Walter Payton Book Paint Unflattering Portrait of a Hero
Jeff Pearlman in his latest novel Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton provides a not-so-flattering portrait of Payton. Some of the revelations include infidelity, drug use and suicidal thoughts just to name a few. It paints a different picture of Sweetness than many will be prepared to digest.
Without going into detail, I know some damaging stories about Payton too. These items may or may not have made the book, but something that I will not print or mention out of respect to his family and legacy. Many of us were inspired by his performance on the field and the way he carried himself as a human being, so tarnishing his legend isn’t something I’m prepared to do. We’re all damaged, so judging others isn’t in my DNA.
The Payton that should be remembered is the man that helped make Illinois the top organ donor state. The father who’s children loved and adored him. The man who was arguably the greatest player of all time. The man who never refused an autograph or a chance to make a person smile. That’s the Payton I choose to remember.
Writing this book is certainly Pearlman’s right and reading it is anyone who chooses to do so. I won’t be one of those people. I just don’t need another hero tarnished. There’s less and less of those left in the world.
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