of.
Walter payton described as drug abusing adulterer in. So was his anger over a book he hadnt read not even the excerpt. The enigmatic life of walter payton, by jeff pearlman, appeared in sports illustrated, bears fans were apoplectic. The point isnt to question pearlmans accuracy, but to question his purpose in writing the book.
A few of paytons former teammates and colleagues have. Pearlman s book provides much to enhance that image, and a bit to tarnish it as well. But the first time jeff pearlman finally met walter payton was the last time. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read sweetness. Walter paytons life more bittersweet than pure sweetness. Jeff pearlman comes home to discusses his book and the life. If walter payton, magnificent football player and chicago treasure, is enough for you, ignore the book and cherish your memories. Jeff pearlmans book, which includes allegations of payton, who died in 1999, being suicidal, abusing pain medication and being unfaithful to his wife, is titled sweetness. Walter payton described as drug abusing adulterer in upcoming. Doug miles radio interview with jeff pearlman author sweetness, the enigmatic life of walter payton. Pearlman said he interviewed 678 people for the book, which he.
Payton as perhaps the greatest allaround football player ever, a generous teammate and a loving father. The enigmatic life of walter payton gotham books will be released next week. The book by the mahopac native has been received with mix emotions. Sep 28, 2011 pearlman said he wanted to write a book about someone decent. Pearlmans book provides much to enhance that image, and a bit to tarnish it as well. Sep 28, 2012 many fans of the late walter payton were stunned by the depiction of the bears hall of fame running back as a flawed human being in jeff pearlman s controversial book.
Oct 08, 2011 doug miles radio interview with jeff pearlman author sweetness, the enigmatic life of walter payton. Eddie payton, walters brother and one of my alltime least favorite people, continues to talk nonsense about me and the book. I was going to give pearlmans book 4 stars rather than 5 stars because i found at least three errors in the text, which shows either sloppiness or lack of competent editing. He has written two books about baseball and was the author of the infamous john rocker interview in sports illustrated. Book reveals new details on life of hall of famer walter payton. Sep 30, 2011 author jeff pearlman, whose new biography says walter payton abused drugs and cheated on his wife, says he greatly admires payton and is taken aback by the harsh reaction his book has received. The new york times if walter payton, magnificent football player and chicago. Pearlman delved into the complex life this american sports giant. I have no respect for him, mike ditka said of author pearlman. Author jeff pearlman recently came back to his hometown of mahopac, new york to discuss his most recent book sweetness. The enigmatic life of walter payton, by jeff pearlman. Oct, 2011 walter payton is back in the public consciousness following the release of the controversial biography, sweetness.
The first definitive biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton. The new york times if walter payton, magnificent football player and chicago treasure. He has written three books about baseball, three about football and one on basketball. Sep 30, 2011 walter payton book angers mike ditka, former bears players. The enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman 2012, paperback at the best online prices at.
Sep 30, 2011 since an excerpt of jeff pearlman s new book, sweetness. The enigmatic life of walter payton, is the two and a half year project of jeff pearlman, a former sports illustrated senior writer, who claims to have interviewed nearly 700 hundred people during its making. It paints the greatest runner in chicago bears, possibly nfl history as a. An extraordinarily gifted athlete known for his ferocious stiffarm, his refusal to run out of bounds and his unparalleled work ethic, payton was, and is, beloved by football fans. Jeff pearlman does the work of firstrate biography in his addictively readable sweetness. The enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman. Pearlmans book portrays payton, who died in 1999, as a human beinga legendary player and great spirit but a tormented, sometimes selfish, and entirely imperfect man. Since an excerpt of jeff pearlmans new book, sweetness. Oct 14, 2011 last tuesday, author jeff pearlmans fifth book hit the bookstores and the online world. Though some of walter paytons 19541999 records have been broken since his 1987 retirement, his image as a gridiron hero, and arguably footballs greatestever running back, has endured. Walter payton book angers mike ditka, former bears players. The enigmatic life of walter payton, is sure to draw plenty of attention.
Pearlman stands by his portrayal of payton in polarizing book. Sports illustrated ran an excerpt that did pearlman no favors it. Sep 28, 2011 walter payton is without a doubt one of the best running backs to ever play in the nfl, but a new book set to hit stores soon reveals disturbing details about the late chicago bears hall of famer. I entered this project with a love of walter payton. Pearlman talks about walter payton and sportswriting. The book was written by jeff pearlman and is called sweetness. The enigmatic life of walter payton, was published in sports illustrated wednesday, the author has come under fire for writing details. The enigmatic life of walter payton reprint by pearlman, jeff isbn.
Walter payton is without a doubt one of the best running backs to ever play in the nfl, but a new book set to hit stores soon reveals disturbing details about the late chicago bears hall of famer. Pearlman stands by his portrayal of payton in polarizing. Author jeff pearlman has written an allencompassing biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton. Many fans of the late walter payton were stunned by the depiction of the bears hall of fame running back as a flawed human being in jeff pearlmans controversial book. It spent four weeks on the new york times best seller list. Former chicago bears coach mike ditka dismissed the author of a controversial new book on walter payton as totally gutless. Not everyone has reacted positively to the publishing of pearlmans latests book. Jeff pearlmans book, which includes allegations of payton, who died.
Sweetness and the apologies that never came jeff pearlman. The enigmatic life of walter payton ebook written by jeff pearlman. The passages highlighted in the magazine focused on paytons use of drugs and his philandering. A new book on football star walter payton claims that the hall of fame inductee running back abused drugs, had affairs, and threatened to commit suicide sports author jeff pearlmans book. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues. Jeff pearlmans book, which includes allegations of payton, who died in 1999, being suicidal, abusing pain medication and being unfaithful to his.
This is one of the featured books on the book report this week and i must say it sounds very interesting. Paytons brother takes stab at setting record straight. The enigmatic life of walter payton, and fails to recall payton as the happygolucky warrior bears fans remember. He presents walter payton in all of his flaws and contradictions yet leaves you in the end with a much deeper appreciation of an uncommon man. The enigmatic life of walter payton, and fails to recall payton as. Through it all, payton maintained an image as a family man, welcoming his and connies daughter brittney only two months after nigels birth. The walter payton as drawn by jeff pearlman is a much more complicated one than we have seen before but at the same time, much more human. Sep 28, 2012 eddie payton, the former nfl player who is best known as the brother of the great walter payton, is releasing a book next week about his brother, saying that he thinks theres a record that.
After eight years of design excellence, i decided it was time for an upgrade. By no means does pearlman overlook paytons greatness on the field. An excerpt of a new biography of walter payton has sparked outcries, but critics. Sep 12, 2011 author jeff pearlman discusses the motivation behind his new book, sweetness. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues you, read it. Eddie payton, the former nfl player who is best known as the brother of the great walter payton, is releasing a book next week about his brother, saying that he thinks theres a record that. I was going to give pearlman s book 4 stars rather than 5 stars because i found at least three errors in the text, which shows either sloppiness or lack of competent editing. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Published on sep 11, 2011 author jeff pearlman discusses the motivation behind his new book, sweetness. Walter paytons brother to release a book about their.
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