Pearlman portrays the story of paytons life in great detail, spending years, while compiling many different sources to make this book a success. Rick hogan, wgn sunday papers jeff pearlman has written sweetness. Sweetness and the apologies that never came jeff pearlman. Agent denies books claims that payton was addicted to.
Book reveals new details on life of hall of famer walter. Walter payton was a unique man whose story is a fascinating tale. The subtitle the enigmatic life of walter payton is entirely appropriate. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues you, read it. I bought this book a biography of chicago bears legend walter payton as a birthday gift for my son. Im not suggesting i dont believe jeff pearlmans reporting for sweetness. Apr 07, 2016 walter payton sweetness joseph vincent. The enigmatic life of walter payton has lot of information that you can find out it. The enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman 2012, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. In the twelve years since his death from cancer, walter paytons legend has only grown in magnitude. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The new york times if walter payton, magnificent football player and chicago treasure, is enough for you, ignore the book and cherish your memories. However, there is an extensive amount of other material that the reader learns through themes of being humble, selfless, and pursuing a dream.
The definitive biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton. 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. 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. Eddie payton, walters brother and one of my alltime least favorite people, continues to talk nonsense about me and the book. 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. 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. The enigmatic life of walter payton, by jeff pearlman, will appear in the oct. Pearlman portrays the story of payton s life in great detail, spending years, while compiling many different sources to make this book a success. See more ideas about walter payton, bears football and chicago bears. He retired in 1987 as the leading rusher in the history of the national football league. 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. It is strange that football was really an afterthought. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions.
Book reveals new details on life of hall of famer walter payton. The enigmatic life of walter payton reprint by pearlman, jeff isbn. Wilbon never acknowledged his piece was biased and uninformed. While reading this book, i found out a lot of surprises. The passages highlighted in the magazine focused on paytons use of drugs. Sweetness the enigmatic life of walter payton book. 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 payton described as drug abusing adulterer in upcoming. I found the walter of your book to be more of a hero than the one people refer to.
Why walter payton was called sweetness trivia happy. Walter paytons brother to release a book about their. Its terrible to see anyone go out the way payton did, let alone managing it on several levels, public and private. 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. The enigmatic life of walter payton, alleges that payton abused painkillers and nitrous oxide, considered suicide and for years kept a mistress. 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.
Payton cycled through a few nicknames before finding one that stuck. Sweetness the enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman, published by gotham books. 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. Oct 01, 2011 payton was not hooked on drugs, holmes said. Payton as perhaps the greatest allaround football player ever, a generous teammate and a loving. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues you. Sweetness captures paytons life in both its greatness and its flaws, and should be read by all sports fans. Category sportsbiography walter payton was born in segregated rural mississippi. Pearlman contends that the biography was a complete picture of payton and states he interviewed over 678 people to. 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. This article is about the american football running back. In the twelve years since his death from cancer, walter payton s legend has only grown in magnitude.
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. See more ideas about walter payton, chicago bears and bears football. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues. The enigmatic life of walter payton, which depicts mr. 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. 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. Nicknamed sweetness during his college football days, he became the nfls alltime leader in. The enigmatic life of walter payton, by jeff pearlman, appeared in sports illustrated, bears fans were apoplectic. 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. 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. I like the look at the contradictions in walter s life, but some of the writing kills me.
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 by jeff pearlman. The enigmatic life of walter payton has provoked mixed reactions from fans of the late chicago bears running back. Walter paytons brother to release a book about their lives. I havent read it myself, but apparently its pretty good. 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. This kind of book exist new understanding the information that exist in this guide represented the condition of the world at this point.
This copy is a replacement for his original, which literally fell apart from being read so many times by him and his own son. Although im not a particular fan of football i certainly was aware of walter payton, and found the book to be an enriching read. 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. His brother eddie was the football player, walter played drums in the band. I entered this project with a love of walter payton. Walter payton, in full walter jerry payton, byname sweetness, born july 25, 1954, columbia, mississippi, u. Mike ditka never explained how he hadnt read the book. Walter payton described as drug abusing adulterer in. 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. Sep 28, 2011 among the other revelations in sweetness. 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.
Eventually, they thought of sugarman, and a twist on that nickname became permanent. The enigmatic life of walter payton, alleges that payton abused painkillers and nitrous oxide, considered suicide and for years kept a. Back in the 1980s, playing football in brian cennamos backyard, i was either billy sims, ricky bell, freeman mcneil or walter payton. Pearlmans a pro with two bestsellers to his credit.
Darrelle reviss interview with mike francesa of wfan turned into a long argument, and the argument over jeff pearlmans book on. This is the definitive biography of an iconic american sportsman. 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. Agent denies books claims that payton was addicted to drugs. 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 30, 2011 im not suggesting i dont believe jeff pearlmans reporting for sweetness. Payton was called bubba as a child, and jackson state fans called him little monk and spiderman. Sep 29, 2011 sweetness the enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman, published by gotham books. 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. In the twelve years since his death from cancer, the legend of walter payton has only grown in magnitude. 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 book angers mike ditka, former bears players. 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.
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