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By Root 1486 0

—and it was not an especially good one. Researching this book, however, introduced me to a state rich with flavor, passion, and, quite often, overflowing goodness. Richard Howarth of Square Books in Oxford (seriously, America’s best book shop) was invaluable in pointing me in the right direction. Jesse Bass of the University of Southern Mississippi busted his rear combing through the city of Columbia’s vast archives. Laura Love, a senior library assistant at Ole Miss, delivered me from microfilm hell, as did Dorothy Yancy, Lerekka Gorham, and Belva Cauthen at the Eudora Welty Library in Jackson and Kendra Smith at the Columbia-Marion County Public Library. Roy L. Washington and Mildred Matthews were as helpful as could be at the Jackson State University Library. Without Tabatha Allen, Columbia’s upbeat city clerk, I’m lost.

In no particular order, I’d also like to cite the contributions of Meghan Scott, my dazzling Web designer; Jerry B. Jenkins, author of another Sweetness ; Chuck Hathcock of the Grenada Star; Joy Birdsong, Susan Szeliga, and Natasha Simon of the Sports Illustrated library; Don Yaeger, author of Never Die Easy; Aaron (DJ White Owl) Handelman; Brian Allee Walsh; Craig Harvey of the L.A. County Coroner’s Office; Ciaran Boyle; Jill Cohen, Debra Mayblum, and Diana Waxler, my chief medical consultants; Caroline Goldmacher Kern; David Pearlman; Jessica Guggenheimer; Norma Shapiro; Leah Guggenheimer; Jordan and Isaiah Williams; Richard Guggenheimer; Laura and Rodney Cole; Dr. Jorge Ortiz of the Albert Einstein Medical Center; Saman Salih; Bianca Webster; Frank Zaccheo; Russ Bengtson; Greg Kuppinger; Jill Murray; Joseph (Cat) Kuppinger; L. Jon Wertheim; B. J. Schecter; Bev Oden; Steve Cannella; Ryan Gavin (the pride of Kansas State); Rob Massimi (Mayor of Starbucks); Judy Wertheim (great pad!); Jonathan Eig; Pat Brown of The Magee Courier; David Epstein of Sports Illustrated; ESPN’s Rob Tobias; Bob Doyle; Ann Goldstein; Abe Pearlman; and Mahopac’s own Victoria Rose Omboni—distributor of Quan to the world.

When I was losing my mind one particularly awful night, Peter Richmond, my fellow crazed author, IMed me the following: “Step back. Breathe. Have a glass of wine. Tell yourself that NO ONE could tell this story except you. And, more importantly: that you want to tell this story, even if, at this point, you’d rather not. Just . . . write what you know. You are, at this point, in possession of a PhD in Walter Payton—a degree which no one else possesses. You have surrounded the story. You are the expert. Tell it. Don’t worry about profundity, or brilliance of prose, or all the other trappings of this silly business. Just tell the tale. People will read.”

Man, did I ever need that.

My folks, Joan and Stan Pearlman, have been my biggest supporters ever since I started forcing them to listen as I read my Chieftain articles aloud on their bed. Against all logic, they continue to listen to my blatherings.

This is my fifth book, and never have I devoted more time, energy, and anguish to a project. For every minute I spent thinking about Walter Payton, there was a minute I was either emotionally and/or physically absent from my family. I would like to apologize to my beautiful children, Casey Marta and Emmett Leo, for any of the missed moments that we’ll never have back. I love you both more than I’ve loved anything. Even Hall and Oates.

My wife, Dr. Catherine Pearlman, is the gem of my life. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be married to someone who utters “Walter Payton” every fourth sentence, but you continue to stroll the sandy beaches of Blanes by my side (mmm—Shrek pops). To quote someone named G. Moore: “Other men said they have seen angels. But I have seen thee. And thou art enough.”

Lastly, a word about Walter Payton. Actually, three words: I love him. I love what he overcame, I love what he accomplished, I love what he symbolized, and I love the nooks and crannies and complexities. Once, not all that long ago, I asked my uncle, Dr. Martin Pearlman, whether he thought much about aging and death. His response