To quote Howie Day “Even the best fall down sometimes”.
Fans of the Chicago Bears need to take a chill pill and cut Jeff Pearlman some slack. He allegedly spent 3 years of his life researching and interviewing for the book he recently wrote about Sweetness. As a result of the research Pearlman was able to determine that Payton had suicidal thoughts, a mistress, battled drug addiction, and fathered a child out of wedlock. Maybe Americans should be a little more selective as to who is put upon a pedestal. Walter Payton was a tremendous football player, as a person he was as human as you and I. Get over it.
This week while tailgating I heard many people make the argument that Walter had been dead a while and to leave well enough alone. I went to Amazon today and typed in John F. Kennedy; the result was 61,209 books and movies for sale. I don’t see many people running to the defense of JFK each time a book is written.When athletes, politicians and other celebrities sign the mega million dollar contracts, they need to realize this is part of the package. I am not saying it is right, but is it right for an athlete to make $100 million playing a game he played for free as a kid. In exchange for your privacy you are given millions of dollars and the adulation of fans everywhere.
As for players and coaches like Brian Urlacher and other players coming to the defense of Walter Payton, what else is to be expected. Urlacher himself, has also fathered a child out of wedlock. It seems a week doesn’t go by that a player isn’t on Sportscenter for something inappropriate they did; Cedric Benson. The same fans that bristled Pearlman also hooped all over Brett Farve.
Instead of going on Chicago radio stations and proclaiming Mike Ditka would spit in Jeff Pearlman’s face he should use the information provided in the book for his cause. In Walter Payton’s 13 seasons of NFL play he undoubtedly suffered a head trauma or two. Tying that fact together with Walter’s depression and thoughts of suicide would help boost Iron Mike’s fight against the NFL for retired players.
Sometimes the truth hurts. Let the book serve as a reminder that no matter how great we think a person is, they also deal with everyday struggles. Let the book serve as an inspiration.
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