As native Chicagoan, the legend of Walter Payton has always been a tad bit mystifying to me. The man seemed like he was absolutely invincible.
The NFL’s leader in rushing yards, ‘Sweetness’ as he was known — was a dominant force on the field and off the field, doing charity work and based off of anecdotal evidence, always pulling pranks on people. But according to a new book, he had a dark side that he kept hidden from the media and sports fans for decades. Specifically, that he was a philanderer who was also addicted to painkillers — keeping nitrous oxide in his garage, seeking out prescription for Ritalin, and using cocktails of Tylenol and Vicodin daily.
Not only that, he was suicidal, oftentimes hinting to his friends and colleagues that he wanted to end his life and leave the world as he knew it. His mistress and his wife showed up to his Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and instead of being angry at one another, his wife supposedly told his mistress that she could have him.
Here’s the thing – anybody who’s driven enough to make themselves one of the best athletes on the planet is also going to be possessing of some demons to put them at that point. And let’s remember Walter for the stellar athlete he was on the field, other than by some measuring stick that doesn’t matter except to the people close to him.
The book, ‘Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton’ is about to hit stores.
Comments
James
September 29th, 2011 - 12:16:21 AM
I have no doubt that had Walter not succumb to the liver disease, he'd be telling the whole truth. No doubt, this book is full of both truth and fiction, but it's absolutely no surprise that he had a dark side. We all do. Retirement was a bitch for Sweetness, and sadly, it seems that only when faced with leaving this life did he finally find a true love for it. Can't wait to read the book. I know there are some touching moments about his final days mixed in that will help shift some perspective for the better.
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