Never Die Easy

January 3, 2000
It's a testament to Payton's greatness as a man that nearly half his autobiography can be devoted to what he achieved after his career. "Sweetness" may hold the NFL's career rushing record, and he may have been one of the toughest, hardest-working players ever, but he was also devoted to keeping spirits high around him, even when facing the end of his own life, and committed to helping needy children. He was so important to others that many immediately took up the latter task when he was dying--and tens of thousands more sent him their prayers and sympathy. (Payton died of liver cancer in November 1999.) With a protagonist like this, Payton's book isn't your standard sports bio. Nor is it traditional in structure. Because Payton died before his autobiography was completed, his interviews have been supplemented by the stories and thoughts of family and friends, with sports biographer Yaeger providing the connective tissue. More an oral history than an autobiography, the book sometimes suffers for it. Payton's career is dealt with summarily; frequently, stories are repeated, if from different perspectives, and Payton's many remarkable qualities are each noted many times over. The five eulogies from his funeral all elaborate on the same points: his skills and his humility. Payton had an abundance of each.

September 1, 2000
This is a posthumous autobiography of the late, great Walter Payton, the National Football League's all-time leading rusher. The book chronicles his days at Jackson State University, his pro career with the NFL's Chicago Bears, and his death on November 1, 1999 from lung cancer. The title epitomizes Payton's football career; college coach Bob Hill once told him "If you are going to die anyway, die hard, never die easy," and that became his motto. Unequivocally, Payton was a true sports hero, one comfortable with the celebrity status, always polite, and aware of his position as a role model. Payton and coauthor Don Yaeger used a unique format in documenting the athlete's life: Each of the 19 chapters features a cast of characters who provide insights about the man they called Sweetness. Recommended purchase for all public libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/00.] Larry R. Little, Penticton P.L., BC

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2000
Payton, the all-time leading ball carrier in the National Football League, was admired not only for what he did on the field but also for his graciousness off the field. When he died of complications resulting from cancer in November 1999, the sporting nation mourned. This was supposed to be a standard as-told-to sports autobiography, but as Payton's condition worsened, the traditional format was altered to include first-person recollections of Walter from family, teammates, coaches, and business associates. Combined with Walter's own account of growing up poor but happy in Columbia, Mississippi, the portrait that emerges is of a very determined, compassionate, and intelligent individual. And silly. If there is a single element of Payton's personality that dominates the memories of those around him, it's his sense of humor. Consider this: as Walter neared the end, he cajoled best friend and former Chicago Bear teammate Matt Suhey into a drive to say some farewells. Using Walter's directions, Suhey and passenger would arrive, and Suhey would knock on the door. A complete stranger would emerge to find Suhey embarrassed and Walter giggling in the front seat. Very little space is devoted to Walter's NFL playing days, which have been well documented elsewhere; instead, Yaeger focuses on the progression of Walter's cancer and on his always positive approach. On the field, Payton never ran out of bounds and never dodged a hit, teaching a generation how to play football. In this very moving book, he offers a new lesson: how to live and die with grace and purpose. ((Reviewed August 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)