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As Jimmors mentioned, Pearlman came here as a member, and when I noticed he was a member, I jumped at the chance to talk to him. Turns out he was gonna mention his book anyway, but I talked him into working out a deal w/ the site for cross promotion. We would do an interview of him (which was posted for a day before SI threatened to sue - they had exclusive rights to pre release stories), and in return he would donate a few books for me to give away to the members. Guess that isn't gonna happen, but he promised to write us a story (in place of the interview).
In numerous PM's and emails back and forth w/ Pearlman, I can say he was a pretty good guy who genuinely worried about how the info would be received. He didn't want to make a splash with this, he wanted to be complete. This stuff is only a small piece of the book, but naturally it's what is pushed out first by SI. Dirty laundry sells magazines. Pearlman was more excited about the rest of the stuff in the book when we spoke. He figured out that Walter was really a year older than he was publically stated to be. He interviewed 678 people. But if you look at who his sources for the above snippets, they are completely inner circle people. I don't like the dents in his armor, but I do believe he had dents.
Winston Churchill:
"Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
"If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain."
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So far just from reading excerpts from the book it's basically a slamfest to me. Tarnishing Walter's image for what? What's there to get out of all this really?
I would very much like to hear the response from other people close to his life like Matt Suhey, Roland Harper and Walter's family.
Last edited by gammabears; 09-28-2011 at 01:19 PM.
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Originally Posted by
Jimmors 
There is a difference between trash writing, and well researched writing. If you havent noticed, Pearlman actually visited this site and asked us for info on how to promote his book...and this is precisely one of the things i told him...that books that contain scandal (even minor ones) sell well, and so long as his scandal is based on fact and not conjecture, then theres nothing wrong with it. So long as his sources are accurate (and reading that bit of it, if Walter actually wrote down depressed or suicidal thoughts, then you cant argue with his own writing. You can brush it off as side effect from the drugs for his illness for example, but it doesnt change the facts of what was said or done.
Walter Payton was a great man.
And a great football player.
Nothing in any book will change that.
But he had problems like any of us.
I guess you and I have a different defintion of what "trash writing" is. To me it's when you intentionally set out to "trash" someone's reputation. It has nothing to do with research, good or not. Even the best research is dependent on it's sources and rumors abound about just about everyone. I'm sure there are some out there about you as well.
Any author and any individual can choose to slant facts and rumors in just about any direction they need to in order to support their conclusions. If you ask my ex she'd probably tell you I screwed every cocktail waitress, female bartender and band groupie in Greater Denver back when I was playing clubs and concerts. That's her truth but it was poorly researched because it wasn't true. Juicy stories are always get a better audience than the honest truth.
The fact that he asked for how to promote his book rather than how to write it speaks volumes. I have no idea about is marital infidelity but most people undergo periods of depression when they are forced to retire from a lifelong job or pursuit that they love. I've been through it personally so I'm not just speculating. For my own part I could care less about this book and I question whether it even needed to be written except for fattening Pearlman's bank account!
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Guy, we all love Payton. But we need to remember that he was human and had his faults. Just like we all do. Is this disappointing to find out? Yes, no doubt. But it won't change how I look at him as a man or a football player.
Do not hold it against him for unveiling what was likely not public knowledge. This helps us complete the picture as far as who he really was.
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Originally Posted by
soulman I guess you and I have a different defintion of what "trash writing" is. To me it's when you intentionally set out to "trash" someone's reputation. It has nothing to do with research, good or not. Even the best research is dependent on it's sources and rumors abound about just about everyone. I'm sure there are some out there about you as well.
Youre right, we do have different definitions. My first criteria is: "IS IT FACTUAL?" If it is, then just because the TRUTH may tarnish a person's reputation, doesnt mean its trash writing just because it does that. Biographies need to cover EVERY aspect of the individual...both the GOOD and the BAD.
Any author and any individual can choose to slant facts and rumors in just about any direction they need to in order to support their conclusions. If you ask my ex she'd probably tell you I screwed every cocktail waitress, female bartender and band groupie in Greater Denver back when I was playing clubs and concerts. That's her truth but it was poorly researched because it wasn't true. Juicy stories are always get a better audience than the honest truth.
Why do automatically assume "Facts" are bing slanted?
Why are you assuming an author has ANY conclusions besides simply telling a story of a person?
The fact that he asked for how to promote his book rather than how to write it speaks volumes.
What volumes? that an author who already spent YEARS researching a book and finished writing it, came to a fansite of the team in question to ask for advice on how to promote it to people like us? Makes sense to me.
Just out of curiosity, if he had come her asking advice on "how to write it," what would your advice be?
I have no idea about is marital infidelity but most people undergo periods of depression when they are forced to retire from a lifelong job or pursuit that they love. I've been through it personally so I'm not just speculating. For my own part I could care less about this book and I question whether it even needed to be written except for fattening Pearlman's bank account!
Journalists write books, and thats how they make their living. If it is filled with things that most people didnt know about Payton, but are based on FACT, then yes...it needs to be written.
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It's not like we woke up one day and thought "how can I destroy the legacy of a legend".
After commuting to write a book on Payton, and finding this information out, what was he supposed to do with it? Take it to his grave. He wouldn't be doing his job if he did.
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Let legends and myths die.
In your heart you have what is best.
Keep it.
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If you want to be mad at someone, do not be mad at him for writting this in a book. Be mad at the people who told him this information
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Originally Posted by
The Benjamin If you want to be mad at someone, do not be mad at him for writting this in a book. Be mad at the people who told him this information
Nobody gives a fuck overall.
SWEETNESS is enshrined.
One of ours got to the top.
BEARRSSE !!!
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I think people would be surprised at how many of these sporting legends were dirt bags.
That being said, I never knew Walter personally. He isn't a friend of mine. I worshiped him on the football field. Stories of what he did in his personal life won't effect my opinion of the football player. And, it's not like he did nothing for the people of Chicago.
So yeah, I'll read it, hopefully learn more about him, wear his jersey, and keep the framed pictures of him on my man cave wall.
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