Rating: 
Summary: Payton's Last Plea
Review: Like many, Walter Payton was my hero when I was a kid and, like many, it broke my heart when I heard of Walter's death. I was so heartbroken, in fact, that I could not even bring myself to read this book when it was first published. It sat ignored on my bookshelf for months. When I finally picked it up, it was almost everything I had hoped for. Walter wasn't perfect, but he strived to be the best person he could and, really, that's all you can expect from anyone. This book confirms that fact.The book attempts to cover every aspect of Walter's short but full life: his humble but proud upbringing in Mississippi, his dazzling college and pro career, his (premature) retirement, his up-and-down business investments (including a failed bid to own an NFL franchise), his ambitious (and often anonymous) charity work, his illness, and his untimely passing. Since Walter could not finish the book, Don Yaeger supplements Walter's interviews with comments from those who knew him best. Unfortunately, this means some sections are thinner than they probably would have been had Walter been able to give us his full story. But, in some ways, it is more effective than a first person narrative would have been as we see Walter not only as he saw himself, but also as others saw him. Really, it's the best Yaeger could do. This is NOT a book about football. While I do wish the book spent a little more time on Walter's football career, I realize this book was meant to be about Walter Payton the man, not Walter Payton the football hero. After all, football alone did not define Walter Payton. In many ways, this is Walter's last plea. Be humble. Be grateful. Work hard. Love each other. Never give up. Never die easy. Maybe the book isn't perfect, but it's a beautiful message, isn't it?
Rating:
Summary: Never Die Easy
Review: Shaun V
Book Review Never Die Easy by Walter Payton with Don Yeager is a story of a boys childhood and how he got to where only a selected few go. The NFL.
Walter Payton grew up in Mississippi where sports was the only thing that kids could enjoy. Walter grew up with his mother, father, sister Pam, and brother Eddie. Every summer Walter's mother would have a truck load of topsoil delivered to the front yard to keep them out of trouble. That's how Walter developed all of his leg power. Walter loved to play baseball and football. He and his brother, Eddie always played sports.
During his first two years of high school, Walter was in the band and played soccer, until his brother Eddie became the star quarterback of the football team. Since then he only loved to play football. Walters junior year he was the starting varsity running back. He broke many school as well as state records. He trained non-stop because football was his life.
College was Walters time to shine. He went to Jackson State University. During his freshman year he shared a dorm with his brother because he was currently attending that same college. At Jackson State, Walter met his future wife, Connie. They were inseparable. Walter went on the TV show "Soul Train" because he love to dance. He was an excellent dancer due to his center of balance which helped him as a running back. Playing football in college wasn't any different than high school ball to him. He still dominated the playing field. Up next was the NFL draft.
Walter was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears. He has never been in such a cold city, he had to adjust quickly. He was so nervous of making a good impression to the loyal fans of Chicago, that his first year wasn't so hot. He rushed for under 300 yards that season. While playing for the Bears he broke Jim Brown's all-time rushing record . During his football career he only missed one game due to a slight ankle sprain. After every game Walter would stay after to sign autographs for his fans. " Nothing is as important to me as spending time with my fans. They are so loyal". Retirement came thirteen years later.
After football, Walter became a business partner for several small business chains across America. He donated to a lot of charities for diseases and he also donated a lot of his time to the city of Chicago. It wasn't only money that he donated. He donated a lot of his time to fans that were sick in hospitals and became a motivational speaker.
A few years later he was diagnosed with a disease that effected his liver. There were thousands already in line for a transplant, he was at the end. He was a very wealthy man and could have paid for thousands of treatments that would slower the process. He did as much as he could but the cancer had spread. He put those thoughts behind him and continued to do his charity work. Walter's son Jarrett was going to a Division I college at the University Of Miami. Walter couldn't have been any prouder.
Soon after Walter died on November 1, 1999.
In Never Die Easy, it shows you how to live life to it's fullest. Everyday Walter lived his life as it were to be his last. He didn't let anything or anyone stand in his way. When he had cancer he just told himself that he still had enough time to accomplish more. This book also showed how important family is. It isn't everyday you see someone's son announce their father's introduction speech in to the Hall of Fame.
In my opinion Never Die Easy was a really good book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys sports.
Rating:
Summary: Never Die Easy
Review: Shaun V
Book Review Never Die Easy by Walter Payton with Don Yeager is a story of a boys childhood and how he got to where only a selected few go. The NFL.
Walter Payton grew up in Mississippi where sports was the only thing that kids could enjoy. Walter grew up with his mother, father, sister Pam, and brother Eddie. Every summer Walter's mother would have a truck load of topsoil delivered to the front yard to keep them out of trouble. That's how Walter developed all of his leg power. Walter loved to play baseball and football. He and his brother, Eddie always played sports.
During his first two years of high school, Walter was in the band and played soccer, until his brother Eddie became the star quarterback of the football team. Since then he only loved to play football. Walters junior year he was the starting varsity running back. He broke many school as well as state records. He trained non-stop because football was his life.
College was Walters time to shine. He went to Jackson State University. During his freshman year he shared a dorm with his brother because he was currently attending that same college. At Jackson State, Walter met his future wife, Connie. They were inseparable. Walter went on the TV show "Soul Train" because he love to dance. He was an excellent dancer due to his center of balance which helped him as a running back. Playing football in college wasn't any different than high school ball to him. He still dominated the playing field. Up next was the NFL draft.
Walter was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears. He has never been in such a cold city, he had to adjust quickly. He was so nervous of making a good impression to the loyal fans of Chicago, that his first year wasn't so hot. He rushed for under 300 yards that season. While playing for the Bears he broke Jim Brown's all-time rushing record . During his football career he only missed one game due to a slight ankle sprain. After every game Walter would stay after to sign autographs for his fans. " Nothing is as important to me as spending time with my fans. They are so loyal". Retirement came thirteen years later.
After football, Walter became a business partner for several small business chains across America. He donated to a lot of charities for diseases and he also donated a lot of his time to the city of Chicago. It wasn't only money that he donated. He donated a lot of his time to fans that were sick in hospitals and became a motivational speaker.
A few years later he was diagnosed with a disease that effected his liver. There were thousands already in line for a transplant, he was at the end. He was a very wealthy man and could have paid for thousands of treatments that would slower the process. He did as much as he could but the cancer had spread. He put those thoughts behind him and continued to do his charity work. Walter's son Jarrett was going to a Division I college at the University Of Miami. Walter couldn't have been any prouder.
Soon after Walter died on November 1, 1999.
In Never Die Easy, it shows you how to live life to it's fullest. Everyday Walter lived his life as it were to be his last. He didn't let anything or anyone stand in his way. When he had cancer he just told himself that he still had enough time to accomplish more. This book also showed how important family is. It isn't everyday you see someone's son announce their father's introduction speech in to the Hall of Fame.
In my opinion Never Die Easy was a really good book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys sports.
Rating: 
Summary: Walter's True Purpose
Review: Some of us never know God's true purpose for ourselves. But for Walter Payton his unsurpassed talent on the gridiron was only to set the groundwork for his true purpose in life. If you only know of Walter Payton the football player, then you must read this book to learn the real reason Walter Payton was known as Sweetness. The style in which this book was written may not be as sophisticated as some readers may require. But the simplicity of the format lends it to being read by adults and children a- like. Walter can therefore continue to reach the children, just as he did before his untimely passing.
Rating: 
Summary: Payton
Review: The book "Payton" is really about the early years of his football career. It tells about him coming into the career with the Chiago Bears. It has stories were reporters spent the day with him. It also says how he felt about the records he set. You will see what he said about records he set and the recorders he wonted to set. This book was o.k., may like it if a your a really football fan, tells how he felt about his retirement.
Rating:
Summary: Slow in spots, but engaging overall
Review: The first thing that must be said about this book is that it employs a very unique format. The co-author, Don Yeager, interjects narrative in each chapter between direct quotes (some of which last several pages, most a few paragraphs) by people who knew Walter Payton, as well as the man himself. The book travels full circle in that it begins with Payton's death, and then describes his life, career, and retirement years, then finishes with the remarks of those who spoke at his memorial service (Jarrett Payton, Eddie Payton, Mike Singletary, John Madden, and Mike Ditka). The details of Payton's childhood and college career are a bit slow, and some of the observations made by those who knew him are redundant, but as the book progresses into his professional career, it becomes more engaging. It is the last 80-100 pages, though, that really make the book special. In them, Payton and a number of his closest associates describe his charitable efforts in the Chicagoland area, as well as his ideas about leaving a legacy and enjoying the things in life that so many of us take for granted. This concluding portion of the book also describes his illness, but does not belabor it, or attempt to evoke pity from the reader. The book's finest quality is its universal message that the trophies and accolades will eventually tarnish and be forgotten, that records will be broken, but the impact people have on one another's lives is forever. It is for this cause that Payton wanted to be remembered, and this book seeks to eulogize him in that light.
Rating:
Summary: A great football player, and even greater person
Review: This a touching, heatfelt "autobiography". I had the fortunate opportunity to meet Walter in the early 90's. He was by far my sports hero and still is. In a time when so many athetes sell-out and endourse everything that comes their way. Mr. Payton gave til the day he died. I recommend this piece of work highly. The chapter on his relationship with Matt Suhey just about brought me to tears.
Rating:
Summary: Unique Format for a Biography, Touching, Read it
Review: This book was enjoyable and touching. I read it from start to finish without stopping. The structure of the book makes it easy to understand and follow. Specific topics are addressed in each chapter with separate accounts of the narrator and then by Payton and Payton's friends. Payton was a warrior on the football field and a philanthropist and businessman after his career ended. This book will give you a glimpse into his entire life. Walter Payton was a man to be admired for his playing ability and his sweetness as a person. If you are a Walter Payton fan read this book!
Rating:
Summary: You'll Laugh, You'll Cry, You'll Cheer, You'll Learn
Review: This magnificent and inspiring story was written by Walter Payton shortly after he discovered that he had liver problems. He wanted to give something back to the fans of Chicago who had adored and revered him for so long, and this touching book is it. Walter was the best running back ever to play the game, period. He never ran out of bounds, he could run like a deer, catch like a wide receiver, throw like a quarterback, and block like a truck. Coach Mike Ditka once said that when God wanted to make a halfback, he just chiseled a certain type of body and he gave it to Walter Payton. Walter may not have been the fastest or strongest, but he was the best simply because he refused to lose and he worked hard to be the best he could be. I have never read a book that touched me the way this one did. At some points, I found myself on the verge of tears, while at other parts I found myself laughing out loud. The lessons that Walter talks about can be applied to anyone in their own lives. He believed that you should do your best at anything you set out to do, and if you don't succeed, at least you gave it your absolute best shot. His love for family and especially children are shining examples of the type of person Walter was. He never stopped signing at an autograph session until he had spoken to everyone. Our athletes of today should use this as an example to live by. Children were his passion. He set up a foundation in Chicago that delivers toys and clothes to children at Christmas. One year, they serviced over 50,000 children. Just imagine that for a moment! I truly enjoyed the way this book was formatted. The trestimonials of such people as Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, Roland Harper, Mike Singletary, and others offers insight into Walter the player as well as Walter the person. The way the narrative was interspersed between the testimonials was extremely well-done. I simply could not put this book down. Once I started reading, I was hooked. Just reading about Walter's courageous fight against his disease gave me inspiration and helped me realize that some of my so-called problems were tiny compared to what he went through on a daily basis as his disease progressed. I especially enjoyed the last chapter, which contains the complete memorial speeches of Jarrett Payton, Eddie Payton, John Madden, Mike Singletary, and Mike Ditka. Walter Payton touched countless numbers of lives with his humor, his charm, and his wit. This book is a fitting reminder to the type of person that Walter was; no nonsense, straight-forward, and loving. Read this moving book; you will surely enjoy it, and it will give you a different outlook on your own life, too.
Rating:
Summary: You'll Laugh, You'll Cry, You'll Cheer, You'll Learn
Review: This magnificent and inspiring story was written by Walter Payton shortly after he discovered that he had liver problems. He wanted to give something back to the fans of Chicago who had adored and revered him for so long, and this touching book is it. Walter was the best running back ever to play the game, period. He never ran out of bounds, he could run like a deer, catch like a wide receiver, throw like a quarterback, and block like a truck. Coach Mike Ditka once said that when God wanted to make a halfback, he just chiseled a certain type of body and he gave it to Walter Payton. Walter may not have been the fastest or strongest, but he was the best simply because he refused to lose and he worked hard to be the best he could be. I have never read a book that touched me the way this one did. At some points, I found myself on the verge of tears, while at other parts I found myself laughing out loud. The lessons that Walter talks about can be applied to anyone in their own lives. He believed that you should do your best at anything you set out to do, and if you don't succeed, at least you gave it your absolute best shot. His love for family and especially children are shining examples of the type of person Walter was. He never stopped signing at an autograph session until he had spoken to everyone. Our athletes of today should use this as an example to live by. Children were his passion. He set up a foundation in Chicago that delivers toys and clothes to children at Christmas. One year, they serviced over 50,000 children. Just imagine that for a moment! I truly enjoyed the way this book was formatted. The trestimonials of such people as Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, Roland Harper, Mike Singletary, and others offers insight into Walter the player as well as Walter the person. The way the narrative was interspersed between the testimonials was extremely well-done. I simply could not put this book down. Once I started reading, I was hooked. Just reading about Walter's courageous fight against his disease gave me inspiration and helped me realize that some of my so-called problems were tiny compared to what he went through on a daily basis as his disease progressed. I especially enjoyed the last chapter, which contains the complete memorial speeches of Jarrett Payton, Eddie Payton, John Madden, Mike Singletary, and Mike Ditka. Walter Payton touched countless numbers of lives with his humor, his charm, and his wit. This book is a fitting reminder to the type of person that Walter was; no nonsense, straight-forward, and loving. Read this moving book; you will surely enjoy it, and it will give you a different outlook on your own life, too.
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