B&C Morning Show: Jeff Pearlman, Author Of 'Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life Of Walter Payton'
Boomer & Craig welcomed Jeff Pearlman into the Allstate Studio shortly after 9 a.m. to talk with the acclaimed sports writer about his new book, 'Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton,' which has ruffled a few feathers since its release.
Pearlman talked with the guys about the process he went through, completing the definitive biography about one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL. While researching for his project, Pearlman uncovered all sorts of things about the Hall of Famer that had never been brought to light.
Just to be clear, the book is not a hatchet job by any means - in addition to all of the salacious stuff if you will - there are also countless stories that portray Payton in a positive manner. But as Pearlman told Boomer & Craig, when you set out to write a definitive biography, you're bound to turn up both positive and negative facts.
All in all, during the process Pearlman said he found Payton to be a weird guy - for lack of a better term - who few knew very well and seemed to be very guarded. He was never thought of as 'one of the guys.'
Craig also asked if could shed any light on what reaction, if any, Payton had following Super Bowl XX, a game his Bears won 46-10 over the over-matched New England Patriots, but Payton was not given the ball on the goal line, as coach Head Coach Mike Ditka instead opted to give the ball to William 'the Refrigerator' Perry. Pealrman told him there is an entire chapter in the book dedicated to the subject and he went on to say that Payton was in fact miffed at what he took as a slight.
Pearlman also talked about writing 'The Rocket that Fell to Earth: Roger Clemens and the Rage of Baseball Mortality' and what it was like researching the life and times Clemens, a man he found to be, how shall we put it??? Lets just say 'simple' and leave it at that.
As the guys wrapped things up with Pearlamn, Craig suggested the talented author make a definitive biography about Boomer Esiason his next project and he seemed to like the idea...
LISTEN: Jeff Pearlman, Author of 'Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton' (10/06)
