Walter paytonthe man they called sweetness, for the way he ranremains the most prolific running back in the history of the national football league. The enigmatic life of walter payton has provoked mixed reactions from fans of the late chicago bears running back. The new york times if walter payton, magnificent football player and chicago treasure, is enough for you, ignore the book and cherish your memories. Nicknamed sweetness during his college football days, he became the nfls alltime leader in rushing and allpurpose yards, capturing the hearts of fans in his. 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. He was indeed one of the greatest runningbacks of all time.
The enigmatic life of walter payton has lot of information that you can find out it. The hall of fame running back, who broke jim browns alltime nfl rushing mark, appeared in nine pro bowls, won a super bowl ring with the 1985 chicago bears, and is still. It is strange that football was really an afterthought. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues. In the twelve years since his death from cancer, walter paytons legend has only grown in magnitude. Jeff pearlman in the twelve years since his death from cancer, the legend of walter payton has only grown in magnitude. I havent read it myself, but apparently its pretty good. Sweetness and the apologies that never came jeff pearlman. The enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman 2012, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. I have read the book and i can tell you your appreciation of walter will be heightened if you read the whole book and not just the excerpt rick kogan jeff pearlman has written sweetness. Eddie payton, walters brother and one of my alltime least favorite people, continues to talk nonsense about me and the book. Of course, when reading a book on the great walter payton, you expect to read a lot about all of his outstanding statistics that he had achieved during his entire football career.
The enigmatic life of walter payton, alleges that payton abused painkillers and nitrous oxide, considered suicide and for years kept a. Payton cycled through a few nicknames before finding one that stuck. This is the definitive biography of an iconic american sportsman and one of the most uniquely complex and enigmatic superstars in the history of american sport. Oct 22, 2019 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 fame career. Sep 28, 2011 among the other revelations in sweetness. Agent denies books claims that payton was addicted to drugs. Payton as perhaps the greatest allaround football player ever, a generous teammate and a loving. The subtitle the enigmatic life of walter payton is entirely appropriate. See more ideas about walter payton, bears football and chicago bears. The enigmatic life of walter payton, the book includes paytons accolades, but also cites facts about extramarital affairs and an addiction to painkillers that resulted from injuries endured during his career. Eventually, they thought of sugarman, and a twist on that nickname became permanent. This article is about the american football running back. Payton s abuse of painkillers, fathering a child out of wedlock, and. Mike ditka never explained how he hadnt read the book.
Pearlman portrays the story of payton s life in great detail, spending years, while compiling many different sources to make this book a success. Although im not a particular fan of football i certainly was aware of walter payton, and found the book to be an enriching read. Sep 30, 2011 im not suggesting i dont believe jeff pearlmans reporting for sweetness. Why walter payton was called sweetness trivia happy. This is just one of the windows on the inner payton that jeff pearlman offers in his nearly 500page biography of the hall of famer, sweetness. Pearlmans a pro with two bestsellers to his credit. The enigmatic life of walter payton, alleges that payton abused painkillers and nitrous oxide, considered suicide and for years kept a mistress. See more ideas about walter payton, chicago bears and bears football. 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. Sweetness the enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman, published by gotham books.
This copy is a replacement for his original, which literally fell apart from being read so many times by him and his own son. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. From paytons childhood in segregated mississippi, where he ended a racial war by becoming the star of his integrated high schools football team, to his college years and his twelveyear nfl career, sweetness brims with stories of allamerican heroism, and covers paytons life off the field as well. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. He retired in 1987 as the leading rusher in the history of the national football league. Sep 29, 2011 sweetness the enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman, published by gotham books.
Darrelle reviss interview with mike francesa of wfan turned into a long argument, and the argument over jeff pearlmans book on. The definitive biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton. Walter payton book angers mike ditka, former bears players. Book reveals new details on life of hall of famer walter payton. Pearlman contends that the biography was a complete picture of payton and states he interviewed over 678 people to.
Walter payton described as drug abusing adulterer in upcoming. The hall of fame running back, who broke jim browns alltime nfl rushing mark, appeared in nine pro bowls, won a super bowl ring with the 1985 chicago bears, and is still revered throughout the sporting landscape. I bought this book a biography of chicago bears legend walter payton as a birthday gift for my son. However, there is an extensive amount of other material that the reader learns through themes of being humble, selfless, and pursuing a dream. I found the walter of your book to be more of a hero than the one people refer to. His brother eddie was the football player, walter played drums in the band. In the twelve years since his death from cancer, walter payton s legend has only grown in magnitude. The enigmatic life of walter payton reprint by pearlman, jeff isbn. In the twelve years since his death from cancer, the legend of walter payton has only grown in magnitude. Sweetness the enigmatic life of walter payton book. While reading this book, i found out a lot of surprises.
Agent denies books claims that payton was addicted to. Its terrible to see anyone go out the way payton did, let alone managing it on several levels, public and private. The passages highlighted in the magazine focused on paytons use of drugs. Pearlman portrays the story of paytons life in great detail, spending years, while compiling many different sources to make this book a success. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This is the definitive book on his life to date, and with a little better editing, could be the only book anyone needs to read on sweetness.
The enigmatic life of walter payton, by jeff pearlman, will appear in the oct. At five feet ten inches tall, running back walter peyton was not the largest player in the nfl, but he developed a largerthanlife reputation for his strength. 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. Walter payton, in full walter jerry payton, byname sweetness, born july 25, 1954, columbia, mississippi, u. The enigmatic life of walter payton, by jeff pearlman, appeared in sports illustrated, bears fans were apoplectic. At five feet 10 inches tall, running back walter payton was not the largest player in the nfl, but he developed a largerthanlife reputation for his strength, speed, and grit. At five feet ten inches tall, running back walter peyton was not the largest player in the nfl, but he developed a largerthanlife reputation for his strength, speed, and grit. Rick hogan, wgn sunday papers jeff pearlman has written sweetness. The first definitive biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton.
The first definitive biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton at five feet ten inches tall, running back walter payton was not the largest player in the nfl, but he developed a largerthanlife reputation for his strength, speed, and grit. The courage and heart of walter payton is a wonderful collection of quotes, stats, stories, and pictures illustrating the complete payton. Sweetness book midcontinent public library bibliocommons. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues you. Ever wonder why legendary running back walter payton had the nickname sweetness. I like the look at the contradictions in walter s life, but some of the writing kills me. I entered this project with a love of walter payton. 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. This kind of book exist new understanding the information that exist in this guide represented the condition of the world at this point. Wilbon never acknowledged his piece was biased and uninformed. Payton was called bubba as a child, and jackson state fans called him little monk and spiderman.
The thing walter payton did well in writing this story was he was very descriptive when telling his stories and memories such as the games he played in the nfl. 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 fame career. Nicknamed sweetness during his college football days, he became the nfls alltime leader in. Walter payton was a unique man whose story is a fascinating tale. Payton as perhaps the greatest allaround football player ever, a generous teammate and a loving father.
This is the definitive biography of an iconic american sportsman. Sweetness captures paytons life in both its greatness and its flaws, and should be read by all sports fans. Apr 07, 2016 walter payton sweetness joseph vincent. The enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman. The enigmatic life of walter payton, which depicts mr. 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. Walter jerry payton july 25, 1954 november 1, 1999 was an american football running back who played for the chicago bears of the national football league nfl for thirteen seasons. Category sportsbiography walter payton was born in segregated rural mississippi. Im not suggesting i dont believe jeff pearlmans reporting for sweetness. For example, on pg 319, but just as the greatness of a classic movie cannot be captured in a sequel, an alltime legendary football team rarely lasts beyond one season. Walter paytons brother to release a book about their. Oct 01, 2011 payton was not hooked on drugs, holmes said. Walter paytons brother to release a book about their lives. Walter payton described as drug abusing adulterer in.
104 19 638 271 654 998 709 1358 641 624 80 26 1244 1448 602 148 559 1445 642 726 1002 980 489 46 1453 527 1147 641 474 1197 1272 34 394 1310 1324