StarTribune.com

Herschel Walker played Russian roulette, he says

Posted on April 14th, 2008 – 3:39 PM
By Michael Rand

herschel.JPGWe know Herschel Walker might not be the favorite sportsman in these here parts, but this bit of news is more about humanity than running style. Very sad. From the AP:

Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker once played Russian roulette with a loaded pistol as he struggled with a personality disorder.

“To challenge death like I was doing, you start saying, there’s a problem here,” he said during an interview to be broadcast Monday night on ABC’s “Nightline.”

Walker suffers from dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. His experiences are chronicled in his book, “Breaking Free,” which is released this week.

The 46-year-old Walker was a star running back at Georgia and in the pros. He says he had the condition during his playing days but didn’t realize it. He doesn’t remember winning the Heisman in 1982 or darker events, such as threatening his then-wife.

Walker has been in treatment for eight years but doesn’t take medication. He believes he has improved greatly.

“I’ve totally changed from back then to where I am today,” he says.

9 Responses to "Herschel Walker played Russian roulette, he says"

jama says:

April 14th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

What a coincidence that this news is coming out right when he is releasing his book. What an odd bit of timing.

So if he had lost would it have been like Fight Club? Do the other personalities live on?

Dave MN says:

April 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

You only speak in vowels when you have the barrel of a gun in your mouth.

Dave MN says:

April 14th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

If you dare venture back to the “Bottom 10 Miserable Cities” post, it’s amazing to see where the discussion has gone. Beware of head explosion.

StraightCashHomey says:

April 14th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

If only the Vikings had gotten the Herschel that was good at football…

Michael Rand says:

April 14th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

cynics.

Sassbottom says:

April 14th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

Well, at least now we know why he always spoke in the third person. And here I thought it was because he was arrogant.

Clarence Swamptown says:

April 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pm

Has anyone checked to see if this story is just a ploy by Mike Lynn to make Vikings fans think we got more players in return for the 20 guys we shipped to Dallas?

Clarence Swamptown says:

April 14th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

Just look at him laughing in the background. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Short-term memory loss says:

April 15th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

The Vikings did get the Herschel that was good at football. But you don’t design East-West plays for a North-South runner nor do you take him off kick returning duties when you’re only handing him the ball 15-16 times a game.