April 14, 2008
So That's Why His Pro Football Career Tanked: Herschel Walker Claims He's the New "Sybil," Even Has "White" Personality
I used to think the reason Herschel Walker's NFL career didn't work out was the Heisman curse.
In my view, if you win the Heisman (as Walker did), the odds are your pro football career will be a relative bust. Remember Heisman winner Charlie Ward from Florida State University? His NFL career worked out real well . . . on the hardwood of the NBA. Not shabby, but not football either. Ron Dayne (whom I once tutored when I was a grad student at the University of Wisconsin) was a great running back in college, but in the NFL, he's not as big a star and has been a relative disappointment (though he's fared better than other recent Heismen).
He was possibly the greatest colleged football running back ever. But, now, ten years after a failed NFL career, Walker is telling us that it's not the Schlussel Heisman Curse Theory in action. Instead, it's that he has multiple split personalities. And we're not talking his previous split personality as both an NFL and USFL player (which probably contributed greatly to his failure on the pro grid-iron, just as Doug Flutie's tri-partite career in the USFL, CFL, and NFL did him in).
Nope. Walker is claiming that he has many personalities, including a White guy. His bizarre therapist, Jerry Mungadze (who is Black), claims he can tell the personality is White because of the way he brushes his fingers through his hair, "which only White people do," he told ABC News' "Nightline," tonight.
Sorry, but I'm not buying it. And neither are Walker's former teammates and coaches, none of whom ever saw the White dude or any of Walker's other alleged personalities manifest themselves. It's a convenient excuse, though: I didn't catch that touchdown because that wasn't me. It was that unathletic White guy personality, Al the Cracker. Or: I dropped the ball because that was my stripper personality, Amber, who was looking for a pole, not pigskin.
So, why--after he's disappeared into American obscurity and is only a multiple choice answer to a question in Trivial Pursuit, Sports Disappointment Edition--is Herschel Walker coming out with the Sybill theory?
Well, it might have something to do with that book--out today--that he's pushing. We're in the post-Paris (Hilton) era. People--especially people like Herschel Walker who see in it a second chance at faded stardom--want attention. And bizarre sells. Terry Bradshaw crying and talking about depression? Ho hum. But multiple personalities? Now we're talking. It's hip to be afflicted. And what could be more bizarre than a failed sports star who claims he is many people including a White guy? Well, it doesn't beat the pregnant man story, but it's close enough. Plus, it satisfies the PC "White Men Can't Jump" allegation. A-ha: Herschel Walker stank because he was part White--at least, mentally, he claims.
Even the Farrelly Brothers couldn't dream up this absurd script. And if they did, we'd say it wasn't believable in the least.
And it isn't in real life, either. The only one who seems to believe it--or at least participate in the hoax--is Walker's ex-wife, Cindy Grossman, (does she get larger child support and/or alimony payments if the book does well?) and his "therapist" who sees a bizarre White guy personality behind every visage. Watching Herschel Walker in the ABC interviews, I have to say he's as good an actor as he was a pro NFL player. No Oscars coming anytime soon.
Dr. Mark Levy, a distinguished life fellow at the American Psychiatric Association and assistant clinical professor psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco, says the whole multiple personality diagnosis--now called by the PC-term, "Dissociative Identity Disorder"--is bunk:
"It probably isn't real," Levy said. "Dissociation is real. It occurs after trauma in some people and in psychosis, like schizophrenia. However, I've never seen a so-called multiple personality in 35 years of practice."
It seems the only multiple personalities in Herschel Walker are the split between the fantastic athlete who won the Heisman in college and the one who--while still head and shoulders above the common man in athletic prowess--couldn't get it done once he hit the pros.
It happens.
But "Sybil"--and an alleged White personality who brushes his fingers through his hair--has nothing to do with the lack of touchdowns and rushing yards.
That's the whole nine yards. And that's about as far as this farce will go. For this weird fib, the endzone is nowhere in sight.
This past week, Walker was scheduled to run with the Olympic torch. Question is: Which personality was running with it? Hopefully, not the Tibetan Monk, the slave laborer, or the Darfur victim.
If it was the "White guy," I hope he didn't burn his hair.
Posted by Debbie at April 14, 2008 11:46 PM
Comments
Hershel seems to have had a problem with the truth even before.
He used to claim he ate one meal a day, but a Cowboy, I think he was a defensive back named Thurman, claimed he snuck food into his room all the time.
Like Bo Jackson, he claimed he didn't lift weights which I think was totally bogus, too.
He was a great college back at Georgia, had a decent at best pro career. He could run over college guys but he was stiff as a pro.
His greatest claim to fame in the NFL is he won Dallas a couple of Super Bowls...by being traded to Minnesota. Jimmy Johnson should have been arrested for grand theft for that trade. Dallas robbed them blind and they got a ton of picks who formed the nucleus of the Cowboys' Super Bowl teams while Hershel floundered in Minnesota.
[JW: TOO TRUE. THAT TRADE WAS THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY FOR JERRY JONES AND JIMMY JOHNSON, THE BUST OF THE CENTURY FOR THE VIKINGS. DS]
Posted by: Jeff_W ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.debbieschlussel.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 15, 2008 12:31 AM
Debbie, for whatever it's worth, and since I live here in Tallahassee, Florida, home of the Florida State University Seminoles, I feel I must mention that Charlie Ward played for Florida State, not UF. The Heisman winners from UF were Steve Spurrier in 1966, Danny Wuerffel in 1996 and Tim Tebow in 2007. Florida State has had two Heisman Trophy winners: Charlie Ward in 1993 and Chris Weinke in 2000. And for whatever it's worth, the University of Miami has had two Heisman winners as well: Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1992.
[C: YOU ARE CORRECT. I AM CONSTANTLY GETTING THOSE TWO FLORIDA UNIVERSITIES MIXED UP. SORRY. DS]
Posted by: Carl at April 15, 2008 04:06 AM
i forgot you live in Detroit and therefore know nothing about pro football, but here's a few "Heismen" that i've seen make it in the NFL during my tenure as a fan: 1968 O.J. Simpson,1970 Jim Plunkett, 1974-75 Archie Griffin {not bad, but not GREAT either, especially since he was the only one to win it TWICE], 1976 Tony Dorsett [Even though he was a COWBOY!!!], 1977 Earl Campbell, 1981 Marcus Allen, 1984 Doug Flutie, 1985 Bo Jackson, 1986 Vinny Testaverde, 1988 Barry Sanders [who would have DECIMATED THE RECORD BOOKS if he had played on a real team], 1995 Eddie George, 1998 Ricky Williams, 2002 Carson Palmer, and it's too soon to tell for 2004 Matt Leinart and 2005 Reggie Bush.
Of course, the greatest football players that ever played the game---Marino, Elway, the REAL LT...Lawrence Taylor, Montana, "Mean" Joe Green, and Tom Brady---never won the Heisman...so what?
Walker and Jim Kelly were the heart and soul of the USFL, and were it not for a misinformed jury THAT would have been just as big as the monopolist NFL today...and probably wouldn't take care of their retired players either: http://www.gridirongreats.org/aboutthefund.html
Posted by: EminemsRevenge at April 15, 2008 08:55 AM
Yep..another typical white person...brushing his fingers through his hair. We all do that you know. It's a signal we use to each other to signify the brotherhood (kind of like the finger to the side of the nose singnal they did in The Sting). Good Grief.
As for HW, I had the opportunity to see him play in person twice while he was at UGA. He was a great COLLEGE player. As an aside: Neither he nor any of his alter-egos EVER crossed the goal line against the Clemson Tigers (National champs 1981-the year after HW and UGA). Dittos for his Heisman contemporary, George Rogers (South Carolina).
Posted by: Southernops at April 15, 2008 09:01 AM
Eminem--
Broken clock theory! The "Heisman curse" was always stupid, since at any given time, one could name stars who had won the award.
Of course, there were also some who did not pan out, and many of *those* were overrated in college because of biased media coverage, etc.
As to Walker--
This is a great example of how an idiot therapist can take someone who is a bit screwed-up, and make him a whole lot worse.
You might recall a fellow named Brian Wilson, and his stint with Dr. Eugene Landy. Brian had some problems, but he got mega screwed up because of Landy...
Posted by: Red Ryder at April 15, 2008 09:06 AM
He had a good pro career, over 500 receptions, 8,000 yards rushing. Pretty rare company. Minnesota for some insane reason sent all those picks only to use him as a decoy. He was very productive with both Dallas and Philly when they put the ball in his hands.
He might not have multiple personalities, but I thnk eveyone can agree the guy is nuts, probably fed by his narcissism. He still needs the attention, too bad everyone will now think of him as an ass.
Posted by: Staypositive at April 15, 2008 11:36 AM
Of course! He failed because his mind(Or whatever passes for it) wasn't 100% "black",meaning he didn't harbor any hatred towards Whites,that all Blacks should.Had he done so, he would have been the greatest NFL running back ever!
Obviously,this phony "doctor" is a Black racist of the Obama/Jeremiah Wright/afro-centric variety,that blames Whitey for all of their failures.
Posted by: OldSchoolW at April 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Multiple Personality Disorder is no longer recognized or treated by Community Mental Health Agencies in Washington State.
Whatever this guy's problem is, it ISN'T MPD.
Posted by: SamAdams at April 15, 2008 01:53 PM
Dr Levy is correct: There is no such thing as "multiple personality disorder". Those who carry that diagnosis are probably borderline personalities--highly suggestible, needy, manipulative individuals who have an accomplice in their therapist (who loves the excitement of having a "multiple" for a patient). You don't get a multiple without an enabling therapist.
Posted by: lexi at April 15, 2008 07:45 PM
Debbie, HW wasn't the dominant player he was in college, but harldy anybody is. He was actually an excellent pro if you look at his career statistics. He went to a couple of Pro Bowls for Dallas, and racked up a ***load of all purpse yards. He didn't do much on a bad Minnesota team, but running the football is a team effort. His pro career was disappointing in that he didn't win a championship, but to be fair he was considered a star player.
Posted by: Anonymous1 at April 15, 2008 09:59 PM
I am white and I never run my fingers through my hair and my husband and children do not do that either. Who does that?
Posted by: Buff at April 16, 2008 08:55 AM
remember when jocks were just dumb?
why do they all have to be crazy now? "I gotta CONDITION!!"
panem et circenes...
what i want to read about is your reaction to W promoting abu porno murphy?!!!
Posted by: playertwo at April 16, 2008 08:57 AM
Debbie,
You had me laughing out loud!
Take it as a a major compliment that you're a regular Ann Coulter!
I didn't catch that touchdown because that wasn't me. It was that unathletic White guy personality, Al the Cracker. Or: I dropped the ball because that was my stripper personality, Amber, who was looking for a pole, not pigskin.
Ha ha!!
Posted by: TallT at April 16, 2008 01:17 PM
B"H I'm always suspicious of therapists giving interviews about high profile clients, with or without their consent.
Doesn't anyone care about how that will affect their course of treatment, even if they're no longer your patient,...even if it does help sell a new book.
Posted by: Ben-Yehudah at April 17, 2008 05:46 AM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
