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. Sweetness the enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman, published by gotham books. Nfl announces 32 nominees for walter payton man of year. Don yaeger resides in tallahassee, florida with his wife and two children. The enigmatic life of walter payton, a biography about the late great nfl running back written by sports illustrated columnist jeff pearlman is scheduled to arrive in bookstores across the county october 4 th. The enigmatic life of walter payton, by jeff pearlman, will appear in the oct. Payton also played for the montreal alouettes and toronto argonauts. A new biography of walter payton, the chicago bears late hall of fame running back, is drawing strong criticism from his former coach and teammates the book. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues. He was accurately known as an allaround player, a fervent passcatcher as well as an adorable passer. Author jeff pearlman has written an allencompassing biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton. Walter jerry payton was born on july 25, 1954 in columbia, mississippi to peter and alyne payton. So was his anger over a book he hadnt read not even the excerpt. Nov 02, 2019 chicago bears running back walter payton one of the greatest nfl players ever died on nov.
It is strange that football was really an afterthought. Payton was previously signed as an undrafted free agent by the nfl tennessee titans. Payton, known as sweetness throughout the nfl, was a. Most of the book is penned by payton, but several parts are written by members of his family as well as friends and coaches, such as matt suey and mike ditka. 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. Walter paytons brother to release a book about their. 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. Walter payton held the nfls alltime rushing record for almost two decades. Sep 30, 2011 a new biography of walter payton, the chicago bears late hall of fame running back, is drawing strong criticism from his former coach and teammates the book, sweetness.
He broke jim browns mark in 1984 and when he retired after the 1987 season, he had extended the record to 16,726 yards. I chose to read this book because i like walter payton as a player and never. Oct 08, 2011 doug miles talks with jeff pearlman author sweetness, the enigmatic life of walter payton, the legendary chicago bears running back. The courage and heart of walter payton is a wonderful collection of quotes, stats, stories, and pictures illustrating the complete payton. Walter payton aka sweetness ruled the 20thcentury when it came to football industry. Walter s extramarital dalliances were becoming common knowledge throughout chicago.
Oct 04, 2011 walter paytons widow is reacting to the new tellall book about the bears legend, including a story about how she and paytons extramarital girlfriend were both at his hall of fame induction. Big things ahead for vikings tight end duo irv smith jr. 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 payton family responded with a statement to fred mitchell of the chicago tribune. I really thought this book was helpful when looking for information about walter payton.
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. As a child, walter spent a lot of time outdoors and playing sports with his siblings eddie and pam payton. Remembering payton, with eyes open the new york times. The book is a detailed account of clemens life on and off the baseball field. His father edward a factory worker who had played semiprofessional baseball.
Don yaeger is an american sports journalist, and author and coauthor of almost two dozen books, including some that have been on the new york times best seller list. The enigmatic life of walter payton, and fails to recall payton as the happygolucky warrior bears fans remember. 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. Walter payton, nicknamed sweetness, is 2nd on the nfls all time rushing list. While i am not a big football fan i do enjoy reading biographies of sports standouts, and walter payton certainly fits that category. In 1975 he was drafted by the chicago bears being the 4th overall pick. Walter paytons brother to release a book about their lives.
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. Jarrett walter payton born december 26, 1980 is a former professional nfl running back. The enigmatic life of walter payton by jeff pearlman. Thus its not surprising that chicago is enraged by a new biography of payton that is excerpted in the current issue of sports illustrated. Sports illustrated walter would call me all the time saying he was about to kill himself, he was tired, payton s longtime. One of the great things about this book is that its moral is that to work hard and to never give up and i like that part especially because my father says that all the time. Take a look at hall of fame running back walter payton s 12year nfl career with the chicago bears. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The ultimate walter payton fun fact and trivia book. Walter payton described as drug abusing adulterer in upcoming.
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. Nicknamed sweetness, walter paytonwas a star running back for the chicago bears, establishing multiple records and earning nine pro bowl selections during his hall of fame career. A new biography on the life of walter payton alleges that the nfl hall of famer numbed his maladies by robotically ingesting the painkiller darvon during his playing days, was involved in. Walter jerry payton is born on july 25, 1954 in columbia, mississippi. Sweetness, as he was nicknamed in college, was revered in chicago. Walter jerry payton july 25, 1954 november 1, 1999 was an american professional football player who was a running back for the chicago bears of the national football league nfl for seasons. An amazing runner, walter rushed for more than 1,000 yards 10 of his seasons. Walter payton memorabilia, autographed walter payton. Walter payton described as drug abusing adulterer in. He attended john jefferson high school and later columbia high school, where he played football for three years. He was a legitimate man in a world filled with scumbags who had his demons just like we all do. Growing up poor in mississippi, he took up football to get girls attention, and went on to become a black college allamerican at tiny jackson state during which time he was also a finalist in a soul train dance contest.
Mar 20, 2019 walter payton didnt parade around like he was better than people. Brittney paytons wiki bio, net worth, husband, baby. An excerpt of a new biography of walter payton has sparked outcries. Pearlmans biography wasnt some scandalous trashing of walter payton. The book contains explosive allegations about the legendary football player that were kept from. A complete team history of the chicago bears by uniform number.
Payton finished his playing career with the chicago slaughter of the. 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. Walter payton, jackson state university alumni ap photosjohn swart sweetness. He made a few appearances on television as a guest star, but he was known as a profoundly personal man.
Sep 28, 2011 an upcoming book on walter payton paints a picture of a troubled star. Walter payton was born on july 25, 1954, in columbia, mississippi. Its also available for hockey, basketball and baseball. Known as one of the best players in the history of the nfl, payton was a ninetime pro bowl selectee, and held records for career rushing. Oct 01, 2011 the book says both paytons wife and his mistress stayed in the same hotel the weekend he was inducted into the nfl hall of fame.
He is what other players should strive to be like, walter broke the mold and still stands as the premiere football player of all time. The book was written by jeff pearlman and is called sweetness. Brittney is popular for being a reporter and a tv host, who is currently working for the fox 32 tv network. Pearlman said he wanted to write a book about someone decent. Walter payton didnt parade around like he was better than people.
He is one of three children to edward and alyne payton. In fact, it was a largely favorable look at paytons life. He was indeed one of the greatest runningbacks of all time. He secured several prescriptions for morphine but raised red flags with at least one pharmacist, who called. That passion is equaled by the love of walter payton, the greatest running back in the history of the nfl. The walter payton nfl man of the year award recognizes an nfl player for his excellence on and off the field.
Book reveals new details on life of hall of famer walter. Walter paytons widow talks about his dark secrets as a new. I entered this project with a love of walter payton. Brittney was born on 25 december 1985 in the usa, and therefore holds american nationality. The book offered an introduction introducing who walter was, chapters about his schooling experience, the coaches he encountered along the way, his experience coming to the chicago bears, statistics of his football career, various facts and pictures, and at the very end a timeline summing up the whole book. Your friends and family members will be left at a loss for words after receiving their rare and unique walter payton photo. Hello fellow wikipedians, i have just added archive links to 3 external links on walter payton. Walter payton was born on july 25th, 1954 in columbia, minnesota. Darrelle reviss interview with mike francesa of wfan turned into a long argument, and the argument over jeff pearlmans book on walter payton is still. Quotations by walter payton, american athlete, born july 25, 1954. Walter paytons family disputes elements of new biography.
However, it was also an attempt to paint a complete picture of payton, and that of course included his flaws just as a complete picture of any of our lives would include some flaws. A new biography on the life of walter payton alleges that the nfl hall of famer numbed his maladies by robotically ingesting the painkiller darvon during his playing days, was involved in extramarital dalliances and fell into a depressed state that included heavy selfmedication. The autobiography of walter payton by walter payton. The 510, 200pound running back who rushed for 3,563 yards in four. Walter payton biography of walter payton walter jerry payton was born on july 25, 1954 in columbia, mississippi to peter and alyne payton.
Book reveals new details on life of hall of famer walter payton. 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. Connie payton flatly denies the book s charge that in the height of his depression, walter payton threatened to kill people around him before killing himself. Available on kindle ebook and can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Jeff pearlmans book, which includes allegations of payton, who died in 1999, being suicidal, abusing pain medication and being unfaithful to his wife, is. Walter s entire life is represented here, from his early days in columbia, mississippi to the chicago bears to the illness that led to his death. Back in the 1980s, playing football in brian cennamos backyard, i was either billy sims, ricky bell, freeman mcneil or walter payton. Walter was a first class football player amd first class individual as well. Walter payton was an american footballer who played as a running back for the chicago bears of the national football league. Walter paytons widow talks about his dark secrets as a. Walter payton was born in columbia, mississippi to edward and alyne payton on july 25th, 1954.
Walter payton, the chicago bears firstround choice and the fourth player selected in the 1975 national football league draft, developed into a superstar of unusual dimensions during his season nfl tenure from 1975 to 1987, all of which he spent with the chicago bears. Drugs, infidelity highlight new walter payton biography. Walter payton pro football hall of fame official site. Walter payton abused painkillers, had affairs, claims new. On thursday, the nfl released all 32 nominees for the 2019 walter payton nfl man of the year for each team, with the winner being announced at nfl honors, which will air on fox on feb. 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. One of, if not the best, running backs in nfl history. Walter payton biography facts, childhood, family life. Category sports biography walter payton was born in segregated rural mississippi. He attended college at jackson state university where he played running back. He is an 11time new york times best selling author with 29 published books.
This biography tells a somber and gloomy story about the nfl hall of fame veteran, a story filled. The definitive biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton. According to the book, in 1988 payton visited dentist offices complaining of tooth pain. The author includes both the good and the bad in his life which makes walter payton human like the rest of us. Mike ditka is skeptical of new book on walter payton. 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. It was renamed in 1999 after the late hall of fame. According to a new biography, the late walter payton a legendary chicago bears running back nicknamed sweetness by fans and teammates alike was addicted to painkillers throughout and after his playing career, engaged in many extramarital affairs, fought depression and considered suicide just before his death from bile duct cancer in 1999. His brother eddie was the football player, walter played drums in. If walter payton, magnificent football player and chicago treasure, is enough for you, ignore the book and cherish your memories. In the twelve years since his death from cancer, walter paytons legend has only grown in magnitude. If walter payton, flawed but fascinating human being, intrigues you, read it.
An excerpt from the book is published in sports illustrated this week. Enjoy the best walter payton quotes at brainyquote. Book talk guest jeff pearlman author sweetness walter. Jeff pearlman is the author of four previous books, including two new york times. The challenges he faced were well known to those of us who loved and lived with him. Nicknamed sweetness, he was a star running back for the chicago bears, establishing multiple records and earning nine pro bowl. Sep 28, 2011 as for payton s 23year marriage to connie, pearlman says that it was a union solely in name. The new york times if walter payton, magnificent football player and chicago treasure, is enough for you, ignore the book and cherish your memories. An autographed walter payton photo is an awesome sports gift for any of your friends or family members who are diehard chicago bears fans. Walter was really involved in different activities out of school like boys scouts and his local church. Player bio pro football hall of fame official site. Walter payton did not have 2,973 rushing attempts in the post season. Walter, like all of us, wasnt perfect, reads the statement from paytons wife connie, his family and the walter and connie payton foundation.
Payton was selected as the nfls most valuable player in 1977 and 1985, the nfl offensive player of the year in 1977 and 1985 and the nfc most valuable player in 1977. The autobiography of walter payton by payton, walter published by villard 1st first edition 2000 hardcover. Walter payton, in full walter jerry payton, byname sweetness, born july 25, 1954, columbia, mississippi, u. Personal memories of footballs sweetest superstar by the people who knew him best. The first definitive biography of chicago bears superstar walter payton. Walter payton s widow is reacting to the new tellall book about the bears legend, including a story about how she and payton s extramarital girlfriend were both at his hall of fame induction. The story is about how walter paytons life effected everyone eleses around him. Walter payton was the model of what every player should be like, even in todays me only generation. Payton plays the drums and is part of the school band as well as other singing groups. 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.
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