BeeR Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Payton by all accounts was not only arguably the greatest RB ever but also IMO one of the all-time class acts ever as well. So I hope this is sensationalist BS by a few slimeballs looking to make a buck (they wouldn't exactly be the first). But who knows.......just seems very odd and out of character for the kind of guy he was. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d822a..._headline_stack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menstrualgravy Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 (edited) I can see sweetness having to maybe take some prescription pain meds post retirement. And im sure it would have been prescribed. But to burn bread on one of the greatest if not THE greatest that ever laced em up is an abomonation. Slime Ball dosent cutt it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM-UM9FHLwk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzWYOQN9rRA...feature=related Who would you start this week over Sweetness?? Edited September 29, 2011 by Menstrualgravy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Doesn't change my opinion of him one bit whether it's true or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditkaless Wonders Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I turn my back to the writers of this type of stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 (edited) Freakin human garbage. What exactly is the need to dance on someone's grave like this? I'll bet Payton did take a lot of piankillers - he had liver and gall bladder cancer, and that the pain of those diseases might occassionally make one ponder ending one's life. That doesn't make him any less of a great man and the best RB that ever donned cleats. I'm not a big fan of wishing ill will on someone, but in the case of a writer like this I'll gladly make an exception. Edited September 29, 2011 by Bronco Billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylive5 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Doesn't change my opinion of him one bit whether it's true or not. Freakin human garbage. What exactly is the need to dance on someone's grave like this? I'll bet Payton did take a lot of piankillers - he had liver and gall bladder cancer, and that the pain of those diseases might occassionally make one ponder ending one's life. That doesn't make him any less of a great man and the second best RB that ever donned cleats. I'm not a big fan of wishing ill will on someone, but in the case of a writer like this I'll gladly make an exception. I echo these sentiments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Unfortunately I happen to have had opportunity to witness some of what was written and also a bit more. I believe I have mentioned something to this effect in a past thread. He was no angel but is still my all time favorite player! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerx Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Unfortunately I happen to have had opportunity to witness some of what was written and also a bit more. I believe I have mentioned something to this effect in a past thread. He was no angel but is still my all time favorite player! Are we talking Tiki Babrer-ish... Great in front of the camera, but horrible behind it? Or even OJ-ish? I loved watching the guy play, and I agree with everyone that jumping on a mans' grave is simply a jerkoff move, I'm just shocked to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Freakin human garbage. What exactly is the need to dance on someone's grave like this? I'll bet Payton did take a lot of piankillers - he had liver and gall bladder cancer, and that the pain of those diseases might occassionally make one ponder ending one's life. That doesn't make him any less of a great man and the best RB that ever donned cleats. I'm not a big fan of wishing ill will on someone, but in the case of a writer like this I'll gladly make an exception. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I echo these sentiments. Me too. This kind of revisionist crap is put together to sell copy and because the dead can offer no defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Are we talking Tiki Babrer-ish... Great in front of the camera, but horrible behind it? Or even OJ-ish? I loved watching the guy play, and I agree with everyone that jumping on a mans' grave is simply a jerkoff move, I'm just shocked to hear it. Lets just say that back in those days a lot of things went unnoticed that players are now serving suspensions for today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Moreover, it's not even a "dark side" but rather an all-too-familiar and sad tale of what these guys' lives are like after the game. That someone should ask if this is like Tiki "great in front of the camera but a dick off it" or worse compare him to a murderer, is so sad. Dude probably lived with chronic pain his entire life and couldn't take it. So, one thing lead to another and then he's hooked. It starts off innocently enough, like simply wanting to not hurt like hell, and next thing you know... We want these guys to be everything to us, but they're flawed just like everyone else. And then they put their bodies through the ringer and get chewed up and spit out the other side. This is a fine time for the "who amongst?" us card to be played. So, perhaps this is all true. It doesn't make me think any less of him, because it just means he's human. And I agree that no d-bag needs to profit from dragging his name through the mud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNOWBOUND33 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Moreover, it's not even a "dark side" but rather an all-too-familiar and sad tale of what these guys' lives are like after the game. That someone should ask if this is like Tiki "great in front of the camera but a dick off it" or worse compare him to a murderer, is so sad. Dude probably lived with chronic pain his entire life and couldn't take it. So, one thing lead to another and then he's hooked. It starts off innocently enough, like simply wanting to not hurt like hell, and next thing you know... We want these guys to be everything to us, but they're flawed just like everyone else. And then they put their bodies through the ringer and get chewed up and spit out the other side. This is a fine time for the "who amongst?" us card to be played. So, perhaps this is all true. It doesn't make me think any less of him, because it just means he's human. And I agree that no d-bag needs to profit from dragging his name through the mud. This is one time I agree with Most of what you said. Most of this is not news to anyone who followed him. It's not that interesting or rare. I met him once (with Avellini) and even was offered his autograph (and Bob's) He seemed gracious and happy but that was in '81. If anybody is shocked about this stuff, wait until the Jordan stories all become public. There is a guy who deserves to be trashed on a personal level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 This is one time I agree with Most of what you said. Most of this is not news to anyone who followed him. It's not that interesting or rare. I met him once (with Avellini) and even was offered his autograph (and Bob's) He seemed gracious and happy but that was in '81. If anybody is shocked about this stuff, wait until the Jordan stories all become public. There is a guy who deserves to be trashed on a personal level. Jerry Rice was an ass as well, at least in his younger years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNOWBOUND33 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Jerry Rice was an ass as well, at least in his younger years. I had heard that before but no real stories. The Jordan stuff makes Tiger look like a great husband and family man. He learned it from hanging with Mike. It's those damn commercials, Tiger grew up hearing "I wanna be like Mike". No, no you don't. Except for the money maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameltosis Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I dont like the idea of dancing on someones grave, but in the interest of discussion, if this did happen why shouldnt it be reported? As someeone said in another post, all too many of these athletes have a hard time dealing with life after sports. Read the article in Grantland about Stu Grimson. My point is, the only way to learn about these things and maybe pave a better path for the future is to acknowledge it happened. Just because you were a great RB once does not make you immune to your other deficiencies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Agree w/ most posted here, but... My point is, the only way to learn about these things and maybe pave a better path for the future is to acknowledge it happened. Just because you were a great RB once does not make you immune to your other deficiencies. The intentions of these "authors" is to make $$$$. Period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameltosis Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Agree w/ most posted here, but... The intentions of these "authors" is to make $$$$. Period. I am not saying it isnt. But isnt that the intention of every professional from authors to athletes to ditch diggers? I know it is mine. Regardless of the intentions of the authors, as long as everything is factual, exposing this growing epidemic cannot be a bad thing. Look at how many athletes have killed themselves in the past decade. Hell, 5 years. These guys just cant seem to adapt outside of the lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 As a player and as a human being, Walter Payton stands above all of them. Doesn't matter if any of it is true or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I am not saying it isnt. But isnt that the intention of every professional from authors to athletes to ditch diggers? I know it is mine. Regardless of the intentions of the authors, as long as everything is factual, exposing this growing epidemic cannot be a bad thing. Look at how many athletes have killed themselves in the past decade. Hell, 5 years. These guys just cant seem to adapt outside of the lines. Is it your contention that professional athletes have suicide rates significantly higher than other professions? I have not seen data that supports this - perhaps you can provide some. If you'd like, I could provide a bunch of evidence to the contrary. In regard to guys adapting outside the lines - lots of these guys are undereducated. They either don't finish their college degree, or don't belong in college at all and are there just because of their athletic superiority. They've had ample opportunity to get educated - some of them at the best levels of higher education, but chose not to take advantage of it. Then you give a bunch of young undereducated guys a ton of money and they get publicly lauded and lavished with attention, and have myriad special privleges for a few years, and then it is gone. If these guys had sense, they would have set aside large portions of the money they earned and would have still lived better than 99% of the population in this country. But unfortunately they didn't, and suddenly they find themselves without a pro career, with no college education, and having chosen not to learn any special skills that would serve them outside athletics. Should it surprise anyone that a lot of these guys fall into financial failure? In fact, I'd argue that a lot of them should be considered fortunate for having the opportunity to live as they did for a few years given their other abilities and capabilities outside of sports, rather than making a case of how bad they have it because they once were a member of an extraordinarily select group of people but aren't anymore and instead are forced to reach their equilibrium. They made a choice of trading a portion of their longterm health for excessive amounts of capital. Given the choice looking from the outside inward, how many of us also wouldn't make that same choice? But many of them also knowingly chose to squander large amounts of that capital and to not take advantage of the educational opportunties available to them, or to provide for their own futures. It's a real shame, but it is also difficult to feel profoundly sympathetic for them for many people like myself. I feel much more sympathy for the persons who have extraordinary capabilities or abilities but never were able to take the opportunity to develop them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNOWBOUND33 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 On the radio many years ago I heard an interview with Bob Huggins and he talked about his players graduation rate at Cincy. He said that he had recently had a conversation with Nick VanExel about finishing up and getting his degree. Nick told him, "I don't need the degree coach, I just need someone to help me manage my money." Nick came from a broken home, poor but at least he had figured out that he might destroy himself without help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNOWBOUND33 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 RIP Mr. Payton. I feel bad for his family now with this money grab book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 "I wanna be like Mike". No, no you don't. Except for the money maybe. that and that pesky greatest basketball player of all time thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 that and that pesky greatest basketball player of all time thing He wants to be like Wilt, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Jack Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 the drugs they listed are kind of funny considering the guy is the greatest RB to play the game - and its a hard game. Riddilin? Really? And the suicide - who knows what repeated blows to a head might end up doing to a guy. I can see where depression could be a side-effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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